End of 2021 Wrap-Up: Red (Taylor’s Version), Favorite and Least Favorite Books, and My Most Anticipated Reads for 2022

I know I said I’d be more active after my last wrap-up, but these past six months have been challenging on a personal level, and when I thought things would get better, they ultimately got worse. But I’m here now! And I also realize we’re more than halfway through January, but I really wanted to get this post out before moving forward, so here we are.

This wrap-up will be a bit different from my previous ones since it is also the end of the year. It would still be different even if it were just a December recap because I’ll be referring to my 2021 agenda for my yearly recap. So, I will also reflect on 2021 while stating some general goals for the new year. Without further ado, let’s get started!

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Synopsis

In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the “recruiters” who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing “factories.”

Date Started: September 29
Date Finished: October 17
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: I had The Marrow Thieves on my shelves for a few years now, and I finally picked it up. It takes place in a world where people no longer dream—except for Indigenous Peoples. The novel deals with critical themes such as racism, Indigenous rights, family, grief, and more. Cherie Dimaline is a great writer, having crafted compelling characters and dynamics. My only complaint is how the protagonist, Frenchie, fits in with the plot. The novel is character-driven, and it also contains a compelling storyline. However, I sometimes felt we were too immersed in Frenchie’s thoughts, which took away from the bigger picture. I don’t have a preference for the type of narrator as long as it fits the story. However, I think various aspects of the novel—world-building, events, dynamics, etc.—would have been more impactful if the narrator was a focalized third-person. And I thought Frenchie’s first-person POV watered down the stakes surrounding him. However, I still loved the book, and I recommend it!

And I understood that as long as there are dreamers left, there will never be want for a dream. And I understood just what we would do for each other, just what we would do for the ebb and pull of the dream, the bigger dream that held us all.
Anything.
Everything.

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Synopsis

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to. Jude learned that lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now, as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is left reeling from Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time, determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines, she becomes ensnared in the conflict's bloody politics.

And when a terrible curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity...

Date Started: September 30
Date Finished: October 4
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: Wow, what a finale! I was nervous going into the final book because I had seen so many mixed opinions on it, but I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. I loved the themes of leadership and what it takes to be a true ruler. Intertwined with themes of humanity, love, and betrayal, I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to a series. I love Jude Duarte with everything in me, and her relationship with Cardan is one for the books. I couldn’t put the novel down because I was itching for their reunion. And even after they reunited, all I wanted was to read about them. The Folk of the Air is how you pull off the enemies-to-lovers trope. From now on, whenever someone asks me to recommend an enemies-to-lovers story, The Folk of the Air will be the first to come to mind. It is how I envision a true enemies-to-lovers arc to look like. And the ending was beautiful, even if it was a little cheesy. But after everything Jude and Cardan went through, they deserved it and then some. I love this series so much; it’s going on my favorites shelf.

Maybe it isn’t the worst thing to want to be loved, even if you’re not. Even if it hurts. Maybe being human isn’t always being weak.
Maybe it was the shame that was the problem.

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

Synopsis

Forcibly removed from the ancient village of Ein Hod by the newly formed state of Israel in 1948, the Abulhejas are moved into the Jenin refugee camp. There, exiled from his beloved olive groves, the family patriarch languishes of a broken heart, his eldest son fathers a family and falls victim to an Israeli bullet, and his grandchildren struggle against tragedy toward freedom, peace, and home. This is the Palestinian story, told as never before, through four generations of a single family.

The very precariousness of existence in the camps quickens life itself. Amal, the patriarch's bright granddaughter, feels this with certainty when she discovers the joys of young friendship and first love and especially when she loses her adored father, who read to her daily as a young girl in the quiet of the early dawn. Through Amal we get the stories of her twin brothers, one who is kidnapped by an Israeli soldier and raised Jewish; the other who sacrifices everything for the Palestinian cause. Amal’s own dramatic story threads between the major Palestinian-Israeli clashes of three decades; it is one of love and loss, of childhood, marriage, and parenthood, and finally of the need to share her history with her daughter, to preserve the greatest love she has.

Date Started: September 30
Date Finished: December 31
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: The reason it took me so long to finish this book has nothing to do with how much I liked it because I adored Mornings in Jenin. I should’ve finished it by the end of October, but by then, I encountered personal issues that put me in a reading slump outside of books I had to read for school. But wow, this book was breathtaking. It was so powerful, and everything about it was flawless—the writing, the pacing, the narrative, the characters, the dynamics. Susan Abulhawa crafts a story that is so compelling and heartbreaking, you just can’t put it down. Amal and Sara and Yousef and Huda and everyone else in between will forever live in my mind. They may be fictional characters, and this may be a work of fiction, but their stories are very much real. I could not recommend Mornings in Jenin more highly. If there’s one book you take away from this wrap-up’s list, please let it be this one. This is also an excellent book to read if you’re looking to learn more about Palestine, but you cannot stomach non-fiction books.

In Ari’s office, we were three generations hauled together by the willful drag of a foreclosed story swindled by fate but gathered in that moment to demand to be told. The story of one family in an obscure village, visited one day by a history that was not its own, and forever trapped by longing between roots and soil. It was a tale of war, its chilling, burning, and chilling-again fire. Of furious love and a suicide bomber. Of a girl who escaped her destiny to become a word, drained of its meaning. Of grown children sifting through the madness to find their relevance. Of a truth that pushed its way through lies, emerging from a crack, a scar, in a man’s face.

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Synopsis

Lovelace was once merely a ship's artificial intelligence. When she wakes up in an new body, following a total system shut-down and reboot, she has no memory of what came before. As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who's determined to help her learn and grow.

Together, Pepper and Lovey will discover that no matter how vast space is, two people can fill it together.

Date Started: October 3
Date Finished: October 12
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: I realize this is the second book in a series, but I read it for class, and it acts as a standalone. A Closed and Common Orbit ended up being different from what I had initially thought. The writing was excellent, and the characters were compelling, but I found the plot moved at an excruciatingly slow pace. Now, sometimes that works, depending on the novel. But the way Becky Chambers set up this narrative, I felt it should have been more plot-oriented. It is very much a character-driven novel, and I’m not sure it works well in this setting. I also thought the slow pacing messed with other elements as a result. It was more challenging to understand the world-building, and while I did love the characters and dynamics in the end, they weren’t quite compelling initially. However, the story eventually did pick up, and I enjoyed it from that point onward. And I still think it is a well-written book. However, I wonder what my reading experience would have been like if I had read the first book before this one.

‘All of you do this. Every organic sapient I’ve ever talked to, every book I’ve read, every piece of art I’ve studied. You are all desperate for purpose, even though you don’t have one. You’re animals, and animals don’t have a purpose. Animals just are. And there are a lot of intelligent – sentient, maybe – animals out there who don’t have a problem with that. They just go on breathing and mating and eating each other without a second thought. But the animals like you – the ones who make tools and build cities and itch to explore, you all share a need for purpose. For reason.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Synopsis

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
 
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
 
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
 
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
 
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Date Started: October 5
Date Finished: October 24
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: I’ve seen this series around for a couple of years now—Goodreads, Twitter, etc. I was excited to get into it, and I’m happy to report it was a powerful first novel of a series. It was slow in the beginning, and as a result, many variables were up in the air. However, the narrative picked up once the Trials started, and I was utterly captivated by everything. Laia and Elias, as individuals and as a pair. I was intrigued by Helene, who has more to her than what meets the eye. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional. I can’t wait to see how they will develop in the series—especially Laia, who has developed the most so far. Sabaa Tahir did an excellent job with the world-building, and I found the concepts creative and compelling. I also liked how there is still a mysterious element surrounding the Augurs and their prophecies. It was the driving force that kept me reading. The book ended on a good note, and I’m super excited to continue reading Elias and Laia’s journey against the empire.

“Fear can be good, Laia. It can keep you alive. But don’t let it control you. Don’t let it sow doubts within you. When the fear takes over, use the only thing more powerful, more indestructible, to fight it: your spirit. Your heart.”

Crossbones by Kimberly Vale

Synopsis

Never trust a pirate.

The Blood Bell tolls, marking the death of the pirate king and the start of the Trials—a heart-stopping competition where the reward is the Bone Crown. Only one contender can claim the coveted island throne; each will gamble life and limb to win.

Captain. Sister. Maiden.
Csilla Abado yearns to prove her strength to the seasoned pirates who balk at her youth and to her elder sister who has always craved Csilla’s captainship. She will risk everything to become the first pirate queen, no matter the cost.

Dealer. Son. Legacy.
Kane Blackwater wants to leave behind the dirty gold and shady trades he’s made to keep his father’s ship, the Iron Jewel, alive. The Trials represent a new beginning—yet rumors of a secret heir are swirling, threatening his hopes of becoming the pirate king.

Stowaway. Daughter. Storm.
Lorelei Penny longs for nothing more than to avenge her mother’s death. Stowing away on the Iron Jewel was supposed to get her closer to the killer, but instead she finds herself caught up in the deadly battle where loyalty and desire collide.

Csilla. Kane. Lorelei. Each on a mission. The sea, however, has other plans. Dark tides are rising, and if they aren’t careful, they’ll surely drown.

Date Started: October 5
Date Finished: December 31
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: Crossbones was such a fun read! I’ve never read a pirate fantasy novel (or anything pirate-related, really), but this book piqued my interest in this genre. It has jam-packed action, a compelling plot, intriguing dynamics, and strong protagonists. I think my favorite characters were Csilla and Lorelei—I loved their respective journies, and I’m curious to see how the series will pan out. I loved the relationships that developed in this book, and I can’t wait to see where they go in the next installment. And of course, I’m such a sucker for found family, and Crossbones radiates that trope. It was an excellent first book in a series I hope will continue to be this good. My only complaint is that it got cheesy and predictable at the end, which dampened the author’s writing and narrative. Otherwise, it was a great read, and I can’t wait for book two! (Thank you to Edelweiss and Wattpad Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The quote below is from the digital ARC and not part of the final print.)

“You cannot know your fate to follow the path for there is no map. You make your own path with the choices you make, and you shall receive the reward you reap. Some choose the shaded passage, like the man who stole my boy, his mind clouded with dark desires. His fate will not be kind.”

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

I reviewed The City Beautiful already! Click here to read my review.

My father’s death had been meaningless, and the violence in this world was meaningless, too. But that did not make my life meaningless. I refused to believe that my fate was already written for me, even before the Day of Atonement.
Life was not some never-ending tragedy. Just as for every bitter herb there was sweet charoset, hope and joy persisted alongside suffering. And even someone like me had the ability to change things.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Synopsis

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships—but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor—and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Date Started: October 14
Date Finished: October 23
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: This book was not on my TBR whatsoever, so no one is surprised more than I am that The Love Hypothesis made it to this list. Truthfully, I wasn’t planning to read it. I know it’s based on a Reylo fanfiction, and while I’m not part of the Star Wars fandom, I cannot stand Adam Driver so I figured picturing him as Dr. Carlsen would ruin it for me. But a friend of mine convinced me to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did. It was an adorable romance novel that I enjoyed from start to finish. I hadn’t realized how much I would like a romance novel grounded in academia and STEM until I read The Love Hypothesis. I loved Olive’s character and the journey she endured to get to where she was by the end. Even Adam had great character development, and he was more of the love interest. The Love Hypothesis did feel very trope-y, but not in a cringey way whatsoever. Ali Hazelwood made it work effortlessly, and it’s a stunning debut novel. I’m excited to read what she has next!

It hit her then what was so special about Adam. That no matter his reputation, or how rocky their first meeting, since the very beginning, Olive had felt that he was on her side. Over and over, and in ways that she could never have anticipated, he had made her feel unjudged. Less alone.

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

Synopsis

Nia Imani is a woman out of place and outside of time. Decades of travel through the stars are condensed into mere months for her, though the years continue to march steadily onward for everyone she has ever known. Her friends and lovers have aged past her; all she has left is work. Alone and adrift, she lives only for the next paycheck, until the day she meets a mysterious boy, fallen from the sky.

A boy, broken by his past.

The scarred child does not speak, his only form of communication the beautiful and haunting music he plays on an old wooden flute. Captured by his songs and their strange, immediate connection, Nia decides to take the boy in. And over years of starlit travel, these two outsiders discover in each other the things they lack. For him, a home, a place of love and safety. For her, an anchor to the world outside of herself.

For both of them, a family.

But Nia is not the only one who wants the boy. The past hungers for him, and when it catches up, it threatens to tear this makeshift family apart.

Date Started: October 20
Date Finished: November 9
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: This book didn’t go the way I thought it would, but that ended up being a good thing. The main character, Nia, wasn’t even the person I thought the book would focus on. However, the narrative quickly proved me wrong and told a beautiful story on Nia and the unwavering, unconditional love she has for a boy that Umbai-V tasked her with delivering to Pelican station. The novel deals with capitalism, imperialism, love, duty, time, and more. It takes all these themes and transforms them into a space opera that is very much character- and dynamic-driven. However, I expected more plot, and as a result, I thought it was really thin overall. As I read, I found myself wishing for more action, but that did not happen until toward the end. Character- and dynamic-driven stories are great, but I just expected more from The Vanished Birds given this narrative’s setup. Nevertheless, it was a good book, and I’d still recommend it.

“Some roads go on and on,” the Kind One said. “And some roads end before their route. But no road goes on forever.
“All of them are half-finished circles,” they said.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Synopsis

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Date Started: October 24
Date Finished: December 30
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
Thoughts: I enjoyed reading more of Laia and Elias on their journey as they escape the Empire and break Laia’s brother out of prison. It took me a while to finish the book, partly because I had a reading slump. But I also found A Torch Against the Night slower than its predecessor. I found some of the events dragged to the point where it felt like we were going in circles. Reading the same event from three different perspectives can be beneficial, but doing so in every scenario sometimes throws the storyline off balance. But I did love the introduction of Helene’s POV! She was the most compelling aspect of the book for me. Tahir did an excellent job crafting complex characters in general, but Helene is truly a testament to Tahir’s talent. I also enjoyed Elias’s new arc with the Soul Catcher. And Laia’s newfound powers were a great addition to her character! After that explosive ending, I’m excited to see where Elias, Helene, and Laia go next.

“Tell me what you told me that night in my room at Blackcliff,” he murmurs. “What your Nan used to say to you.”
“As long as there is life”—I can hear Nan’s warm voice as I say it—“there is hope.”
Elias lifts his head and looks down at me, the coolness in his eyes replaced by that raw, unquenchable fire. I forget to breathe.
“Don’t you forget it,” he says. “Ever.”

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Synopsis

Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze—the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years—collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries.

Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.

Date Started: October 26
Date Finished: November 6
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: The Fifth Season was on my to-read list for almost a year before I finally got to it, but it was so worth the wait! I’ve never read a story that seamlessly entwines science fiction and fantasy together, but my god, N.K. Jemisin pulled it off successfully and then some. I loved how she set up the narrative and how it unfolded. All three POVs were strong. It is risky to alternate between the third and second person, but it worked well in this novel. I loved Essun and Syenite and reading about their journeys. The world-building was some of the best I’ve ever read. I had high expectations for The Fifth Season, and they surpassed every single one. I genuinely do not have a single critique of this book. Everything was just so perfect. I never believed fantasy and science fiction could entwine as a compelling narrative, but The Fifth Season proved me wrong. And that ending? The plot twists? People DIED. And when I say people, I mean readers. I am so excited to read the rest of the trilogy, especially after that epic cliffhanger.

This is what you must remember: the ending of one story is just the beginning of another. This has happened before, after all. People die. Old orders pass. New societies are born. When we say “the world has ended,” it’s usually a lie, because the planet is just fine.
But this is the way the world ends.
This is the way the world ends.
This is the way the world ends.
For the last time.

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

Synopsis

This is the way the world ends... for the last time.

The season of endings grows darker as civilization fades into the long cold night. Alabaster Tenring – madman, world-crusher, savior – has returned with a mission: to train his successor, Essun, and thus seal the fate of the Stillness forever.

It continues with a lost daughter, found by the enemy.

It continues with the obelisks, and an ancient mystery converging on answers at last.

The Stillness is the wall which stands against the flow of tradition, the spark of hope long buried under the thickening ashfall. And it will not be broken.

Date Started: November 6
Date Finished: January 2 (but I read most of it in 2021)
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Thoughts: Well, I have to meet a series that does not suffer from second book syndrome, with Catching Fire being a rare exception. However, The Obelisk Gate was still a fantastic sequel! The narrative still alternates between third and second person, and it’s still successful in doing so. This time, we meet Nassun, Essun’s daughter, and read about her own journey with orogeny. My favorite part about this book was how N.K. Jemisin set up the dichotomy between mother and daughter. Both are orogenes, but their aspirations could not be more different because of how their upbringings shaped their characters. This dichotomy will be the central premise of the final installment as everything comes to a head. The only issue I had was that I thought Essun’s chapters held the narrative back at some points. It would have been more beneficial to spend additional time with Nassun. Otherwise, The Obelisk Gate was a riveting sequel, and I’m super excited to read the last book!

Somehow, Nassun knows that Steel is talking about her mother with that she. Mama is alive, and angry, and full of so much power.
“What purpose?” Nassun makes herself ask.
Steel’s eyes slide toward her. She has not specified whose purpose she means: her mother’s, or those ancient people who first created and deployed the obelisks. “The destruction of one’s enemies, of course. A small and selfish purpose that feels great, in the moment—though not without consequence.”
Nassun considers what she has learned, and sessed, and seen in the dead smiles of the other two Guardians. “Father Earth fought back,” she says.
“As one does, against those who seek to enslave. That’s understandable, isn’t it?”
Nassun closes her eyes. Yes. It’s all so understandable, really, when she thinks about it. The way of the world isn’t the strong devouring the weak, but the weak deceiving and poisoning and whispering in the ears of the strong until they become weak, too. Then it’s all broken hands and silver threads woven like ropes, and mothers who move the earth to destroy their enemies but cannot save one little boy.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Synopsis

Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

Date Started: November 22
Date Finished: December 14
Final Rating: ★ ★ ☆
Thoughts: This is probably one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. It is a character-driven narrative that explores various themes such as knowledge, humanity, and power. Piranesi, the titular character, lives in the House, documenting everything he learns about his surroundings and life in general. Piranesi isn’t a poorly written book—in fact, the writing was excellent. The novel just wasn’t for me, unfortunately. A character-driven fantasy novel has to be unique and hit home in a way that keeps me turning the page. Piranesi just wasn’t the case. However, as the story progressed, I enjoyed it more and more, especially when the mystery of Sixteen came to a head. I would still recommend this book if character-driven novels about knowledge and humanity interest you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t. Piranesi is clearly for a unique audience, and that’s just not me. However, I will say that I appreciated the ending and found it fitting for this book.

After she had gone, I thought about what she had said. I cannot imagine not wanting to be with people. (Though it is true that Dr Ketterley was sometimes annoying.) I remembered how Raphael had wondered which of the People of the Alcove had been murdered and how the simple fact of her posing the question had made the whole World seem a darker, sadder Place.
Perhaps that is what it is like being with other people. Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not. Perhaps that is what Raphael means.

Film

Happy Death Day 2U (2019): I have wanted to see Happy Death Day 2U ever since I saw its predecessor, but I can’t remember what pushed me to watch it finally. Maybe finding it on Netflix? Who knows. Anyway, the sequel was okay. I knew it would be an alternate dimension, but the way the circumstances unfolded surprised me (in a good way). And the humor was just as great as it was in the first film. However, I thought the killer reveal wasn’t surprising. Happy Death Day 2U foreshadowed the reveal in a really obvious way. There was no twist or excitement whatsoever. To be fair, it would have been hard for anyone else to be the killer under the circumstances. Still, it was a disappointing reveal that brought the movie down for me. But Happy Death Day 2U was still a fun watch packed with lots of humor. Overall, it wasn’t a bad sequel.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): This movie wrecked me and split me open in half. My life will never be the same because No Way Home completely ruined me. It doesn’t take much for me to cry during films these days, but I still bawled like a baby. I probably prefer the other two MCU Spider-Man films to No Way Home, but I still loved every second of this one. I realize a lot of it was fan service, but ask me if I care because I certainly don’t! It was fan service done well. And that ending? God, I cried so much. Peter and MJ are genuinely a legendary romance in any universe, and this movie proved that. I also loved the MCU’s continuation of exploring alternate universes and dimensions. It’s a fun theme that can get quite messy, but I’m enjoying it so far. Please watch this movie. It is so good; I cannot stress that enough.

Albums

Album: Red (Taylor’s Version)
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country-Pop
Thoughts: Ever since November 12, this album is all I’ve been listening to. I genuinely can’t remember what I listened to in October. I always saw Red as her album with the biggest potential, but I always felt like something was missing. Now that we have eight extra songs, Red is complete. This is the album that should win Album of the Year at the Grammy’s. I can just talk about Red forever. It is everything I had hoped for and more. My favorite songs are All Too Well (both versions), Everything Has Changed, and Forever Winter. I love Red with all my heart, and I can’t envision listening to anything else any time soon.

• October 3: Summer (+ September) 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up: Reading Slumps, the Ben Barnes Cinematic Universe, Fall Goals, and More!
• December 31: Book Review: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

Novel: This past fall, I primarily focused on my book. It’s coming along, and I’ve gotten a lot of writing done, even if it’s not as much as I would have liked. I’m excited that I progressed in writing the novel toward the end rather than rewriting the first few chapters fifty million times. Of course, they still need several rewrites, but I’m proud of myself for finally making progress, even if it’s not where I would have liked to be.

Overall, while the last few months have not been as brutal as the summer, I still endured challenging times. I am proud of the writing I got done, although I wish I had written more. I’m excited going into 2022 (I say three weeks into the new year). But I really can’t wait to see what this year will have in store! I also decided to forego reviewing my checklist from the last wrap-up only because I’m ready to leave 2021 behind and focus on 2022. I don’t have much else to say about the last few months alone, so let’s get into 2021 reflections.

In 2021, I read sixty-eight books! My goal was initially fifty, which I reached in September. I’m proud of myself for reading beyond that goal, something I haven’t done since 2018. Sixty-eight is a lot, so I won’t go through every single book again. Instead, my reflection will be a list with additional commentary. This list will include my favorites, least favorites, books that exceeded my expectations, books that disappointed me, and books I would recommend. Then you can take from that list what you want!

A Book that Exceeded My Expectations: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

I realize I just discussed The Love Hypothesis in my wrap-up above, but of all the books I read, it definitely surprised me the most. I didn’t have high expectations going into the novel, primarily because I’m not a fan of Reylo (the book was originally a Reylo fanfiction). I also can’t stand Adam Driver. But within the first couple of chapters, it was so easy to forget all that. Adam, Olive, and everything else came to life as their own characters. It was a sweet love story with excellent character development. I just couldn’t put the book down; I found it thrilling from start to finish. I didn’t expect to fall in love with Adam and Olive the way I did, but I’m so glad it happened. Special shoutout to Cay, who convinced me to pick up this book!

Honorable mentions include The Ivies by Alexa Donne, The Problem with the Other Side by Kwame Ivery, and Crossbones by Kimberly Vale.

A Book That Disappointed Me: Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

So, I rated this novel 3.5 stars. It wasn’t a bad book; however, I still had high expectations, which the novel missed. Fantasy is my favorite genre, and sapphic love stories in a fantastical world are the way to my heart. That was why I had high expectations, to begin with. But as I wrote in my review here, the plot progression and the two main characters’ arcs just fell flat for me. I still enjoyed the book, though, and I’d still recommend Sweet & Bitter Magic. It just wasn’t what I thought it would be.

Honorable mentions include Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi, All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue, and Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

A Book I’d Recommend to Anyone: Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa & The Problem with the Other Side by Kwame Ivery

If I could pick only two books for people to take away from of my 2021 books, it would be these two. They are both such essential novels covering two very different topics. Mornings in Jenin shares the uncomfortable truth of what life has been like for Palestinians since the Nakba began in 1948. The Problem with the Other Side is the author’s reaction to the 2016 election, telling a similar story in a high school setting. The latter might not seem important, but it covers critical topics such as racism, homophobia, ableism, and exercising our right to vote. If I had to pick only one, it would be Mornings in Jenin because I genuinely believe there is nothing more important than Palestine right now. (On that note, there is more information on Palestine at the end of this article.) But if you have time for another, The Problem with the Other Side is also a good read.

Honorable mentions include The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin, Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas, The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson, and The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros.

A Book I Wish I Had Gotten to But Didn’t: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

I’m so sad I didn’t end up getting to this book. I cannot stress how disappointed I am. I love sapphic stories, and I have heard excellent things about this one. I was disappointed about all the books I didn’t manage to read, but this one hit differently. It’s definitely at the top of my list of books to read in 2022, and I hope to get to it within the first few months of the year.

Honorable mentions include It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland, Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth, and Influence by Sara Shepard & Lilia Buckingham.

New Favorite Series: The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin

God, this series turned my life upside down in the best way possible. I’m still in the middle of the third book, but this is my favorite without contest. The Broken Earth changed my life. It is a beautiful, beautiful metaphor. What made this series for me is the world-building and the characters. I know I compliment many authors on their world-building skills, but N.K. Jemisin blew me away. She got everything down to a science. I had no idea world-building could be so complex and complete before reading this series. As for the characters, they’re all compelling, but what makes Jemisin a genius is how she set up the two main ones—Essun and Nassun—against each other. Mother and daughter, both orogenes with the same mentor, but they live vastly different experiences. I can’t wait to see how everything comes to a head in the final installment.

Honorable mentions include The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, The Hollow Star Saga by Ashley Shuttleworth, Deathless by Namina Forna, Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo, The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon, and The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare.

Favorite LGBTQ+ Book: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Wow, this book was an absolute serve in every way possible. Academic rivals who end up fake dating because one of the main characters is trying to provide that she’s over her ex? Iconic in every way. But She Drives Me Crazy is more than that. The novel has a stellar romance, but it also provides a heartfelt character arc dealing with heartbreak and first love. This novel pulls off an epic sapphic romance while still crafting compelling character arcs. I could not recommend it more highly.

Honorable mentions include One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon, and A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth.

Favorite Jewish Book: As If on Cue by Marisa Kanter & The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Truthfully, I prefer As If on Cue a bit more, but it felt wrong not to include both novels. They both changed my life in 2021 in unique ways. I read The Wolf and the Woodsman over the summer, and every time there was a Jewish reference, my heart skipped a beat in a good way. I understood the Hebrew and the Yehuli customs. It made me feel so proud to be Jewish. And not to mention, the novel itself is beautiful. It has an epic enemies to lovers romance, complex characters, and covers themes including faith, bigotry, and power.

As If on Cue is an adorable contemporary academic rivals to lovers romance. I love Natalie and Reid, and I didn’t expect to fall in love with them the way I did. The book also gives Natalie a terrific character arc on discovering who she is and what she wants to do with her life. And of course, both Natalie and Reid are Jewish, and we read about how they grapple with their identities when they encounter certain situations. Both books could not be more different, but I love them both with all my heart.

Honorable mentions include The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult. There’s only one secondary character who is Jewish, and the book does not focus on Judaism, but Jodi Picoult is Jewish, and I wanted to mention this one.

Favorite Fictional Character: Lucie Herondale from The Last Hours and Alina Starkov from Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Again, technically I prefer Lucie, but I couldn’t talk about my favorite character without mentioning Alina. I know the characters in Shadow and Bone aren’t as well-developed or fleshed out the way they are in Six of Crows, but there’s just something about Alina that hooked me immediately. I love that she’s the protagonist, the “chosen one,” and she grapples with that identity because of a darkness inside her. She has real flaws, such as being stubborn and selfish. I loved reading about her craving for power while also wishing she could have the peaceful life she initially wanted. I loved watching her grow into herself. She is funny and strong. It’s been a while since I’ve read a series with a morally gray protagonist who could go down a darker path, and I admire Alina for that reason (and plenty more).

As for Lucie, this is the character I have been waiting for from The Shadowhunter Chronicles. She is it for me in every single series. Right now, the only character I prefer is Simon Lewis, but I have a feeling after Chain of Thorns, Lucie will be my favorite. It might be because I see so much of myself in her because of her passion for storytelling. I love Lucie’s optimism and determination. She cares for her loved ones deeply, and we can see that through her actions. I also loved seeing her power grow in Chain of Iron; it rounded out her character. She’s a badass Shadowhunter with a heart of gold and a creative soul. I love her so much, genuinely.

Honorable mentions include Nina Zenik from Six of Crows / King of Scars, Zoya Nazyalensky from Shadow and Bone / King of Scars, Jude Duarte from The Folk of the Air, Nassun from The Broken Earth, and Essun from The Broken Earth.

Favorite Fictional Relationship: Hanne/Ilya Brum and Nina Zenik from King of Scars Duology

I am utterly obsessed with Hanne and Nina. I was so heartbroken after reading Crooked Kingdom. Going into King of Scars, I wasn’t expecting Nina to fall in love again. Instead, I thought she would find closure and peace after the end of Crooked Kingdom. Hanne hit me by surprise, but in the best way possible. They are nothing like Matthias, yet I see many similarities between them. By the end of Rule of Wolves, I was utterly in love with their dynamic. Nina’s arc in this duology is easily the best in the entire Grishaverse. It is a poignant and heartbreaking story about grief, purpose, and love. Leigh wrote Nina’s arc so beautifully that I became captivated by Nina and Hanne. I also loved them as individual characters. They both had their own journeys to go on before coming together. I could go on about Nina and Hanne forever, so I’ll stop here. But they definitely are my favorite dynamic of the year, no questions asked.

Honorable mentions include Amari and Zélie from Legacy of Orïsha, Arlo and Nausicaä from The Hollow Star Saga, Alec Lightwood and Magnus Bane from The Eldest Curses, Anna Lightwood and Ariadne Bridgestock from The Last Hours, Cordelia Carstairs and James Herondale from The Last Hours, Alina Starkov and the Darkling from Shadow and Bone Trilogy, Inej Ghafa and Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows Duology, Lara and Jasmine from Cool for the Summer, Nikolai Lantsov and Zoya Nazyalensky from King of Scars Duology, Malini and Priya from Burning Kingdoms, Cardan Greenbriar and Jude Duarte from The Folk of the Air, Natalie and Reid from As If on Cue, and Adam and Olive from The Love Hypothesis. Yes, I realize that’s a lot. But I also read sixty-eight books this year.

Least Favorite Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I had to read this book for class last spring, and it was a struggle to finish it. Honestly, I don’t have much to say other than most of it was boring, and the few interesting parts became repetitive. I liked the ending, though. I guess I thought I would like this book because of the high praise it receives. Now I know it’s just another “mediocre white man writes a book and everyone goes wild” thing.

Honorable mentions include Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue, and Trust Exercise by Susan Choi.

Overall Favorite Book: Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler

I cannot stress how much this book changed my life. It is my favorite LGBTQ+ and Jewish book, but I gave those categories to other favorites since this is my ultimate favorite. This was my book of 2021. I loved it so much when I read it. Cool for the Summer means the world to me. It is a wonderfully written story about coming out and finding yourself. I related to this book so much, and I can’t imagine my life without it. I wish I had it back in high school because fifteen-year-old me could have used it. Well, I have it now, and I couldn’t be happier. Please, please read this book. You won’t regret it, I promise. It instantly went on my “I Would Die for These Books” shelf. I will carry this book in my heart forever.

I wasn’t as active as I would have liked to be. I was earlier in the year, but the last six months were brutal. Here is a look back at some of my blogging highlights!

Favorite Review: A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth & Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

I feel like I was most passionate in these two reviews for some reason. I don’t have much else to say, but they were fun to reread. I don’t have any honorable mentions.

Favorite Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2021

I had a lot of fun stuff throughout the year, but looking back, I think this was my most exciting wrap-up. There was just so much that happened that month. From a long reading list to the MTL YA Fest to my first book tour, everything was terrific.

Honorable mentions include February 2021 and April 2021.

Favorite Miscellaneous Post: Herongraystairs: The Best Dynamic in The Shadowhunter Chronicles

I have a few posts I liked, but I think this one takes the cake. I may have peaked on this blog with this one. I love the dynamic between Tessa, Jem, and Will so much. I didn’t plan on writing an article about it, but I had to express my love for them. I like to think that this article serves as a love letter to Herongraystairs, and I’m so happy I wrote it. I still share it all the time because I’m proud of it.

Honorable mentions include Montreal YA Fest 2021 and Processing the Shadow and Bone Trilogy.

Overall, 2021 was a much better year in the first half, while the second half was a struggle. Nevertheless, I persevered, and here are in 2022. I’m ready to put 2021 behind me and stay optimistic about the new year. I hope to be more active on this blog and post more features, among other things. So long, 2021! (I say, three weeks later.)

• From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos
• A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
• The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon
• The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
• Home Field Advantage by Dahila Adler
• The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
• Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
• Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
• This Cursed Crown by Alexandra Overy

Books

Reading Goals:

• Read at least four books
• Good representation in at least half of the books I read
• At least half the authors I read be diverse (i.e. POC, LGBTQ+, and/or Jewish)
• Finish ARCs on my Kindle

Books to Read: asterisk means they’re on my currently reading shelf

• A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir *
• A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir
• All Of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman
• The Last She by H.J. Nelson
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan *
• The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin *

Other Media

Television & Film:

• Watch at least one television show
• Watch at least one movie

Music:

• Listen to instrumental playlists if I’m having trouble concentrating
• Listen to music that isn’t Taylor Swift

Blogging

General Goals:

• Stay active on social media
• Post more on Instagram
• Connect with book community
• Post regularly

Planned Posts:

• Organizing My Kindle Shelves + Book Recs
• January Monthly Wrap-Up (posted within first week of January)

Writing

Novel:

• Polish first few chapters
• Write more chapters

Diary:

• Write at least one entry

Miscellaneous Goals

Organization:

• Continue using Notion
• Fill out Hebrew dates in personal agenda
• Use personal agenda actively
• Clean my room

Personal:

• Make and follow active therapy goals
• Rely on faith in dark and stressful times
• Stay up to date with school
• Study and learn Torah
• Stay involved and informed

Whew, that was a mouthful, but that’s it for 2021! I’m so relieved to have officially finished this post (and the year). Since it’s already three weeks into 2022, tell me about what you’re reading right now. What are your reading goals for the year? What are you most excited about? What book releases are you anticipating? Let me know in the comments below!

Before I go, I’d like to mention Palestine. This past week, another family was dragged from their home in the middle of the night and beaten before the IOF demolished their house in Sheikh Jarrah. Palestinians are begging people to speak up, and it’s important to do so. Ethnic cleansing is happening before our eyes. As of right now, no one is taking donations. But there are other ways to help, and the most important thing you can do is speak up. Please do so. Here is a compiled Google Doc on how you can help Palestine. #SaveSheikhJarrah and Free Palestine.