Great books I’ve read in 2021 that I recommend checking out this summer!
Okay.. I don’t generally think to do the weekly or monthly ‘wrap up’ but I’ve been reading quite a few really wonderful books and I wanted to share them with you.
This is my twist on what Sam @Taking on a World of Words does with WWW Wednesdays. (Really hope you don’t mind me mixing this up a little!) You just answer three simple questions of:
What you are reading.
What you were reading.
And What you want to read next.
I’ve also included the(thankfully) few books I just wasn’t able to conitnue and DNFed(for now).
Remember: Challenges and tags are a fun and informative way to support one another so.. Don’t forget to visit the other participants pages to see what they are reading!
(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through my links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
What I’m reading..
A Dog’s Courage by W. Bruce Cameron
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Publication date: May 2021
Pages: 286
Genre: Domestic fiction, Animal fiction, Family life fiction
Series: Book 2 of 2: Dog’s Way Home Tale
Publication date: November 2019
Pages: 349
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological fiction
Standalone
I just started The Family Upstairs tonight but, so far, A Dog’s Courage is turning out to be one of my favorite reads of the year. Will review!
What I was reading..
The Faithful by S.M. Freedman
Wake Me After the Apocalypse by Jordan Rivet
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot
Publication date: September 2015
Pages: 480
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Psychological thriller
Series: Book 1 of 2: The Faithful Series
Four Stars
See my review here!
Publication date: September 2018
Pages: 316
Genre: Young adult, Science fiction, Apocalyptic fiction
Series: Book 1 of 3: Bunker
Review: Coming Soon!
Publication date: January 2020
Pages: 328
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
Series: Book 1 of 3: Columbia River
Review: Coming Soon!
What I’m reading next..
Where it all Lands by Jennie Wexler
Publication date: July 2021
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Contemporary romance
Standalone
What I couldn’t finish in 2021..
The Project by Courtney Summers
Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry
Savages by M. Sinclair
Publication date: February 2021
Pages: 352
Genre: Young adult, Suspense, Psychological thriller
Standalone
Publication date: June 2016
Pages: 222
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Psychological fiction
Standalone
Publication date: January 2019
Pages: 210
Genre: Dark reverse-harem, Paranormal fiction, Academy romance
Series: Book 1 of 4: Vengeance
Does anyone else go back and give the books you couldn’t continue reading another chance?
I look at these, I read what they’re supposed to be about, and I’ve seen the wonderful reviews toting their greatness and I’m left disappointed because.. I still want to like them.
That’s a wrap!
I’ve only recently been able to get back into reading and it’s been such a fantastic pleasure and relief..
It was almost as though something precious was missing and had only just now been found.
Don’t let life come between you and the things that make you happy!
And on a lighter note..
What do you think? DNF second chances: yes or no?
Waiting to see what you thought of The Last Sister. 🙂
It was good! I was expecting more from some of the topics it touches on and there wasn’t much action overall, but it was a steady, interesting read.
You have quite a wide reading taste of genres. That’s great.
For dnf 2nd chances- I think there are too many good books to read books you don’t love.
Amanda 😊
Thanks! I like to read a little of pretty much everything..
And.. that’s an excellent point. It makes me sad, the ‘could have been’ but you are absolutely right. Thank you! 😊
curious about a dog’s courage and I liked family upstairs- hope you do too!
The Family Upstairs is.. different. I’m not really sure how I feel about it yet but thank you!
And, omgosh, that book. A Dog’s Courage. It is, hands down, my favorite book of the year. (so far). I would highly recommend it!
Haha that’s ok! Her books can be a bit weird! (To say the least!)
Cool!!
Uh, yea.. I’d say so!!
Weird. Fascinating. Addictive. I only have a few chapters left. 😆
I think it depends on the reason I did not finish a book Sheri. I have stopped due to profanity for the sake of profanity, boring, too sexually explicit for me, and characters I can’t connect with. Those books I will not revisit. I have stopped listening to books due to the narrator, but enjoyed reading them. I have stopped reading because I am just not in the mood for the subject contained and those books I will revisit, in fact I have picked up some a year later and really enjoyed them. I always feel bad when everyone else loves a book and gives it 4 or 5 stars and I DNF it, but that is okay. There are so many books and so many authors that we can’t all love the same books.
It’s just so disappointing when you want to love them because they sound incredible but.. aren’t. Would you believe I DNFed all of those because I found the main characters to be completely unlikable? It’s crazy.
Thank you, though! I feel a little better about chunking them. 😅
That would do it for me as well. That was the reason I DNFed my latest, he was so unlikable and a bit of a misogynist.
Uhg, that’s dreadful. Some stories are worth the frustration.. but there are times, and there are characters, that you’d really rather not have in your life.
I do, on occasion, try a book twice. Usually, they’re highly acclaimed books where I wonder why I didn’t like them. What was I missing? Usually I can’t finish them again.
I can see that. I have wondered if it was me.. the mood I was in when I read it or just bad timing. Who knows? Guess we all have those kinds of book experiences at some point!
Thanks so much for your comment! 🌹😊
I wonder those things too, which is why I try again.
If at first you don’t succeed? 😆
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This looks great! Thanks so much for tagging me!
Thanks so much for tagging me! This looks like fun!
I don’t do it often, but I have gone back and given a book a second chance. Usually, I end up enjoying the novel and figure I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for that particular type of read when I tried it originally.
And I can’t wait to get your thoughts on The Family Upstairs. I’ve been considering giving that one a whirl.
Great post and great idea! Loved it.
Thank you! I’m so glad.. it was fun to do!