Best Adult Books of 2021

Welcome back! Here’s part two of my 2021 book round up. Be sure to let me know what books you read and loved this year!

Adult Fantasy

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

My reading notes for this book just say: “An absolutely perfect book.”

During a particularly bleak period of in my last year of grad school and the peak of the pandemic, I was looking for a feel-good book, and someone on Goodreads commented that this book saved their life. So I picked it up.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a little like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets Anne of Green Gables. A curmudgeonly inspector arrives at an orphanage for magical children intent on getting back home to his routine as quickly as possible, but the odd children and their odd caretaker start chipping away at his frozen heart. This book has a sharp wit, gut-busting humor, impressive imagination, and enough heart to make anyone believe in the power of love and family again.

5/5 stars

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Even though Addie has been gifted (or cursed) with eternal youth, I’d call this a coming-of-age book. Wandering the world, year after year, never remembered by a single soul she meets, Addie must define and redefine who she is. When she made a deal with the god of darkness, she thought she knew exactly what she wanted and what she was willing to sacrifice in order to get it. But the longer she lives, the more Addie questions who she wants to be and what it means to truly live—and live well.

Deeply human questions about the meaning of life, love, and memory live at the heart of this lyrical, magical story. The setting flits effortless across decades and continents, and each one is as vivid as the last. Characters, too, seem to leap off the page, and Schwab’s writing is some of the best I’ve seen. Reading this book, I felt drunk on a sort of melancholy beauty. It’s a gorgeous, layered story, and one I plan on revisiting at different seasons of my life. I think it’s a book that entertains as well as educates, and I wonder what wisdom it will have for me next time I read it.

4.5/5 stars

Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

This book is sprawling … and the page count proves it. Although this book easily could have split into several novels, true fantasy lovers shouldn’t be intimated by the size. This is everything epic fantasy should be: nuanced, political, imaginative, character-driven, and lightly flavored with romance. Perhaps my favorite thing about The Priory of the Orange Tree is that it kept me guessing. Half the world hates and fears dragons; the other half adores and worships them. Characters from all over the world narrate this tale, and for several hundred pages, I could not decide who was right about the dragons!

The sustained mystery was impressive and added so much joy to my reading experience. Shannon so deeply immerses us into her characters’ lived experiences that we believe each and every one of them. We know they can’t all be right, but we can’t work out who is wrong. Thankfully, Shannon went the extra mile with this book and showed that—like in our world—the truth is often a combination of what different people believe.

Unfortunately, I found the ending lacking. Shannon’s strengths lie in character development and world-building, so I was disappointed that she opted for a full-scale war in the final chapters (a war that started and ended within a few pages, I might add). I wish we’d gotten to see a showdown between the main goodies and baddies instead; that wold have played to her strengths and fit the rest of the book. The ending left a sour taste of disappointment and confusion in my mouth, but the rest of the book is so beautiful and impressive that this book still makes my list with an impressive 4.5/5 stars.

*Book club read

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Half of this book felt very predictable to me. If you’ve read any Sarah J. Maas books you’ll know what to expect: sassy and strong women. Hot males. Enemies to lovers. She followed her predictable formula again in this novel, and it was satisfying—just like it always is. But then!

She actually surprised me with a few big plot twists, and the ending ripped my heart out. I think this ending is on par with the finale of the Throne of Glass series! Sarah J. Maas truly is the queen of epic endings. I love how she manages to pull a thousand plot threads together to deliver an edge of your seat, soul-satisfying ending. It never feels rushed or cliche; they are dynamic and full of heart (something that is often lacking in fantasy novels).

If the rest of the book had me as engaged as the last third, I’d give it a perfect score. As it stands, it’s a solid 4/5, and still easily earns a spot on this list.

Adult Fiction

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

The Stationery Shop is a mournfully beautiful book. The author effortlessly transported me to 1950s Iran, giving me a front row seat to revolution, hope, and heartbreak.

Near the end of the novel, I was so overcome I had to go lie down like a Victorian woman. Roya’s perspective on love and fate challenged my own, and although this book left me with a bit of an aching heart, I feel it also gifted me with deep wisdom. And that, more than anything, is why we read, isn’t it?

It’s books like this that teach us about what it means to be human. What it means to love and lose and love again that make me so insatiable for stories.

Knowing the world is terrible and beautiful and every love will break us at least a little, how should we live? How can we live well, with hope and gratitude rather than suspicion and bitterness? Great works of art help us to ask and answer that question, I think, and The Stationery Shop certainly helped me do that.

4/5 stars

The German Heiress by Anika Scott

We’ve all read WWII books, but how many books have we read from the perspective of complicit Germans? This book follows a young woman named Clara in the wake of WWII. She tried to help the Jews and alleviate suffering … but were her actions enough? It’s pretty rare to read coming of age novels about adults, and yet we watch as Clara journeys from naivety (or perhaps willful ignorance) toward self-awareness. There’s also a romance and plenty of action, so this book will satisfy about every type of book worm.

4/5 stars

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

This book has some flaws. The writing was a little clunky (we all know I enjoy elegant and lyrical prose), and sometimes I felt like Moyes was trying to teach me a lesson instead of just telling a story and letting me do the emotional work of applying it to my life … but. The women in this book captured my heart. They are broken, battered, and bruised, but as they develop friendships and unite over a shared purpose, they become resilient, strong, and compassionate. They are transformed into fuller versions of themselves, and it is a treat to witness.

3.5/5 stars

Thanks, everyone! I’m looking forward to a new year of reading. What’s on your list? What should I put on my list?

Best Young Adult Books of 2021

Hello, story lovers! It’s time for another yearly book round up. I read about half of number of books I usually do this year, but what a year it’s been! We’ve been living inside a pandemic, I graduated from my master’s degree, applied for a billion jobs, took a new job in a new state, finished writing and editing my own book … So many things were different this year—including my reading habits! I read less books than usual, but I also think that I’ve gotten better at selecting what books I read and especially what books I finish.

Before this year, I almost never gave up on books, but now I quit books halfway through all the time! As one of my friends on Twitter says, life is too short to read bad books. If you don’t like a book, even if everyone else seems to think it’s genius, it’s okay! Set it down. Find something else that speaks to you.

I’m only going to post two categories of books this year: adult and young adult. Several of my book club picks ended u on this list, so watch out for those (marked with *)!

Finally, let me know what you read and loved this year! I’m building out my list for 2022.

Young Adult Fantasy

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles is a sprawling, tender love story set amidst an infamous war. It’s a tragedy in slow motion, but so beautiful—and so human—you can’t look away.

Greek mythology buffs and casual readers alike will fall head over heels for this book and its nuanced characters. Madeline Miller’s prose shines as brightly as the gods. The tight pacing paired with deep character studies made me want to flip the pages faster and faster … and slow down and savor every word.

4.5/5 stars

Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Bardugo’s nuanced characterization of villains and heroes alike make these novels stand out among similar fantasy reads. When thematic writing is done well I can barely contain my glee, and I think Bardugo pulls it off. Her books explore themes of love, power, sacrifice through the lens of her complex characters. Alongside Alina, readers will wonder: Is love a weakness or a liability? Can we ever be loved unconditionally? How far would we go to protect our loved ones? Is choosing the lesser evil acceptable?

All in all, Shadow and Bone is a glittering dark fantasy series. The writing is quite elegant for a YA fantasy, but it never detracts from the action. And finally, the Darkling is one of the most developed, humanized villains I’ve ever read, and his connection with Alina kept me glued to these books with a sick sort of fascination.

4, 3, and 4.5/5 stars (in order of series)

Fable & Namesake by Adrienne Young

Namesake is more impressive than the sequel, Fable, but sometimes a pirate fantasy romp is just what you need. Plus, who doesn’t love a duology! It’s all the fun of a series without such a big commitment.

I definitely saw all the plot “twists” coming, but the high seas adventure, slow burn romance, and exploration of family and belonging still earn these books a spot on my list. I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this series!

3.5/5 stars

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This was another audiobook read for me, and I want to go back and read the print version. I got a little lost in the dream-like wonder of the story while listening; I felt like I couldn’t quite hold on to the main plot thread. However, the writing was so dazzling and the story concept so unique that I still really enjoyed this book.

Parts of this book are written in second person, so you truly feel like part of the story. You walk around the circus with the characters and experience it all first-hand. My only complaint is that the ending felt too convenient and tidy. Other than that, this is a highly original fantasy story that will captivate nearly everyone who picks it up.

3.5/5 stars

Honorable Mention: Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

Set against the backdrop of a mystical desert, Empire of Sand is a tale of love, power, and the choices that define us.

I adored this book’s unique magic system and the careful attention the author gave to her worldbuilding. I mean, come on. Dancing as a way to use magic? Sleeping gods whose dreams control reality? Everything from the costuming to politics to the architecture was detailed and compelling.

I struggled to connect with the main character, but the themes and worldbuilding were enough to keep me invested.

Finally, this book is based on the classic trope of two people who are forced into a marriage to survive … But I think it’s actually done well! Of course Mehr and Amun fall in love, but their relationship is based on mutual respect and love, and I will ship them forever. Give me more books where the love interests take turns saving each other, please!

I think I’m going to try the next book in the series in 2022.

3/5 stars

*Book club read

Young Adult Fiction

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews

This book shredded my heart and put it back together again. Sam and his older brother have been kicked out of multiple abusive households, and now they’re on the run trying to make a life for themselves. Avery has autism, so even though he’s older, Sam feels responsible for him. Sam breaks into people’s homes when they’re on vacation, but when a family comes home early and everyone assumes that Sam is friends with one of the other siblings, he starts to dream of having a real home and real family of his own. But his past is catching up with him, and time for a happy ending is running out.

This book has the most realistic family dynamics I’ve ever read in a book. Sam and Avery’s dysfunctional family reads like so many stories I know in my community, and even the happy home where Sam finds refuge has it’s own struggles and complexities. This book has everything I want in YA fiction: sibling banter, slow and innocent first love stories, nuanced coming of age themes, high emotional intelligence, breathtaking writing …

This book is for everyone who yearns for a place to belong. For all of us who had to grow up too fast and take on too much responsibility too soon. For everyone wondering if they deserve love or even a future. For all the pastors, teachers, social workers, therapists, and other care providers. This book is for people with a beating heart.

Trigger warning for abuse, violence, and trauma.

4.5/5 stars

*Book club read

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

In this YA historical fiction novel, Traci Chee delivers a book that burns with pain and hope. Rather than letting one win out in the end, she lets them sit side-by-side. The story—and I—am better for it.

We Are Not Free is a book that needs no introduction or sales pitch; it speaks for itself. Please. Please, read it.

We Are Not Free is brought to life by multiple narrators, and the plot spans several years both inside and outside the prison camps where Japanese Americans were wrongfully incarcerated during WWII. While reading, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to America today. This book challenged, humbled, and encouraged me.

Stories matter. They have power. Literature is protest and art and, in special cases like this, it’s prophetic. May we listen, learn, and love. May we do much, much better.

4.5/5 stars

*Book club read

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Although there are two small romances in this book, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the main story actually revolves around a pair of sisters! When Abby takes a DNA test and discovers she has an older sister, the girls make plans to meet up at summer camp. While unraveling the mystery of their birth, painful family secrets are unearthed.

It’s an outrageous scenario, but the family dynamics (parent-child and sibling-sibling) felt pretty honest to me. Abby and Savannah are complete opposites, and while that created tension in their relationship at first, they eventually gain enough trust and love to start learning from one another.

The summer camp setting is nostalgic and fun without being cheesy, and I really enjoyed seeing both girls come of age in different ways. Lots of YA books fail to achieve realistic (or any) character growth, but Abby and Savannah grow in satisfying and believable ways. That’s a huge win for me! I’d like to see more of that in YA in 2022.

4/5 stars

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Namey Taylor

Filled with baking, romance, and English charm, this book is the perfect cozy read.

And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow features a Cuban-American heroine, detailed and funny prose, and one of the most sincere coming-of-age stories I’ve read in a YA rom com. So pick up your favorite treat and tea, and settle in.

4.5/5 stars

That’s it for now, book lovers! Thanks for checking in. Let me know your favorite books of 2021!

An Ode to Michigan in July

An Ode to Michigan in July

It’s wildflowers lining the highway and filling the median. It’s knee high cornflowers and Queen Anne’s lace stretching toward the sun.

It’s blueberry and cherry everything. Your fridge and freezer now exist to store fruit.

It’s hazy skies and lake water that’s finally warm enough to swim in without shivering.

It’s bonfires and barbecues. Sunsets and watermelons chewed to the rind.

It’s long nights that feel so full of magic they might burst. It’s pretending the nights aren’t getting shorter, that the dark isn’t falling faster.

It’s mosquito bites and sleeping with the fan on and remembering what it was like to be a child on summer vacation.

It’s lightning bugs you might mistake for fairies frolicking in fields.

It’s falling asleep to lullabies in the form of thunderstorms.

It’s spotting the first gold and red leaves dotting the sidewalk; you’re tempted to pick them up and hide them away.

It’s rainbows playing in sprinklers and arcing across storm-faded skies.

It’s ice cream dates and reading at the beach. Sand in your sheets and skin sticky with the last layer of sunscreen that never quite washes off.

It’s road trips and iced tea on the deck. It’s slow, lazy days that funnel into a whirlwind.

July stretches on and on, full of a thousand small delights, until it ends almost unexpectedly, leaving me greedy for more, but grateful for what it gave.

See this on my Instagram!

Dear Nesta

I recently finished reading A Court of Silver Flames, and that night, I sat down and wrote a letter to the main character. Enjoy, bookworms!

Dear Nesta, 

For so long, you couldn’t believe that you were lovable. You told yourself that you didn’t deserve to be loved—not by your sisters, your father, Amren, or even Cassian. You believed you were a monster; and you set out to prove it to the world. You tried to make it impossible for anyone to love you because you couldn’t imagine a world in which kindness, love, and generosity were anything but pity disguised as love.

Over months and years, you started forming yourself into a version of Nesta that you could bear—and then, a version of yourself that you sometimes even liked. This Nesta, you think, deserves love. Or at least she is closer to deserving love. She could become someone who deserves to be loved. 

So you’re making amends. You’re tearing down walls and letting people see you instead of hiding behind a snarling, venomous—or indifferent—facade. You are starting to dare to imagine that you—even you—deserve to be loved. But can I tell you a secret?

Love isn’t about what we deserve. Love is sheer grace. Love can’t be earned; it’s a gift. Love blooms unexpectedly. Slowly, sometimes, like a tree. And other times, love bursts into being so quickly, so hot and bright it’s like a star birthing a galaxy. Out of nothing, suddenly there is something—everything.

Love looks at the very best and the very worst of us and says, “I see you. I choose you. I will stand by you: no matter what.” That’s the way you love, Nesta. Now it’s time to trust that it’s the way people want to love you.

It’s time to take Cassian’s extended hand. That’s what love is! Love is a hand reaching out over and over. A hand ready to comfort, encourage, tease, rejoice … Take the hand, Nesta. Take Cassian’s hand. Amren’s hand. Feyre’s hand. Gwyn and Emerie and Elain’s hands … 

You don’t need to deserve it. You just need to take the hand, and hold on tight. So go on. You’re ready.

Best Young Adult Books of 2020

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I started the Throne of Glass series at the end of 2019 and spent the first few weeks of 2020 finishing it! These may have been my first reads of 2020 … but I am literally still talking about them. I will fangirl about these characters to ANYONE who will listen.

Most novels follow one major plot line with a few subplots, but Maas effortlessly juggles multiple plot lines, each with their own sets of characters, and by the end of Kingdom of Ash, she brings them all together for an unforgettable ending.

I want to tell you everything! But you just have to discover this world and all it’s broken, beautiful characters for yourself. I’m not saying you won’t be emotionally devastated … but I am saying it will be more than worth it.

It seems like I’ve been waiting to read this series my whole life. Throne of Glass takes everything I love about YA fantasy and intensifies it. The stakes are higher, the magic system is intricate and deadly, the relationships are complex and ever-changing, and characters must learn to live and love again after trauma tears them to pieces.

*Give this to readers age 16 and up. There is some sexual content, but more importantly, the themes are quite dark. This series might be distressing to young readers, and I think a lot of the powerful, mature themes would be lost on a younger audience. I am actually grateful to have read this as a 20-something because I found so much of my own experience reflected back to me in its pages. I saw myself, found grace for myself, and discovered new ways to be courageous and hopeful.

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

Next up: another Sarah J. Maas series! Throne of Glass certainly has some swoon-worthy romances, but at it’s heart, it’s still a fantasy epic. This series, on the other hand, is a romance first, second, and last. Sure, there’s a plot and some world building … but it all takes a backseat to the romance. And sometimes, a lush and dangerous romance is exactly what we need.

Maas is a master of character development. For me, Feyre isn’t a particularly likable character at first … but I don’t think she’s supposed to be. But as the books go on and she experiences the first measures of safety and comfort in her life, and then terrible trauma, she miraculously learns how to dream. Feyre used to only care about her own survival, but she becomes someone generous and brave and loyal, someone with grand dreams for her life and her world. It’s an honor to follow her on that journey over a few hundred pages.

Thankfully I haven’t been traumatized to the level of Sarah J. Maas’ poor characters, but I do know trauma, and reading TOG and ACOTAR has been a companion with me on my healing journey this past year. When I wake up sweating from nightmares, it doesn’t feel like a failure or a regression anymore. It feels like a normal response, and I hear Mor’s advice right alongside my therapists’: “There are good days and bad days. Don’t let the bad days win.” If Feyre and Rhys, Aelin and Rowan, can learn how to love and hope and dream on the other side of trauma, I can too.

So yes, this is a smutty romance series … but it’s also a lot more than that.

*This series has several very detailed sex scenes and lots of sexual language. Give it to mature readers.

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

A fantasy heist! As if that’s not enough to get your attention, this duology features a diverse cast of characters and plenty of sneaky twists and turns. No matter how much you think you know, you don’t know the half of it.

I loved this series for the banter, the adventure, and the slow reveal of characters’ intricate backstories and inner lives.

Crooked Kingdom dragged in the middle for me, but the ending was satisfying, and overall, I think this is an excellent series. I am excited to read the other books set in Bardugo’s Grishaverse!

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This is a book for people who loves stories and love to dream. It’s lyrical, funny, surprising, and moving. I cried at least four times reading this book, and never for the same reason.

Strange the Dreamer reminds us that heroes can be monsters, and monsters can be heroes. No one is just all one thing.

This book is so well written it *almost* seems like it should qualify as literary fiction instead of YA fantasy, but then again, I will be the first to say that YA fantasy is real literature. This book just proves it.

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

Scavenge the Stars is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo … which I know nothing about. So I’m not here to say whether or not it was a good retelling, I’m just here to say this was a fun read.

This YA romp is part pirate novel, part revenge story, part romance, and part spy book. Near the end, a few loose threads are left dangling, and a few are tied up too neatly, but overall, Sim really delivers a book that nearly every kind of reader will enjoy. This was one of my book club’s picks this year, and even our pickiest readers had good things to say about it.

On the surface, this book is all fluff and fun, but I really enjoyed the careful exploration of identity. No spoilers here, but if you pick up the book, pay attention to how Amaya and Cayo self-define and redefine throughout the story.

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Without realizing they were written by the same author, I read Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns nearly back to back this year! There was a lot to love in an Enchantment of Ravens: a relatable heroine, clever and gorgeous world building of the fae variety, and sassy banter. But the second half of the book wanders. The plot fizzles out and the ending left me confused and dissatisfied.

Rogerson is a gifted writer, she just needed some practice! And we are blessed with the results in Sorcery of Thorns.

Elizabeth is a refreshing twist on the “strong female character.” She is remarkably well-balanced! She is realistically naive about the world, and she is also brave, smart, kind, and resourceful. She does end up wielding a sword … but only to defend herself from books that transform into monsters, so I hardly think we can dismiss that as a trope.

Sorcery of Thorns balances important themes of love, sacrifice, and identity, but we also get libraries that come to life and sassy banter, so I’m really not sure how much more we could ask for!

Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The Queen of Nothing is the final book in the Folk of the Air trilogy. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think it was as delightfully wicked as the first two books in the series. I loved how twisty the plot and twisted the characters were in The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King, and that’s exactly what was missing in this book. Instead of keeping me guessing and flabbergasted, the plot felt predictable, and even the darkest characters felt a little tame in the finale.

But, this book still made it into my favorite list! Black is a great storyteller, and even though I missed some of the darkness that permeated the first two books, The Queen of Nothing brings us to a satisfying end of this series.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Normally, YA contemporary romance is not my thing, but the pandemic changed us all, and this winter, what I really needed was fluffy teen romance. Starry Eyes delivered and then sent me on a quest for more (leading to the next title on the list).

Cheesy, predictable, and satisfying as a slice of your favorite pizza: this is comfort food in book form. I mean, come on! Lennon and Zorie, once best friends and now something next-door to enemies, are left alone in the wilderness together when their friends ditch them during the night on a hiking trip? We know they’re going to fall for each other! And we are here for every delicious banter-filled moment of it.

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

A seriously swoony retelling of You’ve Got Mail written by one of the queen of the YA romance genre.

In addition to being a satisfying rom-com, Alex, Approximately attempts to take on some serious teen issues … and it mostly succeeds. The main character, Bailey, experiences some major character development, but at times her growth feels a little too sudden and unrealistic (especially without the help of a good therapist). Still. The flirting was on-point and this audiobook was the perfect companion for long, dark nights of puzzling alone in my apartment.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

I either love or hate John Green Books, and this one falls distinctly in the love category. You can tell when a YA author doesn’t actually know any real life teenagers, and if Green has a flaw, this is not it. He understands and even likes teenagers, and it shines through in his writing.

Turtles All the Way Down is alternately beautiful, haunting, and funny. It’s deeply honest. This book’s portrayal of friendship and mental illness, specifically OCD, will be with me for a long time.

Part of what makes Aza’s story so believable and moving is that, like her, John Green also has OCD, and Aza’s experience flows partly out of his own life. Even if you don’t live with mental illness, I think you’ll see yourself in Aza because ultimately, she’s not just a girl with OCD. She’s human, and this story is deeply, deeply human.

It’s a story about all of us. It’s a story about love in all its forms Like Green says, “Love is both how we become a person and why.”

And that’s it! Another year of reading is behind us. Now it’s your turn to tell me. What were your favorite reads this year? What are you looking forward to in 2020? What should I read next?

Best Middle Grade Books of 2020

My list of favorite middle grade books is short this year. Usually I have a hard time narrowing down my top picks, but this year, I had the opposite problem! I don’t know if I read less middle grade this year, or if just read a lot of mediocre middle grade novels this year. But either way, I still have a few gems to share with you. So here we go!

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

I read this outside on a lazy summer afternoon, and it was the perfect companion. The Tea Dragon Society is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel with adorable tea dragons as well as effortless POC and LGBTQ+ representation. Treat yourself to a little magic and whimsy and pick up this book.

Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger

Hadley is having a rough summer. Her mom’s in jail, she’s being forced to move in with her estranged sister, and … she’s going blind. Enter: a very sullen and stubborn dog named Lila. Over the summer, Hadley and Lila learn to love, trust, and hope again in this heartfelt tale that’s an ode to growing up and living with disability.

(This book is written by an author with a visual impairment.)

In the Role of Brie Hutchens … by Nicole Melleby

In The Role of Brie Hutchens ... is full of theater shenanigans, complicated and realistic family dynamics, friendship, and those strange new romantic feelings that begin to bloom in middle school (LGBTQ+). But what I loved most about this book is the flawed characters. Brie starts off the novel by telling her mom a lie that rapidly spins out of her control. Throughout the course of the novel she grows and changes in some significant ways, but she remains a teen girl. Brie remains flawed and real and unfinished and wonderful; and that’s what I love the most.

Nicole Melleby is also the author of Hurricane Season (another middle grade novel with LGBTQ+ representation), which was one of my honorable mention titles from 2019.

Rock Stars! by Steve Bramucci

This book features three real-life stories of incredible rock climbers taking on challenging climbs around the world. Like the other books in the series, Rock Stars! makes good use of vocab words to help young readers learn about something that might be new to them.

Best Children’s Books of 2020

Welcome back, story lovers! Today we’ll be taking a brief look at the best children’s books I read in 2020. Comment below! I’d love to hear what you read this year.

How Much is a Little Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander

Rachael Denhollander, fierce advocate and survivor of sexual abuse, brings the empowering message of her book What Is a Girl Worth? to a much younger audience with this children’s book. The text is unabashedly Christian, but avoids being cheesy by sticking to simple truths about God’s love for all God’s daughters. The gorgeous illustrations—picturing a diverse cast of girls and their mothers—make this book a must-have for any household with a little girl.

* This is now my go-to book for baby showers!

Charlie and Mouse Outdoors by Laurel Snyder

Another delightful addition to the Charlie & Mouse series! In this book, Charlie and Mouse go camping … and their imaginations run wild. I dare you to read a Charlie & Mouse book without crying and laughing at least once. Just go on and try.

Arnold and Louise: Lost and Found by Erica S. Perl

Arnold and Louise are best friends, but they are complete opposites! Sometimes, it’s hard to be friends with someone who is so different from you. .

Each book in this series showcases an important lesson about friendship, but the moral of the story never gets in the way of the narrative. The characters are vibrant and relatable, the dialogue is funny, and the friendship always shines.

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business kicks off a cute new series about a Korean American girl and her dad. These books are short, but they pack a lot of punch! In this book, Mindy navigates grief in the wake of her mom’s death, a new town and a new school, and her own Korean-American identity. Mindy Kim will be a great companion for raising up kind, thoughtful kids.

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao by Helaine Becker

A short, but fascinating historical fiction piece about the oft-overlooked Pirate Queen. This book will please adventure-lovers and history enthusiasts of all ages.

Thanks for tuning in! Have you read any of the books on this list? What should I read next year? I’d love to connect with you in the comments section.

Best Nonfiction of 2020

Hello, story lovers! We’re back for another roundup of my favorite books of the year. This year, to everyone’s shock, we’re starting off with my favorite non-fiction books. Nonfiction usually doesn’t impress me. I read it for information and move on. But this year, I found a few nonfiction books that became companions. So here they are:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This … might be the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read. Kimmerer’s voice is nothing short of prophetic. Braiding Sweetgrass blends science, poetic prose, and Native American culture into a compelling narrative that demands we take a good look at ourselves and our world. See the beauty of the world, she begs us. See the pain. Learn to care about it all.

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey

This book is a tender, passionate exploration of a faith that is ever changing. God is constant, but from wherever we are, we can catch only a glimpse. Sarah reminds us that as we move through the world, growing and changing and daring to ask new questions, we will be surprised by God over and over again. And thank goodness for that! We can never come to the end of the divine love and mystery. There is always more. Always.

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler

I’d heard a lot of hype about this book, and it did not disappoint. Kate, whom I had the pleasure of working for last summer, gets honest about suffering. This book is raw. It will make you laugh and make you weep. Read this book if you are tired of the way culture and the American church bypasses suffering and grief. Read this book if you need to feel affirmed in your fragile, beautiful humanity. Read this book if you’re a support person or care giver. Just read this book!

Leaving Church by Barbara Brown Taylor

The experiences Barbara Brown Taylor recounts in Leaving Church basically confirmed all my worst fears about entering ministry, and yet, at the end of the book, I found myself hopeful. She casts a vision of community and of being upheld by the Holy Spirit that’s impossible to resist. I don’t think you will ever regret reading a single book, article, or sermon by Barbra Brown Taylor. She is a true gem.

Disunity in Christ by Christena Cleveland

Christena Cleveland cleverly, carefully explains why human beings divide themselves into groups. This book is scholarly and accessible–and even funny. The social psychology aspect was fascinating, but what I most appreciated from Disunity in Christ was the practicalities. This would make a great book study for any small group, church leadership team, or non-profit committed to the work of racial reconciliation and experiencing the fullness of the Body of Christ.

Let’s Not Get Tired of Doing Good: On Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech, hope, and the grit to continue on

For the first time in my lifetime, for the first time in anyone’s lifetime—when little girls say they are going to grow up to be the President of the United States, we can offer them more than an indulgent smile. For the first time: that feels like a real option, a real possibility.

When I watched Vice President elect Kamala Harris’ speech, I wept, utterly overwhelmed with joy, relief, gratitude, hope. We live in debt to the women who came before us and fought for our very rights to speak and work and vote. To them I say: We are so grateful. And we will not let you down. We will keep speaking and protesting and rallying and voting. We will vote for love, justice, mercy. We will vote for the health and wellness and flourishing of all peoples and of the very land we live on. 

Watching her speech, my tears started slow and built to a dizzying crescendo that left no room for air. And so my weeping turned to laughter and I stumbled around my apartment, laughing and crying hysterically, drowning in this moment and all the feelings it uncovered. For months I’ve been living in dread, my hope hanging on by a well-worn thread. My confidence in Jesus’ kingship remained, but I doubted my fellow country-people. A little of my hope in them is restored today. I am ready to commit to them again and to work alongside them for unity and peace and flourishing and progress. 

I’m not sure I ever thought this day would come. I dreamed of it, but it was only a dream. It felt as etherial as mist and I wasn’t sure we would ever find a way to wrap our fingers around it. But here we are. And so I wept and laughed until I wondered if I had perhaps tipped over the other side of crazy.

But now I am—now we are—settling into a new reality. A new world. Doesn’t it feel like a new world? This world our ancestors—the women and men who came before us—fought so hard for? It feels like we have a chance to make the world better. Like we have a chance to live up to the beautiful ideals of our country. 

I was getting so tired. I was still in the fight, but my feet were dragging and my heart was heavy. Now I’m all in again. My heart is still heavy and my feet are as tired as ever, but I feel propped up by the great cloud of witnesses. I feel less alone. Hope is all around us, and even if it’s just a glimmer and just for today, it is enough. It is enough to keep me in the race and to make my voice louder and bolder.

For the past months, I’ve been writing sermons and Instagram posts and messages to friends that went like this: let’s not give up on doing good! Because that was what I needed to hear. I needed to be reminded constantly. I’ll still need that reminder, but today, those words feels like a rallying cry:

Let’s not give up on doing good! It brought us here. Think where else we could go!

Best Young Adult Books of 2019

Hello story lovers! I can’t believe it’s time for another round up. But here they are! Like usual, I’ll be dividing up my favorite reads of the year into three posts: one each for children’s, middle grade, and young adult books.

Sirens and faeries: that’s the theme from my favorite YA books this year. Of course mermaid books always make it onto my best-of lists, but the faerie books are a bit surprising. Most faerie books leave me yawning, but this year, I found not just one, but two series about faeries to love! I think what made the difference was darkness. Not just some faeries getting into mischief, but actual twisty characters and plots that left me shivering with delightful dread. Actually, the same could be said for a few of the mermaid books too. I guess I really enjoyed dark YA this year! (But not to worry. There are some bright and happy titles on the list too.)

Ready? Here we go!

The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black

I put off reading this series for a long time. What a mistake! The intriguing thing about these books is that the main character isn’t all that likable. But in a slightly concerning way, she’s relatable in her quest for power and her need to be belong and to be in control. And I know, I know! I-hate-you-so-much-I-might-love-you romances are cliche and unhealthy… but damn. Holly Black does it well.

I have not gotten around to reading the final book in the series yet, but it will be one of my first reads in 2020! I can’t handle the suspense much longer. The Wicked King ends on such a shocking cliffhanger!

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I am three books into this series and … they are the best books I’ve ever read?! This is another series I was skeptical of! I do not like Maas’ Court of Thorns and Roses series, so I assumed I wouldn’t like this series either. But I was so wrong.

The Throne of Glass books are sexy without ever descending into erotica, and the plot is masterful. I can barely keep up with all the twists and turns and revelations and secrets. These books almost remind me of the Queen’s Thief series in that the main characters keep lots of secrets from the readers, and vital, world-changing information is slowly revealed as the series goes on. The characterization is superb, and Maas juggles multiple plot threads with ease. There’s humor and sass, betrayal, swoon-worthy love, stunning world-building. . . . 

You can’t miss this series!

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

To Kill a Kingdom is a dark, seductive retelling of the Little Mermaid. I’m still not sure if this siren tale is more ghastly or beautiful, but I am grateful for every shiver-worthy sentence.

Both the main characters in this novel are caught between wishing for and fearing the monster within themselves. Does Lira truly want to be evil? Can Elian defeat evil without becoming a monster himself?

Themes of loyalty and identity run deep, and the sly romance, witty dialogue, and stunning lyrical prose easily slide this book into one of favorite reads.

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

About a quarter of the way into this book I had to accept that this was not a book about mermaids, but even so, I loved it. At its core, Crown of Coral and Pearl is a tale of sisterhood, beauty, and growing up, learning to trust your own inner strength.

What really makes this book shine is the prose. Each line is a work of art, each chapter a treasure.

Unfortunately, the ending was severely rushed, but if not for that, this would have been a nearly perfect novel. A sequel is scheduled for 2020, so we’ll see what Rutherford does next. Maybe she can redeem that ending.

Daughter of the Pirate King series by Tricia Levenseller

Oh, look. Another book featuring a sassy, kick-ass heroine. Sorry, not sorry!

I will admit the first book in this series is better, but the second book has enough fun and romance to make it worth the read. Daughter of the Pirate King might just surprise you. This story, and this girl, are more than they appear. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that there are a few clever twists and surprises that set this book apart from others like it.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This is yet another book I’ve always avoided and now love! Hilarious and heartwarming don’t seem like big enough words for this novel, but what else is there to say? The Wednesday Wars is funnier than it has a right to be, but it’s not just funny. It’s real and true. The characters feel like real people with ordinary hopes and fears and problems, and for that, we love them and we learn alongside them.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

I read this in a single sitting, and highly recommend doing so. Graphic novels are such a unique reading experience. With so very little text, so much is conveyed! More so than other graphic novels I’ve read, The Prince and the Dressmaker was dripping with emotion. The plot was a bit predictable, but I found myself bonding with the characters, and any book that can make me giggle and feel something is a winner.

So that’s it. My favorite books of the year!

Now I’d love to hear from you. What did you read this year? Give me suggestions for building my 2020 reading list!