Mid-Year Check-In: The Best (and Worst) Books and Audiobooks of 2021

Is it just me or does it feel like life has been moving incredibly slow and insanely fast this year? While we’re slightly over halfway through 2021, my reading goal for the year (60 books or audiobooks) is well ahead of schedule.

Of the 43 books completed, most have been relatively mediocre with only five solidly five-star reads a few more strong recommendations. This mid-year assessment has motivated me to be a bit more particular in my back-half book selecting, opting to dive into some long-gestating TBRs instead of chasing the latest release.

Overall Favorite Book: “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong

Best Audiobook Narration: Marin Ireland in “Nothing to See Here” by Kevin Wilson

Five-Star Reads:

• “Ring Shout” by P. Djèlí Clark

•  “A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness

• “The Beast in the Garden: The True Story of a Predator’s Deadly Return to Suburban America” by David Baron

• “Mama’s Boy: A Story From Our Americas” by Dustin Lance Black

Five-Star Narrations:

• Barack Obama in his memoir, “A Promised Land”

• Trevor Noah in his memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood”

• Channie Waites in “Ring Shout”

• Julia Whelan in “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah

• Joel de la Fuenta in “Interior Chinatown” by Charles Yu

Least Favorite Reads and Listens:

• “Pretty Girls” by Karin Slaughter

• “Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life” by Christie Tate (least favorite in both categories)

• “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro

• “On Cats” by Charles Bukowski

• “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backman

What are your top reads (or listens) of 2021 thus far?