1st Quarter of 2021

I can’t believe that it’s already 2021 and I’m recapping the first quarter! My goal is 100 books again this year (who knows if it’s going to work ‍♀️), and so far I’m on track for it! I read a lot of brain candy the first quarter, but also read some incredible books as well! I’m still working off a list and I’m constantly raiding the new book section at the library.

1. The Wednesday Letters: Jason F. Wright
2. The Searcher: Tana French
3. Woman in Red: Eileen Goudge
4. The Dutch House: Ann Patchett
5. Anxious People: Fredrik Backman
6. Silver Girl: Elin Hilderbrand
7. The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs: Katherine How
8. Perennials: Julie Cantrell
9. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: Kim Michele Richardson

10. Virgin River: Robyn Carr
11. The Wives: Tarryn Fisher
12. Good as Gone: Amy Gentry
13. The Favorite Sister: Jessica Knoll
14. The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux: Samantha Verant
15. The Devil and the Dark Water: Stuart Turton
16. The Island of Sea Women: Lisa See
17. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane: Lisa See
18. In the Fall: Jeffrey Lent

19. A Girl Named Zippy: Haven Kimmel
20. I Do But I Don’t: Cara Lockwood
21. Troubles in Paradise: Elin Hilderbrand
22. Pretty Little Wife: Darby Kane
23. The Secrets of Winter: Nicola Upson
24. The Turn of the Key: Ruth Ware
25. All the Light We Cannot See: Anthony Doerr
26. Migrations: Charlotte McConaghy
27. The Sun Down Motel: Simone St. James

Top favorites this quarter were: Anxious People, The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, A Girl Named Zippy, The Turn of the Key, All the Light We Cannot See, and Migrations.

Anxious People: We all know I’m a HUGE Fredrik Backman fan and I absolutely LOVED his newest book! There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming and I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I finished. It was one of my favorites of his thus far!

The Island of Sea Women: This one came highly recommended and I can see why! It follows two best friends who are professional sea divers on the Korean island of Jeju before the Korean War, and while parts were wildly tragic, I couldn’t put it down.  I was so fascinated with the history involved that I actually went on a deep dive (no pun intended) and learned all about the haenyeo and the dying art. I HIGHLY recommend it.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane: Another unbelievable novel by Lisa See (I actually read these back to back and loved them). I’d had this one for a while and kept putting it off until I finished The Island of Sea Women. Tea Girl follows the life of a young woman from a remote Chinese village whose entire culture is shaped by tea farming and her advancement through life. It was a beautiful masterpiece, full of the history of tea farming and production.

A Girl Named Zippy: This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I’ve read it approximately 15 times and love it every single time. It’s a memoir about life in a tiny town in Indiana and the author’s quirky family members and friends who helped shape her life. Truly one of my all-time favorites, and it’s such a great, fun & quick read!!

The Turn of the Key: Ruth Ware does the best/weirdest thrillers and this one was no exception. It wasn’t until the very end that I got the twist – and I definitely couldn’t put this one down!

All the Light We Cannot See: This was LONG but fully worth it. Set during WWII, it follows a blind French girl & German soldier throughout the years leading up to the siege of Saint Malo, a village in France. It was SO WELL researched and written and although it was long, it was fully worth it.

Migrations: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. Set in the future, it follows a woman who is trying to follow the migration of the last living Arctic Terns from Greenland to Antarctica. It was poignant, sad, and thought-provoking (and short).

I’ve read quite a few already for the second quarter, but as always, if you have any recommendations, let me know!!