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That's a Wrap!
- 1. Cece Rios and the King of Fears by Kaela Rivera (Jan)
- 2. Bastille Vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson (Jan)
- 3. Sunny by Jason Reynolds [audio] (Jan)
- 4. The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green (Jan)
- 5. Madwoman by Louisa Treger (Jan)
- 6. The Art of the Decoy by Trish Esden (Jan)
- 7. Ten Days a Madwoman by Deborah Noyes (Jan)
- 8. Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates (Jan)
- 9. Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire* (Jan)
- 10. The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong [audio] (Jan)
- 11. Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron (Jan)
- 12. Exiles by Jane Harper* (Jan)
- 13. The Stranded by Sarah Daniels (Jan)
- 14. No Strangers Here by Carlene O'Connor (Jan)
- 15. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber [audio] (Jan)
- 16. All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (Jan)
- 17. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (Jan)
- 18. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden [audio] (Jan)
- 19. The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho (Feb)
- 20. Five Survive by Holly Jackson (Feb)
- 21. Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey* (Feb)
- 22. The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart (Feb)
- 23. The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong* (Feb)
- 24. The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram (Feb)
- 25. Falling for Korea by Piper Jean (Feb)
- 26. Without the Mask: Coming Out and Coming Into God's Light by Charlie Bird* (Feb)
- 27. American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson (Feb)
- 28. Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker [audio] (Feb)
- 29. Her Little Flowers by Shannon Morgan (Feb)
- 30. The Silence by Susan Alcott (Feb)
- 31. Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family by Erika Hayasaki (Feb)
- 32. In Bitter Chill by Sarah Ward (Feb)
- 33. The Lost Wonderland Diaries by J. Scott Savage (Feb)
- 34. Secrets of the Looking Glass by J. Scott Savage (Feb)
- 35. In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park (Feb)
- 36. The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation by Rosemary Simpson [audio] (Feb)
- 37. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds [audio] (Mar)
- 38. Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare (Mar)
- 39. Murder Off the Books by Tamara Berry* (Mar)
- 40. The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon (Mar)
- 41. The Opera Sisters by Marianne Monson (Mar)
- 42. Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country in the World by Sarah Smarsh [audio] (Mar)
- 43. The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis (Mar)
- 44. This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong* (Mar)
- 45. Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong* (Mar)
- 46. Courts and Alleys by Elizabeth J. Stewart (Mar)
- 47. A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly (Mar)
- 48. In the Shadow of a Queen by H.B. Moore (Mar)
- 49. The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede* (Mar)
- 50. The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd [audio] (Mar}
- 51. Book Lovers by Emily Henry [audio] (Apr)
- 52. A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon* (Apr)
- 53. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (Apr)
- 54. The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore (Apr)
- 55. A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Apr)
- 56. Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley (Apr)
- 57. Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley (Apr)
- 58. The Swell by Allie Reynolds (Apr)
- 59. Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley (Apr)
- 60. The Wedding Dress Sewing Cirlce by Jennifer Ryan (Apr)
- 61. To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia (Apr)
- 62. Lone Women by Victor LaValle (Apr)
- 63. Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong* [audio] (Apr)
- 64. The Close by Jane Casey* (May)
- 65. Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien (May)
- 66. The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs* (May)
- 67. The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden (May)
- 68. The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie (May)
- 69. Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke (May)
- 70. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark (May)
- 71. A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong* [audio] (May)
- 72. Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke (May)
- 73. The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas (May)
- 74. Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer* [audio] (May)
- 75. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (May)
- 76. The Gone Dead by Chanelle Benz (May)
- 77. The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong* (May)
- 78. Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan (May)
- 79. Zero Days by Ruth Ware (Jun)
- 80. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson [re-read] (Jun)
- 81. Home Away From Home by Cynthia Lord (Jun)
- 82. Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen [audio] (Jun)
- 83. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Jun)
- 84. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Jun)
- 85. Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths [audio] (Jun)
- 86. On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis (Jun)
- 87. A Simple Plan by Scott Smith (Jun)
- 88. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser (Jun)
- 89. In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth C. Bunce* [audio] (Jun)
- 90. I Lived On Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin (Jun)
- 91. The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate (Jun)
- 92. Stiff by Mary Roach (Jun)
- 93. The Talk by Darrin Bell* (Jun)
- 94. Surrender by Bono (Jul)
- 95. The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda (Jul)
- 96. Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA by Richard Hill (Jul)
- 97. A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones [audio] (Jul)
- 98. A Sky Full of Song by Susan Lynn Meyer (Jul)
- 99. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (Jul)
- 100. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (Jul)
- 101. A Gathering Of Days by Joan W. Blos (Jul)
- 102. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney* [audio] (Jul)
- 103. What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross (Jul)
- 104. Enchanted Hill by Emily Bain Murphy (Jul)
- 105. Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen [audio] (Jul)
- 106. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë* [re-read] (Jul)
- 107. The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan (Aug)
- 108. Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan [audio] (Aug)
- 109. O' Artful Death by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Aug)
- 110. Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow* (Aug)
- 111. What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski (Aug)
- 112. Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy (Aug)
- 113. The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor (Aug)
- 114. Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess (Aug)
- 115. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Aug)
- 116. Adrift by Lisa Brideau (Aug)
- 117. 102 Days of Lying About Lauren by Maura Jortner (Aug)
- 118. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd [audio] (Aug)
- 119. Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison (Aug)
- 120. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado (Aug)
- 121. Get Well Soon by Jennifer Wright (Aug)
- 122. Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower (Aug)
- 123. Anatomy by Dana Schwartz [audio] (Aug)
- 124. Goldilocks by Laura Lam (Aug)
- 125. The Codebreaker's Secret by Sara Ackerman (Aug)
- 126. The Unbreakable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher (Aug)
- 127. The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil [audio] (Aug)
- 128. All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers (Aug)
- 129. The Search for Us by Susan Azim Boyer (Aug)
- 130. Little Wonders by Kate Rorick (Aug)
- 131. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman* (Aug)
- 132. I Survived The Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 by Lauren Tarshis (Aug)
- 133. The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman (Sep)
- 134. How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller (Sep)
- 135. The Vanishing Violin by Michael D. Beil (Sep)
- 136. The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne (Sep)
- 137. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming (Sep)
- 138. Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (Sep)
- 139. Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig (Sep)
- 140. Yarned and Dangerous by Sadie Hartwell (Sep)
- 141. Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster [audio] (Sep)
- 142. Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy (Sep)
- 143. Murder By Degrees by Ritu Mukerji (Sep)
- 144. Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese (Sep)
- 145. Off the Grid by Tess Sharpe (Sep)
- 146. Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke (Sep)
- 147. Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan (Sep)
- 148. Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (Sep)
- 149. All the Small Poems and Fourteen More by Valerie Worth (Sep)
- 150. Like Vanessa by Tami Charles [audio] (Sep)
- 151. Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford (Sep)
- 152. Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley (Sep)
- 153. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (Oct)
- 154. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Oct)
- 155. Beer and Loathing by Ellie Alexander (Oct)
- 156. A Brew to a Kill by Ellie Alexander (Oct)
- 157. My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows* [audio] (Oct)
- 158. Solito by Javier Zamora (Oct)
- 159. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch (Oct)
- 160. The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott (Oct)
- 161. The Secret of Snow by VIola Shipman [audio] (Oct)
- 162. The Sewing Machine by Natalie Fergie (Oct)
- 163. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi (Oct)
- 164. Your Second Act by Patricia Heaton (Oct)
- 165. A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi [audio] (Oct)
- 166. Eventide by Sarah Goodman (Oct)
- 167. Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center* (Oct)
- 168. The Inn Between by Marina Cohen (Oct)
- 169. Finally Seen by Kelly Yang (Oct)
- 170. Devil By the Tail by Jeanne Matthews (Oct)
- 171. The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm* (Nov)
- 172. Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. [audio] (Nov)
- 173. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Nov)
- 174. The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict (Nov)
- 175. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (Nov)
- 176. River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer (Nov)
- 177. The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters (Nov)
- 178. The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor (Nov)
- 179. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White* (Nov)
- 180. Austenland by Shannon Hale (Nov)
- 181. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree* (Nov)
- 182. The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl (Nov)
- 183. Year of No Sugar by Eve O. Schaub (Nov)
- 184. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (Nov)
- 185. Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer (Nov)
- 186. Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins (Nov)
- 187. Murder at Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong* [audio] (Nov)
- 188. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla (Nov)
- 189. Miracle by Karen S. Chow (Nov)
- 190. Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers (Nov)
- 191. The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston (Nov)
- 192. The Great Kid in the World by John David Anderson* (Nov)
- 193. A Touch of Blue by Tory Christie (Nov)
- 194. Murder Road by Simone St. James* (Nov)
- 195. The Gray by Chris Baron (Nov)
- 196. Hands by Torrey Maldonado (Nov)
- 197. On Air With Zoe Washington by Janae Marks (Nov)
- 198. Sixties Girl by MaryLou Driedger (Nov)
- 199. The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh* (Nov)
- 200. An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James [audio] (Nov)
- 201. The Only One Left by Riley Sager (Dec)
- 202. Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li (Dec)
- 203. The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown* (Dec)
- 204. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan (Dec)
- 205. Tethered to Other Stars by Elisa Stone Leahy (Dec)
- 206. Light a Candle by Jean Kuo Lee (Dec)
- 207. Race for the Ruby Turtle by Stephen Bramucci (Dec)
- 208. Amelia Gray Is Almost Okay by Jessica Brody (Dec)
- 209. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens* [audio] [re-read] (Dec)
- 210. Jiu-Jitsu Girl by Jennifer Dutton (Dec)
- 211. The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt* (Dec)
- 212. The Paper Daughters of Chinatown (Young People's Edition) by Heather B. Moore and Allison Hong Merrill (Dec)
- 213. Never Lie by Freida McFadden [audio] (Dec)
- 214. No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin (Dec)
- 215. Once Upon a Family by Amanda Rawson Hill (Dec)
- 216. The Talent Thief by Mike Thayer (Dec)
- 217. The Winterton Deception: Final Word by Janet Sumner Johnson (Dec)
- 218. Gingersnap! A Redhead's Guide to Not Being Eaten By a Dragon by Daniel Swenson (Dec)
- 219. First, the Conjurer by Mary Locke Jolley (Dec)
- 220. Before by Molly McNamara Carter (Dec)
- 221. The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell [audio] (Dec)
- 222. Taigh by Loralee Evans (Dec)
- 223. Branson Garcia and the Sea of Sceros by Amy Dewsnup (Dec)
Goodbye, 2022. Hello, 2023!
I did it! By slogging through Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber yesterday, I even managed to finish reading a book set in every U.S. state. Plus seventeen other countries. Not too shabby.
So, how did my reading break down this year? Let's see:
Total Books Read: 200—This is three fewer than last year, but ten more than in 2020.
Number of fiction books read: 188 (94%)—I've always been more about fiction than non-, but I have been increasing the number of non-fiction I read incrementally over the years. Last year, I was at 95% fiction, so a slight improvement this year.
Number of non-fiction books read: 12 (6%)—I enjoyed the non-fiction I read a lot this year, so I'll definitely make an effort to up this number for 2023.
Number of adult books read: 112 (56%)—I continue to read mostly books targeted at adults, but I also read a bunch of middle grade this year because of the two book awards programs that I've been involved in helping to judge. I'm not sure I'm going to take them both on next year, so this number may increase in 2023.
Number of YA books read: 17 (8%)—YA used to be a genre I read quite a lot. Not anymore. I do like all the YA mystery/thrillers that are being published these days, so I'll probably read a handful of those in 2023 as well.
Number of MG books read: 71 (36%)—Middle grade continues to be a favorite genre of mine. Even if I don't do as much book award judging in 2023, I'll still read a fair amount of these. Better and better books are being published in this genre every year!
Number of books by female authors: 172 (86%)—I've always tended to read mostly female authors and this has not changed, apparently.
Number of books by male authors: 25 (13%)—To make this number even more pathetic, 3 of these books were written by the same man. What can I say? I discovered the great Jason Reynolds this year!
Number of books written by a combination of authors, mixed genders: 3 (1%)
Books read, by genre:
General Fiction: 69
Mysteries and Thrillers (contemporary and historical): 66
Historical Fiction: 29
Sci-Fi/Dystopian: 9
Fantasy: 7
Supernatural/Horror: 5
Biographies/Memoirs: 5
Historical Non-Fiction: 5
Romance: 2
General Non-Fiction: 1
Self-Help: 2
No surprises here, really. I've always tended to read mostly mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction. The General Fiction majority is probably due to all the middle-grade novels I read, most of which were contemporary stories. I'm a titch surprised there aren't more supernatural/ghost stories here, but since I counted Gothic novels (sans ghosts) as general fiction, so I guess that makes sense.
Based on these stats, I'd say that—surprise, surprise—I read pretty much the same thing every year! I'm a creature of habit for sure. In 2023, I would like to up my non-fiction reading. I will also try again to read a book from every state and even more foreign countries. Once again, I'll set my Goodreads reading goal at 200 books. I'm nothing if not consistent. Ha!
As for blogging, I was absolute rubbish at writing reviews this year (except on Goodreads). I plan to do better in the new year. Not having to deal with a big house move in 2023 should help.
How did your reading year go?
For my records, here is a list of the books I read in 2022. Asterisks denote favorites.
- 1. The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson (Jan)
- 2. Ghost Ship: The Mysterious True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her Missing Crew by Brian Hicks (Jan)
- 3 The Fossil Hunter by Tea Cooper (Jan)
- 4. Lies That Comfort and Betray by Rosemary Simpson (Jan)
- 5. Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss (Jan)
- 6. The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson (Jan)
- 7. The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain (Jan)
- 8. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes [audio] (Jan)
- 9. Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper (Jan)
- 10. The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman* (Jan)
- 11. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah (Jan)
- 12. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (Jan)
- 13. The Renegade Reporters by Elissa Brent Weissman [audio] (Jan)
- 14. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan* (Jan)
- 15. Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien (Jan)
- 16. Endurance by Alfred Lansing (Jan)
- 17. The Ice House by Monica Sherwood (Feb)
- 18. The Cure For What Ales You by Ellie Alexander (Feb)
- 19. Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots: The Life of Louisa May Alcott by Liz Rosenberg (Feb)
- 20. A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert (Feb)
- 21. Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green (Feb)
- 22. Madam by Phoebe Wynne (Feb)
- 23. Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington (Feb)
- 24. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys* (Feb)
- 25. The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman [audio] (Feb)
- 26. The Birdcage by Eve Chase (Feb)
- 27. Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day (Feb)
- 28. Home or Away by Kathleen West (Feb)
- 29. The Floating Girls by Lo Patrick (Feb)
- 30. News of the World by Paulette Jiles* [audio] (Feb)
- 31. The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris (Feb)
- 32. Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry* (Feb)
- 33. Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James (Feb)
- 34. Breathless by Amy McCulloch (Mar)
- 35. The It Girl by Ruth Ware (Mar)
- 36. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (Mar)
- 37. Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (Mar)
- 38. Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower (Mar)
- 39. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (Mar)
- 40. Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian (Mar)
- 41. The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard (Mar)
- 42. Girl Underwater by Claire Kelly (Mar)
- 43. Them Bones by Carolyn Haines (Mar)
- 44. The Secret, Book, & Scone Society by Ellery Adams [audio] (Mar)
- 45. I See You by Clare Mackintosh (Mar)
- 46. The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer (Mar)
- 47. Séances Are For Suckers by Tamara Berry (Mar)
- 48. The London House by Katherine Reay (Mar)
- 49. The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott [audio] (Mar)
- 50. Time Will Tell by Barry Lyga (Apr)
- 51. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters* [audio] [re-read] (Apr)
- 52. The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister (Apr)
- 53. The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon (Apr)
- 54. The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters [audio] (Apr)
- 55. Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell (Apr)
- 56. The Mothers by Genevieve Gannon (Apr)
- 57. The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves [re-read] (Apr)
- 58. Two Girls Down by Louise Luna (Apr)
- 59. The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller (Apr)
- 60. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (Apr)
- 61. Strong Like the Sea by Wendy S. Swore (Apr)
- 62. These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall (May)
- 63. The Skeleton Tree by Iain Chamberlain (May)
- 64. The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbott [audio] (May)
- 65. Vintage by Susan Gloss (May)
- 66. Horace & Bunwinkle: The Case of the Rascally Raccoon by P.J. Gardner (May)
- 67. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson (May)
- 68. Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day (May)
- 69. A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (May)
- 70. The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey (May)
- 71. Shaking Up the House by Yamile Saied Mendez (May)
- 72. Wishes and Wellingtons by Julie Berry* (May)
- 73. Crime and Carpetbags by Julie Berry (May)
- 74. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling* [re-read] [audio] (May)
- 75. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera (May)
- 76. Cold, Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs (May)
- 77. Only If You Dare by Josh Allen (May)
- 78. Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton [audio] (May)
- 79. Deep Water by Emma Bamford (May)
- 80. On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry (Jun)
- 81. Friends Forever by Shannon Hale (Jun)
- 82. How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine (Jun)
- 83. The Boys by Ron Howard and Clint Howard [audio] (Jun)
- 84. The Unquiet Dead by Stacie Murphy (Jun)
- 85. The Night They Vanished by Vanessa Savage (Jun)
- 86. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling [audio] (Jun)
- 87. Lost Cost Literary by Ellie Alexander (Jun)
- 88. Dead Wind by Tessa Wegert (Jun)
- 89. One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke (Jun)
- 90. The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda (Jun)
- 91. A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza (Jun)
- 92. Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan [audio] (Jun)
- 93. The Family Game by Catherine Steadman (Jul)
- 94. The Second Husband by Kate White (Jul)
- 95. Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Jul)
- 96. The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes (Jul)
- 97. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (Jul)
- 98. What You Wish For by Katherine Center (Jul)
- 99. The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore (Jul)
- 100. Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James (Aug)
- 101. Inherit the Bones by Emily Littlejohn (Aug)
- 102. To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough (Aug)
- 103. The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer (Aug)
- 104. The Making of Her by Bernadette Jiwa (Aug)
- 105. Taken by Erin Bowman (Aug)
- 106. Frozen by Erin Bowman (Aug)
- 107. Forged by Erin Bowman (Aug)
- 108. Ancestor Trouble by Maude Newton (Aug)
- 109. Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown* (Aug)
- 110. The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick (Aug)
- 111. The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick* (Aug)
- 112. The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (Aug)
- 113. Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger (Aug)
- 114. The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks (Sep)
- 115. The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin (Sep)
- 116. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (Sep)
- 117. The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Sep)
- 118. Contagion by Erin Bowman (Sep)
- 119. Immunity by Erin Bowman (Sep)
- 120. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Sep)
- 121. These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant (Sep)
- 122. The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore* (Sep)
- 123. Silver Like Dust by Kimi Cunningham Grant (Sep)
- 124. The Maid by Nita Prose* (Sep)
- 125. Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright (Sep)
- 126. The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox (Sep)
- 127. Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (Sep)
- 128. So Not My Thing by Melanie Jacobson (Sep)
- 129. Brave Bird at Wounded Knee by Rachel Bithell (Oct)
- 130. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (Oct)
- 131. Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd (Oct)
- 132. When the World Turned Upside Down by K. Ibura (Oct)
- 133. The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson (Oct)
- 134. Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore (Oct)
- 135. Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King (Oct)
- 136. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty [audio] (Oct)
- 137. New From Here by Kelly Yang* (Oct)
- 138. Out of Range by Heidi Lang (Oct)
- 139. The Book of Elsie by Joanne Levy (Oct)
- 140. The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada's Reef by Michael D. Beil (Oct)
- 141. Worser by Jennifer Ziegler (Oct)
- 142. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence by Sonja Thomas (Oct)
- 143. The View From the Very Best House in Town by Meera Trehan (Oct)
- 144. Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner* (Oct)
- 145. The Best Liars in Riverview by Lin Thompson (Oct)
- 146. Yonder by Ali Standish* (Oct)
- 147. Caprice by Coe Booth (Oct)
- 148. Strangers On a Train by Patricia Highsmith [audio] (Oct)
- 149. The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon (Oct)
- 150. Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Estrada Kelly (Oct)
- 151. Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? by Leslie Connor (Oct)
- 152. Coming Up Short by Laurie Morrison (Oct)
- 153. Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson (Nov)
- 154. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller (Nov)
- 155. Spineless by Samantha San Miguel (Nov)
- 156. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (Nov)
- 157. Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold (Nov)
- 158. Miraculous by Caroline Starr Rose (Nov)
- 159. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper [re-read] [audio] (Nov)
- 160. Drew Leclair Gets A Clue by Katryn Bury (Nov)
- 161. The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson (Nov)
- 162. Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee* (Nov)
- 163. Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes by Kristi Wiengte (Nov)
- 164. The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Nov)
- 165. Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson (Nov)
- 166. Lemon Drop Falls by Heather Clark (Nov)
- 167. Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner (Nov)
- 168. The Last Adventure by Ryan Dalton (Nov)
- 169. Sphere by Michael Crichton [re-read] (Nov)
- 170. Coming of Age: 13 B'Nai Mitzvah Stories by various authors (Nov)
- 171. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (Nov)
- 172. Snow Struck by Nick Courage (Nov)
- 173. Air by Monica Roe (Dec)
- 174. At the Quiet Edge by Victoria Helen Stone (Dec)
- 175. Thirst by Varsha Bajaj* (Dec)
- 176. Roll For Initiative by Jamie Formato (Dec)
- 177. Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquette Nammar Feldman* (Dec)
- 178. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Dec)
- 179. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens* [re-read] (Dec)
- 180. The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill (Dec)
- 181. How to Fake An Irish Wake by Eliza Watson (Dec)
- 182. The Seed of Faith by Daniel Petronelli (Dec)
- 183. Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart (Dec)
- 184. The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell [audio] (Dec)
- 185. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (Dec)
- 186. Willis Wilbur Wows the World by Lindsey Leavitt* (Dec)
- 187. Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick (Dec)
- 188. Ghost by Jason Reynolds [audio] (Dec)*
- 189. Patina by Jason Reynolds [audio] (Dec)
- 190. Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz (Dec)
- 191. The Gods of Green County by Mary Elizabeth Pope (Dec)
- 192. Lu by Jason Reynolds [audio] (Dec)
- 193. The Ghost of Wyvern Lake by Sheila A. Nielson (Dec)
- 194. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (Dec)
- 195. By Book Or by Crook by Eva Gates (Dec)
- 196. Liam Lewis and the Summer Camp Curse by Brandon J. Greer (Dec)
- 197. Miss Classified by Susan Phelan (Dec)
- 198. Dragon Pox by Camille Smithson (Dec)
- 199. Atomic Habits by James Clear* [re-read] (Dec)
- 200. Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber
Goodbye, 2021. Hello, 2022!
Number of adult books read: 121 (60%)—As much as I love children's literature, the bulk of my reading is always in the adult category. This has remained very consistent over the years.
Number of YA books read: 21 (10%)—I'm reading fewer and fewer teen books every year, it seems.
Number of MG books read: 61 (30%)—Thanks to the Cybils Awards and another book award program I help judge most years, I read a lot of middle-grade novels.
Number of books by female authors: 177 (87%)—Another thing I remain very consistent on is reading mostly female authors. I guess it's mostly women writing in the genres I like?
Number of books by male authors: 26 (13%)—My percentage rate on this one is actually a teensy bit higher this year than last.
Number of books by male/female combo: 1 (.005%)
Number of books read, personal collection: 25 (12%)—Oops! I did not do a very good job in this category.
Number of books read, review copies: 52 (26%)—This percentage is down from last year.
Number of books read, borrowed from library: 126 (62%)—I love the library! Last year, 53% of my reads were from the library. I'm glad to see that this number has gone up.
Number of books read, paper: 141 (69%)—I'll always be a fan of "real" books!
Number of books read, electronic: 44 (22%)
Number of books read, audio: 18 (9%)—I only listened to 6 audiobooks last year. This year, I had one going all the time, hence the elevated number.
Number of reading challenges joined: 9
Number of reading challenges completed: 5
For my own records, I like to record the titles of the books I read every year. Here are my books for 2021 (asterisks denote favorites):
- 1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Jan)
- 2. When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (Jan)
- 3. Murder at Marble House by Alyssa Maxwell (Jan)
- 4. The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell (Jan)
- 5. The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman* (Jan)
- 6. Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien (Jan)
- 7. Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia (Jan)
- 8. The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill* (Jan)
- 9. The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Jan)
- 10. Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower (Jan)
- 11. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling [audio] (Jan)
- 12. Dark August by Katie Tallo* (Jan)
- 13. The Stills by Jess Montgomery (Jan)
- 14. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan [audio] (Jan)
- 15. The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner* (Jan)
- 16. To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid (Jan)
- 17. The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman (Jan)
- 18. A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins (Jan)
- 19. Alone by Megan E. Freeman (Jan)
- 20. Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda (Jan)
- 21. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert (Jan)
- 22. Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green (Jan)
- 23. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Feb)
- 24. Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green (Feb)
- 25. The Family Ship by Sonja Yoerg (Feb)
- 26. Beginners Welcome by Cindy Baldwin (Feb)
- 27. In the Deep by Loreth Anne White (Feb)
- 28. On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Méndez (Feb)
- 29. The Family by Louise Jensen (Feb)
- 30. 96 Miles by J.L. Esplin* (Feb)
- 31. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson (Feb)
- 32. The Missing One by Lucy Atkins (Feb)
- 33. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (Feb)
- 34. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott* [audio] [re-read] (Feb)
- 35. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths (Feb)
- 36. The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs* (Feb)
- 37. The Survivors by Jane Harper (Feb)
- 38. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Mar)
- 39. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Mar)
- 40. The Lost Family by Libby Copeland (Mar)
- 41. The Dead Season by Tessa Wegert (Mar)
- 42. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen [re-read] (Mar)
- 43. The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Mar)
- 44. A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan (Mar)
- 45. After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore (Mar)
- 46. The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington (Mar)
- 47. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse (Mar)
- 48. A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Mar)
- 49. Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown (Mar)
- 50. The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek* [audio] (Mar)
- 51. The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Mar)
- 52. The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Mar)
- 53. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (Mar)
- 54. Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien (Mar)
- 55. The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Mar)
- 56. Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson (Apr)
- 57. The Fire Thief by Debra Bokur (Apr)
- 58. Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce* [audio] (Apr)
- 59. Bluebird by Sharon Cameron* (Apr)
- 60. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton (Apr)
- 61. Until I Find You by Rea Frey (Apr)
- 62. The Boy From the Woods by Harlan Coben (Apr)
- 63. The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore (Apr)
- 64. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein [audio] (Apr)
- 65. The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman* (Apr)
- 66. All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis (Apr)
- 67. The Glass House by Eve Chase (Apr)
- 68. We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin (Apr)
- 69. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto (May)
- 70. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery* [audio] [re-read] (May)
- 71. The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake (May)
- 72. The Wrong Family by Terryn Fisher (May)
- 73. Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee (May)
- 74. American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser* (May)
- 75. Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson (May)
- 76. Flower Net by Lisa See (May)
- 77. Starfish by Lisa Fipps (May)
- 78. Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky (May)
- 79. Atomic Habits by James Clear* (May)
- 80. Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney (May)
- 81. Shiver by Allie Reynolds (May)
- 82. Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood (May)
- 83. She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge (May)
- 84. A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy (May)
- 85. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery [audio] (May)
- 86. Margot by Jillian Cantor (May)
- 87. The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase (May)
- 88. Along a Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart (May)
- 89. The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes (Jun)
- 90. The Light of Luna Park by Addie Armstrong (Jun)
- 91. You Belong Here Now by Diana Rostad (Jun)
- 92. An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn (Jun)
- 93. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery [audio] (Jun)
- 94. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny* (Jun)
- 95. A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson (Jun)
- 96. Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Jun)
- 97. The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustain (Jun)
- 98. The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman (Jun)
- 99. The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb (Jun)
- 100. A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott* (Jul)
- 101. Dear America: Behind the Masks by Susan Patron (Jul)
- 102. Nothing Short of Wondrous by Regina Scott (Jul)
- 103. The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm* (Jul)
- 104. The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne (Jul)
- 105. The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton (Jul)
- 106. Open for Murder by Mary Angela (Jul)
- 107. A Girl From Yamhill by Beverly Cleary (Jul)
- 108. The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson (Jul)
- 109. Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm* (Jul)
- 110. Boston Jane: Wilderness Days by Jennifer L. Holm (Jul)
- 111. Boston Jane: The Claim by Jennifer L. Holm (Jul)
- 112. Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan (Jul)
- 113. The House By the Sea by Louise Douglas (Jul)
- 114. Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (Jul)
- 115. In the Same Boat by Holly Green (Jul)
- 116. Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker (Jul)
- 117. After Anna by Lisa Scottoline (Jul)
- 118. Deep Water by Watt Key (Jul)
- 119. Dear America: All the Stars in the Sky by Megan McDonald (Jul)
- 120. No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert (Aug)
- 121. The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan (Aug)
- 122. We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (Aug)
- 123. Dead Wake by Erik Larsen [audio] (Aug)
- 124. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty* (Aug)
- 125. The Distant Dead by Heather Young (Aug)
- 126. Westering Women by Sandra Dallas (Aug)
- 127. Shiner by Amy Jo Burns (Aug)
- 128. A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley (Aug)
- 129. Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland (Aug)
- 130. Missing Okalee by Laura Ojeda Melchor (Aug)
- 131. The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent (Aug)
- 132. The Third Pole by Mark Synnott (Aug)
- 133. True Grit by Charles Portis* [audio] (Aug)
- 134. Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos (Aug)
- 135. If It Rains by Jennifer L. Wright* (Aug)
- 136. The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown (Sep)
- 137. A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks (Sep)
- 138. Need by Joelle Charbonneau (Sep)
- 139. Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flowers (Sep)
- 140. Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara (Sep)
- 141. I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel (Sep)
- 142. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (Sep)
- 143. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Sep)
- 144. Kiss Me Now by Melanie Jacobson (Sep)
- 145. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny* (Sep)
- 146. Unquiet Ghosts by Glenn Meade (Sep)
- 147. What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson (Sep)
- 148. Willodeen by Katherine Applegate (Sep)
- 149. Survive the Night by Riley Sager* (Sep)
- 150. Bottomland by Michelle Hoover (Sep)
- 151. Glass Houses by Louise Penny* [audio] (Sep)
- 152. Still Life in Blood by Crystal Heidel (Sep)
- 153. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (Sep)
- 154. Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling (Oct)
- 155. The Hidden by Melanie Golding (Oct)
- 156. Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves (Oct)
- 157. In a Flash by Donna Jo Napoli (Oct)
- 158. To Tell You the Truth by Beth Vrabel (Oct)
- 159. An Occasionally Happy Family by Cliff Burke (Oct)
- 160. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold (Oct)
- 161. All You Knead is Love by Tanya Guerrero (Oct)
- 162. Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day (Oct)
- 163. Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh (Oct)
- 164. A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (Oct)
- 165. A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus* (Oct)
- 166. Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen (Oct)
- 167. When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie by Erin Soderberg Downing (Nov)
- 168. Fly Away by Patricia MacLachlan (Nov)
- 169. The Losers at the Center of the Galaxy by Mary Winn Heider (Nov)
- 170. Dead and Breakfast by Kate Kingsbury (Nov)
- 171. Linked by Gordon Korman (Nov)
- 172. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Nov)
- 173. War and Millie McGonigle by Karen Cushman (Nov)
- 174. The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross (Nov)
- 175. Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles (Nov)
- 176. Taylor Before and After by Jennie Englund (Nov)
- 177. How to Get Away With Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce* [audio] (Nov)
- 178. What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson (Nov)
- 179. Clues to the Universe by Christina Li (Nov)
- 180. Houdini and Me by Dan Gutman (Nov)
- 181. Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas (Nov)
- 182. As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson (Nov)
- 183. Cold-Blooded Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce* [audio] (Nov)
- 184. Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee (Nov)
- 185. The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green* (Dec)
- 186. Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden (Dec)
- 187. A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey* (Dec)
- 188. My Name is Layla by Reyna Marder Gentin (Dec)
- 189. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens* [audio] (Dec)
- 190. Favorite Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow* (Dec)
- 191. The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan (Dec)
- 192. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva (Dec)
- 193. Many Points of Me by Caroline Gertler (Dec)
- 194. Into the Wind by William Loizeaux (Dec)
- 195. Poison Lilies by Katie Tallo* (Dec)
- 196. Sorry For Your Loss by Joanne Levy (Dec)
- 197. The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman (Dec)
- 198. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson* [re-read] (Dec)
- 199. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley [audio] (Dec)
- 200. Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi (Dec)
- 201. The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan (Dec)
- 202. A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw (Dec)
- 203. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson (Dec)
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