We made it y’all! 2021 is here, the mood is up, and the hopes are high for this year. In hindsight, 2020 overall wasn’t a terrible year, but I’m ready for a fresh start this year and looking forward to seeing what it brings!
Reading-wise, I didn’t get through too many books in December. I spent most of it with my nose to the grindstone with work, putting the house together, and prepping for Christmas. Luckily all of it paid off, everyone loved their gifts, the house is looking beautiful, and January is looking to be a really growing and busy month (more on that soon!). What I am looking forward to talking about though, my 2021 reading goals and my current TBR list!
CURRENTLY READING
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
FINISHED READING
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
5/5 stars
I finished this book at literally 1 AM, stayed up because the last quarter was just that good and I Could. Not. Stop. I’m usually pretty good at catching the twists, but this one came out of nowhere and hit me like a freight train. SUCH a good read! My only critique is that it takes a few chapters to get used to the pacing and timeline structure of the book. Even with that, would absolutely recommend. It reads like a Netflix series and I cannot wait for this one to be picked up! Gonna go ahead and say it, I think The Guest List is the best book I read in 2020.
2021 READING GOALS
In 2020, for the first time in years I actually hit my reading goal! I set it pretty low, 12 books for the year. I got a little jammed up over the summer, a few books really held me up, but I tore through a bunch in the fall! In total, according to Goodreads, I read 4,343 pages this year!
For my 2021 reading goals, I want to go higher, but nothing too crazy. Like I said, work is kicking up, and I don’t want to overcommit to a goal that I can’t hit! I’m thinking of setting a goal of 15 books, with a big reach goal of 20 books! If I don’t hit 20, it’s no biggie. I really want to get to at least 15 though! Biggest strategy for getting through all these books? Join as many book clubs as possible! Book clubs really help me finish the books, and I enjoy getting everyone else’s thoughts on the books. Plus, it’s nice to have the social interaction with my favorite subject!
And just like last year, reading diversely is a really important focus. In 2020, I did moderately better, but not nearly good enough. I read 75% female authors, 8% authors of color, and 16% non-American authors, one male and one female.
Going to go ahead and start with, wow that was terrible. It was my goal in 2020 to read primarily diversely, and I absolutely didn’t even get close to that. Sure, I read overwhelmingly female authors, which is good, but not even close to good enough. So, moving from that, I’m taking my 2021 reading diversity goals from Mackenzie at the Bad Bitch Book Club, 40% or less by white authors and 30% or more by women of color. While my total reading goal is pretty low, I’m also following Bad Bitch Book Club Book Prompts to help pick my books this year.
2021 TBR PILE
The ever-growing, never-ending To Be Read pile. There are so, so many that I’m dying to get to/through! I want to read through more of the books that I’ve had on my shelves for a while and decide whether they’re worth keeping. Then again, I do have a brand new full-size bookshelf and plenty of spaces to fill! Without further ado, the top of my TBR pile!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman
What are your 2021 Reading Goals and what’s on your TBR list? Let me know!
See My Previous Book Explorer Posts
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