And here’s my book list from 2021…


This year I set a goal of 26 books and according to Goodreads I made that goal! Below are the 37 books I read in 2021. Yay me! I feel like I got my groove back a little and I have big plans for 2022!

The Mistletoe Matchmaker by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Every year I try to find a winter/Christmas themed book to read for fun… this is part of a series and I didn’t know the characters, so I didn’t love it.

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch

A politics themed book which wasn’t too heavy. Part of the Jen Hatmaker’s book club.

The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King

Book 14 of a series and I jumped right in! A good read, though…

Love in a Tuscan Kitchen by Sheryl Ness

A signed copy as a gift for Christmas. A local woman and her stay in Italy, resulting in found love. Filled with recipes! (I love a book with recipes!)

End of the Lupine Season by Laurie Otis

The End of the Lupine Season by Laurie Otis: I like to buy books set in my vacation locations – this one is “up north” in Wisconsin – on Madeline Island in Lake Superior. A little mystery, a little local flair.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

“A gem of a book!” I said after reading this. We read it for book club and it was a treat.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Another winter-themed book – Scotland this time. I gave it 5 stars!

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

I actually skimmed through this book and read the Kindle summary book.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I also loved this book! Delightful family. Didn’t want it to end.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

For book club, a step outside my typical genre! Very engaging…

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy

A little Irish tale by one of my favorite authors, read during March. Ah.

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

A character driven novel I didn’t want to end… South Korea and the beauty scene…

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

For book club – great discussion! I loved her and became very curious about Nigeria…

Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin

Decluttering, an endless goal!

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

Young love, choices… read for work book club (and never discussed!)

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

Brilliant story for book club. He’s amazing.

The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee

Another great book for book club – North Korea and South Korea and China… oh my. And it’s a true story / memoir!

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

A bit heavy for a summer read…

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg

Book #2 from Arthur Truluv… love these people

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg

Book #3 in this series… great characters!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Great story with twin sisters who start their lives in the south. Great book.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Another memoir about a Korean-American girl and her relationship with her mother.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

For book club – so much to think about! How would I act?

Coco Chanel by Susan Goldman Rubin

And then in the French phase of the year – a YA book about Chanel, who was really quite a character!

French Toast by Harriet Welty Rochefort

A memoir about an American living in France. Some insight into the differences…

Five Nights in Paris by John Baxter

Not a book I loved – I didn’t know anything about the author, but felt that I was expected to.

Le Road Trip by Vivian Swift

I loved this book and bought a copy for myself. Very artistic – an illustrated story. I bought another of hers and will read it in 2022!

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

For book club – a great story to discuss!

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

My French season – a book about occupied France, specifically Paris. Sympathetic characters.

Everything We Didn't Say by Nicole Baart

Advanced copy by “local” author (Iowa!). Good mystery and good characters.

The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar

Another library story told through the brutal Nazi occupation of St. Malo. Uff.

The Secret of the ChĂ¢teau by Kathleen McGurl

For book club – we chose a book set in France that wasn’t a WW2 novel. Instead we have the revolution against nobility and modern day friends. I really liked this.

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay

A fun little romance – kind of predictable but enjoyable.

A French Pirouette by Jennifer Bohnet

A nice little story about moving from your old life and creating a new one. This book takes place in Brittany, which is one of the locations we visited in France.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I’m late to the game, but a wonderful novel about tough stuff. Nazi occupation, losing family, and horrors of war. But easy to read in its small bites.

Work Horse by Zach Olstad

Read for book club – fun to read a book written by a local!

Hot Flash Holidays by Nancy Thayer

And my attempt to get a Christmas book in. Again, another in a series I haven’t read, so I felt behind the game. I’ll have to get more prepared for next Christmas!

Movies – 2021

In the Heights (2021) - IMDb
IMDB.COM

I’ve seen some good movies this year but only two movies on the big screen.

In June I saw “In the Heights” on opening weekend in Imax. It was so fun – to see that big musical on a big screen! It was definitely a joyous experience!

On New Year’s Eve I saw “West Side Story” in an afternoon matinee with some girlfriends. It was kind of the opposite experience. It is a big beautiful musical with amazing costumes, exhilarating dancing, and beautiful voices – but it is not joyous! The story is still tragic and there is no big musical number at the end to lift you up. But I’m still glad I saw it!

One day around Thanksgiving, I asked Chris, “Do you think we will ever become people who go to movies again?” We used to go a few times per month – before Chris I went even more frequently! Now we have so many options at home, so it’s easier to stay home and stay cozy and watch what we have. Maybe there will be movies that will entice me enough again, but so far it has only been the two.

I’ve started a list of movies on my phone so I can add to it in one place and try to keep track of where to find them. One of my “things to do” in 2022. It’s probably very 2010 but here you go. I’m gonna start keeping track!

In 2021, movies and series I have enjoyed include:

  • Bridgerton
  • Bunheads – ah, Sutton
  • Younger – ah, Sutton
  • Alice in Paris – the food!
  • Emily in Paris – the fashion!
  • TED LASSO!!! – Oh, I wish that everyone could see this… so amazing.
  • The Morning Show
  • Schmigadoon
  • Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
  • Mad About You – a fun glimpse into their “more adult” life!
  • Nomadland
  • Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar – fun fun fun!
  • Score: The Hockey Musical – available on Youtube!
  • Never Have I Ever
  • 9 Perfect Strangers
  • Maid
  • Lupine
  • On the Verge
  • 8-Bit Christmas – an AMAZING movie! I wish everyone could see this!
  • Hacks
  • And Just Like That…
  • Found – an amazing documentary on Netflix about three girls adopted from China who find that they are cousins and become lifelong friends.

What has been your best-of-2021? What are you looking forward to in 2022?