2021 Book Wrap Up [Part four: stand-alones]

 I've read 130 books this year, and that would be a lot to put in one blog post. Some have already been taken care of in parts 1-3 of this 2021 book wrap up, but the rest will be broken down by series or standalone. 

So many of the books I read this year were stunning. They made me cry and made me laugh, and there were so many I wish I could reread for the first time to feel all that magic again. 

Here are the standalone books [or books whose sequels have not been published yet] that I read this year. 

Wind, Sand, and Stars - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 3★

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt 5★ 

    One of my all time favorite books! 

The Secret History - Donna Tartt 5★ 

    I adored this book! It's ridiculous, chaotic, and painfully aesthetic. It's just enjoyable to delve into the chaos that is The Secret History, and I will absolutely reread.

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller 5★

    I know the story of Achilles. I knew how this was going to end. And yet, I still sobbed. A lot. Miller's writing is stunning and emotional, and the relationship she wrote between Achilles and Patroclus is just everything I wanted.

Crush - Richard Siken 5★

    Incredibly vulnerable and emotional poetry that I highly recommend.

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall 5★

    Gorgeous gay romcom with a fake dating trope. Luc and Oliver and brilliant characters and I get so much joy out of this book every time I read it (yes I've reread it multiple times, oops). The sequel, Husband Material, comes out in August, 2022.

They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera 3★

    I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book, but the ending felt like a bit of a letdown after all the beautifully written buildup. 

I'll Give You the Sun - Jandy Nelson 5★

    Emotional, beautiful, full of art and love and heartache. I fell in love with this book so fast, cried at least half a dozen times, and I'd reread it in a heartbeat. 

If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio 5★

    Shakespeare, dark academia friend group, betrayal, murder, pining, love--what more could you want? I read this book in a day and loved it. The timeline jumps are well written and the descriptions are wonderful. The ending is very ambiguous, and honestly I'd love a sequel. 

Rosaline Palmer takes the Cake - Alexis Hall 5★

    This book is cute as hell. The bisexual female MC is strong, sweet, and sassy, and the rest of the characters are all so well written and they all play off each other perfectly. From accidentally erotic bread towers to fish stick sandwiches in the kitchen at midnight, this book has a little bit of everything. Sensitive and sweet, and hilariously fun. This book is the first in Hall's bakeoff series. 

Waiting for the Flood - Alexis Hall 3★

Glitterland - Alexis Hall 4★

Pansies - Alexis Hall 5★

    Okay, so technically the Spires books are a series because they all take place in the same world... but they all stand on their own perfectly. Pansies is by far my favorite Spires book... maybe even my favorite book by Alexis Hall. It's beautiful and vulnerable and just a bit sexy. The MCs have some of the best character development and it's just a fricken marvelous book. 

One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston 5★

   Slow burn F/F romance with time travel, bangin breakfast sammies, drag shows, subway spice, and an incredible representation of queer identities. Loved the hell out of this book. 

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun - Jonny Garza Villa 4.5★

Looking for Group - Alexis Hall 3★

Conventionally, Yours - Annabeth Albert 3.5★

    Also technically a series, as I believe there is a sequel, I just haven't read it. 

The Glass House - Suki Fleet 4.5★

Foxes - Suki Fleet 5★

    Suki Fleet does an amazing job destroying me emotionally with every single one of their books. I swear I always get painfully attached to their beautiful characters and feel every ounce of pain they experience. Foxes is no exception. I cried. 

When Everything is Blue - Laura Lascarso 4★

Wildflowers - Suki Fleet 4★

Light Up the Dark - Suki Fleet 5★ 

    Hands down, one of my favorite books I read this year. It's a thriller/horror, its queer, it kept me engaged and on edge the whole time. I loved the kindle version so much I bought it in paperback so I could hold this masterpiece in my own hands. 

The First Boy I Ever Kissed - Suki Fleet 4★

This is not a Love Story - Suki Fleet 5★

    More emotion. I don't know how they do it, but Suki Fleet is the author that makes me feel all the things in every single one of their books. 

Wild Summer - Suki Fleet 4.5★

The Scottish Boy - Alex de Campi - 5★

    When I tell you I was NOT prepared for this book. It's wild, intense, emotional, painful, beautiful. It's everything.

Fun Home: a Family Tragicomic - Alison Bechdel 4.5★

These Violent Delights - Micah Nemerever 5★

Te Quiero - Suki Fleet 3.5★

Lock and West - Alexander Eberhart 3.5★

L.O.V.E. and the Truth about Everything - Suki Fleet 3.5★

Catch and Cradle - Katie Rose 4.5★

Red, White, and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston 4.5★

A Husband for Hartwell - J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry 3.5★

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka 2★

    I really hope anyone else who's read this book shares my sentiments about it. That being: wtf just happened?

For Real - Alexis Hall 5★

The Charm Offensive - Alison Cochrun 5★

    Another one of the best books I read [and reread]  this year. Everything about it was amazing, and I genuinely cant wait to read more of her books.

Upside Down - N.R. Walker 3.5★

The Hating Game - Sally Thorne 4★

Falling - Suki Fleet 3.5★

Jay's Gay Agenda - Jason June 3.5★

Summer Sons - Lee Mandelo 5★

    Read this book. Please. Queer southern gothic amazingness. I really, really hope Lee Mandelo writes more books because I would read them in a heartbeat. 

Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas 5★

    What is it with 2021 literally being THE year for amazing queer books? This book is beautiful and deserves all the love. 

The Wicker King - K. Ancrum 4.5★

    The Wicker King has a tiny novella sequel called The Legend of the Golden Raven [3★] but it is extra material, and The Wicker King stands on its own. The artistic styling of this book is incredible. It's an easy read in that it flows well and isn't too dense -- however, the story itself is an absolute rollercoaster. It's heartbreaking and magical, and incredibly unique. 

Some Girls Do - Jennifer Dugan 3.5★

Normal People - Sally Rooney 4.5★