Books I Loved in 2021
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In 2021, I started working full-time as a bookseller, finished my first-ever YA fiction manuscript, and began my first year of graduate school. In the process, I read, and I read, and I read some more. I only finished 61 books, but I started at least a dozen more and plucked excerpts from others.
For the last several years, I’ve written “year in review” posts for my blog. I stopped doing that in 2020 for a variety of reasons, but I at least wanted to highlight some of my favorite reads of the year. Below, you’ll find my favorite fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel, and poetry reads from 2021!
Note: These are books I read last year, so some have older publication dates. There’s also an upcoming novel that I had the pleasure of reading as an ARC over the holidays.
Fiction
the chosen and the beautiful by nghi vo
This beautifully written, imaginative, cohesive, glittering retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Instead of following the affable and mostly clueless Nick Carroway, author Nghi Vo instead tells the story from the perspective of Jordan Baker, who’s queer, Asian, and adopted in this version of the tale. She’s also just a little bit magic, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with her fro the jump.
The City wE bECAME BY n. k. jEMISIN
What if every city in the world could be reborn through human avatars? And what happens when those avatars are being hunted by an ancient, evil being determined to stop those rebirths from happening? This examination of New York City through N. K. Jemisin’s signature storytelling style is not only delightful, but gripping.
A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell
We deserve more and better and diverse fat representation in pop culture, which includes messy characters who don’t always make the right choices. Sarah Hollowell’s debut YA novel gives us exactly that, in a dark fantasy story that explores abuse and neglect, but also found family, magic, and strength. It’s a gorgeous, at times painful read, and it deserves more attention.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Torrey Peters dedicates this novel to divorced cisgender women, which feels oddly appropriate despite the overall conceit of the book. This is a story about found family, toxicity and messy relationships, as well as expectations of queerness and gender. No one comes out of this book looking any better than anyone else, and the final scene is so beautifully executed that I have not stopped thinking about it in months.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
I’ll just say it: Harrow the Ninth is a more compelling narrative than Gideon the Ninth, although I love both books immeasurably. As Harrow comes into her power and attempts to figure out her past, things look and feel out of place — and the creeping tension of it all is masterfully articulated by Tamsyn Muir.
I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat by Christopher Gonzalez
This short story collection by Christopher Gonzalez is… haunting, and strange, and relatable, and beautiful. I didn’t love every piece in this collection, but I didn’t dislike any of them, either. If you need a hint of magical realism and some messy examination of queer relationships and self, this is an excellent, excellent read.
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
At some point in the future, all the “monsters” are gone — except, of course, for when they’re still around. I didn’t know what to expect going into Pet, but the story and writing blew my mind. Please note there is a content warning for childhood sexual assault in this YA novella. It’s a short, 200-page story, but devouring it in one sitting may be too intense. Jam, Redemption, and Pet are incredible characters with a fascinating dynamic, and it’s worth taking some time to spend with them and unpack their world.
Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne
Full disclosure: Elizabeth Kilcoyne is a personal friend, and I was lucky enough to read/edit an early draft of Wake the Bones several years ago. This final, published version is so much more — that early draft was a seedling, and this draft has grown roots and spread them. Wake the Bones is a masterclass in gothic horror. The characters are divine, the development flawless, the storytelling top tier. Elizabeth's writing is genuinely breathtaking, and if this book doesn't become a bestseller, I'll be shocked (and disappointed, tbh). A must-read, hands down.
Nonfiction
Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison
Anti-fatness is rooted in anti-Blackness, and Da’Shaun L. Harrison masterfully breaks down these interwoven systems of oppression in their debut book, Belly of the Beast. Whether you’re new to fat liberation or you’ve been involved for a while, I guarantee Harrison will teach you something and invite you to re-examine your own prejudices and expectations.
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Celebrity stan culture, social media apps, gym memberships, and famous cults have one major thing in common: language. Linguist Amanda Montell breaks down these connections and ties in her own personal history and fascination with cults in her sophomore book, Cultish, which reads like a conversation with a super smart friend. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and a little bit wild.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Sometimes a relationship is a broken-down, rotted-out, haunted house of horrible memories. Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir, In the Dream House, deals with something that’s rarely explored in LGBTQ+ literature: abuse in queer relationships. This book is a haunted house narrative, a feast of magical realism, and a painfully candid recollection of a dark and distressing period in Machado’s life. This was one of the most difficult books I read this year, but also one of the most beautiful.
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
Cathy Park Hong is hilarious, but she also writes with such clarity and candor that her memoir, Minor Feelings, will make readers run the full gamut of emotions. This book is sharp, poignant, and fast-paced, the kind of writing you can devour even when it’s hard to swallow.
What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
Aubrey Gordon has been writing for years as Your Fat Friend, and she employs her signature style in her debut book to great effect. Gordon breaks down diet culture and systemic fatphobia in a way that’s super approachable, but super informative, making this an absolutely vital read — for everyone.
Graphic Novels
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
My full review of The Girl from the Sea is here, but here’s the short version: This queer graphic novel seamlessly integrates selkie lore and the plight of a modern teenager as Ostertag presents truly top-tier writing and art. Colorist Maarta Laiho makes everything pop, and the story feels like a cozy, comfy cuddle with a good friend on a breezy summer evening.
Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla
I love The Secret Garden, and this modern-day graphic adaptation maintains the spirit of the source material, with some excellent updates. It’s beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated — I cried so much reading this, and I loved every single page.
Poetry
Dear Azula, I Have a Crush on dANNY pHANTOM BY aZURA tYABJI AND jACKSON nEAL
I bought this poetry book because of the title, and I wasn’t disappointed. Azura Tyabji and Jackson Neal explore pop culture through a queer, nostalgic lens, playing with form and content to create some really interesting verse. Worth reading for anyone who had a crush on at least one character from Avatar the Last Airbender or Teen Titans.
Revenge Body by Rachel Wiley
Rachel Wiley is one of my favorite poets, and her third published poetry collection, Revenge Body, perfectly demonstrates why. These poems are sharp, evocative, and intense: Wiley explores Blackness, breakups, and more in a robust, bold voice that’s impossible not to love.
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