Here Are The Top Books I Read In The First Half Of 2021

Because BookTok recommends the same 10 books repeatedly and you DESERVE an additional POV!

June is almost over and I've officially read 50 books so far this year.

I've read all sorts of books this year. Romance, fantasy, historical fiction, memoirs — you name it, I've probably read it. 

Anyway, here are my favorites...

1. American Royals by Katherine McGee

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Summary: American Royals follows the children of America's Royal Family. You heard that right: when America won the Revolutionary War, they gave George Washington a crown, and 250 years later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne.

Thoughts: I devoured this book and itss sequel, Majesty. I'm generally not super into historical fiction, but I love the concept of what America would be like if it were a monarchy. this YA read tells the story of the children of the throne, Beatrice, Samantha, and Jefferson, and I could not get enough of it. There are several different romance arcs, some shenanigans, and a whole lot of royal shiz.

Who I'd Recommend To: Anyone who loves the British Royal Family and all its gossip.

2. No Exit by Taylor Adams

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Summary: Four strangers trapped in a blizzard, a kidnapped girl, and a woman who's willing to do what it takes to save her life.

Thoughts: I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading this book because I needed to know how it ended. This thriller was equal parts terrifying, wild, and incredible.

Who I'd Recommend To: Thriller lovers

3. Verity by Colleen Hoover

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Summary: A struggling author accepts what appears to be the job of a lifetime, but turns out to be a nightmare. Lowen accepts an offer to finish the remaining books in a series started by bestselling author Verity Crawford since she is injured and unable to finish them. When Lowen shows up at the Crawford home to read through Verity's notes and outlines, she finds an unfinished autobiography written by Verity, filled with chilling tales of her life and lies.

Thoughts: Part-romance, part-thriller, Verity was everything I wanted in a book and more. From start to finish, this book had me hooked, and now I'm a complete Colleen Hoover stan.

Who I'd Recommend To: Everyone on Earth (specifically romance readers who are trying to get out of their comfort zone).

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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Summary: This four (and a half) book series tells the tale of mortal Feyre, who's dragged to a magical kingdom after murdering a faerie. A retelling of Beauty & the Beast, A Court of Thorns and Roses is 50% romance, 100% fantasy, 25% seggsy scenes, 25% war, and 100% amazing (and yes, I am aware that adds up to 300%).

Thoughts: I have not stopped thinking about this series since I read it in March. I want to re-read these books more than I've ever wanted to do anything, but I'm trying to hit my reading goal for the year before I do any re-reads. I am so incredibly grateful that the series isn't over and I'll have an excuse to re-read them when the next book comes out! I stopped reading fantasy books after high school for some reason, and this series reminded me how much I loved them. 100 out of 5 stars.

Who I'd Recommend To: Anyone who loved fantasy books when they were younger but stopped reading them :)

5. A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost

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Summary: A Very Punchable Face is Colin Jost's (head writer and co-anchor of "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live) hilarious memoir. It's witty, self-deprecating, and overall, very funny.

Thoughts: There are few things I enjoy more than celebrity memoirs from comedians. They generally don't involve a ghostwriter or co-author since they're actually writers themselves, unlike many other celebrity memoirs. They're usually funny, involve a lot of stupid stories, and my favorite, the background on what the hell made this person go into comedy. Colin Jost is married to the one and only Scarlett Johansson, which just adds to the intrigue.

Who I'd Recommend To: Comedy lovers.

In Closing...

Books are amazing, and you should probably read more of them.

What are your favorite books you've read so far this year? Let me know in the comments below! 📚