BEST BOOKS OF 2021
it's time for the best books of the year list! these were my favourite novels of 2021 (and also a non-fiction even), the ones that really had me crying screaming squeeling
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🌺 a b o u t m e
Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 24 year old girl who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave). I live in the Netherlands and go to university, but make booktube videos in my spare time :)
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Пікірлер: 202
i find it really comforting how Leonie always puts her hair behind her ear and then gives it a little shake
This year I read 30 books (which is...holy shit!), for the first time I started reading in english (not my first language) and I even listened to my first ever audiobook! So this year was pretty fantastic when it came to books because I went back into reading, and also I discovered this whole booktube world with a bunch of people who love to gush about books just as much as I do!
@alenanela1743
2 жыл бұрын
Hey congratulations! Your english is practically fluent if you can read in it. I also got back into reading (fueled by booktube) and it makes me so happy to see people gushing about books I love! Especially when my friends don’t read haha
@iuliac3087
2 жыл бұрын
Same! I read 30 books in 2021
@simplymoi14
2 жыл бұрын
Mine was exactly the same!
It’s so refreshing seeing a booktuber reading an obtainable (for me) amount of books read in one year
This is the most accurate description of Sally Rooney’s Normal People that I have encountered. Constant feel of “melancholy” and a “lump in your throat”. That book perfectly encapsulates that rough line between love and sadness very well.
@directedbylola
2 жыл бұрын
omg yes!!!
*aggressively adds these all to my priority TBR because it’s a CRIME that I haven’t read all of these books yet* 💜💜💜 happy new year!!!!
#10 Trick Mirror 1:25 #9 Well Met 3:00 #8 Normal People 5:35 #7 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 7:50 #6 Red, White and Royal Blue 9:40 #5 The Bronzed Beasts 12:00 #4 Piranesi 14:55 #3 Act Your Age 17:17 #2 The Yellow Wallpaper 19:53 #1 The Night Circus 21:54
@Patricia-wo9gk
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@bleazyful
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@Storribook
2 жыл бұрын
Doesn’t this kinda ruin the surprise? I think that’s why she did time stamps without listing the books 🙃
@theothercomicguy
2 жыл бұрын
Only if you read the comments first
"It doesn't feel like winter". Meanwhile, me, in Canada, with knee high wool socks, hoodie, blanket, heating pad, & tea because it is currently -38 outside: "lucky"
The night circus will forever be the story that just went right over my head 😂 I didn’t get the stakes, I didn’t get the drama, I didn’t get the romance. I thought the characters were all just terrible people. However, I wish the night circus were a real place so I could spend the rest of my life in the tent with the little jars!
@isabellesousa1618
2 жыл бұрын
omg SAME!!! the ambience is amazing but the story went flat with me, nothing feels actually developed, it all falls incomplete to me and kinda hurried at the end. but it wasnt bad, just not as good as i expected!
@mies626
Жыл бұрын
whats a book you rly loved last year or the year before?
the night circus was one of those books that i thought i was gonna hate because I knew it had no plot, but then it was like being transported into a literal circus because of the vivid, magical descriptions, and the interesting characters each with their own backstory ughhh so good
The Night Circus is one of my all time faves! I really love exactly the thing you described with Morgenstern's writing with it being very dreamlike. Absolutely adored her other book, The Starless Sea, as well and really hope that she writes more in the future. As someone who has written multiple essays about The Yellow Wallpaper, I am also really glad to see some appreciation for it. It's very interesting how different people focus on different things and have different takeaways even in such a short story. And The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is also one of my favorite books I read in 2021. It was the second book that I read, all the way back in January and it stuck with me the whole year. And I am not usually one to enjoy books that have heavier romance elements. I also totally feel you on forgetting that Evelyn Hugo wasn't real. I wanted to Google details about her career multiple times while reading, only to realise that she was a fictional character 😅
Act Your Age, Eve Brown and The Night Circus were two of my faves this year and for someone who doesn't always like fantaisy, I agree with you that this will make you like it.
The way that you described “normal people” was beautiful
So happy to see another person who loves the night circus. For me what really sold it was the second person sections, I have them marked out and read them almost daily
@romalibra_books
2 жыл бұрын
Omg same, I enjoyed the story but the second person sections are where the magic happens, it's really transporting :)
@annajo6576
2 жыл бұрын
Curious…where have you seen the majority of people disliking this? This book has almost 800,000 ratings on GR with an average of 4.03!!
Ok so I really didn’t like Normal People but your description of it was so great I’m considering reading it again sometime. Also agreed with the Seven Husbands, one of my favorites of the year.
I read The Yellow Wallpaper because of you and now I want everyone to read it. Thank you for the beautiful rec!
Oh gosh that’s a major spoiler for Evelyn Hugo. The point of the book is to find out who was the love of her life 😬 Love your videos!! This one especially but maybe add a spoiler warning
@belencampos341
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the warning!!
@TheBookLeo
2 жыл бұрын
i thought it was well known as a sapphic book/book with a bi main character, my bad!
@random23287
2 жыл бұрын
Too late! Dang it.
@Storribook
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheBookLeo No worries, it is but the main mystery of the book is to figure out who the love of her life was (which is why the title is misleading) so most people just say it has sapphic or lgbtq+ rep so you don't spoil it! 💕
@CegomezChannel
2 жыл бұрын
omg I just watched that part of the video, I was so excited to read the book! I guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer so I forget this spoiler 😂
I love the energy of this human
I'm currently reading the night circus as the first book of the year! I'm loving it!🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤
From the way you talk about book 3, I think you would really love "From Lukov With Love" by Mariana Zapata. Its a slow burn but so wholesome and my favourite romance for the last 3 years
I read The Yellow Wallpaper after you recommended it and WOW!!! Such a little story but packs a HUGE punch!! And its scary as hell, too!!!😮😮😮 I love your channel and always super excited to see a new video. I'm actually watching your older videos and they're super fun!! Thanks for all the fun!!🤓🤓🤓
I'm currently reading Act your age, Eve Brown and I LOVE IT. I'm autistic myself, so some of the things that Jacob does or thinks make me literally LOL. I read 52 books last year, but I read a lot of short books to get to the 52 book mark. This year, my goal is 52 again, but make it more consistent and bigger books. My big book fear was obliterated by the Priory of the Orange Tree, the Secret Society and a Little Life (ALL top 10 material). I've been thinking about starting a booktube channel too, but I'm honestly worried I won't have anything useful or to say haha.
The night circus and red white royal blue are some of my favorites too and I read the yellow wallpaper because you've recommended it in another video and it was such mindblowing story
This definitely made me want to re-read the Night Circus, love that book so much 🥺
I'm so excited to read these! Some were already on my tbr and now I'm even more hyped. Happy 2022 all!
I read The Night Circus in 2021 because of you and it was one of my best readings of the year, I was just captured by its magic and Erin's writing, so I wanted to say thank you for recommending it :)
Listening to the way you describe the Gilded Wolves series, I think you would really enjoy the Mirror Visitor series by Christelle Dabos. Idk if it's on your radar, but it was one of my best reading experiences of 2021, I highly recommend (and I just checked, the 4 volumes have been translated in Dutch with the last one being released in March this year, I'm just saying 😏)
i’ve been wanting to read the yellow wallpaper so after watching this video i’m gonna buy it right away 😂 great video as always!
Piranesi sounds just so interesting, i would love to read it in 2022☺️ Also i read The Yellow Wallpaper because of Leonie, and i do not regret it!! It wasn't scary at all but it gave me the chills
@fallonpawley8568
2 жыл бұрын
I ran to my library to check out yellow wallpaper because of Leonie too! Absolutely loved it!!
@kyra6744
2 жыл бұрын
The Yellow Wallpaper is free online *legally* because the story is old enough to be in public domain!
I loved Piranesi! The writing style was beautiful and I just loved the mystery but also how the story was told, through his journal entries. I think everything just 'fit'. I think I would have liked the ending to be a little bit different, but still. Amazing book!
i just finished malibu rising, the newest book by taylor jenkins reid, and i swear to god, i dont know what she puts in her writing that its so addictive!!! i really recommend
Leonie try reading Haruki Murakami's books too. Really love to hear you talk about his work.
The Nights Circus is one of the best books I've read in my life. Honestly. I read it for the first (and second) time this year and I don't think I could ever ger enough of it! BTW I know you got The Starless Sea on Secret Santa, and I think you are going to love it as much as The Night Circus, I truly can't decide which one of them I love the most.
Just discovered this channel and am really enjoying it already! Little intimidated by how brilliant you are, but it brings back lots of nice memories of university life! Keep up the good work!
A NEW VIDEO TO WATCH WHILE IM ORGANIZING MY NOTION AHHH
The way you've talked about the Night Circus since I've started following you, makes me surprised you only read it this year!
Not sure if it got said yet, but as a dummy that get poked by their cactus too many times. (I’m very dumb) If you put some strong tape over the area and pull it off. it can get some of the leftover stems. Edit also thanks for the guided wolves, def one of my fav reads.
I love how you’ve described The Yellow Wallpaper. I’m intrigued, I’ll have to add it to my TBR!
OMG yaaayyyyy my top book for the year is also The Night Circus! I read it only a couple months ago, but I already want to re read it! Great video as always and Happy New Year Leonie!❤❤❤
i love the cover you have for the yellow wallpaper
your videos are literally the best thing
I just started Evelyn Hugo, and I must say it’s disappointing that you told the part where she’s actually in love with a woman. A spoiler alert would have been nice.
@ritafigueiredo456
2 жыл бұрын
I totally agree. I really want to read the book and I intend to read it soon but now I’m a little sad that I already know what’s gonna happen…
Normal people was one of my favorites this year too, would also recommend the hulu adaptation, its very faithful to the original
Taylor Jenkins Reid is a real gem in modern literature with the way she creates fictional celebrities in reimagined eras and events that they almost feel like real people who existed.
i’m currently like 80% into the night circus and OH MY GOD. it is so magical and atmospheric. i love morgensterns writing.
Always love your reviews & the beautiful way you describe books--thanks for the recommendations!!
I have The Yellow Wallpaper, The Night Circus and Piranesi on my shelf, hope to get to them this year. My best books of the year 2021 were Contact by Carl Sagan, I am I am I am by Maggie O´Farell, Smoke Gets In your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty, Dune by Frank Herbert and The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano.
Thank youuuu for a great year of videos!! They’ve engaged and comforted me so much this past year! To many more good books in 2022 🥂📚
I read The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in 2019 and I still can't stop thinking about it till this day. It's exactly like you've said, the characters just felt so real, the story itself is soooo gripping. I couldn't put it down and when I had to, I was just constantly thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it asap :))
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was the only book on here that I read and it is my second favourite book of the year after The Song of Achilles. Almost all the other books you mentioned are high on my TBR, so it's great to hear that you also really liked them!
I just finished Red White and Royal Blue and I haven't loved a physical book so much in so many years. Im used to only having that sort of emotional connection to fanfic but this made me so invested so quickly
Just read The Yellow Wallpaper and I am shooketh! Ty fir the recommendation!!!
Time to add way more books to my TBR than I need.
I read the night circus according to your recommendations and I am very glad that you also ranked it in the first place, because it is amazing and if I had not stumbled upon it, it would have been the disaster of my life.
THE NIGHT CIRCUS!!! I read it a few years ago and I still remember how beautifully written it is. I loved it, definitely one of my favorites. Aaaand The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is also one of my favorites. I read it on 2021 too. Just amazing, and I didn't expect the end.
Incredible style I love how passionate you are about books.
No but the night circus was also one of my favorite books this year It is so good!!
The Night Circus is my favourite 2021 read as well, I am not a fantasy reader but I like magic filled fiction ❤️, The Night has become my all time favourite read because of you Leonie I started reading it and the rest is history ❤️🥺
i dont know how to explain it but your videos are so comforting. also, i added some of the books you talked about on my tbr :) great video as always
I think I need to consider and give chance to The Night Circus after loathing The Starless Sea wayback 2020. I think Morgenstern's writing is truly magical and dream-like b'coz (someone said) worldbuilding is what she invest the most on her books.
Happy New Year! This is a great list, thanks for sharing, I'm gonna look into some of these! Happy Reading!
Hi!! didn´t read Night Circus in 2021, but absolutely loved it! Favorite book was between The Invisible life of Addie LaRue, Call me by your name and The Starless Sea, wich i recommend since you enjoyed the night circus.
Ooh I loved the Night Circus this year too! I love the writing so much, I wish there was a sequel because I still want more
I read the night circus between Christmas and New Years a few days ago. I was very hesitant on picking it up, still not sure why I decided to read it but I loved it. There was something about the atmosphere in the book... Truly magical. However I felt it was a fall/winter book so I can imagine it not having the same charme in summer/spring
Piranesi was in my top ten as well. I consider it as Magic Realism, and so heartbreaking. Night Circus sounds intriguing, May check it out for 2022!
@juli3836
2 жыл бұрын
I'm about to finish The Night Circus and it's definitely worth it.
@bookofdust
2 жыл бұрын
@@juli3836 Looking at reviews it seems to have as much of a divided audience as A Little Life.
@juli3836
2 жыл бұрын
@@bookofdust Yeah, some people say it's boring but it's mostly very loved. You should read it nonetheless.
Now I am even more excited to pick up Gilded Wolves!I got it as a Christmas gift and now I am even more hyped for it
@TheBookLeo
2 жыл бұрын
i hope you're gonna love it!
i absolutely loved Evelyn Hugo, it was so beautiful and engaging. I kinda went on a trance after reading it. Normal People was also amazing
I've read and loved most of these books and the ones I haven't r on my tbr and now I'm even more excited to pick them up and maybe even re-read some of them!!
I’ve heard so many good reviews on the yellow wallpaper and the night circus why I have not read these yet, these are now on my tbr for 2022 not impressed with myself that I have left it this long.
And who doesn't love flirty, nerdy, banter? Maybe it is easier to flirt in character idk. They say that breaking up is hard but tbh I think that falling in love is harder.
Since the night circus is #1 here, you are my favourite booktuber now❤️
Loved Well Met but the sequel is severely lacking. However, the sequel did get me hyped for the third book. As someone who was scared of getting into fantasy, I read The Night Circus because of your description of it and loved it. Shortly after, I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, which gave me Night Circus vibes. It has beautifully lyrical writing, a magical adventure aspect, and explores the nuances of complicated relationships with parental guardians. Also, the cover is just really pretty.
Omg 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Act Your Age, Eve Brown are both my top10 reads of 2021 too, they're so good ❤️
The vibe of Piranesi kind of reminds me of House of Leaves, minus all the tangents about all kinds of stuff and the analytical side of things. It's just the vibes.
Found your KZread channel while looking up to pronounce something and ended up watching your video that was completely all in Dutch. I do not speak Dutch,, can't understand it either at least not much yet, I've started learning as my boyfriend is Dutch and he always speaks to me in English, he's perfect at it but I want to show the same respect and learn to speak Dutch - at least as much as I can learn. Thank you for your videos. I love books too, however I get them for my Kindle (need more space for actual books otherwise lol). Look forward to watching the rest of your videos! New sub!
Piranesi is one of my favorite books this year I write down some that you mentioned Happy New Year ✨
My favorite book of the year: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous ❤❤❤❤it is amazing!
The Night Circus = yes yES YES!! Fave!🎪 I also read The Yellow Wallpaper 💛 on 31 Dec and loved the writing but the ending was just too weird and beyond my understanding. 😶 So 4 ⭐ Also, may you have a blesséd 2022. 🌈
Me: sad Leoni: hellouu Me: happy dance🧡
Omg YES!!! The Night Circus was my favourite book of the 2021 as well! Erin Morgenstern is a goddess
I put off reading seven husbands of evelyn hugo for a long time, but I finally read it and I actually liked it a lot! One of my favorite books this year was Zondagskind, it was recommended to me by a friend and it was great (it also made me cry lol)
i have a top three since haven't read much last year > she who became the sun, these violent delights [micah nemerever], the magic fish. the starless sea was petty good. hopefully can get around to picking up night circus this year.
Well met was the first romance i ever red anf i fell in love with it, i was recommended it by leonie and im so glad about that aha... I now have 3 more romances on my tbr that im itching to get to and it is because of the wonderful recommendation that was the marvelous well met i absolutely loved it (the ending we dont talk about) but again thoroughly enjoyed aha!
i actually read the yellow wallpaper in school and really enjoyed it too - you make me want to reread it haha
What a great list!! Some titles I’ve read and a few I hope To read this year
We shared two books in our top ten reads of the year! I also had Trick Mirror & The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. :)
And now my TBR is uncontrollably large hahaha
Happy new year, all! :)
love your channel sm! happy new year
I haven’t been able to read another book since I finished piranesi! I loved it so much
I got the Night Circus for Christmas, so excited to read it! ☺️
I can't believe Well Met is on this list! I recently re-read it and it's such a 3 star book for me 😬 There's so many better romances out there! The Night Circus is my all-time favourite book though, what an absolute fucking masterpiece. I'm still obsessed with it after like four read-throughs 🙌
i read The Night Circus too 2021, I liked it, but not as much as The Starless Sea that i LOVED. so if you havent read it yet, its a must read! Piranesi will be my next read. feels like I need to read Evelyn Hugo. Act your age sounds like a fun read, just put it on my very long want to read list :) :).the House in the ceruelan sea was one of my favorites 2021. :)
I can't wait to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I enjoyed Piranesi. It was definitely unlike anything I've ever read before ☺
I loved Red, White and Royal Blue. I am also currently reading Evelyn Hugo
Loved the Yellow Wallpaper. Glad you read it and enjoyed it! Both an interesting read and a good insight into more... questionable views on women's health.
Piranesi was my faaaave
Well now I need to reread the Night Circus again...
**gets stabbed by a cactus** Leonie: Oh no! Anyway-
Happy New Year Leonie!
The night circus was amazing.