I didn’t do much reading in 2020. I think my brain went into pandemic freeze mode. I was also writing my first book, Bringing Up Race, so I found myself avoiding other people’s works. The one book that was my constant companion and cheerleader was Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Over the Christmas break, I recovered my reading habit and for 2021 I set myself a target of reading 21 books. I’m happy to report that not only did I beat my target (and the year’s not done yet) but I read some incredible books and discovered a bunch of new authors. These are 21 books I loved in 2021 including books I couldn’t get out of my head, books I want everyone to read, and books I’ll return to again and again. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of these authors for holding me spellbound this year.
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21 Books I Loved in 2021
Books I Couldn’t Get Out of My Head
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
An intimate, unflinching look at female desire through the lenses of three very different women. Author Lisa Taddeo spent years reporting and researching her subjects to conjure them on the page. It’s narrative nonfiction that plays out like cinema vérité and I’ve never read anything quite like it. She’s an exceptional writer and her novel Animal is high on my tbr list.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
A deeply personal and evocative study of grief, appetites and racial identity. Michelle Zauner (aka indie-pop act Japanese Breakfast) explores her relationship with her ailing mum, her creative journey and coming of age as a mixed Korean American. It’s part memoir, part love story told mostly through mouthwatering descriptions of Korean food. Simply beautiful.
Luster by Raven Leilani
One of the hottest books of 2020, I only caught up with Luster in 2021. It’s a hip, funny and at times achingly raw portrayal of a young African American woman who becomes entangled with a married White man. Raven’s writing dazzles and her observations on the intersections of race, class, gender and sexuality often cut like glass. Believe the hype.
His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick)
Afi, a young Ghanaian woman, is betrothed to a man she barely knows. She leaves her family home to move to the big city and enjoy the perks of being a ‘big man’s’ wife. The catch? Her husband’s first wife doesn’t seem fully out of the picture and she casts a long shadow over their fledgling relationship. A riveting look at arranged marriage, first love and the choices available to African women in a changing society.
A River Called Time by Courttia Newland
I could describe this novel as Wakanda meets The Matrix with a Mad Max edge but that wouldn’t do it justice. Courttia Newland has imagined a world so vivid and a concept so layered that it’s tricky to define. In Dinium (a dystopian London), a rebel group attempts to infiltrate the Ark — an emerald city where the elite live cut off from the struggling masses. Their secret weapon is Markriss Denny, a man whose spirit can leave his body and jump through space and time. Then Markriss learns he’s on a collision course with another astral traveller, whose existence might spell doom for humanity. This is a gripping tale that blends sci-fi, social satire, African spirituality and the paranormal. At times, I got a little lost across timelines, yet I was fully along for the ride. It’s a book you’ll want to re-read and I’d like to see it on the big screen one day. I’m also keen to have a deep chat with Courttia about his inspirations and my own experiences with lucid dreaming. Eerie stuff.
Love Orange by Natasha Randall
A bored wife and mother strikes up a pen pal relationship with a prisoner who isn’t quite what he seems. Love Orange is a sharp, funny and deftly written novel that takes on big, topical themes. Author Natasha Randall keeps peeling away our expectations as she uncovers the delusions and desires of an American suburban family.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
A recently bereaved waitress tries to find her writing voice and figure out her love life. Being a writer and having lost my mother too, I was drawn to the central character and her sensory descriptions of grief and the creative process. A deceptively simple coming of age romance that’s deeply affecting and gorgeously written.
A Woman In the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter
I joined a local book club in December and this was their pick of the month. I’m so glad as I’d never heard of this book but it’s one of my favourites of 2021. Artist Christine Ritter heads out to the Arctic to join her husband who’s spent three years there after an expedition. She thinks she’ll have time to write, knit and potter about but it turns into a much wilder — and more wondrous — experience than she could have ever imagined. Read it for the stunning painterly prose and the author’s wry humour.
Books I Want Everyone to Read
God Is Not a White Man by Chine McDonald
I predicted this book would fly off the shelves based on the title alone. British Nigerian Chine McDonald delves into the history of Christianity and its racist, sexist roots. Drawing on meticulous research and incisive critique, she serves up a more expansive and inclusive vision of spirituality. Chine’s a brilliant writer and this is an illuminating read whether you’re a believer or a happy heathen.
Do Less by Kate Northrup
A book I wanted to press into the hands of every woman (and particularly every mother) I know. Kate Northrup helps dismantle myths around productivity and why we need to challenge these capitalist, patriarchal ideals. She offers tips on taking things off your plate and working with your cyclical rhythms without feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel. Game-changing.
Minor Feelings: A Reckoning on Race and the Asian Condition by Cathy Park Hong
The story begins with a nervous tic and spirals out into a powerful series of essays on identity, relationships, poetry and race in America. Cathy Park Hong dissects the model minority burden that so many Asian Americans bear and reflects on her thorny relationship with the country she calls home. She’s also a poet and she writes like a dream. Essential reading.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I’m a big fan of Matt Haig’s writing but had only read his non-fiction. The Midnight Library has a fantastic premise: between life and death, there is a library filled with books that allow you to try out different lives. Told through suicidal heroine Nora, it’s a parable of pain, hope, love and possibility that has entranced millions of readers worldwide. My 15-year-old dug it too.
Wahala by Nikki May
Oh this book. So hot, so juicy. I knew I’d gulp it down as soon as I saw the title Wahala (it means ‘trouble’ in West African pidgin). Three friends of mixed Nigerian British heritage — Simi, Ronke and Boo — are each coping with life’s ups and downs, from sketchy guys to everyday racism. Then a fourth woman, the glamorous and enigmatic Isobel, enters the fray and all wahala breaks loose. Billed as a cross between Sex & the City and Big Little Lies, it’s more reminiscent of Terri McMillan’s classic Waiting to Exhale with an Afrobeats vibe and an enjoyably dark twist. Nikki May’s writing goes down smooth like swallow* and I can’t wait to read what she puts out next.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I had this on my Kindle for over a year so it felt weird finishing it in one weekend. But it’s that kind of thriller, once you get going it’s impossible to put down. The Hunting Party gathers a bunch of former uni friends for a New Year’s break at a remote Scottish hunting lodge. They get stuck in a snowstorm and there’s a murderer afoot. The story is told through several POV and cleverly, she makes you work to figure out the victim, let alone the murderer. I wish the one POC character had more to do (she’s the only female lead who doesn’t get her own narrative). Still, it’s a page-turner and I look forward to reading more by Lucy Foley.
NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood by Danusia Malina-Derben
The founder of the award-winning School for Mothers and School for Fathers podcasts, Danusia is also a mother of 10. So if anybody could tell you a thing or two about motherhood and self-determination, Danusia’s your woman. NOISE is a manifesto that sets out to reclaim mums as people with their own rights and needs. It’s a quick and punchy read that should light a fire for mothers whether they’re expecting babies, deep in the parent trenches, or about to empty their nests. My favourite parts were the more narrative sections where Danusia really lets her voice shine and I’m looking forward to her forthcoming memoirs. Also check out SPUNK: A Manifesto Modernising Fatherhood.
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes & Gordon C James
It’s a children’s book but it’s one of my books of the year. Derrick Barnes has written a love letter to Black boys, gorgeously illustrated by Gordon C James. I Am Every Good Thing is a poem, an affirmation and a manifesto for Black boy joy. But you don’t have to be Black or even a boy to appreciate the book’s lyricism and sweet representations of kids simply being human. I can’t read this picture book without a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.
Books I Will Return to Again and Again
Let It Be Easy by Susie Moore
Adulting can do your head in sometimes. But does life always have to be so hard? Author Susie Moore suggests ways to put ease at the centre of everything you do, whether that’s surviving toxic friendships or processing grief. The bite-size chapters are easy to dip in and out of, and it’s like having your own personal cheerleader whenever you need a pick-me-up.
Discover Your Power Animal by Naz Ahsun
Do you feel a special connection with animals? In this fascinating guide, Naz Ahsun explains the concept of power animals, drawing on her personal experience. She relates each animal to our chakra centres and includes guided meditations, along with an animal oracle for clarity on everyday situations. I really enjoyed Naz’s light, conversational style and even if you’re not ‘woo woo’ by nature, there are lots of useful takeaways.
Astro Poets by Alex Dimitrov & Dorothea Lasky
I’ve been following these guys on Twitter for their pithy astrological poems laced with humour. The book contains less poetry and a whole lot more astrology. It’s a fresh and funny guide to star signs for the 21st century. Read it to understand yourself a little better as well as your friends, kids and love interest.
Senbazuru: Small Steps to Hope, Healing and Happiness by Michael James Wong
I had a wonderful conversation with Michael James Wong on his podcast The Quiet Life and I love his energy. So I preordered Senbazuru, a gorgeous collection of short stories and observations inspired by the Japanese art of folding 1000 paper cranes. Michael is a meditation specialist and his calm, mindful approach infuses this book. The paper crane exercises are something you can do alone or with your kids.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I read The Happiness Project years ago and I found it just as thoughtful and engaging to read again. This classic guide to a more intentionally happy life is what catapulted Gretchen Rubin to global superstardom. Since then, she’s published a number of bestsellers including The Four Tendencies. The Happiness Project is one of those books that pulls you in easily thanks to the author’s warm, sparky tone and her genuine curiosity about human behaviour. I was so honoured when she interviewed me for her website and also for a segment on her online course The Happiness Project Experience.
*Find more of my reading lists on Bookshop.org. I’m sharing book recommendations via my social media too (follow @BabesaboutTown on Instagram and Twitter) and my list of 22 Books to Read in 2022 will be out in January. What were your favourite books this year?
**swallow = traditional starchy accompaniment to Nigerian soups/casseroles
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