2021 was the year of reading for me. At the end of 2020, I re-realized my love for reading again, and so my reading challenge began! Last year I had made it a goal to read fifty books, and ended up surpassing that goal with another twelve.
So, in honor of getting back into reading, here were all the books that earned five stars (spoiler-free and in no particular order).
The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton
Dawn Girl by Leslie Wolfe
Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman
The Villain by L.J. Shen
The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White
Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger
The Real Thing by Melissa Foster
Never Look Back by Mary Burton
It by Stephen King
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Moon Jar by Didi Jackson
The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton
Mary Burton is a masterful storyteller, pulling the reader in with her signature whodunnit serial killer trope. Lara Church is the only surviving victim of a serial killer who has an affinity towards strangulation, and when he resurfaces near her new home, Texas ranger Beck opens old wounds for Lara. The only problem is, that she can't remember anything from her experience.
This book came with action, romance, and a twist at the end as Lara avoids becoming the seventh victim.
Dawn Girl by Leslie Wolfe
FBI Special Agent Tess does not interact well with people, her PTSD making it difficult to get anything more than complaints from her coworkers. Still, in hot water, she is assigned a case in Florida, where the corpse of a young woman is posed on the beach. She is met by police detectives Gary and Todd, who she must work with in order to find the murderer and solve the case.
I particularly loved the characters in this book, as they all were complex and carried demons that made it difficult to work together. The writing was also well done, and there was no confusion while looking at the evidence, and finding out who the killer was.
Arc of a Scythe (Trilogy) by Neal Shusterman
In a world where the population is controlled and managed by scythes, cloaked figures who each have their own way of practicing the art of killing, two teens must go through trials and tribulations in order to become scythes. In becoming scythes they become close to death and the system that keeps the world in order, leading to a clash of morals and politics.
At first, I was skeptical about this series, putting the first book down for a few months before picking it up again, and I am so glad I continued reading. Neal ended this trilogy with a beautiful, heartbreaking, and realistic finale that still has me reeling months later. I highly recommend this serues.
The Villain by L.J. Shen
When Persephone's husband leaves her with a hundred grand debt, she finds herself asking Cillian Fitzpatrick, the emotionless and rich CEO, to grant her another favor. He agrees, but everything comes at a price with him, and she finds her freedom quickly stripped away as Cillian claims her as his.
The chemistry between these two characters was intoxicating, both peeling back each other's layers in a way that leaves the reader heartbroken and rooting for their happy ending. The internal monologues between the characters were witty and engaging to read through. This book had the right amount of darkness, steam, and romance to keep me wanting more.
The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White
Detective Rebecca North is forced to go back to her hometown when her father is announced dead from suicide. Rebecca finds herself seeking the help of Ash Haugen to figure out clues, and she is soon led to believe that her father did not kill himself after uncovering details about her late father investigating a cold case . . . including Ash.
This book had just the right amount of twists and turns, keeping me engaged and wanting to know more. Even throughout these twists, it was fairly easy to follow the turn of events and characters that were introduced. With a satisfying ending, this book definitely earned all of its stars from me.
Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger
When Truvy is saved from an attack at her job by a man who she is immediately smitten with, she is not expecting a price to come with it. Liam Black is much more powerful than Truvy realizes, and soon their fates are further intertwined when he offers her a deal she can't seem to refuse. Liam keeps insisting that he is no good for Truvy, and yet can't seem to stay away. The back and forth in this book was fun and surprisingly wholesome. I found myself swooning for both the spicy bits and the romance. They fit each other so well, and the writing of this book was beautifully executed.
The Real Thing by Melissa Foster
Willow is a hard-working woman doing everything she can to make her bakery a success, so when she is offered an interview that can change her career, she jumps at the opportunity. Zane Walker is responsible for this interview but admits that it is a fake and he needs Willow, a longtime friend, to grant him a favor. In order to save his reputation, he needs a trusted friend to be his fake fiancée, and in exchange, he grants her exposure so she can get her business running.
Willow and Zane have a history that gets the story moving quickly, and soon you're falling in love with them individually and together as they navigate their fake relationship until it becomes not-so-fake. I loved the slow reveal of their history, and how the two characters meshed together as a couple. It was also nice to see both the characters' passions and beliefs as the book progressed.
Never Look Back by Mary Burton
Melinda Shepard, an agent of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, finds herself going undercover as a prostitute when women start going missing. She narrowly avoids becoming a victim herself and admits to herself that the killer is dangerous enough for her to need FBI backup in the form of Jerrod Ramsey. The pair search for clues and soon find themselves dealing with two serial killers with two very different motives, and they work together to bring justice to all the victims involved as Melina's past also begins to unfold in front of her.
This story was so compelling, another whodunnit mystery that left my head spinning in the best way possible. With a satisfying ending and a touch of romance, this was a perfect thriller.
It by Stephen King
A book in which seven children face an unspeakable horror that comes back to haunt them as adults. There is so much to say about this book, as I am a fan of the King's work. This book is written from the perspectives of the characters as adults and as children, the story diving in and out of their childhood memories, which start to come back after a call from an old friend.
This story was gritty and terrifying in ways that had nothing to do with the monster that kept coming back to Derry, Maine. Each character was so fleshed out that you felt for them on a personal level, and this enhanced the book in so many ways. It is a long read, but well worth your time if you are a fan of horror, mystery, friendship, and a bit of romance.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
A boarding school called Hailsham teaches its students the importance of arts, crafts, and health above all else. Hailsham is a school that is strict about the way its students learn, and the students are starting to notice that not everything is what it seems. It's hard to say anything else without spoiling this book, but it was definitely worth the read.
At first, I was skeptical, finding that the book was well out of my comfort zone. It is dreary. It will grab onto your heart and squeeze. It is absolutely terrifying, and yet I found myself sucked in, glassy-eyed, and contemplating my existence by the end of it. I think that this book is not meant for everyone, but the people that will get it will get it.
Moon Jar by Didi Jackson
Grief, loss, and acceptance. Didi gives us all her vulnerability in this anthology, where she works through the heart-wrenching loss of her husband to suicide. Somehow, she made me feel everything that she was feeling, even though we are two separate people living two completely different lives.
It was a heartbreaking, empowering collection that deserves to be read slowly, and with every bit of attention to detail.
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