Best Books From 2021

Whether you are participating in our In Case You Missed It Backlist Reading Challenge or simply found this post searching for the best books of 2021, you’ve come to the right place! Our list includes a mix of the best-selling novels of 2021 as well as highly-rated books published that year that flew a bit more under the radar.

Three tilted book covers - The Music of Bees, One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot, and The Yellow Wife

There are so many great books released each year that it’s impossible to keep up. The Book Girls typically read about 200 books a year between the two of us, but nonetheless, our TBRs (to-be-read lists) just keep getting longer. And we know we’re not alone! With that in mind, we decided to take a look back at some of the best books that we missed from past years.

In Case You Missed It…

We’ve compiled a list of highly-rated books from 2021, including a wide variety of genres, from contemporary and literary fiction to mystery and romance. Our goal was to make these recommendations much more than just a list of the 2021 best-seller books. In addition to popular titles, you’ll find hidden gems that we think should have been more popular.

While researching 2021’s best books, we also had fun reminiscing about some pop culture moments that defined the year.

Five Things We Were Talking About in 2021

  • A photo of Senator Bernie Sanders wearing mittens on Inauguration Day went viral and sparked thousands of memes photoshopping Cold Bernie into various scenes and scenarios. The Book Girls even got in on the action with this Instagram post.
  • After Harry and Meghan officially stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in February of 2021, they sat down with Oprah to spill the tea in a tell-all interview.
  • Netflix’s Bridgerton was the buzziest show of 2021. Based on a book series by Julia Quinn in which the eight Bridgerton siblings find their love matches in Regency-era England. The first seasons follow the books pretty closely, but later seasons go in different directions.
  • More than a decade into the #FreeBritney movement, singer Britney Spears was finally released from the conservatorship that controlled many aspects of her life.
  • And finally, in “pup” culture, Noodles the pug stole the hearts of everyone on the internet in 2021. His owner, Jonathan Graziano took to TikTok each morning for “Bones or No Bones” reading from Noodles. If Noodles stood up on his own, it was a “Bones Day,” indicating a good productive day for his 4.4 million followers; but if Noodles instead flopped back onto his doggie bed, it was a “No Bones Day,” giving everyone permission to stay in and take it easy.

Best Books of 2021

You are welcome to choose any book you’d like to read for the challenge, but we hope this list of books has given you a good starting point.

One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book


94%
Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Lenni is only 17 years old, but she has a terminal illness. Despite the devastating impacts of her disease and the drugs she has to take to manage it, Lenni is determined to live every moment that she can, even if she can’t leave the hospital. 

Escaping to the hospital’s crafts room, Lenni enrolls in an art class where she gets to know Margot, an 83-year-old fellow rebel with heart problems. As their unexpected friendship grows, the pair realize that between the two of them, they’ve lived an entire century of life. To celebrate this milestone, they decide to paint their life stories – joy, kindness, loss, and love.

The Book Girls Say…

This is a tearjerker, but readers say it’s ultimately uplifting and worth every tear! Although it’s a tender and touching story, it’s also disarmingly funny at times, with plenty of snarkiness and shenanigans.

This book is said to be especially good on audio, with two different narrators doing the voices of Lenni and Margot.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024
Yellow Wife Book Cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book


100%
Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

As the light-skinned daughter of a plantation owner and a slave, Pheby escaped much of the brutality of slavery as a child. Her white father even promised her freedom for her 18th birthday. However, instead of freedom, she is sent to Devil’s Half-Acre by her father’s wife. This jail is where slaves are broken, tortured, and sold every day.

Within the jail, Pheby was groomed to be the personal mistress of slave trader Rubin Lapier. She becomes his sex slave, “wife,” and the mother of his children. Eventually, she faces the ultimate sacrifice to protect her heart as she fights for freedom.

The Book Girls Say…

Devil’s Half-Acre, also known as Lumpkin’s Jail, was a real place located only three blocks from the state capital in Richmond, Virginia. The character of Pheby is based on the true story of Mary Lumpkin, who was forced to “marry” the owner of the jail, Robert Lumpkin.

Yellow Wife was a 2021 Goodreads Choice Nominee for Best Historical Fiction.

Book Summary

Shelby Tebow went missing first. Then, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanished just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen. This strikes fear into a once-peaceful community. But are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. And no one is prepared for the answers.

The Book Girls Say…

This book won the 2022 Audie Award for best thriller/suspense audiobook recording.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024
The Seed Keeper book cover

Book Summary

Long before spring meant placing orders for seeds through gardening catalogs, the Dakhótas relied on their strong seed-saving traditions for survival. While this book will teach you about that seed-saving heritage, it also covers so much more.

Rosalie Iron Wing grew up learning about plants and her ancestry as a Dakhóta from her father. However, when he goes missing, she is sent to live with a foster family. Decades later, Rosalie is now both a mother and the widow of a farmer. She still takes solace in their land, although it has been threatened by both nature and man.

When Rosalie returns to her birthplace to learn more about her family history, she learns about the trauma of boarding schools, the war between the Dakhótas and the government, and the cache of seeds that survived through generations.

The Book Girls Say…

Diane Wilson is a Dakota writer who uses personal experience to illustrate broader social and historical context.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Forty-four-year-old Alice is in the midst of deep grief. She’s unexpectedly lost her husband, her job is a dead-end, and even her beloved beekeeping hobby isn’t bringing her the usual joy. She has even begun to have anxiety attacks, thinking about how far her life has strayed from her dreams.

As she’s transporting 120,000 bees in her truck, she nearly collides with Jake. He’s a troubled, paraplegic teenager with the tallest mohawk in Hood River County. When Alice sees Jake’s genuine interest in the bees and learns about his own difficulties at home, she impulsively invites him to see the farm.

The third member of the unlikely trio that makes up this novel is Harry. He’s twenty-four, and his social anxiety has prevented him from getting a traditional job. He answers Alice’s ad for part-time farm help and is shocked to be hired. Alice, Jake, and Harry become fast friends when they have to work together to stop a pesticide company that is threatening the bees. Through their new friendship, they each begin to heal.

The Book Girls Say…

While this book deals with grief and other tough topics, its overall message is uplifting and heartwarming. After reading it, it quickly became one of Melissa’s new favorites, and our readers have universally enjoyed it as well.

Book Summary

Astronaut Ryland has just woken up millions of miles from home, a very long time after his mission. His crewmates are dead, and his memories are fuzzy. Slowly, he begins piecing together that he must single-handedly save Earth from an event that could cause total extinction.

The Book Girls Say…

Project Hail Mary receives praise from both fans of Sci-Fi and those who normally avoid Sci-Fi.

With themes of both mystery and adventure, this highly-rated book won the 2022 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. Readers consistently call it a must-listen and say the narration makes the story come to life.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

96% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Struggling novelist and divorced mom of two Finlay Donovan is BARELY holding things together. Each day has new challenges, like her ex-husband firing the nanny with no warning right before an important meeting.

Money is running out, and her next novel is way behind schedule. While meeting with her agent and attempting to buy more time, she receives a mysterious envelope with an offer of quick cash in exchange for a job.

Desperation and intrigue lead her to follow up with the number on the note, and before she knows what’s happening, she’s kind of agreed to be a contract killer for a woman with a truly terrible husband. Whoops.

The Book Girls Say…

While the synopsis sounds pretty dramatic, this book is definitely witty and hilarious versus gory or scary. It’s filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages and unable to put it down!

Keep in mind that this isn’t intended to be a realistic crime book. You have to suspense your disbelief at points and just enjoy the ride. It’s perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books with Characters In Their 30s

Love Song of W.E.B. Du Bois book cover

Book Summary

This epic novel traces the journey of one American family from the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to the present day.

Ailey Pearl is named after two formidable Black Americans—a revered choreographer and her great-grandmother, who is a descendant of enslaved Georgians. She grows up in the city but spends her summers in the small Georgia town where her mother’s family has lived since their ancestors were brought over from Africa in bondage.

As Ailey fights to come to terms with her identity and find where she belongs, she carries with her the whispers of two centuries of women in her maternal line. When she embarks on a journey through her family’s history, she uncovers shocking revelations about her ancestors.

The Book Girls Say…

This highly-rated historical literary novel received Goodreads Choice Awards nominations in 2021 for Best Historical Fiction and Best Debut Novel. It has been compared to such novels as Homegoing, The Water Dancer, and Sing, Unburied, Sing.

Clocking in at 816 pages, this novel is not for the faint of heart. If your schedule doesn’t allow for such a weighty read this month, consider adding it to your TBR to tackle another time.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/16/2024
These Tangled Vines book cover

Book Summary

Fiona has long kept her late mother’s secret – the man raising her was not her biological father. She knows her mother had an affair in Tuscany but has no idea that she was named in the will of her secret Italian father. In addition to the considerable, surprise inheritance, Fiona also learns about her two half-siblings. 

When she travels to Italy, the family is as shocked about her existence as she was about the will. This leads to tricky family interactions and new rivalries as Fiona tries to learn more about her mother’s summer in Italy and the father she never had a chance to meet.

The Book Girls Say…

Although we haven’t read this one yet, Melissa’s mom read it and loved it!

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/16/2024
Once Upon a Wardrobe book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book


100%
Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Promising physics student Megs is attending Oxford in 1950 and prefers facts to creativity. However, her beloved but critically ill, 8-year-old brother is obsessed with a world created in a book – The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. When he asks her to find out where Narnia came from, she can’t refuse his plea.

When she tracks down the Lewis brothers, who are also at Oxford, they graciously invite her for tea. While they fill her with stories she can pass along to her brother, she doesn’t understand why he won’t answer her most important question about the origin of Narnia.

The Book Girls Say…

While there are sad moments, this book is also described as filled with hope and warmth. Just what we all need on a cold winter night!

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Set in the 1950s
Best Books to Read in Winter 2024

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

When family tragedy strikes, Uncle Patrick needs to take custody of his niece and nephew for the summer. Forty-three-year-old GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) loves the kids, but he’s used to them going home after a weekend.

Once a famous sitcom star, Patrick’s career is stalled. His Palm Springs lifestyle of cocktails at brunch isn’t exactly ideal for a 6 and 9-year-old. He quickly realizes that having the kids longer than a few days means he needs to be more of a parent figure. But in order to help the kids, Patrick will also have to figure out how to help himself. This means facing some difficult memories from his past and deciding what he wants for his future.

The Book Girls Say…

This book has much more depth than the cover might imply.  We both rated The Guncle 5 stars because it made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between!

Even though the family is recovering from grief and in the midst of another complicated situation, the Guncle is full of heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud humor. Patrick is the embodiment of what you hope for in a family member or friend. He steps way outside of his comfort zone, leads with open-hearted love, and does his best when in an unexpected, difficult situation. The kids are equally fantastic characters!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

97% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This historical fiction novel is based on the remarkable true story of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, a Black woman who became one of the most powerful women in NYC at the turn of the century.

Belle da Costa Greene was working at the Princeton University Library when J.P. Morgan’s nephew recommended her for a position curating a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artbooks for his uncle’s newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. This position of prominence made her one of the most influential people in the art and book world. She became a fixture on the New York social scene.

But Belle had a secret that could change everything. She led people to believe that her dark complexion was the result of her alleged Portuguese heritage. In truth, however, she was born Bella Marion Greener – the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard University.

The Book Girls Say…

We both rated The Personal Librarian five stars! The writing duo of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray put together a seamless story that educates and entertains. From learning about the progress and recession of the civil rights movement in the decades surrounding the turn of the century to literary and art history, the book introduces several aspects that left us eager to do more research. However, that education was wrapped in a page-turning story full of romance and intrigue.

The book manages to move gracefully between lighter and heavier storylines. We were always on the edge of our seats, wondering if Belle’s secret would be revealed.

If you ever find yourself in NYC, be sure to plan time for The Morgan Library! Angela had a chance to visit back in March, and she was awed by the architecture and grandeur of each and every room, including Belle’s private office.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Set in the 1900s-1910s: The Turn of the Century
Books About Libraries & Librarians
The Personal Librarian Book Club Guide with Discussion Questions

PS: We also have a printable Personal Librarian book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, 7 pages of bonus contextual information and photos, a printable bookmark, and more!

Cloud Cuckoo Land book cover

Book Summary

In the 15th century, a young orphan named Anna lived in Constantinople (what is now Istanbul, Turkey). Growing up in an ancient city famous for its libraries, Anna discovers what could be the last copy of a centuries-old book chronicling the story of Aethon. Soon, her path crosses with that of a village boy named Omeir, who has been drafted into the army.

In a library in present-day Idaho, 80-something Zeno is directing a children’s play adaptation of Aethon. But tucked among the books on the library’s shelves is a bomb planted by a troubled teen.

In the not-too-distant future, Konstance is on an interstellar ship copying down the story of Aethon told he her by her father.

Throughout the novel, the lives of these dreamers are intertwined in such an immersive way that you’ll forget your own world and feel as if you’ve been transported into theirs.

The Book Girls Say…

This historical fantasy from the author of All the Light We Cannot See was a Goodreads Choice Nominee for Best Fiction in 2021.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

95% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

While jogging near her home on Nantucket, novelist Vivi is killed in a hit-and-run accident. After her death, Vivi is granted the opportunity to watch what happens to her family for one final summer. In addition to watching, she gets three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on Earth.

Between troubles for her children, the investigation into her death, and a childhood secret wrapped into the final novel she was writing, Vivi must be cautious with her nudges while learning to let her family make decisions without her.

The Book Girls Say…

When we asked our readers to rank their favorite Elin Hilderbrand books, Golden Girl was in the top 5!

Four Winds book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

As the Dust Bowl drought gripped the Great Plains, millions were out of work, crops failed, water dried up, and farmers fought to keep their land. This is the story of Elsa Martinelli, who is forced to make an agonizing choice: fight for her land in Texas or move west to California in search of a better life. 

Like so many of her neighbors, Elsa courageously faces the hardships and sacrifices that came to define an entire generation during the Great Depression as they fought for the American Dream.

The Book Girls Say…

We love books that truly transport you to another time and place, and few books do that quite as well as The Four Winds. You will feel the dirt and the direness that so many experienced.

We knew people from Oklahoma and Texas fled looking for a better life in California during the Dust Bowl years, but this novel opened our eyes to how poorly they were treated and how much they were discriminated against when they arrived, no matter how hard they were willing to work.

Charm Offensive book cover

Book Summary

As the producer of the long-running reality dating show called Ever After, Dev always scripts the perfect love stories for his contestants, but he hasn’t yet been able to do the same for himself.

When Charlie Winshaw – a disgraced tech genius – is cast as the next star of Ever After, Dev has his work cut out for him. Unlike Dev, who has always believed in fairy tales, Charlie doesn’t believe in true love and only agrees to the show in hopes of rehabbing his image. He’s far from a natural on camera, and behind the scenes, he’s cold and awkward.

As they travel the world filming the show, Dev tries desperately to get Charlie to connect with the contestants. Instead, Charlie discovers that he has better chemistry with Dev than with his female co-stars. But it’s not so simple to flip the script on reality TV. Whose love story will get told?

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Like Red, White and Royal Blue

The Firekeeper's Daughter book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

97% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This YA thriller, written by a Native American author, is about a biracial teen who is an unenrolled member of the Ojibwe tribe. Daunis has never quite fit in at home or on the reservation. She dreams of heading to college, but after a tragedy, she must remain home to care for her mom.

Life takes another big turn when she witnesses a murder and then reluctantly goes undercover in the criminal investigation to infiltrate a drug ring in her community.

The Book Girls Say…

Although some feel that this book starts slow, it made the list of our reader’s favorite books of 2021! They mentioned that it’s great on audio to hear the beautiful native language woven into the book.

Heads Up: The book contains a sexual assault.

Secret Life of Albert Entwistle book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Albert Entwistle is a 64-year postal worker in the UK. He has no plans of retiring but receives a letter informing him that his mandatory retirement is just around the corner on his 65th birthday.

Albert’s only friend is his cat, and although he isn’t chatty with others at work or on his routes, he still dreads being home alone without a job. When he’s reminded of his only romantic relationship, which happened 50 years prior, something begins to stir in Albert. Perhaps it’s not too late to find happiness after all?

With the help of some unexpected new friends, Albert sets off to find George, the man he hasn’t seen since they were teenagers.

The Book Girls Say…

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is a feel-good, heartwarming read that will pull at your heartstrings while providing plenty of topics for discussion. If you enjoy audiobooks, the narrator perfectly captures Albert’s conflicted feelings as he begins to open up to new friends. Although the storyline includes searching for a lost love, the book is not a romance – it’s really a 65-year-old coming-of-age tale.

This book was published in the UK in 2021, prior to the 2022 US release.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

91% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Rich Gunderson comes from a long line of loggers. For generations, his family has made their living off of the Redwood trees, but now his way of life is threatened as the National Park Service is expanding to protect tens of thousands of acres of trees. Additionally, environmentalists are protesting the logging operations on the remaining private lands, raising concerns about water contamination. In an effort to secure his family’s future, Rich secretly spends their savings on a grove of ancient Redwoods that he hopes to harvest.

Rich’s wife, Colleen, is an amateur midwife who hopes for a second child of her own. She has suffered a long string of miscarriages and has begun to see a disturbing number of birth defects and fetal deaths throughout her small community. She begins to suspect that the herbicides used by the logging company that employs her husband might be to blame.

The Book Girls Say…

Angela picked this book up immediately after returning from a family vacation to the Redwoods, so she was instantly drawn to the story about the towns she had just visited. But it was the dual perspectives of this story that kept her hooked. We see the story unfold from the point of view of both Rich and Colleen, as well as a few chapters from their eight-year-old son.

In a world where people often seem increasingly unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints, this environmental novel’s storytelling format compassionately illuminates all the shades of gray that exist for the families and communities caught in the middle.

Book Summary

In the present-day timeline, Caroline arrives in London on what was supposed to be a 10th-anniversary trip with her husband. Just days before the trip, she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her, so she’s making the trip solo in hopes of sorting out what her future will hold.

Her passion for history – the career path she gave up when she married her husband – is unexpectedly reignited when she stumbles upon a small vial with an unusual etching. As she seeks to learn more about where the vial may have come from, she begins to unravel the story behind a string of “apothecary murders” dating back to the 1790s.

This dual-timeline novel transports us back to 18th-century London, where we meet Nella, a female apothecary with a dark secret. As Nella’s story slowly unfolds in the 1791 timeline, Caroline gets closer to discovering Nella’s secret in the present. However, when their two stories collide, Caroline may face some unexpected consequences.

The Book Girls Say…

Angela initially hesitated to read this book after seeing some classify it as “fantasy,” which is not a genre she’s typically drawn to. But The Lost Apothecary is actually a historical fiction mystery with just a few elements of magical realism. All that to say, if you enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, this book just might surprise you!

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Best Books of 2021
30 Best Magical Realism Books

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

94% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Mary Jane tells the story of two very different family lifestyles and a 14-year-old girl trying to decide who she really is. Mary Jane is a quiet, book-loving girl from a traditional, conservative family in 1970s Baltimore. When she is offered a job as a nanny for a local doctor, her mom assumes their home is equally tidy and respectable.

However, the house is a huge mess and it’s about to get crazier. The doctor has welcomed a rock star and his wife to stay at the house while he tries to get sober. Mary Jane has a lot to teach them about tidiness and schedules, and all the while, they are opening her eyes to the world outside her bubble. By the end of the summer, she’ll have a much better understanding of who she wants to be.

The Book Girls Say…

This was one of our favorite books of the last few years, and one that really stuck with both of us! Angela really enjoyed listening to the audiobook because it incorporates music.

Although the main character is a teenager, this is an adult novel, not a YA title. It makes an excellent read because of the perspective that comes from looking back at the years between innocence and maturity. It could prompt a great road trip discussion about your own teen years.

Second Life of Mirielle West book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

97% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Mirielle West lives a glamorous life in LA as the wife of a silent film star. When a doctor sees a small spot on her hand, she’s whisked across the country to what feels like a different world. She hopes to have only a brief visit to the Louisiana Leper Home, but when she arrives, there is barbed wire, a curfew, and little chance of ever returning to her everyday life.

As Mirielle is assigned work inside the home, she must come to terms with both the illness and its perception in the outside world.

The Book Girls Say…

Based on the true story of Carville Leper’s home in Louisiana, this historical fiction pick will introduce you to a little-known slice of American history. Reviewers say that the audio version of the book is excellent.

Billy Summers book cover

Book Summary

This novel is a book-within-a-book. Billy Summers is a former Marine sniper and Iraq war vet turned hitman who only kills “bad people.” He’s taking one last job before retiring that requires him to go undercover as a writer named David Lockridge. Under his assumed author name, he rents office space in the small town of Red Buff. The story alternates between Billy’s real-life and the fictional memoir that he is penning, which tells his backstory.

The Book Girls Say…

While this novel does contain a lot of violence, it is squarely crime fiction and not King’s typical horror genre. However, reviewers say that he’s tucked lots of Easter eggs throughout the story that long-time King horror fans will enjoy.

Nature of Fragile Things book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

In the early 1900s, Irish immigrant Sophie was desperate to leave her New York tenement. She answered a mail-order bride ad and agreed to marry a man named Martin Hocking in San Francisco. Martin is an aloof but handsome widower with a silent five-year-old daughter.

One evening, a young pregnant woman arrives at their doorstep. Sophie also learns of another woman, hundreds of miles away in Arizona, grieving the loss of everything she once loved. The fates of these three women become intertwined on the eve of the devastating San Francisco earthquake.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Set in the 1900s and 1910s

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

93% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

April has a rough life, fending for herself in a motorless motorhome that her father won while playing poker. She works at a diner but dreams of being a songwriter. After flunking out of school and another fight with her dad, April sets off to find a better life for herself.

Along the way, she meets others with complex stories, which are the perfect inspiration for her songs. But even more important than that, she finds that family doesn’t have to mean the community you were born into. Instead, people you meet can become family.

The Book Girls Say…

This is a beautifully written, character-driven, coming-of-age novel. April isn’t always likable, and she makes many bad decisions along the way. But she’s a raw and real character you’ll come to love despite her flaws.

This book is packed with so much genuine emotion, honesty, and heart that you’ll want a copy on your shelf so that you can read it again!

Book Summary

Ph.D. candidate Olive doesn’t believe in long-term relationships, but her best friend, Anh, is driving her crazy, trying to change her mind. In a desperate attempt to satisfy Anh, Olive kisses the first man she sees to show that she is dating and trying to find love.

Professor Adam Carlsen is known for being a tyrant in the lab, and unfortunately, he was the lucky recipient of her impulsive kiss. Olive is shocked when Dr. Carlsen agrees to go along with her fake boyfriend’s charade.

When her career is put at risk after a fiasco at a science conference, Adam’s response to her big disaster begins to change everything for Olive.

The Book Girls Say…

In addition to featuring a fiesty female chemist, this steamy novel also covers two popular romance tropes – fake dating plus grumpy meets sunshine!

If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, don’t miss Ali Hazelwood’s 2023 collection of 3 STEM romance novellas in Loathe to Love You. One features an environmental engineer, one a civil engineer, and the third a NASA aerospace engineer.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

96% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

West With Giraffes is a charming tale of adventure that takes you on the ride of a lifetime from the East Coast of the US to the West, alongside a rowdy 17-year-old, a grumpy older man, and two giraffes. The year is 1938, and no American zoo has successfully housed giraffes before. The female zoo director of the San Diego Zoo believes she can do it. The giraffes have just survived a hurricane en route to the East Coast, and Riley Jones, the curmudgeonly head zookeeper, is responsible for safely transporting the giraffes from New York City to San Diego.

America is still in the throes of the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl conditions continue to ravage the drought-stricken Southern Plains states. Jones begrudgingly teams up with a starving teenager named Woody to help him make the coast-to-coast journey. The adventures along the way include run-ins with circus con artists, being tailed by a female photographer looking for a big scoop, an emotional visit to Woody’s hometown, and so much more.

At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story. Now, at the age of 105, Woody recounts his 12-day cross-country trip with Jones and the giraffes and how it shaped his life.

The Book Girls Say…

In writing this historical fiction novel, author Lynda Rutledge started with the true story of two giraffes being transported cross-country in the 1930s and then imagined what that road trip might have been like. She includes real newspaper clippings throughout the book to indicate to readers the parts of the story that are based on actual facts.

After we both gave this book 5 stars, we’ve recommended it to everyone we know! From the insights it gives to life across America in the late 1930s to the growing relationships between characters, including the humans and the giraffes, we can’t recommend this book highly enough!

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

West with Giraffes Book Club Questions & Guide
Books About Traveling Across America
Books Set in the 1930s
Intergenerational Novels: Books that Connect Generations

PS: We also have a printable West with Giraffes book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, bonus giraffe content, custom bookmarks, and more!

Rose Code book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Bletchley Park is a real English estate and was an elegant country home before becoming the secret location of WW2 codebreakers. The Rose Code imagines the life of three women from different backgrounds who all qualified for this challenging and vital task. While the three become friends, the war and secrecy required for their jobs prove too much to keep them close.

Seven years later, in 1947, the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip is on everyone’s minds. But, when an encrypted letter is received, the former friends must reunite to crack the code and figure out which former Bletchley Park worker is now a traitor.

The Book Girls Say…

This book is long at 624 pages, but our readers say it’s engaging throughout! If you enjoyed The Alice Network or The Huntress, you know Kate Quinn’s books are worth the extra time.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/16/2024
Wish You Were Here book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

91% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Diana has her life all planned out – marriage, kids, and climbing the professional ladder in the art auction world. And it all starts with getting engaged to her surgical resident boyfriend, Finn. They are about to head out on a romantic getaway to the Galapagos for her 30th birthday, and she knows he’ll propose on the trip.

On the eve of their departure, a virus that previously seemed a world away made its way to NYC, and Finn’s hospital needs everyone on call. He doesn’t want their nonrefundable trip to go to waste, so he convinces Diana to go without him. 

After she arrives, the whole island is quarantined, and she finds herself stranded until the borders reopen. Isolated and alone, Diana begins to form a connection with a local family. Through the experience, she reevaluates her priorities.

This is a thoroughly researched novel. Some say it starts out a bit slowly, but soon, you’ll find it going in unexpected directions. Readers say the story contains surprises that you won’t see coming!

The Book Girls Say…

Many readers may not yet feel ready to relive the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so despite the great reviews of this book, don’t push yourself if it’s not the right time.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books That Take Place On an Island

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

91% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

The successful Riva siblings are always the envy of those around them in Malibu. Their father is legendary 70s singer Mick Riva, but each of the four siblings found success of their own in pursuits, like professional surfing and photography.

The book is set in 1983 at sister Nina’s famous end-of-summer beach house party. By midnight, the party is out of control. Before dawn, Nina’s mansion has been burned to the ground.

During this unforgettable night, each sibling has secrets revealed.

The Book Girls Say…

This novel made our 2021 Readers’ Favorites list! In the words of our readers, Malibu Rising is “descriptive and engaging with a strong storyline, great characters, and a lot of emotion.” Another reader explained, “I love when you know how a book ends, but you have no idea how you’ll get there. Great story of family. All of the 1980s references were wonderful!”

Both Book Girls also enjoyed this novel, though not quite as much as some of TJR’s other books. The audio version of the book is read by one of our favorite narrators, Julia Whelan.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

93% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This entire novel takes place over the course of 10 days in 1954. Eighteen-year-old Emmett has finished his term on a work farm, where he was sent after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

The warden drives Emmett home to Nebraska, where he plans to pick up his 8-year-old brother before heading west for a fresh start. However, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work camp, Duchess and Wooly, have stowed away in the trunk. The three teens and 8-year-old Billy adjust their plans and set out across the country together. The book is told from alternating points of view.

The Book Girls Say…

Despite its title, this book is about a journey of self-discovery as much as it is about a cross-country journey. Portions of the book are set along the Lincoln Highway, but some readers are surprised that this is less of an adventure novel and more introspective.

Lincoln Highway was voted as one of our reader’s overall favorite books in both 2021 & 2022.

It Had to Be You cover

Book Summary

For twenty years, Liv has run a successful NYC wedding-planning business with her husband, Eliot. When he dies unexpectedly, Liv is shocked to learn that he’s left his half of the business to his young girlfriend, whom Liv knew nothing about. Much to Liv’s chagrin, perky Savannah shows up on her doorstep, eager to be her partner and protege.

As Liv and Savannah struggle to find a way to work together, they each find new love in unexpected places. In addition to Liv and Savannah, we are introduced to many of the wedding vendors that they work with – the florists, caterers, servers, and musicians. In a Love Actually-style narrative, this book follows each of them as they navigate love and friendship, and we see their lives overlap at weddings throughout the city.

The Book Girls Say…

With five different storylines, we were worried that we’d be left feeling like we didn’t get enough of any of them, but the characters were very well developed and the way that each couple was woven throughout the book left us feeling very satisfied! This book was especially lovely in its representation of a wide range of both straight and LGBTQ+ love stories!

World Played Chess book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This coming-of-age story is about three different 18-year-old men growing up in 3 different time periods. 

William was 18 in 1967 when he went to Vietnam as a Marine. Vincent is 18 in 1979 when he meets William, who works on the same construction crew. While working, he hears William’s stories of his wartime experience. 

The third young man is Vincent’s son, Beau, who has had an easier life than the first two men. He was 18 in 2015 when Vincent received William’s old Vietnam journal in the mail as a thank you for listening to his stories years ago. It was written while he was a Marine and facing things that no one, much less a teenager, should have to encounter. 

The three stories are woven together in a beautiful way that many are calling a must-read for everyone, despite the grim nature of William’s combat experiences. 

The Book Girls Say…

Although this book is set in three time periods, it is ultimately historical fiction about Vietnam. Make sure you read the author’s note at the end of the book to learn more about Dugoni’s connection to the story.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 09/17/2024
Paris Library book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

96% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Based on a true story, this novel will transport you to two vastly different time periods and locations. In 1939 Paris, Odile worked for the American Library. When Nazis arrive in Paris and threaten the library, Odile and her fellow brave librarians join the resistance.

Forty-three years later, in Montana, teenager Lily becomes interested in her widowed neighbor. As they begin to form a bond, Lily tries to learn more about how her French neighbor ended up in Montana. They have no idea that a dark secret connects them.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 02/05/2024

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Printable Version of This Book List

Readers who support The Book Girls’ Guide through our Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) membership site have access to two different printable versions of this book list.

New for 2024, members can print a single page containing all the book titles from each guided challenge list. We will also continue providing the journal page format, which has space to indicate your interest level in each book, jot down notes, and rate the books once you have read them.

Two printable options of this book list

Our BMAC members (we call them our BFFs) help cover the cost of running the challenges so we can keep them free for everyone. You can read more about why our members are essential and learn about the perks of membership.

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