Anyone else struggling to accept the fact that we’re already in 2022? The last two years have felt like a blur honestly – where is the time going?! If I look back at the books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, things I’ve drawn, etc – obviously, there’s been some stuff going on, but it still feels like time has gone by way too fast!
In 2021, I did a lot of reading. I topped my first goal of 50 books, then shot for 100 & topped that, too! I ended the year at 163 books read, which I think is probably the most I’ve ever read in a year – it was a lot, haha. Balancing reading with 2+ jobs, my boyfriend’s 2 jobs, our home stuff, and then also creating new writing & art for anthologies, book covers, Patreon, my shop, and even some for personal stuff – it’s been so much! Part of me wishes that I could just stay home and read all day, but I know that I’d get bored and probably enjoy it less – especially if it was something I had to do at that point! I think a big focus for me in 2022 will be finding more balance between the stuff I have to do and the stuff I want to do – and also knowing when to say no more easily!!
Of the 163 books I read, I narrowed down 20 of my favorites – this includes all genres, all types of books, and various formats! I hate limiting myself to just one single genre because there’s so much else out there, so even though I love horror the most, I branched out a lot last year & plan to continue with that this year – I actually have a few months goals specifically regarding genre that I’ll be sharing soon, too! But before that… here’s my list of favorite books read in 2021!!
1) LITTLE SECRETS by Jennifer Hillier (352 pages, published in 2020)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret…
Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They’re admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken.
A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She’s lost her son; she’s not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.
Permanently.
Why I Loved It:
This was my first book by Hillier, and she ended up being the only author featured twice on this list, which should tell you something!! While horror will always have my heart first, there’s just something so simple & good about getting sucked into a good thriller. I have noticed that her books all seem to have some content warning level stuff in them, sort of like the Special Victim’s Unit series – so reader beware if you’re not down with themes of violence, sexual abuse, murder, etc. That said, I loved how twisty this one was, and the reveal at the end absolutely stunned me – genuinely shocking stuff, I loved it!
2) Come Closer by Sara Gran (194 pages, published in 2006)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
If everything in Amanda’s life is so perfect, then why the mood swings, the obscene thoughts, the urge to harm the people she loves? What are those tapping sounds in the walls? And who’s that woman following her? The mystery behind what’s happening to Amanda in Come Closer is so frightening that it “ought to carry a warning to…readers.”
Why I Loved It:
A good possession story can be difficult to do, so imagine my surprise when it was handled not only very well in this book, but also in a really unique way! I loved the fact that the overall story after finishing is open to interpretation – is there something after Amanda, or is it all in her head?
3) FANGED DANDELION by Eric LaRocca (42 pages, published in 2020)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A dark and deeply wounding portrait of a young queer man on the verge of splintering apart, ‘Fanged Dandelion’ is a nightmarish odyssey that delves into the bowels of the human mind – a frightening exploration of the caskets we build inside our heads…
Why I Loved It:
I read quite a few poetry books in 2021, but this remains a top favorite for me – so dark, so raw. There are a lot of horror-y elements and themes to these poems, and they’re written in a way that allows to reader to take multiple different meanings from each line. I plan to reread it this year and am curious to see if the same favorite lines stick out to me, or if there might be new ones that speak to me more!
4) Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (548 pages, published in 2015)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband is killed.
The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
Why I Loved It:
I think this was my first Karin Slaughter book, which is wild because I think I have like 5 of them on my bookshelves, lol! I was so intrigued by the cover and synopsis of this, but it still blew my mind with how many turns the story took. The beginning of the story literally made me cry, and then the end shocked me completely – I can’t recommend this one enough if you’re into dark thrillers, but again, another warning for content because this one especially deals with very, very awful stuff.
5) GLUE by Constance Ann Fitzgerald (82 pages, published in 2016)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Glue is a meditation on grief and addiction, the loss of loved ones, and our incredible power to rebuild ourselves after everything falls apart. Heartbreaking, honest, and all-too-human, Glue is one of the most powerful books of the year.
Why I Loved It:
This is one of the realest written depictions of how difficult it is to deal with pain and loss and trauma – especially in situations where the people you’re losing are people you have complicated relationships with. From my review: “Unflinchingly honest, the story is told by layering different parts of the narrator’s life and past together in a way that paints a realistic depiction of not just their grief and loss, but also of the strength it takes to keep going and keep trying when everything inside you is screaming at you to stop.
I loved it, highly recommended – but go into it knowing that it might be a bit emotional. Despite the short page count, I had to take a crying break partway through because I am soft. Keep tissues ready if you are also soft.”
6) UNFORTUNATE ELEMENTS OF MY ANATOMY by Hailey Piper (256 pages, published in 2021)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Love twisted into horrific shapes, nightmares driven by cruel music, and a world where what little light remains fractures the sky into midnight rainbows in eighteen stories tracing the dark veins of queer horror, isolation, and the monstrous feminine.
The universe unwinds to the tune of a malicious ice cream truck jingle in “We All Scream.” “The Law of Conservation of Death” dictates that a ghost pursue his prey across her every reincarnation. Superstitions thrive even in the distant future and across the stars when a colony shuttle mounts a witch trial in “Hairy Jack.” And try to “Forgive the Adoring Beast” as it scavenges a world of dead gods for tokens of bloody affection. Including two new short stories and a never-before-published novelette, Unfortunate Elements of My Anatomy digs deep inside and clings to the beating nightmare heart you always knew was there.
Why I Loved It:
This is my favorite collection of the year! From my review: “The range in this collection & in Hailey’s writing is unbelievable; I’m honestly convinced that she can do no wrong at this point – her talent is unmatched. She has a unique perspective and a unique mind, and she blends them together with this natural sort of otherworldly, terrifying brilliance that blows me away every time I read anything new she’s written.
This is an incredible collection, one you won’t want to miss! If you’re already a fan of Hailey, this will not disappoint at all. If you’re new to her work, this is a great variety of stories to introduce you to her powerful written voice.”
7) THE SEASON OF PASSAGE by Christopher Pike (438 pages, published in 1992)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Dr. Lauren Wagner was a celebrity. She was involved with the most exciting adventure mankind had ever undertaken. The whole world admired and respected her.
But Lauren knew fear.
Inside voices entreating her to love them.
Outside — the mystery of the missing group that had gone before her. The dead group.
But were they simply dead?
Or something else?
Why I Loved It:
I read this for the first time when I was 14 or so, and I did not vibe with it at the time – but holy crap, rereading it last year, I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Space vampires, multiple storylines/timelines, creepy Dead Space-y eyeball scenes, it was just so much fun this time around rereading it for The PikeCast!! Definitely one of my most favorite Pike books now.
8) FANGS by Sarah Andersen (115 pages, published in 2020)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Elsie the vampire is three hundred years old, but in all that time, she has never met her match. This all changes one night in a bar when she meets Jimmy, a charming werewolf with a wry sense of humor and a fondness for running wild during the full moon. Together they enjoy horror films and scary novels, shady strolls, fine dining (though never with garlic), and a genuine fondness for each other’s unusual habits, macabre lifestyles, and monstrous appetites.
First featured as a webcomic series on Tapas, Fangs chronicles the humor, sweetness, and awkwardness of meeting someone perfectly suited to you but also vastly different. Filled with Sarah Andersen’s beautiful gothic illustrations and relatable relationship humor, Fangs has all the makings of a cult classic.
Why I Loved It:
From my review: “A super heartwarming depiction of a relationship people two “monsters”, and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the humor in it. The often dark humor adds an edge to the book that keeps it from being sickeningly sweet.
I think my favorite thing about this is that, while it’s about two creepy ‘creatures’ that don’t really exist, there are a lot of parallels to be found in your average, everyday relationship between just two boring ol’ basic humans. Finding those similarities – among the jokes about sleeping in coffins & changing under the full moon, of course – was a delight.”
9) OUR LAST ECHOES by Kate Alice Marshall (394 pages, published in 2021)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sophia’s first memory is of drowning. She remembers the darkness of the water and the briny taste as it fills her throat. She remembers the cold shock of going under. She remembers her mother pulling her to safety before disappearing forever. But Sophia has never been in the ocean. And her mother died years ago in a hospital. Or so she has been told her whole life.
A series of clues have led Sophia to the island of Bitter Rock, Alaska, where she talked her way into a summer internship at the Landon Avian Research Center, the same center her mother worked at right before she died. There, she meets the disarmingly clever Liam, whose own mother runs the LARC, as well as Abby, who’s following a mystery of her own: a series of unexplained disappearances. People have been vanishing from Bitter Rock for decades, leaving only their ghostly echoes behind. When it looks like their two mysteries might be one and the same, Sophia vows to dig up the truth, no matter how many lies she has to tell along the way. Even if it leads her to a truth she may not want to face.
Our Last Echoes is an eerie collection of found documents and written confessionals, in the style of Rules for Vanishing, with supernatural twists that keep you questioning what is true and what is an illusion.
Why I Loved It:
This was my second book by Kate Alice Marshall, and I have a solid favorite now – I’m obsessed with The Ashford Files and can’t wait to read more. This is YA but it feels like X-Files or Twin Peaks with the spooky mystery of missing people & rocky island landscapes. The other book I’ve read, RULES FOR VANISHING, is also a favorite – I might like it a tiny bit more because it’s a little more ghost-y, but I read it in 2020!! And this one is honestly so, so good — def recommended! You don’t have to read one to read the other, but you will appreciate ECHOES more if you read RULES first because there are some threads shared between both storylines.
10) PENANCE by Kanae Minato (240 pages, published in 2009)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The tense, chilling story of four women haunted by a childhood trauma.
When they were children, Sae, Maki, Akiko and Yuko were tricked into separating from their friend Emily by a mysterious stranger. Then the unthinkable occurs: Emily is found murdered hours later.
Sae, Maki, Akiko and Yuko weren’t able to accurately describe the stranger’s appearance to the police after the Emily’s body was discovered. Asako, Emily’s mother, curses the surviving girls, vowing that they will pay for her daughter’s murder.
Why I Loved It:
I want to try reading more translated fiction in the new year, especially if they’re like this – it’s such a good thriller! There are multiple perspectives to follow, and we get to see how a terrible tragedy from the main character’s childhoods shaped their futures each individually. There are things at play not fully revealed until the end in addition to the main tragedy, and getting through each woman’s story to discover what was at the root of everything was super tense & kept me on the edge of my seat! I read this in a single sitting and then had to go out and buy the author’s first book, CONFESSIONS, which I plan to read this year!
11) THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY by Kay O’Neill (72 pages, published in 2017)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.
After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own
Why I Loved It:
Okay, so I’m just listing the first book, but there are actually 3 in the full Tea Dragon Society series and I would highly, highly recommend every single one of them! They’re favs of the year for sure – such gorgeous art, lots of inclusivity and representation in the characters, and some really important life lessons about accepting yourself and loving the people around you for who they are. So, so sweet – I’ll hype this series & author up until my dying breath, I read like everything they’ve written last year and loved it all so much!
12) THE SMALLEST OF BONES by Holly Lyn Walrath (90 pages, published in 2021)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A haunting ossuary of tiny poems covering a wide range of topics such as love, romance, relationships, queer sexuality, religion, death, demons, ghosts, bones, gender, and darkness. The Smallest of Bones guides those on an intimate journey of body acceptance, with sparse words dedicated to peeling back skin and diving bone-deep into the self. Raw, honest, and powerful, this collection is an offering to those struggling to find power in the darkness.
Why I Loved It:
Another dark poetry collection on the list, yay! This was a first from the author, and I’m eager to see what else they put out. The cover of this initially caught my eye (it’s GORGEOUS, ahh!), but then the actual poems inside were great too. I always relate so much to dark poems, haha – not sure what that says about me, but judging from the reviews, I’m never alone!! Some favorite lines:
“I wish I could hurt you / the way you hurt me / but my skin is a mask / and my fists are flowers”
“wouldn’t you rather be something violent / if you had the choice”
13) NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney (273 pages, published in 2019)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers – one they are determined to conceal.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.
Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship.
Why I Loved It:
This is probably my #1 favorite book of the entire year, which I was not at all expecting before I read it. It’s technically like an Irish contemporary not-quite-romance, I think? It’s about two people and their lives, and they’re pretty, well, normal – at least, they’re normal in the way that they’re extremely and deeply fucked up due to unresolved trauma, societal expectations, abusive families/relationships, and more. I get why a lot of people have called this boring or depressing, but I honestly found myself relating so, so much to the main character that it was honestly troubling at times, haha. Themes of love and shame and how they coexist are heavy in this one, and I’m just so in love with it – I read it from the library and then immediately bought a used copy, which I found out after the fact had someone else’s highlight notes in it – something I love seeing! Can’t wait to add my own to the book & read the ones the other person before me thought were important. This was also made into a TV show on Hulu; I’ve seen the first few episodes and love how faithful it is to the book, but there’s something missing for me in the portrayal. I think so much of the story hinges on internal narration that it can be difficult conveying the depth of the thoughts on screen since the same narration isn’t present – but still, definitely enjoyable! I’ve rambled more about this one than any others on the list, can you tell it’s my top tier fav? lol.
14) UZUMAKI by Junji Ito (653 pages, published in 2000)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Spirals… this town is contaminated with spirals…
Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral — the hypnotic secret shape of the world. This bizarre masterpiece of horror manga is now available in a single volume. Fall into a whirlpool of terror!
Why I Loved It:
This was my first ever Junji Ito book, and I am OBSESSED afterward – I loved it so much! So many iconic images I’d seen on stickers or clothes or online and didn’t realize were from this book – it was so cool to finally read it and understand the hype! It inspired me to start my own #JunjiJanuary readalong in 2022, which is currently underway & I’m having a blast with!!
15) HEARTSTOPPER by Alice Oseman (288 pages, published in 2016)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…
Why I Loved It:
Another one that I’m just listing once, but is technically a series! I’ve read the first 3 books in the series at this point, and have loved them all so much – more library borrows that I’m 100% absolutely going to need to add to my shelves because Charlie & Nick’s story is just so cute and heartwarming and sweet. Love seeing the texts and shares smiles between the two of them, and the art style for the story is perfect.
16) SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN by James Tynion IV (128 pages, published in 2020)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
IT’S THE MONSTERS WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID.
When the children of Archer’s Peak—a sleepy town in the heart of America—begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see.
Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.
Why I Loved It:
A new-to-me comic series with lots of blood & gore – definitely had to add this to the list! I’ve read the first 3 volumes and the story is so good. Caution to folks who have trouble reading about / seeing violence toward children depicted, because no spoilers necessary, but something is LITERALLY killing the children! It gets pretty graphic, but I think it fits to the story. I loved the main character of Erica Slaughter, she’s a badass that reminds me of a less sexy Cassie Hack from Hack/Slash. Monster hunting girls are so cool!!
17) HARLEEN by Stjepan Šejić (### pages, published in ####)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Dr. Harleen Quinzel has a theory: mental illness is a survival mechanism. As she seeks to help the broken souls of Gotham City piece together their sanity she will become the one thing she fears the most: one of them. A bold new retelling of the tragic origin of Harley Quinn told through the eyes of the only person who knows her better than anyone: Harleen.
A young psychiatrist with a potential cure for the madness that haunts Gotham City, Dr. Harleen Quinzel must prove her revolutionary theory to a skeptical establishment by delving into the disturbed minds of Arkham Asylum’s deadliest inmates. But the more time she spends with her criminally insane subjects, the closer she is drawn to one patient in particular–and the further she falls away from reality. The birth of legendary antihero Harley Quinn and the shocking origins of her twisted romance with the Joker are revealed in Harleen, a stunning new tale of love and obsession written and illustrated by renowned comics storyteller Stjepan Sejic.
Why I Loved It:
I love a good Harley origin story – this one is excellent, really deep into the actual psyche of Harleen Quinzel prior to her changing into Harley Quinn, with INCREDIBLE artwork. I loved the way both Harley & Joker looked, and the way the early stages of their relationship were shown – Joker’s manipulation, Harley’s descent into madness. It’s a familiar story for fans of the series, but still done very well here!
18) LORE OLYMPUS VOL. 1 by Rachel Smythe (384 pages, published in 2021)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.
This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.
Why I Loved It:
This book collects 1-25 “episodes” of an online comic that I don’t have the patience to read/wait for each week, unfortunately – so when I saw that a book was coming out, I was SUPER excited about it & added it to my Christmas wishlist immediately. I was lucky enough to get the special Barnes & Noble edition during the 50% off hardcover store sale they had right before New Years, and I’m so, so happy that I did ’cause I read it immediately when I got home and it’s so good. Content warning for some sexual assault, which I did not expect and was a bit jarring for me – it seemed to come from out of nowhere and then wasn’t really mentioned at all after, which was very strange. I’m sure it will be later so it’s possible that it’s just because of where the volume cut off, but still, worth a mention! The art in these books is GORGEOUS, omg. The colors, the textures, everything – I absolutely love it & wish I could live inside their world, haha.
19) JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier (384 pages, published in 2018)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Angela was one of the most popular girls in her high school before she disappeared without a trace. Nobody ever knew what became of her―not Georgina, her best friend, nor Kaiser, who was close with both girls. Then, fourteen years later, Angela’s remains were discovered in the woods near Geo’s childhood home and Kaiser―who became a detective with the Seattle police department―finally learned the truth: Angela was a victim of Calvin James.
To the authorities, Calvin was a notorious serial killer. But back in the day, Calvin was Geo’s first love. Their relationship bordered on obsession from the moment they met, right up until the night Angela was killed. Geo carried the secret of Calvin’s dark deeds until the evidence landed her in prison. But now, just as Geo is about to be released, new bodies start turning up―killed in the exact same manner as Angela… and soon Geo, Kaiser, and local law enforcement officials realize that what happened that fateful night is more complex and chilling than anyone could have imagined.
Why I Loved It:
My second Jennifer Hillier book on the list, and that’s not to say I liked either one more than the other, because I loved ’em & recommend both! This was a bit less startling to me toward the end reveal, so that’s the only reason I thought to list the other one first, but they’re both so good.
20) THE IMMORTAL by Christopher Pike (213 pages, published in 1993)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Josie is on vacation in Greece with her father, his new girlfriend, and her best friend. While visiting the sacred island of Delos, she accidentally stumbles upon an artifact-a tiny statue of a Goddess. Immediately Josie is enchanted by the statue and she takes it with her when she leaves the island.
Then the trouble starts. A guy takes her for a boat ride and she is almost killed. Then the image of the Goddess begins to haunt her dream. The goddess wants something from Josie that she doesn’t want to give.
The immortal wants to be mortal.
The Goddess wants Josie’s life.
Why I Loved It:
This is on the list partially because I had so much fun discussing it on The PikeCast, but also for nostalgia purposes – I read this so many times as a kid & teen, but I got much deeper of an interpretation this time around, maybe because of the discussion, and that made me love it so much more than I did before. This book is responsible for so many things – my favorite kill method (won’t spoil it but omg read this, haha) & also my love of Greece, which has persisted since I was a child so much so that every report I’ve ever had to write on “dream vacation destination” was about going there, haha. Just so much fun to read it again this past year & see the sort of thing that shaped some of my tastes, both as a person and also as a writer/reader/booklover!
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So excited to see Harleen, Heartstopper, Fangs, Tea Dragon Society on your list! I loved those books! Looks like you had a great year with fab books~
Ahhh YES! Such great illustrated stuff especially in the last year, so good!!
So many good books on this list, and you read SO much! Way to go!!
Late to reading this post but I LOVE JENNIFER HILLIER but haven’t read Little Secrets yet. Have you read Jar of Hearts? Still thinking about it like 4 years later haha