ASAP Book Reviews 2021

Jo Jo's ASAP Book Reviews of 2021

Quality over quantity was the name of the reading game for me in 2021. I wanted to read 30 books (2 more than I read in 2020), but I also took 4 classes for grad school, traveled often, and did a lot of great things with wonderful people in Chicago. It's nice to not be disappointed from not reaching this goal, but instead to appreciate what some of the books taught me, what made me laugh, and what inspired me. 

Top 3: 

1. Greenlights: most entertaining memoir 

2. A Woman is No Man: most emotional fiction

3. You’re Not Listening: best nonfiction to read again 

My Reviews:

Keep scrolling to read my 3-4 sentences per book, to learn why I enjoyed what I read this year. Usually I don't finish books when I just don't like them enough (it's a good feeling to not waste the time!) but I happened to enjoy all the 22 books I read this year (+ 2 booklets). That was almost 2 a month. I'm proud of the quality time I spent with the characters in these books, but mostly proud of making quality time for friends, family, and working on other goals.

ASAP = as short as possible

Enjoy the reviews, & comment if you've read any of these too. I've added a score out of 5 total (like 5 stars) as an easy summary of my review. I tried to be honest and straightforward, to avoid having only 4s and 5s, just for the fact I liked the stories enough to finish them.

PS, if you use Goodreads, add me as a friend!

1. Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty

Moriarty's writing style really pulls me into the world of the characters, and she seamlessly transitions between perspectives with each chapter. I enjoyed picturing the characters as Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, etc. from the TV show, but I don't have a strong desire to watch the show because I've heard the book is much better. 5/5 for story, characters & plot twists.

2. The Year of Less, Cait Flanders 

Cait purges most of her belongings, sells her furniture, and makes her living by writing for financial publications and blogging her experience. Her main goal is to do a shopping ban, a full year of only buying essential items. The journal writing style was hard to follow sometimes, but some memorable tips were: unsubscribe to all promo emails, still allow going out to dinner as an essential purchase, and only buy new toiletries when your current ones are empty. 3/5 for suggestions & lessons.

3. Untamed, Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle is known for her bestselling novels, and now for her marriage to Abby Wambach, but this is first novel I've read. Once you buy into her mindset, it's easy to follow the story of how she gets into meditation and processes her ex-husband's behavior and their new relationship. I've tried the "sit in a dark closet for 10 minutes in silence" and it didn't transform my life, but overall she had remarkable stories that make me feel confident and strong. 4/5 for powerful quotes & raw honesty.

4. Chasing the Bright Side, Jess Ekstrom

I chose this book because Jess is a good example of sticking to the goal of writing and publishing a novel, and I wanted to learn how she did it. She actually wrote more about her business Headbands of Hope, but any cause with children in hospitals is interesting to me, so I enjoyed reading about it, but I wish I had learned a little more about the publishing industry but in a less preach-y tone. 3/5 for story.

5. Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie (audio)

This was, shockingly, the first Agatha Christie novel I've read cover to cover, & technically I listened to the audiobook (on 1.3x speed :)). I was fascinated by all the twists in the story, & I love a mystery that I can't figure out on my own. To read another Christie novel, I'd definitely have to be in the mood to pay attention to all the details, but I understand why she's so revered. 4/5 for plot & characters.

Booklet: We Should All Be Feminists- booklet by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Chimamanda is very well-written and equally well-spoken (watch her TED Talk of the same name). Her straightforward but non-judgmental tone make this booklet (or the video) a great one to reference back to often, to remind myself that women in other countries have to fight harder than we do in America, just for basic rights. One of her messages I love is about re-framing society's gender norms, like women getting married & having children by a certain age. 5/5 for tone & knowledge.

6. The Defining Decade, Dr. Megan Jay 

This is one of those books people say you should re-read as you grow older. Dr. Jay uses real conversations with her talk therapy patients (while protecting their identities, of course) to teach people about the important of their 20s, to explain the psychology behind making the most of that decade to build a strong foundation for achieving your goals in your 30s and 40s. This is also a reminder of how difficult it is to spend time alone with your thoughts and make significant changes in your life, but how powerful it is too. 5/5 for story, research & how it all ties together.

Mini audiobook: Please Like Me, Mindy Kaling

I adore Mindy Kaling, so it was enjoyable to listen to her monologue-style story about moving to LA, trying to be cool and make friends with celebrities, while being true to herself. 5/5, for really anything Mindy creates.

7. Adventures in Opting Out, Cait Flanders 

I tried another Cait Flanders memoir, and I enjoyed the concept of her traveling around Europe while working, and saving money by not paying rent back in Canada, since her only expenses are now in her new cities. This is a dream for many people, and was always for me too, but her experience helped me realize I'd prefer to keep Chicago as my home, and experience other countries through many vacations. Her hiking metaphor was memorable, but I would recommend her first novel instead. 2/5 for imagery & concept.

8. The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate 

This was extremely emotional and well put-together. The POV switching really drove the story but also didn't give away the twists until the end. I'd love to see Reese Witherspoon make this into a movie or TV show. I'm shocked I hadn't read one of her novels before, but I definitely want to read more now. 5/5 for story & alternating perspectives.

9. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (audio) 

I heard from so many people how great this was, and I'm so glad I took time to experience it for myself. This was the start of listening to audiobooks during the workday, instead of a show or podcast. I was blown away by so many of his stories and amazed at how hugely successful he became, but more importantly for how he got there. And come on, who doesn't love listening to Matthew talk? 5/5 for stories, connections & narration.

10. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Bill Gates 

Bill did a good job of balancing hard facts with personal examples, to make complicated environmental concepts more understandable. I learned so much more about climate change, and some parts made me hopeful while others made me think my grandchildren will never see the leaves change in the fall, let alone a polar bear! I have mixed feelings about this book and about Bill, but I'm glad I expanded my brain a little. 3/5 for content & understandability.

11. Girl, Woman, Other, Bernadine Evaristo 

The content was very intensely emotional and very difficult to keep up with sometimes, because the perspectives change between 12 women who are all somehow connected. The poetry format was unique, and it'd be tough to read another one like it, but I got into it. I'm grateful my book club got out of our comfort zones, and I'm grateful somebody drew a character map so we could actually remember who everybody was. 4/5 for plot line & twists.

12. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (audio) 

Another brilliant author that I've only tried for the first time. This is one of her most famous works and also really depressing. I didn't get super invested in the story, but it's my own fault for trying to listening to this audiobook while walking and jogging around the harbor. Rest in piece to a super smart and strong woman. 3/5, but I'll have to try another, without audio.

13. We Are Displaced, Malala Yousafzi

This is the second novel I've read by Malala, and her writing makes me even more inclined to follow her foundation and all the great work she does for girls' education. Malala did a great job of teaching about the refugee crisis by compiling stories from girls all over the world who survived displacement. 5/5 for emotion.

14. A Woman is No Man, Etaf Rum (audio) 

This was one of my favorite books of the year, and I'm extremely impressed at how well this young author put together such a realistic story from hearing about her family's upbringing. The audiobook kept me hooked with the Palestinian accents and the changing POV between mother and daughter. Anybody who wants to understand a little more about immigration in the US and how religions and patriarchal pressures can harm women, read this powerful story. 5/5 for perspectives & emotion.

15. The Scent Keeper, Erika Bauermeister 

This is another book I'd love to see made into a movie, because of the unique story and also because of how beautiful the special effects would be. One of the themes is about having a keen sense of smell and working with scents as if they have feelings and personality. Some parts were a bit cheesy, but it makes sense when the story is told by a teenager. 4/5 for characters, plot, & descriptions. 

16. The Midnight Library, Matt Haig (audio) 

This plot very intricate, and sometimes it was difficult to follow, but that was part of the the story was to make the reader feel jumbled and confused, just like the main character is feeling in her own mind. I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't one of my favorites this year. 3/5 for excitement & variety.

17. The Lies That Bind, Emily Giffin 

This kept me hooked because of the setting of the 9/11 attacks, and the secrets between the characters. However, the story was pretty cheesy, and not the most well-developed compared to other Giffin novels I've read. 3/5 for easy read, interesting story.

18. The Rest of the Story, Sarah Dessen

I was one of the classic tweens of the 2000-2010s who was obsessed with Sarah Dessen books. If you're not sure about her vibe, just watch How to Deal with Mandy Moore, which was adapted from 2 of Dessen's most popular novels. This newer book, The Rest of the Story, was exactly what I needed at the time I read it, a single mid-20s girl, moving into her own apartment for the first time, stressing about schoolwork and dating and money. This story pulled me in, to lose myself in a sappy, predictable romance about 16 year-olds working in a lake town in the summertime. 5/5 for classic Dessen magic.

19. The Last Mrs. Parrish, Liv Constantine

Maybe I don't typically catch the twists because I'm too lost in the story, or because I just want to be surprised, but either way, I did NOT see this coming. If you're irritated by the main character (like I was), just keep reading- there's a POV change halfway through the novel, and it'll keep you hooked. Also, I was thrilled to learn the author is actually 2 sisters, using a pen name. 5/5 for characters & back-stories.

20. Sorry Not Sorry, Naya Rivera (audio)

For those who don't know, Naya Rivera is most famous for her role as Santana on the TV show "Glee", a triple threat actress, singer & dancer. In 2020, she tragically passed away from drowning. Hearing Naya's reflection on her past and hopes for the future- especially in her own voice- helped me take her advice to heart, to reflect on my own career goals, family bonds, friendships, romantic relationships & my self-awareness. 4/5 for life lessons & humorous anecdotes.

21. Will, Will Smith (audio) 

Will Smith, wow, I love you, but you can be quite  annoying.

I’m fascinated by the Smith family, but Will is very intense about his career and can be arrogant. He deserves the fame and fortune he worked so hard for, but he really is a LOT to handle sometimes. Anyone who does ayahuasca 14 times has some personal issues. His memoir felt disjointed at points, but he always pulled me back in with his hilarious stories & inspiring career. 4/5 for laughs & surprises.

22. You’re Not Listening, Kate Murphy

Last but not least- I'll definitely flip through this informative book many times in the future. When I started reading, I heard a man's voice in my head, proving my bias toward not fully listening, not realizing the author is a woman. Murphy explained the poor-listening epidemic in our tech-focused society, & combined research, interviews and personal anecdotes to explain why and how to be a better listener. She empowered me to improve my listening- body language, mental space, and conversational skills. 5/5 for science & inspiration.

A note on authors who have left us: Like Naya Rivera, Joan Didion, Betty White or any other creator who recently died, we feel even stronger emotions when we experience the work of someone who isn't alive and therefore will no longer be creating more. In 2021 for example, Naya's story resonated with me at a particular time in my adult life when I needed to hear her “no-bullshit” truthful advice, as if coming from a best  friend.

May your 2022 be filled with great stories- books, movies, TV- that help you & comfort you when you most need it, whatever it is- for inspiration, relatability, advice & laughs.