Books I Read In 2021
A Promised Land, Barack Obama (audio)
★★★★☆
The first half of this book is excellent but the second half fell short for me as it got more into his first term as President and much of those chapters was a bit boring to me. I still would recommend, because, DUH! it’s Barack Obama. A big bonus for me, was hearing Barack speak about my cousin and uncle directly in the book. Very surreal. A must listen to on audio, but I also own the hard copy too, as it's a great addition to my bookshelf.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert (audio)
★★★★★
I actually tried to read this book a few years ago (the physical copy) and couldn’t get into. I think there was many reasons for that, the current state of my life - in the think of PPD being the main one, but I’m glad it happened that way and that I was able to revisit a few years later, when I really needed it. This time, I chose to try the audio and It was perfect. Read aloud by Elizabeth, it was like having a conversation with my own personal mentor.
Bluebird Memories: a journey through lyrics and life, Common (audio)
★★★★★
This was my second book by Common (highly recommend his first “Let Love Have The Last Word”, if you haven’t read it yet). With Commons lyrical voice, I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't recommend the audio. His newest title “Bluebird Memories…” is just beautiful. I believe it is an Audible.com exclusive. Listen to this on a nice walk or run or while sitting in a cozy space, sipping your favorite tea.
Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid (audio)
★★★★★
This was my very first fiction audio book and I’m so glad it was. I absolutely loved this. Daisy Jones & The Six is performed by an ensemble cast, with some names you might recognize. The whole book is set up interview style, which is very enjoyable to listen to on audio and there’s a nice twist at the end.
Educated, Tara Westover (audio)
★★★★★
This book was a WOW for me! I had seen so many people talk about it but tbh it really didn’t seem like something I thought I would enjoy. But then, I say that the audio was narrated by my fav to listen to, Julia Whelan and I had to give it a try. So glad I did, because this memoir is truly one everyone should read.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid (audio)
★★★★★
My very first Julia Whelan audio book. Trust me, her voice is magical and anytime I now see a book narrated by her, I must listen. This was my second Taylor Jenkins Reid book. After reading Daisy Jones and the Six, I loved her style so much I wanted to check out more. This story was captivating. Similar to Daisy Jones in that it is historical fiction and she also had a similar “interview style” as well.
The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
★★★★☆
Finishing this book was big for me. Let me back up, I read The Mothers by Brit Bennett a few years back and absolutely loved it. From sharing it so much on social media, I actually got invited to the launch party in NYC for The Vanishing Half and Brit Bennett where the guest of honor, speaking about her latest book. That event was my very last time taking the train into Manhattan, before NYC became the epicenter of the pandemic and the world shut down. I tried and tried to read this book so many times in 2020 but honestly I couldn't focus on much. I only finished a handful of books that year and sadly The Vanishing Half was not one of them. But in 2021, towards the end of the year, I picked it back up and I’m glad I did. Such an interesting and touching story about two twins who are mixed black/white but one goes on to live her life passing as white and the other doesn’t. In true Brit Bennett fashion, this is a touching story that really makes you feel for the characters. I docked one star, only because I didn’t like the abrupt ending, but other than that it was fantastic.
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig (audio)
★★★★☆
It took me a little while to get into this one, but once I did I was hooked. Such an entertaining story about second chances and the choices we make.
Somebody's Daughter, Ashley C. Ford (audio)
★★★★★
Downloaded this one at random, at the time not having any clue who Ashley C. Ford was, but then quickly realizing that she was the host of a podcast I loved, Lovecraft Country Radio. This memoir is truly touching in some many ways. It focuses on her relationship with her Mother and ultimately her Father, who was incarcerated much of her life. Highly recommend.
Inside Out, Demi Moore (audio)
★★★★★
This was better than I expected. The most interesting part for me was hearing about her relationship with her mother, which was big part of the book. Recommend on audio as well.
The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir, Jennifer Lewis (audio)
★★★☆☆
This wasn’t my favorite celebrity memoir, but I enjoyed it. The first half was better for me than the second. Hearing about her beginnings, her struggles in and out of Hollywood was inspiring.
Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid (audio)
★★★★☆
Another Taylor Jenkins Reid historical fiction narrated by you guessed it, Julia Whelan. This one was really great. Loved the story line and the few mentions of the characters from TJR’s past book historical fiction books was really fun.
You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories, Gabrielle Union (audio)
★★★★★
The second memoir style book by Gabrielle Union and just as good as the first. She is raw and real in explaining all of her life experiences, which I really appreciate. I cried with her when she shares about her miscarriage and then the process of adopting her daughter and then the birth and holding her for the first time. Gabrielle is an incredible woman, wife, mother and bonus mom and we all could take away parts of this book to apply to our own life. Grab your drink of choice, cozy up and get ready for an intense chat with your girlfriend.
Scrappy Little Nobody, Anna Kendrick (audio)
★★★☆☆
A quick listen, I checked out through Libby. Nothing ground breaking but was entertaining still. I know of Anna Kendrick from some of the movies she’s been in (Pitch Perfect being my fav) but it was nice to hear how she got to where she is today.
Wildflower, Drew Barrymore (audio)
★★★★☆
Another quick listen… if you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a fan of celebrity memoirs so of course I had to listen to this one. I loved hearing about her start in Hollywood and how its now as you would imagine it was. It was also refreshing to hear that while she was a child actor and had her moments she reinvented herself to what she is today. The inside peek you share about one of my childhood favorites, ET, was also really fun to listen to.
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, Tembi Locke (audio)
★★★★☆
Another random Libby recommendation. A beautifully told story, much slower pace than other memoirs I’ve listened too, with not a whole lot happening but very interesting. It’s a very somber, beautiful story focused on grief, identity, defining family and a sense of belonging. I really enjoyed the discussion of interracial relationships and then ultimately raising a biracial daughter on her own.
Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, Lauren Graham (audio)
★★★★☆
If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, then check this one out on audio. In true Lorelai Gilmore fast talking fashion, Lauren delivers a behind the scenes look into this cult classic television series.
Black Buck, Mateo Askaripour
★★★★★
Picked this up randomly at the Library because of the well designed cover and I loved that it was set in Brooklyn/Manhattan. I loved that I could relate to the area of Manhattan where we worked and also the area of Brooklyn where we lived. I loved this story and all its layers so much. I laughed and cried like a baby. Five stars all around.
Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom, Tabitha Brown (audio)
★★★★★
The a big warm hug, a must on audio. If you follow Tabitha Brown on instagram, then you have an idea of what you are in for. Tabitha brings that same energy she is know and loved for on the gram to this book. I love hearing more about her beginnings and background. It’s a short read/listen and a must add to your list.
Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, Justin Baldoni (audio)
★★★★★
Everyone should listen to this book…. women and men alike. The way he breaks down his own “masculinity” and what that even means is very thought provoking. I loved hearing the stories from his childhood that shaped who we became and how many things he had to unlearn but others he held on too. As a mother raising two young boys, I connected even more to his story. And this is another one where I cried like a baby, hearing him describe the birth of his first child.
Just as I Am, Cicely Tyson (audio)
★★★★★
Loved, loved, loved this book so much. To be honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about Cicely Tyson before reading this other than a few movies / shows I’ve seen her in, but I am so glad to know her now. This is a beautiful written account of an extraordinary life. Highly highly recommend.
The Magnolia Story, Chip & Joanna Gaines (audio)
★★★☆☆
We all know Chip & Joanna Gaines. I would say I’m a super fan, but I really admire what they have built and I loved that this story gave us a peek into that. I was excited to listen to this on audio, but I have to say, for this one… I would recommend a hardcopy. Chip was great on audio, but Joanna, you could tell, was out of her comfort zone and her tone and delivery came across very boring.
Will, Will Smith (audio)
★★★★★
It’s Will… need I say more? In all seriousness, this book is phenomal and I highly recommend even for those who maybe are not big Will Smith fans, like myself. A must to listen to on audio, as there is nothing like hearing Will tell his story himself. He is a great preformer / entertainer, which shines bright through this book. I loved hearing more about his upbringing, his relationship with his mother and father, his success, his marriage and his own personal journey to being his best self as an adult. *I bought the hardcopy of this too, because the cover was too cool to pass up.
A Coat of Yellow Paint: Moving Through the Noise to Love the Life You Live, Naomi Davis (audio)
★★★★☆
Downloaded this one on a whim as I really was hoping she would address the controversy surrounding her NYC exit, during lockdown. She does touch on it briefly but not much. I do have to say though, I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Maybe because I too was a NYC mom with young kids (not as many as her, but still) and blogger , so I could relate to a lot of her stories / experiences. Naomi is a great story teller and entertaining to listen to. The bonus material at the end, an interview with her daughter Eleanor was so sweet, my boys actually ask to listen to it often as they heard me listening to it in the car.
The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey (audio)
★★★★☆
Huge Mariah fan here… I’m talking 90s /early 2000’s Mariah so of course I had to check this one out. She shares a lot of her beginnings which I loved and as a mixed race girl, I could relate to a lot of it. Some of her story came across very self centered (but thats kinda what a memoir is, right), but there were bits here and there where I found myself not liking her or able to relate at all. Overall, I enjoyed this book and her take on many life events which we have heard about before.