When I started out the year with the reading goal of 80 books I thought that was ambitious. Well here we are at years end with a total of 100 books read. Some months were better than others. In March I only got to 3 books and I somehow read 14 in August. It was impossible to pick a “Favorites” list this year. How do you narrow down 100? These last books of 2021 are mostly holiday related or non-fiction/memoir audiobooks I listened to during my ours of gift wrapping that lead up to Christmas. Hopefully you will find a few to add to your TBR lists for 2022. Happy New Year, Readers! See you in 2022!

“God Bless This Mess” by Hannah Brown

If you owned a TV in 2018 or used the internet at all there is no doubt that Hannah Brown came across your screen at some point. The former Bachelor contestant turned lead on The Bachelorette nicknamed “Alabama Hannah” was unapologetically herself every Monday night for weeks on her quest to find love which as we all know was epically dramatic. Hannah shares stories from her childhood and young adult life which brought her to her reality show future. The audiobook is read by the author herself giving the reader a deeper connection to her story. Even if you are not a part of Bachelor Nation but are maybe stuck in that transitional phase of life where you just aren’t sure what path you are on, Brown gives readers of “God Bless This Mess” a place to gather to know they aren’t on this “journey” alone.

“The Holiday Swap” by Maggie Knox

Cass Goodwin is running her family’s bakery solo for the first time while her parents are out of town but when her twin sister, Charlie, has an accident while on the set of her TV baking competition show she begs Cass to trade places. After successfully pulling off this switch many times before, the sister’s agree to a one week swap giving Charlie a chance to recover from her concussion and Cass the time and space she needs after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend. The two quickly learn that trading lives isn’t as easy as it used to be, especially when matters of the heart get added to the recipe. Will the Goodwin girls manage to successfully pull off their plan before the Christmas Eve festival? “The Holiday Swap” is a rom-com movie waiting to happen. If Netflix or Hallmark Channel hasn’t come knocking, I would be shocked. Maggie Knox (a combined pen-name for Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley) has written the perfect book to curl up under a blanket with a hot chocolate to read this holiday season. Be sure to add this one to your TBR list before year’s end. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist” by Codi Hall

When Noel lost her family ten years ago her best friend became her family. Nick and Noel have been in each other’s lives since birth and have always relied on each other to get through life. Now that Nick has returned from the military he expected to pick things up with his long-time girlfriend but when she breaks up with him on his first day home, Noel and their friends set out to cheer him up with a night of fun. But when both of their exes show up at the bar, a kiss between the two best friends meant to make them jealous suddenly makes Nick and Noel question everything. Could their happily ever after have been hiding right under the mistletoe all along? “Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist” was a quick, fun and festive book. I read it in less than 24 hours! For those of you who like some spice in their romance and love a good Christmas song, give this holiday book a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“It Won’t Be Christmas Without You” by Beth Reekles

Twin sisters Eloise and Cara couldn’t be more different when it comes to their holiday spirit. Eloise’s apartment looks like the Christmas decorations department threw up in her house but Cara doesn’t even plan on taking Christmas off work. Unable to understand each other’s priorities, the sisters’ fighting escalates when Cara convinces their parents to go on vacation instead of celebrating at home the way they always have. With Cara planning to work this vacation would mean Eloise will be spending Christmas alone. Just when Eloise thinks she may have convinced her sister to visit, a sudden snow storm threatens to shut everything down in London and beyond. When traditions begin to change and family grows apart, how we evolve with time can be just as special when the promise of new traditions are dreamt up. “It Won’t Be Christmas Without You” is a cute, quick read written with dual character perspectives. I had trouble keeping track of which twin was which at first but once you settle in that irons out quickly. Though this wasn’t my favorite holiday read so far it was still a fun addition to the collection.

“Blame It on the Mistletoe” by Beth Garrod

Elle has found herself in an Instagram race to reach 15,000 new followers first or be forced to shut down her account. In order to give herself an edge she has to come up with something amazing. Holly has just had her heart broken by the literal boy next door and her dreams of a perfect Christmas are unraveling before her eyes. Why is it so hard to have one of those perfect lives that everyone else seems to be having on their grids? Then the most amazing opportunity shows up in Holly’s feed when her favorite account she follows announces they want to swap lives with someone for the holidays. The two girls agree that Holly will fly to the US and get her wish of seeing New York and Elle will get the content she needs to win while visiting England. What neither of them plan for is what is waiting under the mistletoe. From reading the description of this book, I had no idea it was a YA read until I started. Both characters are sixteen and obsessed with social media…to a completely unhealthy level. I had such a hard time with this book and kept thinking “what parent would…” over and over again. Clearly, I wasn’t the target audience this book was written for but with the way the number of social media followers you have is portrayed as being the be all end all, I’m not sure I would even want my daughter to read this one someday. This may have been a holiday miss for me.

“The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson

On an unimaginable first day on the job, Winston Churchill stepped into a war. Adolf Hitler had begun his march across Europe, claiming control of countries along the way. In his first year as Prime Minister, Churchill guided Britain through relentless bombings that caused tens of thousands of citizens to lose their lives. Erik Larson shares the story of how Churchill not only held Great Briton together but created a legacy as one of the greatest leaders in all of history. “The Splendid and the Vile” gives the reader a look into Churchill’s war room but also into his personal life and that of his family during WW2. Larson’s research is unparalleled using everything from personal diaries to previously classified documents to compile this work. I feel like you can’t consider yourself a history buff without having read this. I was so intimidated by the size of “The Splendid and the Vile” that I put off reading it for so long but tackling it as an audiobook was a great decision. I can’t wait to take on some of Erik Larson’s other titles, especially if they are as outstanding as this was.

“Meet Me in London” by Georgia Toffolo

Oliver Russell has enough to manage in his life right now without his mother constantly trying to set him up. Victoria Scott wants nothing more than to work on her designs but thanks to her ex, her dreams may never come true. When Oliver crosses paths with Victoria he convinces her they can both solve each other’s problems. If Victoria agrees to pretend to be his fianceé and the newest Russell and Co store opening he would provide her a chance to showcase her fashion designs both going their separate ways on December 1st. When the best laid plans start to unravel thanks to a prying cousin and a meddling ex, Oliver and Victoria have more to lose than just being exposed as frauds to his family. “Meet Me in London” is the first in a series by Georgia Toffolo with Victoria’s best friend’s stories being explored in the books that follow. There are a few topics in this book that some may find triggering so take a minute to research. Toffolo does tie it all up in a nice bow at the end making this a feel-good read perfect for this time of year.

“Always, in December” by Emily Stone

On the way to post the annual letter to the parents she lost on Christmas so many years ago, Josie collides with a man getting out of a taxi parked in the bike lane. When the two begin talking Josie realizes she isn’t the only one trying to avoid Christmas, Max seems to have his own issues with the holidays. Now that he is stranded in London for a few days he convinces Josie to spend Christmas with him exploring all over the city. Not expecting to fall for anyone after recently getting her heartbroken Josie starts to believe meeting Max might have been fate. But when she wakes on December 26th Max has left leaving only an apology note behind leaving her with no way to contact him. As the next year passes Josie and Max weave in and out of each other’s lives in unexpected ways leading to a heartbreaking love story. Based on the cover alone you would assume this is another warm and fuzzy holiday read but reader be warned…this isn’t that at all. If you are anti-holiday books this may be the perfect read for you but if you prefer your Christmas books to have more of a Hallmark feel, pick up another book. I’m not sure I’ve quiete forgiven Emily Stone for breaking my little Christmasy heart yet. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson

“The Devil in the White City” takes readers back in time to 1893 when Chicago was dazzling its visitors at the World’s Fair. Two men, central to these events are discussed in Erik Larson’s novel – Daniel H. Burnham and H. H. Holmes. One responsible for creating the beauty and marvel that was the World’s Fair the other one of history’s most notorious serial killers. One would think that these two seemingly opposite stories wouldn’t create a seamless, creative book but Larson weaves the two narratives with alternating chapters effortlessly showing readers how Holmes and Burnham’s lives existed in parallel. If you are like me and have interest in true crime you most certainly have heard of H. H. Holmes and his World’s Fair Hotel that he built with nefarious intentions but I wasn’t aware of the history around the World’s Fair and all of the things created for the exhibition that we still use to this day. I would highly recommend checking out the audiobook version of “The Devil in the White City”.

‘Til next time,

The Booked Mama

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