2022!

Hello Lovelies!

I firstly want to wish you all a Happy New Year and welcome 2022 in with a bang! I hope it is full of wonderful experiences, good books, peace, health and warm friendships. None of us know what the future holds but I am going to be positive for the year ahead because I’m certain there’s good books waiting to be read and memories waiting to be made.

Anyway, I’m here today to share with you my thoughts and summary on 2021 and to show you all the books I’ve read in 2021 too. Also, I’m really excited to launch my new Reading Challenge for 2022 as well and I hope you take part in this with me!

2021 was a wonderful year in so many ways but utterly devastating in others. Like the rest of the world, we went into 2021 not really knowing what was going to happen. I decided I would just do what I always do – work on my blog, read plenty, get out there and take advantages of any opportunities that came my way and provide stability to the children in my classroom. I’m absolutely certain I’ll be doing exactly the same now we are in 2022 too!

I remember this time last year in my post I was overjoyed to have read so may books in 2020 – a huge 148. Well, in 2021 I managed to read 161 books. I honestly can’t believe it. I know that sounds so silly because I did my monthly round-ups but it’s still something I’m so proud of and something I never expected to be able to do. Also, how lucky am I to have had the time and the ability to read so may amazing books. It also tells me (not that I need reminding) that reading is definitely a thing of respite and joy for me. I’m still the girl that will read before bed, in the car on long journeys and at any given moment really. My head is usually in a book and I doubt that will ever change!

2021 in books!

1. Corcoran, Caroline – The Baby Group
2. Bell, Anna – We Just Clicked
3. Fennell, David – The Art of Death
4. Ridpath, Michael – The Diplomat’s Wife
5. Ryan, Iain – The Spiral
6. Bond, Caroline – One Split Second
7. Rankin, Ian – Mortal Causes
8. Rauf, Onjali Q – The Night Bus Hero
9. Collen, Lindsey – Mutiny
10. Watson, Christie – The Courage to Care
11. Wood, Giles & Killen, Mary – The Diary of Two Nobodies
12. May, Peter – Lockdown
13. Turner, A.K. – Body Language
14. Bailey, James – The Flip Side
15. Napolitano, Ann – Dear Edward
16. Rowell, Rainbow – The Prince and the Troll
17. Potter, Alexandra – Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up
18. Lee, Krys – How I Became A North Korean
19. Logan, T.M. – The Holiday
20. Carr, John Dickson – The Corpse in the Waxworks
21. Walliams, David – Code Name Bananas
22. Clarke, Rachel – Breathtaking
23. Grisham, John – The Rooster Bar
24. Priestley, J.B – An Inspector Calls
25. Rowell, Rainbow – Eleanor and Park
26. All on the Board – All on the Board
27. Alam, Rumaan – Leave the World Behind
28. Howells, Debbie – The Death of Her
29. Cavanagh, Steve – Fifty Fifty
30. Mackesy, Charlie – The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
31. Michaelides, Alex – The Silent Patient
32. Hardiman, Rebecca – Good Eggs
33. Dowling, Tim – How to be a Husband
34. Charles, Janet Skeslien – The Paris Library
35. Lefteri, Christy – The Beekeeper of Aleppo
36. Logan, T.M. – Trust Me
37. Barnes, Simon – Rewild Yourself
38. Rosen, Michael – Many Different Kinds of Love
39. Dowling, Tim – Dad You Suck
40. Vesper, Inga – The Long, Long Afternoon
41. Sakhlecha, Trisha – Your Truth or Mine?
42. Hogan, Ruth – Madame Burova
43. Hawker, Luke Adam – Together
44. Morray, Beth – Saving Missy
45. Logan, T.M. – The Catch
46. Perry, Annika – Oscar’s Quest
47. Patterson, James – Murder Games
48. Swanson, Peter – Her Every Fear
49. Coben, Harlan – Long Lost
50. Coles, Richard – The Madness of Grief
51. McConaughey, Matthew – Greenlights
52. Moore, Captain Tom – Captain Tom’s Life Lessons
53. Logan, T.M. – 29 Seconds
54. Logan, T.M. – Lies
55. Benedictus, Leo – Consent
56. Bauer, Belinda – Exit
57. Toon, Francine – Pine
58. Cohen, Julie – Together
59. Redhill, Michael – Bellevue Square
60. Sher, Abby – All The Ways The World Can End
61. Kinsella, Sophie – Shopaholic and Sister
62. Henry, Emily – Beach Read
63. Kinsella, Sophie – Shopaholic & Baby
64. O’Leary, Beth – The Road Trip
65. Schutz, Lars – The Alphabet Murders
66. Markinson, T.B. – The Setup
67. Cloke, Nicci – Close Your Eyes
68. Taggart, Caroline – The Book Lover’s Bucket List
69. Latham, Martin – The Book Seller’s Tale
70. Wurger, Takis – Stella
71. Woods, Carolyn – Sleeping with a Psychopath
72. Nealon, Louise – Snowflake
73. Grisham, John – The Associate
74. Tolkien, J.R.R – The Hobbit
75. Candlish, Louise – The Skylight
76. James, Peter – Wish You Were Dead
77. Liardet, Frances – We Must Be Brave
78. Hwang, Sun-Mi – Miracle on Cherry Hill
79. Brandi, Mark – The Rip
80. Williams, Candice-Carty – Notting Hill Carnival 
81. Lansdale, Joe R – Cold in July
82. Earle, Phil – When The Sky Falls
83. Lefteri, Christy – Songbirds
84. Kaplinsky, Natasha – Letter from Lockdown
85. Wharfe, Ken – Guarding Diana
86. Patterson, James – Mistress
87. Paris, B.A. – The Therapist
88. Adimi, Kaouther – A Bookshop in Algiers
89. Michaelides, Alex – The Maidens
90. Skördeman, Gustaf – Geiger
91. Wix, Katy – Delicacy
92. Owens, Delia – Where the Crawdads Sing
93. Woolridge, Addie – The Checklist
94. Craven, M.W. – The Puppet Show
95. Philby, Charlotte – A Double Life
96. Carpenter, Elisabeth – The Woman Downstairs
97. Maclean, Julianne – These Tangled Vines
98. Bell, Alex – It Started With a Tweet
99. French, Dawn – Because of You
100. Berry, Lauren – Living the Dream
101. Ayrton, Lucy – One More Chance
102. Rous, Emma – The Au Pair
103. Baker, Tim – Fever City
104. Galbraith, Robert – Troubled Blood
105. Hislop, Victoria – The Island
106. Hislop, Victoria – One August Night
107. Patterson, James – The Quickie
108. Rentzenbrink, Cathy – Dear Reader
109. Patterson, James – Kill Me If You Can
110. Crawford, Susan – The Pocket Wife
111. See, Lee – The Island of Sea Women
112. Coble, Kaela – Friends and Liars
113. Dinsdale, Robert – Gingerbread
114. Christie, Agatha – Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly
115. Patterson, James – Texas Ranger
116. Hawkins, Paula – A Slow Fire Burning
117. Carpenter, Elisabeth – Only a Mother
118. Taylor, Kathrine Kressmann – Address Unknown
119. Sharpe, Tess – The Girls I’ve Been
120. Chaney, Lawrence – Drag Queen of Scots
121. Pullman, Philip – Grimms Tales for Young and Old     
122. Natsukawa, Sosuke – The Cat Who Saved Books
123. Ryan, Katherine – The Audacity
124. Shakespeare, William – Macbeth
125. Seuss, Dr – Green Eggs and Ham
126. Williams, Margery – The Velveteen Rabbit
127. Frazier, Jean Kyong – Pizza Girl
128. Peston, Robert – The Whistleblower
129. Patterson, James – Private Princess
130. Hope, Lucy – Fledgling
131. Rowling, J.K. – The Ickabog
132. Kinsella, Sophie – The Party Crasher
133. Patterson, James – Texas Outlaw
134. Walters, Minette – The Swift and the Harrier
135. Miller, Ben – The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale
136. Norbury, James – Big Panda and Tiny Dragon
137. Carr, Jimmy – Before & Laughter
138. Benjamin, Ali – The Thing About Jellyfish
139. Grisham, John – Sooley
140. Page, Alexandra – Wishyouwas
141. Dickens, Charles – A Christmas Carol
142. Beaumont, Lucy – Drinking Custard: Diary of a Confused Mum
143. Stevenson, Robert Louis – The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
144. Barnett, Laura – Gifts
145. Hoang, Helen – The Heart Principle
146. French, Nicci – Killing Me Softly
147. Prior, Hazel – Call of the Penguins
148. Daley, Tom – Coming up for Air
149. Thayne, RaeAnne – Christmas at the Holiday House
150. French, Nicci – What to do When Someone Dies
151. Fletcher, Carrie Hope – Into the Spotlight
152. Ahlberg, Janet & Allan – The Jolly Christmas Postman
153. Patterson, James – Don’t Blink
154. Wilson, A.N. – The King and the Christmas Tree
155. Kinsella, Sophie – Love Your Life
156. Perry, Sarah – The Essex Serpent
157. Fargher, Anna – Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue
158. Cooper, Daisy May – Don’t Laugh, It’ll Only Encourage Her
159. Rayner, Jay – Chewing the Fat
160. Lean, Sarah – The Good Bear
161. Donaldson, Julia & Sandey, Victoria – The Christmas Pine     

There are so many great books here by brilliant writers. Yet, I am well aware when people post how many books they’ve read, it can be quite overwhelming. Confession time: there are so many books that I’ve given up on. I’m absolutely ruthless as well because I can give up after reading the first page. I just know if it’s a book for me or not. That isn’t to say that it’s a bad book. I’m in no position to judge and never would – it’s more about how I react to it. For example, I struggle when there’s lots of characters because I get confused. I’m less good with books that constantly change time frames. These books are still amazing to other people, but just aren’t the right ones for me. Don’t ever feel like you didn’t do very well because you read less. Reading a book is an absolute joy and honour. Most of all, reading is for you. Don’t ever forget that or doubt yourself when it comes to reading.

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And now the bit I’m most excited about… My new reading challenge!

I’ve reflected quite a lot on my Reading Challenge of 2021. I loved doing it and I am so pleased I made it but I want 2022 to be even better. Last year, each month had a different theme. This year I’ve gone for a more fluid approach whereby I’ve made a bingo card and I will tick off one of the twelve focuses each month across the year.

Anyway, I’m proud to introduce to you all Book Bingo: Reading Challenge 2022!

There are some obvious things here where it fits certain months but I think this flexibility means I’ll be branch out into new areas that I haven’t gone into before. I can explore self-published books, new genres and tick off those books that I’ve been meaning to read for years but never quite got round to because a beautiful cover somewhere else caught my eye…

I’d love it if you took part in this with me and shared with me what you pick. After all, my to be read pile grows because of this community – let’s face it! Most of all, I really hope you like it! Happy New Year again and here’s to a booktastic 2022! Until next time…

Big love all xxx