No matter how convenient having an e-reader is, nothing will beat the smell of a new book, nor the feeling of physically turning the pages. But regardless of how you like to read your books, we can all agree that this was a great year for literature. From those who made it onto the Booker Prize list to some strong contenders for modern classics, we have compiled our must-reads of 2021 that are bound to keep you entertained, no matter what 2022 brings.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi is the winner of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction Award andis well-deserving of its accolades. Short, but taking up space in the reader’s mind long after they finish it, Susanna Clarke’s second novel is a mesmerising read. Its form is unwaveringly effective. Clarke constructs this magnificent, strange new world. She populates it with a protagonist so utterly in tune with it that his entire perception and manner of speaking feels entirely unfamiliar but all the more intriguing for it. Whilst its content is surreal, there is never a moment of feeling lost. Like Piranesi’s journals, the reader is treated to methodical passages that, whilst generating a crucial sense of mystery, are reasoned so impeccably within the clearly established rules of the world that no one is left scratching their head or re-reading the last page. Wonderment oozes from every chapter, an absolute gem of a read.
How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
How To Kill Your Family is cleverly written, humorous and has a dark edge that I really enjoyed. Mackie built a lot of tension into the storyline and weaved it throughout the novel. This leaves the reader curious and wondering what the main character will do next. This book is definitely for older audiences as it has some dark themes and the occasional use of inappropriate language. I loved how on edge I was about my feelings towards the main character. You can’t help but feel so many different emotions – her rollercoaster life conjured heartbreak and tragedy. I would highly recommend this book, especially as Mackie balanced the perfect blend of humour into the novel – even if it was a bit twisted at times.Beautiful Country by Julie Qian Wang
Beautiful Country casts a light on the struggles the poor and undocumented face in the US. It is an extremely emotional and heavy memoir. Throughout the story, Qian encounters numerous xenophobes and racists who see her and her family as less than human. But, what makes Qian’s memoir even more heartbreaking is that it is told through the lens of her childhood self. However, Qian overcame all that she faced, leaving her readers with a positive message: cling on to your dreams no matter your circumstances. Elegantly written, Beautiful Country lingers in your mind long after finishing it.
In Every Mirror She’s Black by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom
In Every Mirror She’s Black is a searing debut that explores classicism, sexism, racism, and the fetishisation of Black bodies. Lola Akinmade Akerstrom is a Nigerian-American based in Sweden. She is an award-winning speaker and photographer whose work has appeared in the likes of National Geographic and BBC. Her debut novel, In Every Mirror She’s Black, follows the lives of three black women: Kemi, Brittany-Rae, and Muna. By choosing to focus her attention on more than one character, Akerstrom highlights the fact that the experiences of Black women are not singular or homogeneous. It is hard to believe that In Every Mirror She’s Black is a debut novel, so excellent is Akerstrom’s writing. The book delivers an emotional punch that will stay with readers for a long time.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Iron Widow is a dazzling blend of Chinese history, myth and mecha sci-fi and is Xiran Jay Zhao’s (they/them) debut novel and the first book in a duology. Zhao’s stunning new work of YA fiction is a reimagining of China’s one and only female emperor Wu Zeitan. In the mythical world of Huaxia, boys are reared to pilot Chrysalises (giant transforming robots), whose purpose is to battle Hunduns (legendary faceless beings from Chinese mythology). The novel follows eighteen-year-old Zetian, who offers herself up as a female co-pilot to avenge her sister’s death. Described by the publisher as ‘The Handmaids Tale meets Pacific Rim’, this debut definitely does not disappoint.
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
As Good As Dead is a highly addictive YA Thriller about a small English town and its web of secrets. It is the third and final book in the New York Times bestselling series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and begins with a mentally troubled Pip traumatised by her last investigation. Although Pip is soon to leave behind her home in Little Kilton to study at Cambridge University, she finds herself immersed in a new murder case to feature in season three of her true-crime podcast.As Good As Dead perfectly rounds off the series by bringing together the whole cast of characters from books one and two, as they all band together to help Pip with her investigation. As sad as it is that the series is now over, As Good As Dead is a gobsmacking series finale, compulsive from beginning to end.
Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach
Not Here To Be Liked is a debut novel by graphic designer and writer Michelle Quach who puts a feminist twist on the classic YA rom-com. What makes the novel shine the most is how Quach explores feminism through an intersectional lens. Using the guise of a light-hearted rom-com, Quach ruminates on the history of feminism and the erasure of POC voices by white feminists. The novel follows Eliza Quan, who, like Quach, is Chinese-Vietnamese-American. Eliza believes that she is a shoo-in for editor-in-chief for her school newspaper until she loses the vote to an inexperienced baseball player, Len DiMartile. Not Here To Be Liked is an unmissable debut that provides a realistic portrayal of intersectional feminism and the Asian-American experience.
Read our review hereThe Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
On 27 July, Nathan Harris’s The Sweetness of Water was announced as being on the Booker Prize longlist. Before this, Oprah selected the novel for her book club. After reading Harris’s debut, it is easy to see why it has been such a hit. The Sweetness of Water is an ambitious but well-executed novel set in Georgia during the Reconstruction era (the days following the American Civil War’s end). Nathan Harris offers his readers a gorgeous exploration of race, emancipation, grief, and sexuality. The novel is heartbreaking, but it is also full of promise, as Harris highlights the indomitable spirit of love – an instant modern classic.
Hairvolution by Saskia Calliste and Zainab Ragdho
Our assistant editor Saskia Calliste, and co-author Zainab Raghdo debuted Hairvolution. A book of interviews with 31 influential Black women about the history and politics of Black women's hair and the journey to self-love and acceptance in Western society. With inspiring, funny and fascinating interviews with women of colour about their personal hair journeys, Hairvolutionreveals the struggles and pressures that Black girls and women endure. Hairvolution is a timely and topical read, following the government’s mandatory decision for all trainee hairdressers in the UK to learn how to style and treat Black hair. Kinky, wavy, straight or curly Hairvolutioncelebrates natural beauty, however you choose to style your hair.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom is a deeply thoughtful novel that paints an unforgettable portrait of familial loss, addiction, depression, and the conflict between faith and science. The novel is narrated by Gifty, a PHD science candidate for Stanford university. The novel traces the disintegration of Gifty’s family – her father’s sudden departure from America, her brother’s drug overdose, her mother’s battle with depression – and Gifty’s ensuing grief. All the while, the novel posits the question: will science or faith heal Gifty? Gyasi’s incredible storytelling and mastery of language have elevated her to the same status as Toni Morrison.
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