(In…almost… alphabetical order, trigger warnings in the ‘keep reading’)

This year… has been a lot… but at least during the first half I read a lot of good books … anyway here are my top 10 of 2021… (like last year I’ll do a separate one for graphic novels)

Trigger Warnings

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston: Bullying, Racism, Grief, Kidnapping, and Murder

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: Death, Blood, Body Horror, Grief, Ableism

All Boys Aren’t Blue by  George M. Johnson Sexual assault, Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Deadnaming, Violence, Hate crime, Transphobia, Cancer, Drug use, Terminal illness, Incest, and Bullying

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Sexual content, Racism, and Xenophobia 

Passing by Nella Larsen Racial slurs, Racism, Infidelity, Toxic Relationship, Murder, Suicide, and Death

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Stalking, Abortion, Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Suicide

Underland by Robert Macfarlane Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Claustrophobia

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Blood, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny , Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Homophobia, Animal death, Child death, and Infidelity

I’m Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya Transphobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Sexism, Bullying, Hate crime, Misogyny, Infidelity, Racism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Sexual Harassment

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo: Death, Animal Death, Blood, Infidelity, Violence, and Sexual content

Bunny By Mona Awad Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gore, Blood, Death, Violence, Body Horror, Murder, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Mental Illness, Emotional Abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett  Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Hate crime, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Murder, and Drug use

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert: Sexual Content, Chronic Illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Toxic Relationship, Ableism, Physical Abuse, Medical Trama, Domestic Abuse, and Mental Illness

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Child death, Suicide, Alcoholism, Grief