It’s the last day of 2021 and as is a tradition here on Maureen’s Books, I’d like to share my favorite reads of this year with you today. And what a year it has been! I’m not even going to mention the C word, since I’m so totally over it. Next to the never-ending pandemic, we welcomed our beautiful and sweet baby boy into the world in February. And what a joy it has been to have him in our family. It’s also been a joy seeing our little girl becoming a big sister, and I keep loving the moments these two little ones share together.

What I definitely didn’t expect this year, was me having to look for another job. After working in the hospital on a Traumatology ward for more than 11 years, I just couldn’t combine it with my mom life anymore. So now I’ve said everything I know, and have loved as a nurse goodbye.. and will start my new job on January 4^th. Regular hours, and regular days. I’m both scared and excited.

As someone who gets very anxious when things change, life has definitely been changing big time for me this year. I’m trying to just ‘breath’ through it, but it sure is challenging. Luckily for me, there is my love of books and reading to help me through every stressful moment, and I’ve read some amazing books this year. It was honestly pretty impossible to pick a top .. this year. But I did.

Lastly, before I’m sharing my favorite reads of 2021 I’d like to thank you guys, my bookish friends, for sticking with me this year. It’s sure has been a ride! Happy New Year to you all, and here’s to an even better 2022.

(If you click on the cover, it will take you to my review)

“Did you know I have always suspected that men were idiots,” Daphne ground out, “but I was never positive until today.”
― Julia Quinn, The Duke and I

“Don’t stay if I’m just another warm body to you. Stay because only my body will do. Stay because you need it to be me.”
― Samantha Young, Here With Me

“He closes the distance between us, his hands grip my hips, and he pulls me flush to his body. “I’m going to screw this up. Don’t let me get away with it.” The vulnerability in his eyes makes my heart ache.
“I won’t.”
― J.B. Salsbury, Wild North

“There’s not much in the world I want to claim as mine. I’ve seen and done too much shit in my life to believe in forever. But you…” He grasped my chin with his free hand. “You belong to me. I don’t give a fuck what a law or anyone else says. You are mine.”
― Ana Huang, Twisted Games

“We can go around and around in circles for days, weeks…but it won’t chase this away, Thane. You want me. It isn’t convenient. It’s complicated…but it’s unavoidable.”
― Samantha Young, There with You

“Jesus, you’re like Voldemort. I say your name and you appear from the ether,”
― Elizabeth O’Roark, A Deal with the Devil

“You interest me because there seems to be little time between what occurs in your head and what comes out of your mouth. And there seems to be little regard for the consequences.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, A Shadow in the Ember

“People stare at them like they forget there’s a whole human being attached to them who has feelings and a beating heart.”
― J.B. Salsbury, Rebel North

“I don’t know how to ask you for a shot when you’ve been through so much. But that doesn’t change that I want it. So, I guess I just have to ask. Take that first step. Just one. We can go as slow as you want, and I’ll meet you wherever you’re at. Just one step.”
― Catherine Cowles, Beautifully Broken Redemption

“That’s how I want to be loved—big and crazy. Because that’s how I love.”
― Melanie Harlow, Ignite

These are my favorite reads of 2021. Have you read any of these books? What do you think? What is your favorite read of this year?

Maureen Bakker

Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always!  Facebook | Instagram