Liked It Or Loved It: Books Read In 2021

Every year I set a reading goal. This year it is to read 24 books –two each month. Every time I finish a book, I like to take a few minutes to write down my thoughts about the book here–I guess you could call it my online book journal.

Along with a few thoughts on the book, I also share where I got it for free or close to free (because I am super thrifty and rarely pay for books) and if I liked it or loved it. You will not find a book on this list that I hate because I don’t finish books I don’t like.

Liked It Or Loved It: Books Read In 2021

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1. Just Let Go

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

Liked It

This is the second book in Courtney Walsh’s Habor Pointe series. If you are looking for an excellent series to bring to the beach or on vacation, this is a good one for that. It is a light, feel-good read. I read the first book in late 2020 and fell in love with the series’ characters. It is good but not can’t put it down until I finish every last page good.

2. Composing Amelia

(Free from Kindle)

Liked It

I added Composing Amelia to my kindle library years ago when it was offered as a freebie. I wish I had read it sooner as it was an excellent book and makes me want to read more books by Alison Strobel. The characters had depth, the story wasn’t predictable, and the ending left you with that all will be okay feeling that I love.

3. Just One More Kiss

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

Liked It Almost A Loved It

This is the third book in the Harbor Pointe series by Courtney Walsh. Just One More Kiss didn’t keep me up past my bedtime, but it did succeed in making me cry! A great storyline that will tug at your heartstrings.

4. The Printed Letter Bookshop

(Read through Prime Reading which is a free perk available to Amazon Prime Members)

Loved It

Katherine Reay’s keep me engaged from page one to the final page. This one made me cry too! I read The Printed Letter Bookshop in less than a 24-hour window –that is how much I liked it.

5. Of Literature & Lattes

Loved It

(purchased in kindle format at a deep discount)

This book is a sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop. I loved both books equally. Although Of Literature & Lattes didn’t make me cry, it did keep me guessing to the end. And that for me makes a loved-it book!

6. Love Lives Here: Finding What You Need In A World Telling You What You Want

Loved It

(purchased in kindle format at a deep discount)

I think I highlighted at least a third of Love Lives Here. If you are a mom –read this book!

7. The Burnout Generation

Liked It (sort of)

(listened to through a free trial of Audible)

This listen was one of two free Audible Originals that I picked with my free Audible trial. It focuses on the Millennial generation, but I, a member of generation X, kept saying to myself, “um ya, our generation feels the same way!”. It seems as if the millennial experience isn’t all that different from generation X.

8. Beach Haven (Book One Of The Carolina Coast Series)

Liked it (a lot)

(Received for FREE through My Reader Rewards Club)

For me to say I loved a fiction book, it has to make me cry or keep me up late. These following two books didn’t do that, but I more than just liked them, so I added –a lot–to their ratings.

Beach Haven is a perfect beachside summer read. An excellent light-hearted love story with just enough twists to keep you reading to make sure that all will turn out okay. The book left me looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.

9. Things I Never Told You (Thatcher Sisters)

Liked it ( a lot)

(Received for FREE through My Reader Rewards Club)

I liked Things I Never Told You so much that I signed up for a two-month trial of Kindle Unlimited for .99 cents yet again to read the next book in the series. The book was well written and the only reason I didn’t give it a “Loved It” rating is that I was able to put it down and read it over several evenings.

10. Just Like Home: A Habor Point Novel

Loved It.

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

The fourth and final book in the Harbor Point series by Courtney Walsh and it left me wanting more. To me, that is the sign of a good book series. I also now want to take a trip to the shores of Lake Michigan, thanks to most of Courtney Walsh’s books being set there.

11. A Sweet Haven Summer

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

I am digging Courtney Walsh’s books this year. I find they have just the right level of intrigue to keep me interested but not so captivating that I end up with a book hangover. The end of A Sweet Haven Summer made me cry, and then go and download the next book in the series so I could peek further into the characters’ lives.

12. A Sweethaven Homecoming (The Sweethaven Circle Book 2)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

The main storyline for A Sweethaven Homecoming was a bit out there and too over the top for my liking. However, the minor storylines were more believable and kept me reading until the end.

13. A Sweethaven Christmas (The Sweethaven Circle Book 3)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

I wasn’t yet finished The Sweethaven Circle when my low-price trial of Kindle Unlimited ended, which is why I was so excited when they offered me three more months at a significantly reduced price. I immediately pressed “keep me subscribed” and downloaded A Sweethaven Christmas.

It was a good book. But I want more! I wish there was just one more book in this series that would tie up a few loose ends (I don’t want to spoil the book for you by saying which ones)

14. A Sweethaven Romance (Novela)

Loved It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

I was hoping A Sweethaven Romance would wrap up those loose ends from the three-book series that share the Sweethaven name. However, A Sweethaven Romance is about an entirely different set of families, although it does weave in one main character from the series.

15. Paper Hearts (Courtney Walsh)

Loved It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

The perfect mix of funny, sweet, and sappy. A feel-good story with a message of faith.

16. Change Of Heart (Courtney Walsh)

Liked it

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

Some of the storylines I found were a bit far-fetched, but overall this book is a good read.

17. Love Does: For Kids (Bob Goff)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

I loved Loved Does for adults, so when I saw the edition for kids was available in Kindle Unlimited, I HAD TO read it. It was just as good.

18. Hometown Girl (Courtney Walsh)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

What can I say except for 2021 is turning out to be a Courtney Walsh book marathon for me! I can’t get enough of her romance books with a story of faith mixed in. Hometown Girl didn’t disappoint, although I did find parts of the ending to be a bit far-fetched.

19. Things Left Unsaid (Courtney Walsh)

Loved It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

This is probably my favorite Courtney Walsh book that I have read so far! It had me crying so hard at the end! And it kept me up past my bedtime. Two characteristics of a great book!

20. After The Leaves Fall (Book 1 of 3) (Nicole Baart)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

I used points from myreaderrewards.com to purchase Nicole’s last book in this series (not realizing it was a 3 part series until I was partially into the book). I enjoyed that book enough that when I saw that books 1 and 2 were available in Kindle Unlimited, I downloaded and read them.

After the Leaves Fall drew stronger emotions out of me than book two or three, this series is worth reading! I gave it a like and not love because I felt the story was slow in parts.

21. Summer Snow (Book 2 of 3) (Nicole Baart)

Liked It

(Read through Kindle Unlimited Trial)

This book helps you further understand the Julia you meet in book one and realize how strong she is to do what she does in book three.

22. Walking With Henry (Rachel Anne Ridge)

Liked It

(received for free from a friend)

I read Rachel’s book Flash and LOVED it. So I expected great things from Walking With Henry. It was okay but didn’t hit home with me as her first book did.

23. Dream Big (Bob Goff)

(listened to using the Hoopla App)

Loved It

I listened to this book while renovating our Jayco trailer in anticipation of a BIG lifestyle change. Dream Big is inspiring and thought-provoking. Plus, Bob Goff is always so funny. His books are a joy to read or listen to.

24. Do It Scared (Ruth Soukup)

(listened to using the Hoopla App)

Loved It

Although Ruth and I don’t see eye to eye on all things about pursuing your goals, I still loved her book Do It Scared on pursuing dreams. Get this book if you feel like your life is in a rut! And be prepared to get Ruthed! (a saying you will only understand if you listen to her podcast Do It Scared).

25. Live.Save.Spend.Repeat. (Kim Anderson)

(received for free from a friend)

Liked It

I enjoy Kim’s podcast Just Keep Blogging, so when I had the opportunity to read her book, I jumped at it. Her book Live.Save.Spend.Repeat is about money management. I didn’t learn anything new from it. The information is at the beginner level, so it wasn’t aimed for someone like me who has been studying how to best handle her family’s finances for close to 30 years now.

26. For One More Day (Mitch Album)

(Little Library Box find)

Loved It

I have read several Mitch Album books over the years and loved all of them. His book For One More Day did not disappoint me. It was written in the same thought-provoking style as the other books I have read of his. Through the main character’s journey with one more day with his mom, you will see that what you perceived to be true as a child may not be.

27. The Best We’ve Been (The Thatcher Sisters Series Book 3) (Beth K Vogt)

(received for free in kindle format using these tips)

28. Hurrican Season (Lauren K. Denton)

(received for free from a friend)

LOVED IT

This book kept me guessing how things were going to turn out until the final chapters. That, to me, makes a book that deserves an all-bold capital letter LOVED IT rating. I have already put all her other books on my “to-read list” that I keep as an Amazon shopping list.

(psst…I noticed that Hurrican Season and Lauren’s first book, The Hideaway, are both part of the prime library, meaning that if you have an Amazon Prime account, these are free to borrow in Kindle format. (this could change at any time)

29. All The Money In The World: What The Happiest People In The World Know About Wealth (Laura Vanderkam)

(listened to for free using the Hoopla app)

INSPIRED BY IT

All the Money In The World convinced me that I should try out Instacart (here is my referral link should you want to try it out too). It is a book that addresses the topic of how we spend our money unlike any other I have read or listened to –and I have finished a lot of finance books over the years. Stop comparing yourself to the Jones and think hard about what is suitable for you and your family. Stop following the advice of trimming every area of your budget to be as low as possible to be financially free. Start thinking about where you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to living a life you love, but yet one that is also financially wise.