firewhiskeyreader

The past couple of years I have split my favorites list into so many and this time I am challenging myself by just doing three. So this top ten list is my top ten of the 2021 releases I read this year (of the romance genre) and you’ll see the other two soon (favorite non-2021 releases and then also favorite non-romance reads in general). This means there will be a short list of honorable mentions today because I have entirely too many books that I really adored this year for basically all three of these lists. Alright, let’s get to it!

Honorable Mentions:

• Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
• Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
• Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle
• A Twist of Fate by Kelley Armstrong
• Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas
• Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
• The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe
• Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

10. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Why I Love This One: Friends to lovers with alternating past/present perspectives and also I love Henry’s writing.

9. The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Why I Love This One: The main character is a 30 year old mess and everything about her was so relatable. Also, I love the podcast elements.

8. Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

Why I Love This One: This book led me down a Heath rabbit hole so it gets major points for that, but also, I loved this book so, so much. There’s such a tonal shift in the middle of it and it was so intriguing and well done and just… excellent.

7. Last Guard by Nalini Singh

Why I Love This One: Um, a) it’s a Nalini book and b) I really loved Payal and Canto. The plot advancement was also really great.

6. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Why I Love This One: The writing in this book was just exactly my thing. I loved everything about it, tbh.

5. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Why I Loved This One: Look, this book is not perfect, but, it was absolutely everything I wanted/needed. It was just pure excellence for me.

4. The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller

Why I Loved This One: I feel like from the outside, the last four of these being books I’ve read since September makes it seem like recency bias, but let’s be honest, The Brightest Star in Paris has gorgeous writing, fantastic characters, a gorgeous romance, and honestly, everything about it is amazing.

3. Archangel’s Light by Nalini Singh

Why I Loved This One: Illium and Aodhan FINALLY!!!!! Loved it. Everything about it.

2. Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Why I Loved This One: Kennedy Ryan is a master of craft. This book is so gorgeous. It’s just brilliant.

1. The Belle and the Beard by Kate Canterbary

Why I Loved This One: The Belle and the Beard features a mess of a heroine and I love Jasper-Anne so much. Additionally, this book introduced me to Kate Canterbary and I am therefore eternally grateful. Also, this book is just brilliant in every way and I’m obsessed with it. If you want a recommendation from me for one of those 12 Friends Recommend TBRs, it’s this one. Like, you don’t even have to ask. This is what I’m recommending. (I have thrown in Reel as an option too when responding to those prompts if I know the person’s taste well enough.)

Okay, there you have my ten favorite romance releases of 2021 and eight honorable mentions! Please share with me your favorites because you know I’d love to hear them. And, if based on my favorites, you think there are books I need to read, let me know!

xx