2021 Reading List
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Another year, another book list! In case you’re new here, I got super into reading during last year’s quarantine and decided to rate and write a little review about all the books I read that year. You can click here to read my 2020 book reviews and maybe purchase one of my favorite reads! I had so much fun sharing my thoughts on what I was reading and wanted to start a new reading list for 2021. Hopefully, I will beat last year’s book count (should be easy since it was only 5 books)!
The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir - Andre Leon Talley
★★★★★ 5/5
I have always looked up to Andre Leon Talley not only as an inspiration, but a role model so it is no surprise that his memoir blew me away. He goes into detail on his unique and awe-worthy career path and life journey. Being one of the most respected fashion journalists in the heyday of fashion… he has seen a thing or two and does not hold back with his personal anecdotes. There was never a dull moment while reading this and I truly could not put it down. If you have any interest in high fashion or journalism I could not recommend this book enough!
Blowing My Way to the Top - Jen Atkin
★★★☆☆ 3/5
As you can probably tell by now, I love reading memoirs! I was very excited and intrigued to read Jen Atkin’s book because she is still quite young and is a name I was already familiar with. I knew her from watching KUWTK as well as her very popular haircare line, Ouai. I will say this was not your typical memoir, it was more of a self-help and advice book with some personal anecdotes thrown in. I do think she has a great story and career journey and would’ve liked to hear more about it, in-depth. The timeline was a bit scattered at points - she would talk about career or life advice and then refer to a time where she could relate which wasn’t always in chronological order. I gave this a 3/5 because it was a good book and an easy read but was a bit all over the place at times.
Gossip Girl - Cecily von Ziegesar
★★★★☆ 4/5
It’s no secret that I have been a fan of the Gossip Girl tv show since I was in high school. With the release of the reboot, I was inspired to try out the book series that launched the GG empire. It was so strange to read this because there are so many differences between the show and the book. I would say this book was the inspiration behind the pilot - starting with Serena’s return from boarding school and ending with the Kiss On The Lips party. Now, I don’t think I am going to be reading the rest of the book series but, this was a fun and quick read. I gave this a 4 out of 5 because I am still partial to the storylines in the tv show.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
★★★★★ 5/5
Obviously, I had to give this Tik Tok favorite 5/5 stars. I seriously could not put this book down and loved every minute of it. It is no secret that the author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, is known for her ability to weave a story and for the depth she puts into her characters, so this was beautifully written. The story follows Evelyn Hugo, old Hollywood mega-star, as she describes the truth behind her decades in the spotlight and all the husbands she had along the way. Throughout the re-telling of her life, there is an underlying mystery as to why she chose a no-name journalist to write her memoir. This book kept me captivated and intrigued the whole time and the ending had me in tears, I would genuinely recommend this book to anyone who has not read it yet.
The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
★★★☆☆ 3/5
I have been big into manifesting for the past couple of years, so I wanted to read “The Secret” since it is pretty much the blueprint for manifestation. I feel like this book gives you a really good understanding of manifesting and how it works/how to do it yourself. I gave this a 3 out of 5 because although it had good information, it was extremely repetitive at times and is not a book you can sit and read at once - seriously it took me 4 months to get through!