Top Books and Audiobooks I read in 2021
THIS IS MY 10th ANNUAL LIST!
2021 wasn’t a great reading year for me. I completely remodeled my house top to bottom and all the decisions fell to me. But I still managed to listen to a lot of books. Some were books I bought in 2020 but didn’t get to until 2021 and those are marked. I think Tara Sivec, Kristen Ashley, and Colleen Hoover have had a book on every one of these lists for 10 years! I also had to slow down on reading Lauren Blakely books or this entire list would just be every book she released.
Before I start I need to tell you about my favorite 2021 events: Going to the Passionflix filming of Seduction & Snacks by Tara Sivec. Seeing my favorite book come to life was amazing, and I was even in the movie! I also got to go to Ohio for the premiere. It was definitely the highlight of my year! You can see videos of both events on my Instagram and Tik Tok.
Each of these mini reviews includes only the Down & Dirty quick reviews. If you are looking for a little about the plot with no spoilers, or my likes and dislikes, click “See my review”.
Call Me Maybe and Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone
Call Me Maybe is Narrated by Luci Christian & Neil Hellegers
Sweet Talk is narrated by Lidia Dornet & Chris Brinkley
WARNING: Sweet Talk runs concurrently to Call Me Maybe, so it gives away a pretty big plot point from the first book. But it didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all. Still, read Call Me Maybe first if you can.
WARNING #2: There is NO SEX. The relationship was not in-person for most of the books. Again, I didn’t miss it.
WARNING #3: Your cheeks may hurt from smiling, and your teeth may hurt from the sweetness.
WARNING #4: They aren’t alpha males. They’re sweet and nerdy.
WARNING (or suggestion) #5: Listen with headphones. These books are made for audio and there are a lot of cool extraneous sounds that you would miss in a car or with one headphone in.
The Down & Dirty:
These books were scripted especially for audio so they made a really great listen with subtle sound effects. It’s even better on headphones. If you like a sweet, light, meet-over-text/phone romance you will love the Love Lines Series by Cara Bastone. I know most of my readers prefer a little heat in their stories, but I never felt it lacking in any way, in fact, I almost feel like sex scenes would have taken away from the fun. I can happily say that these are two of my favorites for 2021, and I recommend them to any audiobook lover that likes a sweet romcom.
Purchase Call Me Maybe Amazon | Audible
Purchase Sweet Talk Amazon | Audible
Getting Real by Emma Chase
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber
“There is nothing on earth that’s hotter, nothing more arousing- than a woman who is hungry for you and not ashamed to show it.”
The Down & Dirty:
Getting Real by Emma Chase is a 2021 favorite. Emma Chase has been a favorite author since her first book, and Getting Real just bumped her up even more. If you are a nurse or have preteen/teen boys, Getting Real is a MUST READ. Scratch that—if you love romance novels, Getting Real is a must-read. It’s the perfect combination of humor, heart, sexy times, emotional moments, and family. The whole series is fabulous, but this one is extra special.
Purchase Getting Real Amazon | Audible
Standalone Series Order: Getting Schooled • Getting Played • Getting Real
Wrecked Palace and Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles
Wrecked Palace is Narrated by Joe Arden & Ava Erickson
Reckless Refuge is Narrated by Ava Erickson and Sebastian York
“Not one thing about you is ugly. The only thing those scars prove is that you can walk through fire and survive. I can’t think of anything more beautiful than that.
The Down & Dirty:
Wrecked Palace: I loved everything about Wrecked Palace, BOTH times I listened. It was deeper and more emotional than I usually like to read, but there were enough fun, light, sweet moments that I never felt “wrecked” while reading. I absolutely fell in love with all the characters, especially the kids, and the suspense was just the cherry on top. If you haven’t started this series, you NEED to, it’s definitely an Ana’s Attic top choice.
Reckless Refuge: Catherine Cowles is quickly becoming one of my top must-read authors. Every time I read one of these books I wonder why I waited so long, so I am grabbing Hunter’s book now, and I’m really hoping for Parker’s! Reckless Refuge (in fact this whole series) is a MUST READ for any romance or suspense fan. Meanwhile, Catherine has a new series starting February 1, 2022, Tattered Stars, and believe me, I’m there for it.
See My Review for Wrecked Palace | See My Review for Reckless Refuge
Purchase Wrecked Palace Amazon | Audible
Purchase Reckless Refuge Amazon | Audible
The Wrecked Series Order: Reckless Memories • Perfect Wreckage • Wrecked Palace • Reckless Refuge • Beneath the Wreckage
*Perfect Wreckage was on my 2020 list
Lovebug The Natural History Series, Book 2 by Erin Mallon
Narrated by Erin Mallon
“But I didn’t say ‘oh god’ in an emergency way. I said it in a… porny way.”
“A porny way?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you think it sounded porny?”
“Mabel – and I mean this in the most respectful, gentlemanly way possible-I find everything you do to be porny.”
The Down & Dirty:
Lovebug by Erin Mallon is for sure going on my best of 2021 list. Any book that made me this happy will for sure be on my favorites list. But it wasn’t just the story, it was the story and the delivery. While I’m sure this is a fun, adorable read, listening to it made it a favorite. If you love a smart, sometimes silly, feel-good rom-com, you don’t want to miss Lovebug by Erin Mallon. I anxiously await the next in the series!
Purchase Lovebug on Amazon | Audible
*Flirtasaurus, the first in the standalone series, was on my 2020 list.
Flirting with 40 by K. Bromberg
Narrated by Emma Wilder and Zachary Webber
*2020 Release
“I think a man like Slade is just what you need–a little youthfulness to remind you that you may be divorced but you aren’t dead.”
The Down & Dirty:
Flirting With 40 was as much about her personal growth as it was about the relationship. The workplace drama was a huge part of the story, and I would love to read more about some of the other coworkers. It’s hard to find a unique storyline nowadays, and with the number of romcoms I read, they start to run together. But I listened to Flirting with 40 five months ago and I still feel like I remember it all, a rare feat. I’d love to see some spinoffs with the secondary characters!
Asking for a Friend by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke plus Zachary Webber & Erin Mallon
*2019 Release
“You better get your butt to my place or else.”
“Or else what?”
“Just ‘or else’.”
“Hmmmm. Is this a good ‘or else’ or a bad ‘or else’?”
“Its a naked ‘or else’,” I say.
The Down and Dirty:
Once again, Lauren Blakely delivered a great audiobook. Asking For a Friend had one of my favorite heroines to date and a ton of the online banter I love. I see people say that they don’t believe an author can consistently deliver good material as quickly as Lauren does, but she proves them wrong every single time. Lauren is a genius at taking popular tropes and making them fresh and fun, and let me tell you, I haven’t had one book from Lauren that disappointed me. My only problem is if I was able to keep up with her, this would just be the Lauren Blakely Audiobook Blog.
A Grave Girls’ Getaway: A Night Huntress Novella by Jeaniene Frost
Narrated by Tavia Gilbert
The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost is probably my #1 all-time favorite series. In reading this, I realized I missed her latest release before this, Wicked All Night, so I’m listening to that next, then I am finally going to tackle her other series, The Broken Destiny Series.
The Down & Dirty:
I loved everything about A Grave Girls’ Getaway! It was a full story with a lot of action for such a short book. My only complaint is Jeaniene Frost’s books are fast reads to begin with, this one was over WAY, WAY TOO FAST. I WANT MORE!
See the whole series order here
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Narrated by Angela Goethals
*2020 Release
“Hearts don’t have bones. They can’t actually break.”
The Down & Dirty:
Once again, Colleen Hoover delivered an emotional, suspenseful, unputdownable story. She brings us back to her YA/NA roots, and though I rarely read those younger books, Colleen makes them magic and I am here for it. After a year of barely reading or only reading light fluff, it was a pleasure to come back to another brilliant CoHo read.
First and Tension (Summersweet Island Book 4) by Tara Sivec
“Where have you been all my life?”
“Right here, waiting for you to come find me, so I could bring you down a peg or two.”
The Down & Dirty:
Once again, Tara Sivec demonstrated why she is my favorite rom-com author. I have such a blast reading her books, and I just want to hang out with her characters so much! Sports romance is not my favorite genre at all, as I’m not a sports lover, but that doesn’t matter in this series. Tara can take the most mundane trope and make it unique and fun. First and Tension was sweet, funny, sexy, romantic, exciting, and yes, even a little emotional. Don’t let a sport or trope you may not like put you off to reading this hysterical series in order.
Purchase on Amazon
Series Order: Kiss My Putt • Swing & a Mishap • Dashing Through The No • First and Tension
The rest of the series was on my Best of 2020 list
My One Week Husband by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Vanessa Edwin & Shane East plus a full cast
“I am flammable around Daniel Stewart. One touch and I melt. One kiss and I flame. That’s how I feel around him. Like I’m truly combustible.”
The Down & Dirty:
Lauren Blakely never fails me. I love every audiobook she releases, but there was something a little more special about My One Week Husband. Perhaps it was their tragic pasts, perhaps it was the travel, perhaps it was the role-playing, or perhaps it was the full cast narration, but I think it was all of it together. My One Week Husband was a little deeper and a little hotter than many of Lauren’s books, and I loved every word.
Standalone Series Order: One Night Only • One Exquisite Touch • My One Week Husband
Still Standing (Wild West MC Series Book 1) by Kristen Ashley
“Let me deal with the cloud. You need to know, I’ll tell you. Until then, darlin’, my meaning in life is, you live in the sunshine.”
The Down & Dirty:
I tried to make this a brief review, but HA! No chance. I have too many thoughts! Still Standing is vintage Kristen Ashley. Admittedly it follows a formula—alpha man stakes claim immediately, woman is in danger, and man has her moved in within a week. Yet there was a new world being built. A new club, in a new city with all new characters. It’s very similar to Motorcycle Man, which is not really a complaint since that’s one of my favorite books ever. I ran through the gamut of feelings reading Still Standing, and despite a difficult moment or two, I pushed through and ended up absolutely LOVING Still Standing.
Purchase on Amazon | Audible ($1.99 upgrade)
How to Get Lucky by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Joe Arden with numerous cameos
“Note to self: Find my passport when I get home because I want to spend some time in London.”
The Down & Dirty:
These two need to write together more! Lauren already rocks the male POV and doesn’t really need help there, but Joe just added something special to the already special Lauren Blakely style. I laughed, sighed, swooned, and smiled. I would have never guessed there were two authors. I loved How to Get Lucky and I can’t wait for more from this duo.
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