As we’re now fully in the last two months of 2021 (!!), it’s time to slowly but surely begin wrap-up season. December is always filled with posts about my favorite books of the year and my anticipated books for the new year, but I’ve kicked off the reflective season with the End of Year Book Tag for the past few years. This book tag is always a great way for me to think back on what I read this year (and yes, start forming my favorites posts) and do a little goal-setting for the rest of the year. 

I’ve linked to my previous years’ End of Year Book Tags below, and this tag was created by Ariel of Ariel Bissett.

• End of Year Book Tag: 2020 Edition
• End of Year Book Tag: 2019 Edition
• End of Year Book Tag: 2017 Edition

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Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Since I’m publishing this post on a Monday morning, I thought it’d be fun to share the books I’m currently in the middle of and that I will finish by the end of this week (which means this year, haha) – I’m currently reading My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan – this contemporary romance had been on my TBR radar for a while since it’s written by audiobook narrator star Julia Whelan and it was recently mentioned twice in two of my favorite bookish podcasts, Bad On Paper and Friends to Lovers. I also have Dolly Alderton’s memoir, Everything I Know About Love, on my nightstand because I immediately needed more of her writing after finishing Ghosts two weeks ago. I’m sure this question will be a bit more pressuring during the week in between Christmas and New Years, as I hope to do a lot of reading since I’m off from work then. As always, I *try* to finish any book I’m currently reading by New Years’ Eve so I can start the new year with a fresh read, but sometimes that plan doesn’t work out depending on my NYE plans and my desire to always being currently reading something! 

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Do you have a book or autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Since I tend to share this tag during mid-November, my answer is always holiday book related! I shared my Holiday 2021 TBR last week and I actually have two of those books, The Holiday Swap and Always, in December, on their way to me from the library. I’m likely going to dive into at least one of them during Thanksgiving week – I’m probably going to go with Always, in December because I’ve been seeing that one being increasingly read lately. 

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Being the Below Deck fan that I am, I am SO looking forward to Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. The book comes out on November 23rd. 

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What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I bought copies of Erin Hahn’s Never Saw You Coming and Karina Halle’s The Royals Next Door earlier this fall, and I’m hoping to read them during my holiday breaks. I also want to read Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street in December. 

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

I don’t think it will necessarily shock me, but Erin Hahn’s Never Saw You Coming definitely has potential to be a 2021 favorite, since it was one of my most anticipated 2021 releases and I love You’d Be Mine and More Than Maybe so much.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2022?

Nope! I don’t think I’m really going to set reading goals for 2022 just based on my personal life and work life right now – my goal will just be to read whenever I have time! I have thought about what I want to set my reading goal for 2022 – I’m thinking of setting my goal for 75-80 books, but really/mentally wanting to reach 100. My ‘set’ goal for 2021 was 75 and I’m currently at 144 books for 2021 (the MOST I’ve EVER read in a year). I know it seems weird then to set a goal that’s nearly half that amount, but I owe much of that reading to still being in a pandemic in 2021 and having most of my summer off as a teacher. 

What are some books that are your must-reads for the rest of 2021? Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned? What have been some of your favorite reads this year? Share in the comments!