And just like that, it’s time to share my five star prediction results for 2021. Each January, I look at my most anticipated releases lists and predict which books I believe I will rate 5 out of 5 stars. My picks are usually based on my books whose authors are some of my all-time FAVES, a highly, highly anticipated sequel, or an author whose previous book I loved. And like nearly every time I make my five star predictions, there’s a book or two that I haven’t quite read yet. Out of the 7 books I predicted, I read 6/7 (the only one I didn’t get to is Kelsey Rodkey’s Last Chance Books). I’ve separated this post into my correct predictions & not-so correct predictions.

If you’re interested, here’s my Five Star Prediction Results for 2020 & 2019.

My Correct Predictions

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – Like most readers, Emily Henry’s contemporary romances are PERFECTION. I still don’t know which Emily Henry contemporary romance I prefer, Beach Read  or People We Meet on Vacation, but I still think about the banter between PWMOV’s leads, Alex & Poppy. The setting, the friendship, the plot, and the romance were again, pure perfection. Slight spoiler alert for my favorite posts of 2021, but People We Meet on Vacation is a contender for my #1 favorite book of 2021. 

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my FAVORITE YA contemporary authors, & it’s not surprise that she is becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors with The Ex Talk. Everyone knows that I adore a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and The Ex Talk completely nailed the trope, alongside its unique podcast-centric premise. 

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas – Nearly, if not every, Sarah J. Maas book gets a 5/5 Stars because SJM completely this every element of her books. It also may help in the case of A Court of Silver Flames is that the two love interests, Nesta & Cassian, are two of my all-time favorite SJM characters.

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon –  A repeat appearance for Rachel Lynn Solomon on this list! Rachel Lynn Solomon is such a queen of YA contemporaries, especially including her 2021 YA release, We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This. I just love how mature and thoughtful her books are while having really unique premises, great relationship development, and banter of course. 

My Not-So Correct Predictions 

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle – Sarah Hogle’s debut, You Deserve Each Other, was one of my favorite books of 2020, so I had been highly anticipating Twice Shy. There’s just this cozy quality to Sarah Hogle’s books that I love. It took me a while to get into Twice Shy and although I still really enjoyed it, it just didn’t resonate with me in the same way as You Deserve Each Other did. I gave Twice Shy 4.5/5 tars.

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock – I was OBSESSED with Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock’s The Smell of Other People’s Houses in 2017, so I was beyond excited to read her 2021 release, Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, a fictional short story collection interweaving the lives of teens in Alaska and the American west. Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town was another read that took me a while to get into. I liked some stories better than others, and there were deep themes throughout (tw for sexual assault). I gave Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town 4/5 stars. 

What were some of your 5 star reads in 2021? Do you predict what will be your favorite reads of the year? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Share in the comments!