Have you been to this year’s Doha International Book Fair yet? (If you haven’t and wonder whether it makes sense to go, read HERE). Seeing how much buzz is the Fair creating, I’m surprised (and overjoyed!) to acknowledge that there are actually more book lovers in Qatar than I have suspected!

It might also mean that you will be interested in what I’m going to share with you today! I’ve made a list of 5 books which I really enjoyed reading in 2021. I’m not too happy with the number of books I managed to finish last year – one of my 2022 goals is to make more time for reading in my busy schedule. Luckily, I did come across some fiction gems, which I’m happy to share with you today!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Fantasy! One of my all-time favorite genres. But this one is also Young Adult fiction! Hmmm… Many people would automatically disregard this book under a presumption that “young adult” translates as “book for kids”. If that’s what you think, I dare you to give this book a go and prove yourself wrong. 🙂

Plot summary:

“Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems!”. This sweeping tale of sisterhood, love and betrayal is shimmering with everpresent magic. Follow the author into an enchanted game where nothing is really what it seems, destined to capture your imagination.

You can read my full review HERE.

Circe by Madeline Miller

Do you sometimes grab a book, read the first page and instantly fall in love with it? I hope you do, and I’m not a crazy person 😀 “Circe” was this book for me. I am a sucker for Greek mythology, which have possibly played its part in loving this book, too!

Plot summary:

Madeline Miller retells a story of Circe – the witch best known from Homer’s “Odyssey”, where she famously turned the crew of Odysseus into pigs. Miller’s take on this Greek mythology classic is as refreshing as it is unorthodox, spinning a tale of a brave and independent woman living in a world dominated by male heroism.

You can read my full review HERE.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I’m a bit late to the party with this one! It created a buzz back in 2018, but I only got my hands on a copy 3 years later. My expectations were not sky high, as it’s outside of my usual genre box, so I suspected I might not enjoy it that much. Oh how wrong I was! This book proves that it’s sometimes a good idea to venture out of your reading comfort zone and try something new.

Plot summary:

“Where the Crawdads Sing” is a wonderful coming-of-age story of Catherine “Kya” Clark, living a lonely life in a marsh that has become her home. A figure of mystery and prejudice, she eventually becomes the chief suspect in a local murder trial. 

You can read my full review HERE.

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

If I had to choose one author of the so-called “light reads” to stick to for the rest of my life, it would probably be Marian Keyes. She’s written quite a lot, fortunately. “Watermelon” is not a new book (actually, it was first published in 1995!), but it reads great and is relatable on so many levels!

Plot summary:

Upbeat, amusing and not at all challenging to read, “Watermelon” opens the door to the Walsh family household. The novel tells a story of Claire Walsh, whose life fell apart when her self-centered husband left her (and their new baby) and decided to move in with their downstairs neighbor. Claire makes a run for Dublin, with baby Kate in tow, to sort out her life in the comfort of her family home. Hilarity ensues. 🙂

Love Always by Harriet Evans

I honestly almost skipped this book because of its title. Got prejudiced and was sure it’s going to be yet another one of the very many shallow summer reads I went through in the past year. Luckily I did read the description at the back cover and it made me curious. Now I’m so glad I gave it a go (even though I’m still slightly annoyed by the title!).

Plot summary:

Returning to the wild Cornish coast for the funeral of her beloved grandmother, Natasha stumbles upon a diary of Cecily, her aunt who died aged 16 after a tragic (and very questionable) accident. Cecily’s story unveils a streak of long-buried family secrets, and leaves Natasha striving to pick apart the lies in her life to uncover the truth.

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— Currently reading… My top 5 chick-lit picks for a rainy day!

— Books that fueled my travel obsession.

— My favorite cafes to work remotely around Doha and Lusail.