What are the must-read books of 2021?

Image+via+Penguin+Books

Image via Penguin Books

Zanderlynn Almendra, Writer

Do you like to read? Well, if the answer to that question is yes, then you’re in luck. I’m going to be sharing the top five must-read books according to this website. This website has more than five books listed, but I’m going to be listing the top five. So if none of these books interest you, then go check out the others.

The first book listed on the website is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. This book is about an astronaut who must save the earth from a disaster. Its rating is 4.8 out of five stars. The reviews are very positive. One review states “I physically could not stop reading this book, I’m not even exaggerating,” and they rated it five stars. Another rating on this book said, “Project Hail Mary was a shockingly amazing read and I would recommend it to any Sci-fi fan.” They rated this book four stars.

The second book listed on this website is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. This book “offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of Klara—an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities—and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?” This book is rated 4.3 out of five stars. One review says “So different, beautifully written as all of his books, what an incredible imagination just Knew this would be a tear-jerker.” They rated this book five stars. Another review says “A very easy and enjoyable read. The story moves at a gentle pace which keeps the reader engaged.” They rated this book 4 stars.

The third book listed on this website is Effortless by Greg McKeown. This book offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones. This book is rated 4.2 out of five stars. One of the reviews on there says “Effortless got off to a slightly slow start, and I didn’t think I would like it as much as Essentialism. However, it picked up,and I was pleased to be learning skills that can help me keep my focus on the things that really matter.” They rated this book five stars.  Another review says “This book is filled with excellent advice on focusing on the essentials and finding simpler ways of doing things.” They rated this book four stars.

The fourth book on this must-read list is Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian. This book is rated 3.8 out of five stars. Most of the reviews on this book are positive. This book is a coming-of-age story. “Gold Diggers skewers the model minority myth to tell a hilarious and moving story about immigrant identity, community, and the underside of ambition.” One of the reviews says “Gold Diggers is an Indian-American magical realist coming of age story,” and they rated this story four stars.  Another review says “so different, so inventive and just plain fun to read. Loved it!” They rated this book 4 stars out of five. 

The fifth book listed on the must-read books was Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee. This book is rated 4.4 stars out of five. This book is about “The richly imagined story of Valora and Jamie Luck, twin British-Chinese acrobats traveling aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage.” The reviews are mostly positive. One review says “A finely crafted historical exploration of identity, class, and family that resonates through the present.” Another review says “A thrilling historical page-turner. A must-read!”

These are the top five books listed on this website. If you’re interested, go check these books out and leave your own review on them. If none of these books caught your interest, I recommend going on to the website and seeing the other books on there.