Book Confessions: Books I Wanted To Read In 2021 (But Didn't)

Surprisingly, considering the state of the world (still), 2021 has been one of the busiest years of my life. I started working full-time after graduating from uni and I also reviewed over 40 advanced copies of books. Because of this, the books I had set out to read in 2021 didn’t get a looking so today I am going to lay out my failings for the world to see.

Without further ado here are just three of the books that I wanted to read in 2021 but didn’t find the time (or motivation) to read.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreaks #1) by Brigid Kemerer

This is starting to become a bit of a running joke now on Young Creative Press. A Curse So Dark and Lonely has to be the most featured book in my to be read posts and I will be honest and say that I still have not read it.

I started reading it last month, got three chapters in and haven’t touched it since. Life got a bit too busy when I did finally decide to start it and then I just forgot about it. I am determined to read it and as I have three days off for Christmas I think that would be the best time to try.

Goodreads synopsis: “Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.”

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I stated back in February that I wanted to read this book as part of a ‘Romance Books I Want To Read’ post. Well, I still haven’t read it – clearly because I’ve mentioned it in this post.

I am constantly hearing good things about this book and I’m really hoping that when I do finally get around to it, I won’t be disappointed.

Goodreads synopsis: “First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?”

The Lunar Chronicles (series) by Marissa Meyer

Every year I say I wanted to re-read this series, but I never do. I think I went a little too hard on the ARCs this year (they were 90% of what I’ve read) so I didn’t have time to read anything else.

The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourites series of all time and I really want to read it again.

I am determined to set myself at least one re-read of a favourite book/series of mine in 2022. My hope is to make it this series, but who knows if I’ll have time for that.

Goodreads synopsis for Cinder (book one): “Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.”