YEAR IN REVIEW – Best of 2021 for Adults

2021 was a tough reading year for me. Between starting a new job, rediscovering an old hobby, and (waves vaguely at a world in chaos), I found it hard to stop doom scrolling and focus long enough to really engage with the sort of reading I usually do. But that doesn’t mean 2021 didn’t have some amazing books that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here are some of my favorites for adults from what I read in 2021:

Best of 2021 – Adult Fiction


Hunt the Stars (♥♥♥♥½)- These books aren’t necessarily in order, but if I had to pick a favorite adult fiction book from last year, I think Hunt the Stars would be the one. It helps that it was one of the last books I read in 2021. But I remember so clearly as I was reading being delighted by the whole story and the characters, and feeling such joy whenever I checked my progress and saw I had so much book still left to enjoy.  This one doesn’t release until this year, but the author is a favorite, so I prioritized this one over some others I probably should have read – and I was not disappointed. If you enjoyed The Consortium Rebellion series or you love romantic scifi, put this one on your list for February 2022. Stay tuned for my full review in February as well.
Capture the Crown – If you’ve read my coverage of the Crown of Shards series, my love of this spin off shouldn’t come as a surprise. You can read my full review here.
The List (♥♥♥♥♥)- My husband pulled me into the Orphan X series a couple summers ago. One of my favorite characters is Joey, who features as the main character in this short story. It was everything I wanted it to be. If the author would ever spin off a series starring Joey, I’d be first in line to pick it up.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It – This mystery was quirky and different, and I loved it. You can read my full review here. And stay tuned for my review of the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, which releases February 1st.
To Fetch a Felon – First in a new cozy series from late 2020 with a talking corgi, this was a delight from start to finish. (My blog was even quoted in the “praise for book one” section of the second book!) You can read my full review of book one here and book two here. Cozy fans should NOT miss this series!

Best of 2021 – Adult Nonfiction


All of the Marvels – Again, these aren’t listed in any particular order, but if I had to pick just one favorite nonfiction book from this year, it would be this one. I didn’t expect to love this like I did – the writing is fantastic, and the comics history and stories are fascinating. You can read my full review here.
Reading While Black (♥♥♥♥♥) – I read this one for me, rather than for a blog post, so there’s no review here on the blog. But I will tell you this was FANTASTIC. It was challenging in all the best ways. The writing is engaging and conversational. This is a resource I highly recommend.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up – I didn’t read much nonfiction in 2021, and the bulk of what I did read was Enneagram related. You can read my full review of this resource here.
The Enneagram Goes to Church – Another great Enneagram resource from 2021, you can read my full review here.
The Story of You – This was my final review of 2021, so this one might be more familiar to you. You can read the full review again here.

REVIEW: The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd A. Wilson

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and InterVarsity Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


“If I would have known the Enneagram, I would have been a much better pastor.”

This is the confession that launches this resource about the role the Enneagram could play in the Church. The author comes to the discussion from a standard evangelical background. He works from the assumption that the reader has at least a passing knowledge of the Enneagram – this is not a resource for beginners. There is a chapter on triads, stances, and orientation to time, but it is there to give readers a common background and language for the rest of the book, not as an introduction for novices.

The content includes a look at the nine types as pastors as well as in leadership roles. There’s a chapter on the types related to preaching and teaching as well as chapters on worship, congregational care, and conflict. There’s also a great discussion at the start of the book about whether or not the Enneagram even belongs in the church. The author’s bottom line to readers, especially pastors, is to pursue self-awareness which in turn will help in all aspects of pastoring.

Review


This is an exceptionally good resource. The tone and writing is conversational, and the content is applicable in many settings, not just in churches. (Personally, I though the author came on pretty strong at first, and when he revealed his type in the book, that made more sense. I was quickly able to settle into his writing style, though.) The teaching is solid as it relates to pastors and pastoral roles, but it could also apply to teachers (especially the chapter on preaching) and helping professionals (especially the chapters on conflict and congregational care). I got a TON out of this, and I don’t fit into any of these roles right now.

It was fascinating to me to apply the content to my current and past church experiences. It was easy to see where this information could have helped heal some of the hurts we have seen in our churches over the years.

The material here is challenging in all the best ways. There’s lots of references here to church history, scripture, and Enneagram leaders and teachers, which I enjoyed immensely. This is a must-buy resource for me, and I am looking forward to reading through it again! You can read my reviews of other Enneagram resources here. (There is one use of the word “tribe” in the book as an expression of a like-minded group, which might be offensive to some readers.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!