A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Holly Jackson

Truth be told, the premise of a teenager resolving a five-year-old murder did not elicit much excitement from me. I expected ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ to be unrealistic, predictable and chock-full of cliques. However, this book surprised me by smashing its way through my low expectations to a spot as one of my favourite reads this year.

CHAIN OF IRON by Cassandra Clare

‘Chain of Iron’ was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. Before reading it, I had absolutely no doubt that this book would be anything less than spectacular. Not once did it cross my mind that I may end up bored or disinterested given how much I loved the first book of this series. My only concern was whether I would be able to tolerate the emotional anguish I knew Cassandra Clare would dole out.