Top Chick-Lit Books to Read in 2021 | Your Ultimate Reading List

From romcoms to romance thrillers to cute friendship love stories, discover the awesome chick-lit books to read this year!

Hey gorgeous! It’s a new year and a new beginning. Also, it’s the perfect time to create a reading list. Personally, I love creating my books to-read list at the beginning of the year. Although I won’t be able to strike off all the books from my list, at least I’ll know what’s on my list. I love exploring different genres like fiction, self-help, biographies and many more. But chick-lit books are something that I enjoy the most. And I believe if someone is having a bad day, they should just read one!

Chick-lit books are a perfect way to unwind your day with! They are light, humorous, and yet relatable. Oh, come on… remember ‘The Confessions of a Shopaholic.’ Didn’t we all go through the dilemma of excessive shopping and swiped our credit cards as we wished?! Whether you want to read during weekends or right before bed on the weekdays, chick-lit books will cheer you up for sure.

Chick-Lit Books to Read in 2021

So, we have rounded off 7 chick-lit books to read in 2021! This means half of your year is all set. After reading several reviews and plots online, we have curated these books just for you. Let’s check out!

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

By Josie Silver

This novel has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and other book reviewing websites. The title itself creates curiosity about the protagonist. One of the reviews read, “Wow, a story with such a naturally flowing emotional structure; I was so happy by the end of the story. Loved the flow and narration.”

Lydia and Freddie have been together for almost a decade and are inseparable. Lydia believes that love is indestructible but she’s proven wrong. On her 27th birthday, Freddie dies in a tragic accident.

Lydia is heartbroken and wants to hide indoors and sob. But deep inside she knows that Freddie would want her to live her life well. So, with the help of her best friend and her sister, Elle, she steps out to live a second life and perhaps find love once again. Then something unbelievable happens, and Lydia gets another chance at her old life with Freddie. But what if there is someone from her new life who wants her to stay?

How the Penguins Saved Veronica

By Hazel Prior

This book is all about family, love and connection. This is something that we learned during the tough times last year, right?! Eighty-five-year-old Veronica is estranged from her family and she realizes that she wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to.

When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she calls the scientists informing them about her visit. She doesn’t take no for an answer. After visiting, she manages to convince the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes a part of her life and her heart opens up yet again. Her grandson, Patrick comes to visit her as he wants to know more about his grandmother. Together, the scientists, Veronica and Patrick learn the importance of family and love!

Christmas Shopaholic

By Sophie Kinsella

Well, how can we miss the shopaholic series while we are making a list of chick-lit books to read? The latest one being about Becky Brandon, the protagonist who adores Christmas. The celebration has always been the same with her parents hosting, neighbors coming around for sherry and her mom pretending she made the Christmas pudding.

But this year looks different as her parents have to move out and ask Becky to host Christmas. But what could possibly go wrong? With sister Jess demanding a vegan turkey, husband Luke needing an aftershave, and little Minnie insisting on a particular picnic hamper – surely Becky can manage all of this. And of course, a special surprise appearance from her old boyfriend and his new pushy girlfriend, whose motives are far from clear.

Will Becky manage to handle the chaos? Or bring comfort and joy to Christmas? This book seems like one of the perfect chick-lit novels to curl up in a blanket with.

The Return

By Nicholas Sparks

The bestselling author, Nicholas Sparks, is back with yet another moving novel about an injured army doctor and the two women whose secrets will change the course of his life. A few reviews read, “Pulls at the heartstrings,” “An absorbing page-turner,” and more.

With a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, this novel seems to be every book lover’s favorite. And we couldn’t stop ourselves from adding it to the chick-lit books to read this year.

The book focuses on the protagonist, Trevor Branson, and his quest to unravel Natalie and Callie’s secrets. Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness and that often, to move forward, we must return to the place where it all began.

In Five Years

By Rebecca Serle

This novel is not a regular love story. Dannie Kohan nails an important interview, gets engaged on the same day and she’s well on her way to fulfilling her life goals. That night she falls asleep at her apartment and in the morning when she wakes up, things are different. She’s in a different apartment, a different ring on her finger, and in the company of a different man. She catches a glimpse of the date on the TV playing in the background and it is the same date but five years later – 2025. What follows next is how Dannie encounters this new change.

The Hating Game

By Sally Thorne

This novel by debutant Sally Thorne seems to hit all the right spots. It is one of the light-hearted novels in our list of chick-lit books to read. Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman can’t tolerate each other. A workplace rivalry that they have no problem displaying in front of others. When the news of promotion spreads, neither wants to back down. But the tension reaches a point where Lucy discovers she may not be hating Joshua. Or maybe he doesn’t hate her, either. Or is it a different game altogether?!

One to Watch

By Kate Stayman-London

Now this novel needs to be on your list of chick-lit books to read in 2021. Bea is a plus-size influencer and blogger, she’s empowered and independent when it comes to everything but her love life. Bea gets invited to take part in Main Squeeze, as its next star looking to find love – although really she’s there to further her career and inspire young women. But it doesn’t take Bea long to get up in a romantic whirlwind, maybe she’s finally found her shot at a happily ever after?

Every Last Secret

By  A.R. Torre

You should include this one in your chick-lit books reading list. A simple and common story presented in a fabulous way. The story revolves around a couple, Cat Winthorpe and William. When a friendly new couple moves into the neighborhood, Cat welcomes them with an open heart.

But Neena Ryder has her own issues and she desires William. What follows next is beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy.

Regretting You

By Colleen Hoover

The next novel in the list of chick-lit books to read is about a mother and daughter’s relationship. Morgan and her sixteen-year-old daughter Clara are nothing alike. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris – Morgan’s husband. But when Chris meets with a tragic accident, things turn upside down.

With things crashing around her, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara seeks comfort with the boy she’s forbidden to see. With each passing day, there are misunderstandings, new secrets revealed, resentments that make mother and daughter fall apart. So, far apart that it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

This novel has received great reviews on Amazon. Like this one, “This book made me so ‘full’ with joy and satisfaction and so many emotions, leaving behind such a good feeling that I don’t want to let go at all. It’s the kind of book hangover that I wish lasts for many many days. It’s so well thought and so beautifully written that I was sobbing.”

Wrong Train to Paris

By Jennifer Moore

At nineteen years of age,  Julia believes that she’s capable of anything. She wants to travel alone but her overprotective father sends an escort for her. Julia tries to trick them and board the train, only to realize that she has boarded the wrong one and now is stranded alone in the French countryside.

She now has to rely on the help of LucPaquet, a young French farmer who offers her accommodations. She learns more than ever about farm life from Luc and his aunt. Julia and Luc’s chemistry is undeniable but they are from different worlds. Will their love prevail?

28 Summers

By Elin Hilderbrand

This novel is a blend of nostalgia, romance and escapism. A perfect summer read as the name suggests. The protagonists, Mallory and Jake, have met to rekindle the passionate love affair they began all those 28 years ago. They are married to someone else, with busy lives and taking care of their families. They’ve managed to keep their secret and to keep their love alive.

But nothing is forever and when Mallory receives a diagnosis that puts her future in doubt, they must face the possibility that their twenty-eighth summer together also be their last.

You Deserve Each Other

By Sarah Hogle

This is a light comedy novel that brightens your day. You definitely should consider adding to your list of chick-lit books to read this year.

The plot is simple and pretty common – lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers kinda book. But it’s the details and the characters that will make you fall in love with them. Naomi has the perfect fiancé, Nicholas. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants a way out and they both get head-to-head with a battle of pranks. But as time passes, they are finally being themselves and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

Beach Read

By Emily Henry

A perfect summer read, this book surely should be on your list of chick-lit books to read. January believes in romance and tells her story like a blockbuster movie. Gus is a serious literary type who thinks true love is a fairy-tale. Both have writer’s block and are broke. And they need to complete their work before summer ends.

They switch genres and bet each other on who publishes first. Will they be able to complete it? If you’re a writer yourself, you will enjoy this one for sure.

The Authenticity Project

By Clare Pooley

A feel-good book that makes you smile. The storyline follows with Julian Jessop who starts The Authenticity Project – a small green notebook containing the truth about his life. He leaves the notebook at a neighborhood café and little did he expect Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she’ll be inspired to write her own story.

A book that can create an impact on your life, you need to add this to your list of chick-lit books to read for some motivation.

What You Wish For

By Katherine Center

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But both weren’t this way.

The story revolves around both as they knew each other in the past. What makes this book the best is the unforgettable characters and sparkling dialogues.

So, these were our list of chick-lit books to read this 2021. Which books are you gonna read? Let us know by sharing your thoughts by tweeting us at @shilpa1ahuja. If you decide to pick one of these, show us your pic reading on Instagram by tagging us @shilpaahujadotcom!