If I were asked to describe 2021 with one word, I’d choose – busy! Life felt very busy this year. So much so, that it often felt difficult to keep up. Especially these last few months. 😫
It felt like 2021 was the busiest and maybe most challenging year with my business – some good challenges and some not. 💪🏼
In addition, 2021 was an equally busy year with the Austenesque/JAFF community! So many new releases, new authors, new blog tours to participate on – I don’t think there was ever a momentary lull! And despite all my efforts to read and review more, my TBR pile is towering over at astronomical heights. 📚
But amidst the crazy busyness of this year, this blog and all your comments and interactions with me here have continued to provide such joy and fulfillment for me. So I am forever thankful for you all. 🥰
Let’s take a look at this year’s numbers for 2021 on Austenesque Reviews and see how they compare with last year’s. 📊
~ Posts ~
- Total # of Blog Posts for 2021 – 186 (8 less than last year. A slight slowdown from the pandemic) 😏
- Total # of Reviews Posted in 2021 – 67 (1 less than last year. Not bad) 🙌🏼
- Total # of Different Authors Read in 2021 – 64 (23 for the first time! Hello new authors!) 😮
- Total # of Author Features in 2021 – 64 (5 less than last year) 👋🏼
- Interviews – 4
- Guest Posts – 12
- Excerpts – 26
- Cover Reveals – 22
I know 2020 saw a big increase in blogging for me, and it looks like I almost maintained that increase in 2021.
Again, I am very happy to be reading books from so many new authors. And to welcome new authors to visit, 18 author visits were first time visits (almost a third!)
~~~
~ Reading ~
Almost an exactly same percentage breakdown from last year.
I continued my trend of reading around 1 Regency Romance/Historical Fiction novel a month. Mixing it up!
A little bit less Austenesque variety this year.
Variations and Sequels increased a little, and Modern Adaptations and Anthologies went down compared to last year.
Even less diversity here!
Pride and Prejudice related reads almost compromised 90% of my Austenesque reads this year!
Although I love me some Darcy and Lizzy, I miss spending time with Jane Austen’s other characters.
A favorable distribution. Almost 60% of my reads were 4.5 or 5 star reads.
However, there was an increase of lower than 4 star ratings for me this year.
Because there are so many stellar stories being published, I think I continue to grow more selective on what I give high ratings to.
I’m trying to stay current, yo.
Books published in 2021 and other newer releases dominated my pile.
Compared to last year, my average ratings for Non-Austenesque, Modern Adaptations, and Anthologies went up.
Where as the average ratings for Variations, Sequels, and Nonfiction/Reference went down.
My overall average rating changed from 4.41 in 2020 to 4.37 (so slight a change!)
~~~
What about you?
How would you describe your year?
What reading trends or changes did you have?
Thank you to all the authors, readers, and friends that have visited Austenesque Reviews this past year!
Wishing you all health, happiness, and wonderful reads for 2022!!!
I am certain I read the most books I’ve ever read in a year. I discovered the Kindle tracking system near the end of March and signed up, so I have a list available without have to keep my own and misplace the llist.. As of yesterday, I have 503 titles on the list, virtually all of the variations. And that doesn’t include tthose I read on fanfiction sites.
With my increasing vision issues, I’m turning to audio books more and more, so there will be fewer with the consumption being so much slower than I can read. But at least I’ll be able to keep up with the doings of ODC.
Hugs to all you wonderful authors. Sharing your creative skills is much appreciated,
Betty Campbell Madden
Wow Meredith that’s certainly impressive! I myself have probably read more books this year but many were favourite rereads as with my health issues I needed the comfort and couldn’t cope with new angst. I’m really hoping that next year is much better for me health wise and that I can maybe catch up with my TBR!
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your reviews and information.
Meredith, your commitment and ongoing dedication are AMAZING. This is the first year I didn’t complete my Goodreads challenge (unless I can manage to finish 16 books by tomorrow night–haha), so hats off to you.
I am somewhat surprised that your stats were so close to last year. My writing and reading dropped considerably due to having covid along with my other health issues, but I made it through with the help of God, family and friends. So thankful for your blog where I can keep up with what is being written … even if I can’t keep up by reading all of them. Looking forward to what you have planned for the new year!
I am always amazed at the volume of work you do, not only just reading so many books (on top of your career) but also gathering and presenting the statistics during the year and now at the end. Thank you for all your labors. Happy New Year.
My reading is slightly down but I attribute that to reading few unpublished works, many of which I see posted are not long. I read mostly what I can borrow under my KU subscription. I do watch for free books and some authors honor me with ARCs of their stories. I have listed 265 books completed thus far and will probably get in two more before the end of the year.
I love your end-of-year stats posts, Meredith! They are so interesting. I know they involve an incredible amount of work to compile and analyze the data, and it is much appreciated.
Love this recap–thank you for sharing, and thank you for all your time and effort!
I loved this post, as always, Meredith! As you know I love stats, and I’m working already on my own as I’ll publish my end of year post tomorrow, so I am always super excited to see your stats and graphics 🙂
I loved the fact that you shared information about your rating averages, that’s something I should probably start doing too.
And I’m super impressed with the amount of reviews you were able to publish! I was only able to publish 50, and that was incredibly hard, your 67 are an incredible achievement 🙂
Congratulations on such a wonderful blogging year, and I’m looking forward to see your posts next year!
Happy New Year!
Absolutely fabulous, Meredith. I am amazed you have managed to devote so much of your time to the benefit of the Austenesque society. Thank you!
My year has been busy but unfortunately not with reading and writing. I have only managed half of what I did in 2020. Hopefully, 2022 will be a little less busy for both of us.
Happy New Year!
Here’s to 2022! Happy New Year!
wonderful recap of 2021!
Amazing stats, Meredith! Wishing you (and everyone) a Happy New Year and many wonderful books for 2022!
I loved this post, so interesting to see how your reading and blogging has gone this year. I am in awe of how much you manage to blog and the consistently high quality results, because I know just how much time that takes on top of working.
I have struggled to read and review this year. I had hoped we were coming out of restrictions and along comes yet another variant. Let’s hope 2022 brings good things. Wishing you another happy year of reading and blogging!
Congrats on your succesful “numbers”!
It’s difficult to keep up when you are so busy with your work so I understand you very well. I have read this year more than ever but, in the other hand, my blog has had less posts.
The most important thing is enjoy the process, Meredith. Thank you so much for the effort you put in your blog and the joy you bring to us 🙂
Happy New Year 2022 to you and all the readers. My wish for all of you is: Keep Calm and read Jane Austen 😉
Hi Meredith,
Thanks so much for your year end review. I love to see your lists and pie charts. For me I have read more books this year than I have in a long while. The biggest reason for this is due to audiobooks. They are easier for me to “read” (listen) while driving, cleaning house, gardening or knitting (which I do a lot). I never thought I would take to audiobooks and while I do still read on my kindle or physical books, my preference is now audiobooks. I’m so thankful that many JAFF authors are also providing their novels in audiobook form.
I look forward to more JAFF stories in 2022 and thank you for your blog and reviews. I always look forward to your latest post and trust your reviews. Best wishes for you and Mr. Bingley in 2022!!!
Hello, Meredith,
I don’t see how you keep up with everything. You must be a master of organization. I had COVID, surgery, and health issues in my family, and it slowed me down considerably. I am starting to reorganize and move forward.
May 2022 be a better year for all of us!
Love the data – again, thank you for all that you do for all of us – Happy New Year!
Your blog work is amazing considering how your business work has increased. I thought you had an impressive amount of posts and reading/reviews. I think Mansfield Park was almost a tie with P&P for how many Austenesque books I read. This was my biggest year of Austenesque reading.
Happy New Year’s, Meredith!