📚 My Favourite Book of the Year: My 2021 Book Bracket! 🌿 (the struggle is real y’all 😭)

Welcome to day ten of Plantmas 2021! 🌿
Today I'm using my book bracket spread from my 2021 reading journal to determine my favourite book of the year! Tell me about your favourite read of the year in the comments 🥰
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What does your channel name mean? I picked "Plant Based Bride" for my blog when I started it back in 2015 as I was starting the process of planning my vegan wedding and wanted to document it. I have been vegan for 8+ years and married since 2016!
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[@_sarathedreamer]

All of your “oh no”s and “errrrrr” of dread were so relatable 😂 choosing favourite books every year is always a pain and also one of my favourite thing to do every year haha ❤️

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha I cut out so many (along with long pauses for panicked processing) so this video wouldn’t be an hour and a half long lol 😂

[@saraangel6696]

I'm gonna use your 12 favorite books as a sort of reading list for me next year lol i haven't read in forever, i need to get into the habit again #plantmas2021

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha I love that! I hope you enjoy them 🥰

[@ludmila_98]

Let’s just say it, asking a book lover to choose a favorite book is like choosing a favorite child, it’s so freaking hard! It’s Mission Impossible: Book Protocol 😂 Great choices

[@Zahrah.M]

Just judging from your wrap up videos, I had a feeling The Stone Sky would take the cake haha, books that make you cry and FEEL are the best . I finally started the first book in September but was struggling, I think it wasn’t the best time this year for reading in general, so I’m going to give it another go 😁

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha you know me too well! It’s definitely a tougher read that you want to be in the right place for but so worth it in my opinion ❤️

[@valchester2571]

do try again it took me two tries to get into it as well but the trilogy was so worth it!

[@artistically_ines8116]

The TJ Klune books utterly destroyed me when I read them, both are so beautiful and have become two of my all time favorite books Ive ever read with the House in the Cerulean Sea just being a bit more of a favorite. 😊

[@PlantBasedBride]

They’re both so so good ❤️❤️

[@Lilli626]

I can imagine how hard this was but it was soo fun to watch! This is such a fun spread to incorporate, I think I'll have to do a version in my reading journal when I'm done with my reads.

[@brookedotjpg2279]

I just recently got back into recreational reading, targeting one book a month. I’ve been having trouble picking in the sea of the library, so I’m going to use your top twelve to have something to seek out!

[@april-janerowan]

This was a really great idea for a video 😃 I loved watching you choose and also getting to see your journal spreads too

[@PaNsY2215]

I haven't been able to watch all the Plantmas videos as it's so busy with 4 family birthdays on top of the holidays. Looking forward to all the extra content I'll have here, after things slow down again💖 Hope you have a Merry Christmas Elizabeth!

[@H1widA1]

I remember reading House of leaves for my literature undergraduate a couple of years ago and it blew me away. It's a book I'll never forget. It gave me so many mixed feelings; I was scared, excited, inspired, shocked, confused and just amazed. It was so creative yet unhinged? Blew me away.

[@sharong7041]

The Stone Sky was my favorite book of the year as well, and when trying to decide in a head-to-head, I also had trouble distinguishing it from the series as a whole! I picked the series up after hearing you reccomend it back in the summer.

[@PlantBasedBride]

I’m so glad you loved it! It seems the series is a bit hit and miss for people (or at least the first book, since most people who didn’t enjoy book one didn’t continue) but I adored it ❤️❤️

[@jschorr0307]

I felt the struggle in my soul. Especially after watching all the wrap ups each month. Definitely have some good tbrs from this video 📚

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha the struggle was real! I hope you love these books if you pick them up ❤️

[@kitbajdek3017]

Great inspiration! Just retired. Reading and journals are me! What a wonderful way to launch 2022. So excited. Thank you for sharing and can’t wait to follow your channel!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Welcome! ❤

[@ettibee]

I loved watching this process! I was filling up my book bracket throughout the year but next year I'll definitely do it this way.

[@banaa9463]

It was fun to watch your emotional turmoil. Haha. Great idea for picking a favorite. I'm gonna copy it

[@itsa_peanut]

The earnest “oh no” made me laugh every time! I love TJ Klune as well, I’m glad two of his books made their way to your top!

[@audge-ii8ux]

loveee seeing you "suffer" haha! this is so relatable, i can never choose ONE favorite of literally anything. definitely putting all the books here i haven't read in my TBR! 🥰

[@emilywait3542]

I was rooting for Watch Over Me. One of my 5 star reads this year. You've inspired me to do this for 2022.

[@MagdaU_]

I honestly added all the books you mentioned here to my "to read" pile. They sound amazing and I haven't heard about some of them!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you love them all as much as I did!

[@Katie77812]

I'm sitting here chanting "House of Leaves, House of Leaves" I LOVED that book so much.

[@goddess_eve21]

I actually enjoyed this! It game me an inside look of your reading bujo, and how I could start one should I go this route for 2022. I appreciated the indecisiveness, because this is how my Libra brain works 🤣😂 Thank you for also providing me with a list of books for the new year. 🖤

[@Anigmandra]

That is an awesome spread. I really had to do that next year in my bullet journal. I only have pages for all of my reading books, where I places down all the covers at the end of the year.

[@emmayartist8001]

I have really gotten out of the habit of reading in the past few years. I used to consume books obsessively. You have inspired me to challenge myself in 2022 to read books again! Thank you!!

[@fralou_sind_kreativ]

I feel with you! All of the books sound amazing and I think I'm going to read all of them (even though I will never be as fast as you :P). The Broken-Earth-Trilogy is just breathtaking! I've never read such amazing story telling and it inspired me so much for my own writing. And by the way, I was sobbing at the end as well. Super emotional! Looking forward to your next video. Sending love and creative vibes

[@angelazeiler6838]

It was quite funny to see you struggle through your favourite books 😂 I know why I avoid such questions at all costs. I couldn't chose just one favourite book. 🤯 I really looking forward to "Under the whispering door". 💚

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha it was rough! I cut out some very long pauses with a lot of indecisive sounds to save on time lol

[@angelazeiler6838]

@@PlantBasedBride 😂 in the end you came up with your favourite book 2021. So it's fine I guess ... until the end of 2022 🤭

[@Smidgenism]

This was a fun video for me because a lot of your top books/authors are already in my 2022 pile! I feel the hype!!

[@PureWinters]

This video was so much fun to watch! 💕

[@heffalump1182]

I love this idea. I will be trying it out for 2022 for myself next year, exept I will be pairing the months up with Jan/Jul, Feb/Aug, Mar/Sep, Apr/Oct, May/Nov, and Jun/Dec.

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo nice!

[@vataidalma6855]

Haha I'm equally as giddy about this whole process as you 💟 Ahh I can relate to your indecisiveness so much lol

[@PlantBasedBride]

Lol yeah it’s rough being so indecisive 😂

[@daiz_7528]

"oohhh nooo...." 😂 you're so funny!

[@safiyyabhyat7334]

Yes, I couldn't wait for it, especially because you mentioned it in your reading journal setup. I love the aestetic of your setups and the scrapbooking feel. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. ❤#plantmas #plantmas2021

[@paigehepner7304]

I started listening to The Fifth Season while I'm at work. I can't stop. It's so incredibly good. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@maleesaweerahennedige3782]

This video was the most entertaining and yet stressful video i ever watched! choosing the favourite book is like picking your favourite child😭😭😭 I had a feel that the best book of 2021 would be The Stone Sky, and thanks to you, I finally read it and it broke me apart😭😭😭 Thank you for reccomending! There were so many books here that I loved and also eager to read and seeing you come to decisions on them was stunning..❤❤❤

[@robyn8221]

This was fun to watch. You didn’t pick the books I thought you would. My stepdaughter loves high fantasy and we buddy read books. We’ll have to try that trilogy! 🌌

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oh I’m so curious about which books you thought I’d pick! I’d definitely recommend checking out content earnings for the trilogy first, especially if your stepdaughter is young!

[@aries_chaos]

I’m no good at reading, never seems like I have the time but I do love audiobooks - because I always need to have background “noise” to half focus on when doing anything so this year I’ve joined a book club, I’m aiming to listen to 22 audiobooks throughout the year and I’m frantically writing down suggestions from your faves! I just hope there are audiobook versions available!

[@bebecald88]

to keep it with choosing between 2 at the end and also leaving space for some that i think should just be part of it even if theres another of the month as well - i did a 16 bracket so the 12 months plus 4 wild card options

[@ambargonzalez8862]

I was looking for this video so much! Not because of your pain, but it was very interesting to see! I ended up with so many books for my tbr! 😂

[@PlantBasedBride]

haha I'm so glad!

[@melanie98d]

Yay, I've been looking forward to this video. As a fellow bad with decisions human, I felt your struggle. 📚 😍

[@virgo_vampire]

i just started reading house of leaves, i'm like an hour away from finishing the piranesi audiobook, and i have we have always lived in the castle waiting in the wings for when i'm done with house of leaves, absolutely referring to this when i need new books to read! :)

[@regitzexenia]

All of this video was so relatable, I never know how to pick what my favourite books are.

[@brookehendersonpersonal4741]

I really felt your pain in this, but very much appreciated this! I have some additions to my tbr too❤️

[@PlantBasedBride]

haha so glad you enjoyed it!

[@saharabergstrom125]

I have the Broken Earth trilogy on my TBR list, hopefully I'll get to it soon!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you love it as much as I did!!

[@suestrano1452]

Thank you for the recommendation of the Blue Castle ❤️

[@user-xy4di3pd2m]

I love your reactions (I haven't read a lot this year so I can't really pick a favourite) i've been reading about the icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið which translates roughly to the christmas book flood is the tradition of giving books to people on christmas eve and them settling down to read it

[@Sal-iw8zg]

A very interesting watch - this has been really useful for starting a 'to read' list for myself for next year (aiming for 22 books in 2022).

[@PlantBasedBride]

Glad it was helpful! ❤

[@heyya3851]

Hi, Elizabeth! I'm just starting with bullet journaling, and I'm continually amazed at how versatile a bujo is. Thank you for sharing this one! I love the scrapbook-type spreads. I also love the idea of including stickers and photos related to the book. I've just discovered your channel this month and I'm loving your videos. Please continue inspiring us. Thanks again! ☺️ Also, #Plantmas2021

[@DemetriPanici]

I finally got around to reading atomic habits by james clear and I've been loving it!

[@frankie9092]

This was honestly so fun to watch 😆

[@ReadingNymph]

This was so great! So many good books on this list! I love both Rebecca and House in the Cerulean Sea, I can't wait to read Stone Sky. That finisher surprised me, I thought for sure Under Whispering Door had won

[@StetStudio]

This would be so hard for me too! I am thrilled that Stone Sky 'won' your book showdown as I love N.K. Jemisin's works. I would definitely recommend reading the rest of her works if you haven't yet.I would also recommend the Lillith's Brood trilogy by Octavia Butler. It is definitely one of my favorites that I return to again and again,

[@annmariedelfino9827]

I have never watched anything so relatable in my life 😂

[@XxunforgottenxXxlove]

Omg. I can't wait to get home from work to watch this!!

[@lynne5828]

Thanks. I added a few more books to my reading wish list.

[@KirstenTebbens]

You did it!!! I totally get it though, somethings just are impossible to choose between, it's like picking a favorite pet. And yes thank you so much for all these recommendations definitely saving this video for suggestions. I actually bought The Memory Police because of your book reviews and added The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Midnight Library to the my shopping cart but I'm not allowed to get them until I finish 3 other books instead. I do really want to read more next year and have so many good books just waiting for me but for some reason I never allow myself the time I guess? Any tips for that? Thank you for these videos!

[@Animalbandittt]

This video was SO FUN! I am not a reader but your reviews have me inspired to read / listen to all your top 12 (technically going to be 14 because I’m going to start with the Jemisin trilogy!) so thank you for inspiring me!

[@Ednoria]

I ordered the Broken Earth trilogy as I was watching. You are very persuasive!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oh I hope you love it!!

[@hey_its_abs]

Haha the way she threw out The Little Paris Bookshop immediately 💀 me too girl

[@PlantBasedBride]

Lol I tried but it was just not for me one bit 😂

[@mbrady199]

This journal is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I wish I could justify making one. 💚

[@Ello927]

I was so entertained by this video lmao, so many new books added to my tbr thoooo

[@PlantBasedBride]

haha I'm so glad!

[@luiiiandmovieee]

Yay I was waiting for this video!

[@books-on-a-wire]

This is why I choose my favorite at the end of each month. Narrowing down 250 books to 1 at the end of the year would be impossible lol, I choose favorites for each genre. I didn't realize you were such a huge fantasy reader. My favorite fantasy was Under the Whispering Door.

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha that would probably make things easier! I love fantasy! I think it was my top read genre this year actually ❤️

[@rosannebowman2592]

i LOVE Blue Castle and nobody has ever heard of it! It is one of my all-time favorite books!

[@margaritabarrion7223]

Honestly I love your voice so much.... i have not read one single book that you read coz i dont read as much as i want to but your voice - just listening to it is so calming and relatable... Have yoy considered making a podcast? 😁 Would definitely follow...❤️

[@ryttu3k]

Such a fun process! I think my favourite of the year was The Galaxy, And The Ground Within (although I can understand why you picked House of Leaves instead for that month, it sounds like an EXPERIENCE), and I also adored To Be Taught, If Fortunate AND A Psalm For The Wild-Built. But, you know I love me some Chambers. So good

[@katinawilliams6052]

The Midnight Library was one of my favorites for the year. Might be my top contender

[@flipfloppoet4377]

Our reading tastes couldn't be more different. I DNF'ed The Broken Earth trilogy at about 80% through book 2 and it made my "Biggest Disappointments" list. So far, we've agreed on only one book opinion-wise: The House in the Cerulean Sea. But I still enjoy all your videos. It's very interesting to hear other opinions and extrapolate what your general tastes in reading are, based on your five-star reads. It's a lot of fun for me. :)

[@rosarodriguez8984]

Well I ended up as stressed out as you! 😂😂😂😂 Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 All of these books were already in my TBR list bc of your past videos. I have only read from those The Memory Police and it was a 5 stars book for me so I am looking forward to read the rest! Thank you for a great video! 😚🙏🏻

[@alinebristol102]

My absolute favorite read this year was by Qian Julie Wong called Beautiful Country. As I’ve been studying Mandarin for nearly a year now, it’s even more fascinating to put some AAPI experience in that scope.

[@vataidalma6855]

So happy you loved Firekeeper's Daughter! That's probably my favorite book of the year 💟

[@PlantBasedBride]

It was so good! Not at all what I’d expected from the synopsis/reviews but it was even better than I’d hoped ❤️

[@hellonadilahere9302]

You keep making me want to get back into reading and I just can't right now 😭 when I can I'm making a reading journal and struggling to pick a favorite like this 😆

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha I’m sorry! Maybe try audiobooks? My December reads were 100% in audiobook form because it was the only way I could keep reading while working super long days seven days a week to make Plantmas happen 😅

[@hellonadilahere9302]

@@PlantBasedBride I've never tried audiobooks... maybe it's time lol

[@michlaforme]

i truly cannot relate and don't plan to read any of these, but i love your vids so I'm watching and liking anyway

[@tiffanysmith7419]

Love this. What printer and paper are you using to print out the images you are adding to your pages? It doesn't look like thick photo paper.

[@kiikiinpiink]

Why is this my 3rd time watching this one 🧡🧡🧡 I adore it

[@kiikiinpiink]

I knew from the second round of challenges the stone sky was going to win lol. I'm gonna read these backwards in order.. Well Ima try.

[@alyssa_jensen]

This was so good! 😍

[@ytaehyung6815]

Choosing the favorite book is so hard🥲💜

[@RecettesPeuCaloriques]

*You should come up with a short list of criteria, as to what makes « a good book for u » or/and what makes a good book in general, in order to help your pick😉😉*

[@Hamilwhovian]

I think I'm going to do this to pick my favs of the year because I'm also a mess to pick favorites 🤣 The house in the cerulean sea will provably be on my top 3 too!

[@PlantBasedBride]

haha it's so tough!

[@jenniferlewin3673]

So excited to see the House Of Leaves spread!!!

[@PlantBasedBride]

That was such a fun spread to make!!

[@saharabergstrom125]

My favorite reads were The Midnight Library, Six of Crows, The Education of Little Tree, and BearTown.

[@federicacasablanca5398]

I loved this video! Could you film a Sci-Fi book recommendations video one day?

[@honeyblueberrie6880]

oh no! the stamping job at the end, haha. i love how organic it is tho! #plantmas2021

[@Katiedora122]

I just made a little bracket for myself, and it was a nightmare 😂 I read over 100 books, and some months were STACKED with great books (with quite a bit of overlap with your list, so I understood the suffering). But what wound up happening was my top 3 books were first books in 3 different fantasy series, and ultimately I picked A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. But if I had reread The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, that would have taken the cake.

[@PlantBasedBride]

haha relatable

[@leedeparis]

I’m curious if you’ve read Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Based on some of your selections I think you might like it. The audible version is fantastic.

[@claudecarter4876]

I find your method of picking your favorite book of the year interesting, though I would personally do it following my 'feeling'. Obviously this would be easier in my case because I read much less. Also, I would probably pick my top 10 or 12 of the year and make a list for my 'celebrations' journal of all the things achieved during the year. But above all, I absolutely admire that you not only read 125 books a year, but make a (beautiful!) spread for each of them. That is dedication to reading! #plantmas2021

[@HealedandThriving]

Can I ask what kind of printer you have to print it all those pictures? This was such a fun video

[@cme_epicness]

What app do you use to rate your books on your phone? I’ve read 40 books this year and I want to track what I rate them all digitally as well as in my bullet journal! Thank you your videos always make me smile (and have too many books on my tbr list) 💜

[@ghiblies]

I was rooting hard for one of the TJ Klune books but having just rewatched all your reading wrap ups I thought The Stone Sky would win. Congrats on finding your favourite! I felt the struggle in my soul 😂

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha you know me well 😂❤️

[@11Juliet]

I’m so sorry if this has already been answered elsewhere, but will you be doing a 2021 reading journal flip through? 😍

[@cozyjournaler]

Would love a video about how you fit reading into your daily life ✨

[@Rachelsjourney]

There is no way that I could torture myself the way you did! Well done! #plantmas2021

[@rileyroseinabox6754]

I know you've already made the bracket for 2022, but I wonder if you would find it better/easier/otherwise enjoyable to not find the ultimate favorite of the year but instead the favorite in each genre? Like, comparing books that are good for wildly different reasons feels impossible to me! (Also, you could conceivably compare series as opposed to individual books in a series when NK Jemison ultimately sweeps the floor again :P )

[@thatrachelgirl1803]

As you were setting up next year’s reading journal I was wondering what your book bracket would be for this year!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I was too! It made me super excited to film this haha

[@thatrachelgirl1803]

@@PlantBasedBride I got so excited as you were making your picks-trying to guess what you’d pick and celebrating when I got it right 🤣

[@alexfortin]

Hi, i was wondering what printer you use and if you like it? Im looking into buying one and find that the quality of your images is really nice😊 great video! Im going to do this too in 2022

[@olivia_vermast]

The way the outcome didn’t surprise me at all hahah

[@sunflowerspirited4974]

My guess was House of Leaves and I was glad to see it made it to your top three XD

[@PlantBasedBride]

It’s so good!

[@JessicaComptonHR]

Just finished The Fifth Season… needless to say I’m going to my library tomorrow to find The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky.

[@katerinapolaskova6163]

#plantmas2021. I started with the Reading Journal last year, but the number of books I read makes it hard to record everything I want. But my goal for 2022 is to focus more on the Reading Journal. Your videos about Reading Journal are my favorite and I like it the most of all the YTs I watch.

[@akanshajain2558]

I love your spread. Just a thought though. What if you like the March and April ones more than both of Jan and Feb combined. Wouldn’t that make you miss out on your actual favourite. Thinking out loud, but an amazing spread.

[@alenafazya2136]

Can you tell me what app were you using? 😍 I was wondering maybe I could use that for 2022 🤔🤭