Best Books of 2020
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I started this year with a commitment to be more mindful in my reading. Who would have thought such a reasonable resolution would turn into my most prolific year of reading. While nothing in 2020 went quite the way any of us expected, it was a year filled with small moments of joy and surprising wins; this blog is one of mine. So what follows is a list of the best books I read in 2020 and some honorable mentions (July was especially popular). View our Bookshop shop or click get a copy below to purchase any of these books for yourself!
January
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
By Ruth Emmie Lang
Weylen Gray, raised by wolves and in possession of unusual abilities, tries to live a solitary life and yet manages to inexplicably change the lives of everyone he meets. This novel was full of hope and possibility and was exactly the right read to start off 2020.
February
Sweet Little Lies
By Caz Frear
When a woman is murdered in London, British DC Cat Kinsella must solve the crime while trying to figure out if her father might be involved. Sweet Little Lies was a perfect combo of a police procedural and a family secrets novel that kept me guessing till the last page.
March
Becoming
By Michelle Obama
A powerful memoir centered on the former First Lady and her life before and in the White House. This was exactly the book I needed in March, a tale of hope and inspiration by one of the people whose presence in public life I actively mourned. I highly recommend the audiobook, read by the author, who’s calming voice provided nearly as much comfort as her words.
April
The Gown
By Jennifer Robson
The Gown tells a fictional story of the women who embroidered Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown in the aftermath of WWII, and a modern woman looking for answers about her beloved Grandmother. While I was certainly more invested in the “past” aspect of the story than the “present”, I couldn’t put this book down. I simply loved it.
May
Eligible
By Curtis Sittenfeld
This was by far the best modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice I’ve ever read. The transitioning of Austen Era sensibilities into modern American society was masterfully done. Darcy and Bingley’s eligibility stems from the fact that they are prominent surgeons and the Bennet clan are as dysfunctional as ever, which at once makes this story familiar and refreshing.
June
Crooked Kingdom
By Leigh Bardugo
The second and final book in the Six of Crows duology, follows Kaz and his crew as they race against the clock to pull off their greatest con yet. I won’t ruin the ending except to say that it was full of passion, heart, and adrenalin as the first book. It was the perfect ending to a whirlwind series and while I haven’t read Bardugo’s other series in the Grisha verse, this is a world with losing yourself in.
July
The Underground Railroad
By Colson Whitehead
The Underground Railroad follows Cora, a slave on a southern plantation throughout her journey on the Underground Railroad. A beautiful piece of magical realism this novel was at once full of shocking realities and abundant hope. An important novel, it uncovered the harsh realities of America’s past and brought to the forefront those who risked their lives fighting the same injustices still plaguing our nation today.
August
Lost in a Good Book
By Jasper Fforde
The second book in the prolific Thursday Next series follows literary detective Thursday Next as she jumps in and out of classic works in an effort to save the love of her life. These books are set in a dystopian England of the 1980s where dodo birds are kept as pets and people vacation inside novels. With zany characters and a strange twist on world history, This series blends the worlds of literature and reality in a way that makes this bibliophile practically giddy.
September
Playing in the Dark
By Toni Morrison
An in-depth literary commentary on the role of race in American literature. Adapted from a series of lectures she gave in the ‘90’s, Toni Morrison eloquently points out the role of race in America’s most treasured classics and what that says about the authors and the time in which they lived. Basically, everyone should read this.
October
Transcendent Kingdom
By Yaa Gyasi
A beautiful story about a young scientist grappling with her childhood faith and a family history of mental illness. This was not a book to be read lightly; I took my time reading his one and it made me think with every turn of the page.
November
Magic Lessons
By Alice Hoffman
The origin story of the family in Practical Magic, Magic Lessons centers on Maria Ownes and the choices that lead her to lay down the infamous curse that plagues the Owens women for generations. If you looking for a story about history, magic, and the power of love, this is the book for you.
December
A Man Called Ove
By Frederik Backman
Ove is a curmudgeon who seems bent on being angry and alone until some loud if well-meaning new neighbors move in. Bittersweet is the only way to describe this charming book, with a subtle mixture of sadness and humor. A Man Called Ove managed to restore this cynics’ faith in humanity at a time when I needed it most.
Best Books: Honorable Mentions
Some of my favorites that didn’t make the list.
All of these titles are available on Bookshop.
