My Top Reads of 2020
Recommended reads for bookworms
Hello, Readers!
The year is not over, and I’m sure I’ll add a pile of books to this number. My TBR pile is practically towering over me, threatening to crush me beneath it if I don’t get reading in a hurry.
My goal for this year was to read 25 books—a conservative number because I fully anticipated doing an entire rewrite of a manuscript as well as finishing a new one. With the possibility of fitting in one more. But 2020 was not at all what I expected, and I had to adjust for it. My rewrite and my new manuscript are shelved until I can find the time and energy to do something about them.
In the meantime, I’ve been catching up on my reading, and it’s been a welcome escape from this terrible, awful, no good, very bad year. I’ve read so many great books this year. I wanted reads that were primarily a fun escape—ones filled with adventure, romance, and writing so good I laughed out loud. I found a lot of those—and a few that made me cry.
I won’t go through them all, but I will give you the highlights from my Goodreads Challenge list.
Of these, I absolutely loved Untamed. For fans of non-fiction and self-help, you’ve got to read this absolute gem by Glennon Doyle. I listened on audio and then bought a hardcover with plenty of highlighters so I could basically highlight the whole damn thing. Don’t be surprised if I start going door to door to share the good news of Glennon Doyle. It’s that good!
For paranormal romance, you’ll want to add Tarrant Smith’s The Dreams of Demons to your list. A woman falls in love with a demon—and if that sounds like your past dating history, I’m right there with you, buddy. But I don’t mean the narcissistic jackasses that usually populate the dating world. I mean an actual demon. This is a steamy read, so those with glasses, take note!
The Unhoneymooners by writing duo Christina Lauren may be one of my favorite reads for the whole year! I was struggling, and this book made me laugh out loud. I don’t know what it is about the enemies-to-lovers trope that is so satisfying, but these two are just unleashed. The dialogue is sharp and hilarious, and the love story is hot. I’m not going to lie—I might be re-reading that this year.
But for you serious readers out there who want a weightier read, you’ll find it in Alex George’s The Paris Hours and Once Upon a River. They both offer a more fabled storytelling style you may enjoy. I know I did!
Okay—this is legitimately a tough one to choose from. Love and Other Words and Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating are in my top three Christina Lauren reads along with The Unhoneymooners, although the former made me cry like a baby.
Hygge Holiday and How to Find Your First Husband were also immensely satisfying reads filled with humor, warmth, and romance.
The Princess Saves Herself in This One is spectacular for poetry fans, and I truly enjoyed Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
AAAHH! I almost forgot Wild at Heart—opposites attract trope set in Alaska? Yes, please!
I loved all of these, but there are four that stand out. Jenny Milchman’s The Second Mother is a chilling read for fans of suspense.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang was nothing like what I expected. Might want to wear some oven mitts for this one because it is HOT in the best way.
Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library will make you think—and give you hope if you need it.
And Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game is truly a delight—saucy, fun, and sexy enemies-to-lovers romance.
I have two favorites here: Get a Life, Chloe Brown and In a Holidaze. Both were gorgeous reads with the sweetest love stories (because, yes, I love that).
So, that’s it for now. I’ve got a pile waiting for me to catch up, and I won’t get to them all, but I’m sure I’ll add a few more before the year is over. I’m staring at How to Find Love in a Bookshop right now. That might be my next read if I can get caught up on writing.
Romance novels and Hallmark movies are how I’m surviving my year (judge if you want—I’ll be living my best life over here in my pajamas). I’d love to know what you’re reading, and I hope these give you some ideas for good reads. The library has kept me in stock, and Goodreads keeps me on track.
Just a quick word about reading. If you really love a book, try to take two minutes to leave a review. It could mean the world to an author.
And if you hate it? Try to remember that authors are people, too. People with lots of feelings. People who read reviews and WILL CRY when they read bad ones. So, give honest feedback kindly—and remember that just because you hated it doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it. Also, no spoilers in reviews please; we especially hate that (although in Goodreads, you can check the spoilers box, and that’s acceptable. We will not bawl our eyes out or break things if you check the “spoilers” box first).
Even adding their book to your TBR list can let someone else who follows you know about the book. It’s an easy thing you can do to support writers—and doesn’t cost a thing.
Thanks so much, everyone!
Happy reading!
Crystal