My Favorite Books of 2020

I love reading other people’s book recommendations and am always looking for books to read, so I thought I would share a few of my favorites from last year! You will notice that there are a wide variety of books, ranging from historical fiction to thrillers, and from more literary style reads to fast and fun reads. My favorite types of books to read are page turning thrillers, but I noticed looking back on this year’s books, many of the most memorable were historical fiction. Needless to say, regardless of what you like to read, I hope you will find something new to add to your TBR list!

Very favorite books:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes:

This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky, which is a time in history I previously knew nothing about. The story follows the five librarians as they deliver books into the rural mountains and live their lives in small-town Kentucky.

Although the premise of the book didn’t initially sound super interesting to me, I had heard nothing but great reviews of this book and after reading it, I have to say– I totally understand the hype! Jojo Moyes is such a fantastic story teller that I was completely interested and invested in the story. I both laughed and cried while reading this book and ended with a deep respect for the characters. This was such a memorable book and one that I will recommend over and over.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain:

This beautifully written story follows two characters: Morgan, who is in jail for a crime that she didn’t commit- released under the promise to restore an old post office mural and Anna, an artist who is wins an art contest to paint a mural in small town Edenton, NC in 1940. This story is full of small town secrets, violence and prejudice as it tells the captivating story of both characters.

This was another book that I wasn’t sure I would like based on the premise, but I have to say that I absolutely loved this book and still think about it months later! There was a little bit of everything: historical fiction, romance, and suspense- I highly recommend!

Verity by Colleen Hoover:

This is a book that you will never forget- a mix between romance and thriller that I could NOT put it down. It is about Lowen, a “no name” author who takes the place of a famous author, Verity, who is unable to finish her well known series. Lowen ends up moving into Verity’s home to work on the book and discovers Verity’s chilling, unfinished autobiography, which makes Lowen see her in a completely different light.

This book is full of twists- and the one at the end completely got me! I tend to read a ton of thrillers and most of them are not very memorable- but this is one that I defintley won’t forget. I highly recommend and if you do read it- please message me so we can discuss!

* I also read Regretting You, It Ends with Us, and November 9 by her and would recommend them all! She is a fantastic author.

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum:

A Woman is No Man was a captivating, but heartbreaking book to read. It follows three generations of Palestinian-American women and focuses heavily on the restrictions that they face due to their culture’s perception of females. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters in the book, but I felt for them deeply and read this book quickly because I wanted to know how their future played out. Be prepared that this is not a light read, but I think it is an important one because it covers a culture that is rarely covered in fiction books. It might not be an easy read, but it is one that I recommend that you do.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger:

This Tender Land is a historical fiction story of four orphans on their journey to escape from the Lincoln school-a school for Native Americans, most of which who were forcibly removed from their families. The four children travel through the midwest by canoe during the Great Depression, seeking a new place to call home. I LOVED this book! I loved following the children’s personal growth throughout the story; the character development was amazing and I defintley found myself rooting for the characters. Overall, it was a beautifully told and memorable read that I defintley recommend! 

The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman:

The Home for Unwanted Girls is another historical fiction book that I really enjoyed. It tells the story of Maggie, an unwed mother, and her daughter Elodie, who was sent to an orphanage after birth, a common practice for babies born out of wedlock during that time. In the 1950’s, the orphanages in the area were converted to psychiatric hospitals in order to receive more funding. This drastically changed the quality of care that these orphans endured for the worse as they were treated as though the were mentally ill. The book follows Elodie’s experience in the “hospital” as well as Maggie’s life growing up and searching for her daughter.

This was a gripping read. Learning about these “orphanages” was horrifying and as a mother, I can’t imagine knowing your child was in one and not being able to do anything to help. While heartbreaking at times, I overall really enjoyed this memorable read!

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings:

American Dirt tells the story of a mother and son fleeing from Mexico and their terrifying journey as migrants to the United States. This book has a lot of controversy surrounding it-which I heard prior to reading the book and I think that did slightly affect my opinion on it. With that being said, I still really enjoyed it. Were some aspects exaggerated? I’m sure. But when I read a work of fiction, I’m not expecting it to be 100% accurate- I just want a memorable story that makes me want to keep turning the pages- and this book did exactly that! It made me want to learn more about immigrants experiences entering our country and I will defintley be seeking books from Own Voices authors in the future.

I am rated this book 4/5 stars because- it made me think and will have a lasting impact on me (in terms of me wanting to learn more). I took away a star because of the huge generalizations and stereotypes that it makes regarding life in Mexico, the United States as a “saving place”, etc.

Honorable Mentions:

The following books don’t necessarily fall into an “all time favorite” category, but were enjoyable and quick reads that I still recommend!

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella:

I decided to read some festive, lighthearted books in December and this was such a fun, unexpected favorite for me! I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book and while so much of it was silly, there are lots of small relatable bits as well. Defintley worth a read this winter!

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager:

Woah. What a page turner!! I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. The story follows Jules, who is apartment sitting in one of Manhattan’s fanciest and mysterious buildings. A seemingly good experience quickly turns scary, with strict rules and secretive disappearances as Jules tries to expose the hotel and escape a similar fate. While certainly not the most realistic book, I thought it was interesting, suspenseful and well written. I especially enjoyed the unexpected ending!

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine:

The Last Mrs. Parrish is a thriller with a unique storyline about Amber, a “nobody”, who strategically works her way into Daphne Parrish’s life and motivated by jealousy, ultimately makes a plan to replace the wealthy socialite and philanthropist.

I found the book to be a little on the slow side in the beginning, but after the big twist in the middle I finished it one night! A great read if you love a good psychological thriller!

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel:

The premise of this one was really unique: for the first 18 years of her life, Rose Gold believed that she was seriously ill. She finds out that her mother, Patty, was actually just a great liar and had been poisoning her her whole childhood to make her appear sick. The story focuses on the rocky mother daughter relationship after Patty is released from prison.

This book is an unusual read both due to the premise as well as that both characters were very unlikable. Regardless, it was a page turner that I finished in a few days. I also really enjoyed the twist at the end. Despite that some aspects seem a little far fetched, I still recommend reading this one if you enjoy thrillers!

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