My favorite books of 2020
2020 was interesting, to say the least. Though a lot of bad things happened there were also many exciting things. Today, I just want to focus on the good as I talk about some of my favorite books read in 2020. There are just so many books that I fell head over heels for, it was so difficult to just choose ten to put on this list.
10. The Year After You by Nina de Pass
G died. But she survived. This hurts Cara every day. Everything. She is consumed by guilt and grief. Nine months later, Cara is shipped off to a boarding school in Switzerland. Cara is determined to make sure no one knows about the accident. But her new classmates, Ren and Hector, won't let that happen. They won't let her close herself off from the rest of the world. After she built her walls so carefully, Ren and Hector come into her life to break them down. A little part of Cara even wants them too. Hector seems to understand Cara like no one else. But the closer Hector gets, the more the truth starts to slip away. If admitting her mistake means letting go of G, she's not sure she's ready for a second chance. Or if she even deserves one.
9. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Clap When You Land was a beautiful novel told in verse. There were so many beautiful lines in this book. It was so deep and I just love this book.
Camino lives in the Dominican Republic. Yaraha lives in New York City. The two girls have never met but they have one thing in common: their father. When their father dies in a tragic plane crash, Camino and Yaraha's world turns upside down. To add to all the crazy in their life, they find each other. Now they have to grieve the loss of their father while learning what the discovery of each other means.
Camino lives in the Dominican Republic. Yaraha lives in New York City. The two girls have never met but they have one thing in common: their father. When their father dies in a tragic plane crash, Camino and Yaraha's world turns upside down. To add to all the crazy in their life, they find each other. Now they have to grieve the loss of their father while learning what the discovery of each other means.
8. The Girl in the Blue Coat
Hanneke Bakker makes her living by delivering sought after goods from the black market. In her spare time, she mourns the loss of her dead boyfriend, Bas. In a time of war, it's not unusual for a client to ask her to find something. But what Mrs. Jenssen asks her to find is shocking. Hanneke finds goods, not people. Even still, Hanneke is hired to find Mirjam, a missing Jewish girl. Taking this job would risk everything, but not taking it would give her more pain than she already has.
7. My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand
You think you know the story of Jane Eyre, but you don't. Jane lives at Lowood where conditions are horrible. After the untimely death of the headmaster, she leaves to become a governess to Mr. Rochester. Charlotte, Jane's only friend, and inspiring writer is sad to see her go. When the two girls meet Mr. Blackwood, their plain lives become dangerous. Jane gets caught up in larger plots to take over England and soon enough, its fate rests on her shoulder.
6. Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
If you know me, you know that I love musicals! My favorite musical is Dear Evan Hansen so I was overjoyed when I found this book. Although Dear Evan Hasen deals with some very heavy stuff, there were so many moments that made me laugh out loud. This is also one of the few books that have made me cry.
Evan Hansen has never been important before. He's been invisible his whole life. Connor Murphy felt the same way. But then Connor commits suicide with a letter addressed to Evan in his pocket. A letter that Evan wrote to himself. When the Murphys find it, they are convinced that Evan was Connors's one and only friend. He thought he was giving the Murphys what they needed. Evan thought that he could make everything easier for everyone. All he did was dig himself deeper into the lie he created.
Evan Hansen has never been important before. He's been invisible his whole life. Connor Murphy felt the same way. But then Connor commits suicide with a letter addressed to Evan in his pocket. A letter that Evan wrote to himself. When the Murphys find it, they are convinced that Evan was Connors's one and only friend. He thought he was giving the Murphys what they needed. Evan thought that he could make everything easier for everyone. All he did was dig himself deeper into the lie he created.
5. A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause
Emmy has always dreamed of designing fashion. She wants to walk the elegant halls of the fashion house, working to influence Avon-upon-Kynt's upper class. Now she might finally get a chance to escape from the small town of Shy. The Fashion House opens it's doors for girls in the country to compete. Emmy soon finds that the city is nothing like she imagined. No one wants her at the fashion house and someone is even trying to sabotage her. But when she meets the charming Tristian, things start to turn around.
4. A Tale of Witchcraft by Chris Colfer
After she changed the world forever, Brystal thought that everything would be fine. Women were no longer suppressed. Magic was welcomed. What could be better? But then a new school opens. A school for witchcraft. And Brystal's friend Lucy walks right into the witches' trap when she discovers the intentions for the school. At the same time, a century-old brotherhood is rising. They are determined to rid the world of magic, starting with Brystal.
3. Love & Gelato series by Jenna Evans Welch
Lina is spending the summer in Italy. But she would give anything to be back at home with her best friend Addie. Lina's only there because it's her mother's dying wish that she got to meet her father. But what kind of father isn't around for sixteen years? That's what Lina is trying to figure out. But then she is given a journal that her mother kept when she was in Italy. Lina is counting the days until she can return to the states. Then she meets Ren who helps her unearth her mother's secret. A secret that will change the way she thought of her mother, father, and even herself.
2. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
I could not handle how good this book was. Cemetery Boys was absolutely amazing Yadriel and Julian's relationship was perfect. Cemetery Boys was also a ghost story which I LOVE! I also like that there was a lot of witchcraft in this book too!
Yadriel has something to prove to his family. As a trans gay boy, his family doesn't believe that he can become a brujo. While trying to summon the spirit of his murdered cousin, Miguel, Yadriel accidentally summons the spirit of Julian, the school's resident bad boy. Yadriel makes a deal to help Julian cross over to the other side. But the more time Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants him to leave.
1. The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter
Like it was crazy how much I enjoyed this book. In the midst of a reading slump, The Evil Queen was able to give me a whole new love for reading. I loved this book so much and of course, I've already recommended this book to everyone I know (and all my Instagram followers)!
The Evil Queen is one of my more recent reads so my review hasn't been posted yet but you can bet it's coming very soon.
The Evil Queen is one of my more recent reads so my review hasn't been posted yet but you can bet it's coming very soon.
Everly Morrow grew up in the mortal world. She was always an outsider, hated by everyone but her sister and mother. In the realm of Enchantia, fairytales are prophecies of the future. After one look through a mirror, Everly finds out she destined to the Evil Queen. Everly doesn't want to be evil. But can she resist the temperature, or will she be consumed by power?
Comments