What can I say about 2020 that hasn’t been said already? *Unprecedented, a dumpster fire, etc.* That being said, I read some really good books in 2020. March was my worst reading month, because existential dread seemingly distracts me from picking up books, but April was my best reading month. I attribute that to the libraries being closed and me being forced to read the books I own, and, what a surprise, I actually really enjoyed the books I purchased for myself! Sarcasm aside, this year was a great year in terms of diversity in genre and authors, and I’m proud of myself for hitting 100 books for the second year in a row. It was a tough year, but reading lightened the load.
So here are the best of 2020. It was tough to make this list… there were so many good books to choose from! If you’re wondering how I managed to keep track of all of my reading, it’s in part thanks to Goodreads and in part thanks to my super awesome spreadsheet.
Previous Years’ Best Of lists: 2019, 2018, 2017
The Stats
Number Of Books I Read: 100 Books
Average Books Read Per Month: 8.33 Books
Number of Re-Reads: 4 Books
Number of Books I Quit: 6 Books
Average Year of Publication: 2015
Total Pages Read: 25,918 Pages
Total Audiobook Hours: 363 Hours
Average Number of Pages Per Book: 387 Pages
Average Rating Given: 3.94
Genre Stats
Source of Book
Genre of Book (YA/Adult)
Diversity Goals
I read at least one nonfiction, one book written by a person of color, and one book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character every month this year.
- Total Nonfiction: 16 Books
- Total Written by a Person of Color: 34 Books
- Total Featuring an LGBTQIA+ Character: 19 Books
That’s an increase from last year in every category, with authors of color going up by 14 books! I feel really successful here, and proud of everything I’m learning from these books.
The Numbers by Month
And now, on to the books…
I tried not to let any one book win in more than one category, but… that was difficult. So I included some honorable mentions in there as well!
Best Adult Fiction Read
Adult fiction book I read in 2020 that topped all the others
This was the hardest category BY FAR for me to choose. I read so many good adult fiction books this year, and my short list was still too long. But, in the end, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman takes the top spot because it was a book that could do anything. I laughed out loud A LOT. I highlighted insightful, meaningful passages. I audibly gasped at the twists it took. I cried real tears at the end. Backman’s writing is not for everyone — it’s dry humor in translation, and I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But this book is the one I can’t stop thinking about. So just take all of the recommendations below with a grain of salt, because this book could have fit in every one of those categories.
Honorable Mentions: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd; Recursion by Blake Crouch
Best YA Fiction Read
YA fiction book I read in 2020 that topped all the others
I feel like a big dummy. The Illuminae series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff has been on my To Read shelf for… years. Probably since it came out back in 2015. But I kept putting it off and not picking it up, until finally someone in my book club gushed over it and I decided to jump in. AND JUMP IN, I DID. This is one of those rare series that gets better as you go through the trilogy, in a way that had me going from “damn this is a great book” to “holy shit I never ever ever want this to end ever why am I sobbing right now?” I can’t fully explain my love for this series, because it is so unique and you really just have to read it to fully grasp the complexity of love and family and duty in this series.
Honorable Mentions: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo; The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Best Nonfiction Read
Nonfiction book I read in 2020 that topped all the others
I listened to Know My Name by Chanel Miller on audio back in January, and from the moment I finished the book, I knew nothing else would top it this year. At times it was a painful read, but it was also hopeful, and honest, and brutal. To hear the final chapters with her victim statement… it left a profound impact on me. I’d recommend the audio for this one, but if you don’t do audio, at least listen to the final victim statement after reading the book because man. It hit me hard.
Honorable Mentions: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson; The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan
Best Audio
Best book to listen to with a narrator
There’s definitely some overlap in this category with Best Nonfiction, because I only read nonfiction on audio (it works for me). So since I put Know My Name as Best Nonfiction, I’ll go with a fiction book for Best Audio, and right at the top is The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I managed to read all of Acevedo’s books this year, and while I loved With the Fire on High the most, The Poet X was such a standout on audio. Elizabeth Acevedo is a slam poet and she narrates the audio, so you know what you’re hearing is exactly how she envisioned her poetry to sound. I was not convinced I would enjoy a novel-in-verse, but this audiobook sounded like music and poetry and YA fiction all wrapped into one, and I really loved it.
Honorable Mentions: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix; A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
Breakout Read
Book that was surprisingly good or exceeded expectations
I’ll be the first to admit that I judge books I’ve never read… pretty hardcore. Still Lives by Maria Hummel has been sitting on my bookshelves forever, since I chose it for BOTM in May 2018. I don’t know why I never read it, as it’s something right up my alley — murder mystery, art gallery, not everything is as it seems. Turned out I really enjoyed it! The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan was another book I was a bit weary about, since I received it for free. Why does that make me think a book is not going to be good? IDK. I won it in a Goodreads giveaway and, man, this book was just so delightful. A tale of family and surprise sisters and overcoming obstacles and silliness. It was a really heartwarming read, and I’m glad I finally picked it up.
Honorable Mentions: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White; A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Most Recommended
Book I would recommend to anyone and everyone
This is a weird category, but I’ve tried to think of books that I think anyone would enjoy, no matter who they are. The first is a nonfiction book: Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. In this memoir, Shapiro takes an at-home genealogy test and finds out that her father is not actually her father. This leads her through painful discoveries of heritage, as well as thoughtful discussion of sperm donation and parental rights. There is so much in this memoir that it’s sure to speak to everyone. On the fiction side of things, you know I’m going to suggest a historical fiction book with The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys. Sepetys is known for her ability to present tough historical topics in an approachable way. This novel took me to a time and place I knew nothing about (Madrid in 1957) and educated me on the regime there. It also showed me love and heartbreak and suspense and surprise endings, and, as I said with the nonfiction, there’s something for everyone in this novel.
Honorable Mentions: Recursion by Blake Crouch; Followers by Megan Angelo
Biggest Push
Book that got me most out of my comfort zone
I’m not someone who reads a lot of sci-fi, and time travel books are usually over my head (although I did read quite a few this year…). Recursion by Blake Crouch was a book that I had heard rave reviews about and decided to pick up from BOTM, and I am so glad I did. Crouch managed to make time travel approachable and easy to understand, while still providing suspense and intrigue and a touch of a love story. This book definitely stretched me a bit, but it opened my eyes and I really loved it so much. While Recursion had tough subject matter, When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald provided a unique character experience that made me question what I was reading over and over. Told from the point of view of a woman who suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, this book presented some tough subjects but from a very simplistic vantage point. There were times were I reread the passages just to understand that what I was reading was what was really happening, because the narrator was child-like in her delivery and understanding of the events occurring around her. It wasn’t a lighthearted read, to be sure, but it did push me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Honorable Mentions: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo; A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Best LGBTQIA+
Best book featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and/or written by an LGBTQIA+ author
I hit my goal of reading at least one book featuring LGBTQIA+ characters each month, and there were quite a few contenders for this spot. The two I chose were actually surprises for me. The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer is a WWII historical fiction novel (a hefty one at that), and it features a gay man as its protagonist. Throughout the book, even with a literal *war*, he struggles with identity and figuring out how to live the life he wants, especially having a wife at home. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (which I finished reading minutes ago…) has similar themes in identity, but Callender, the author, is transgender, and their take on how it feels to be a transgender teenager is eye-opening and will definitely expand your view on what gender means. This novel felt so stereotypical in the YA love story trope, but it dove in and out of conversations that are anything but ordinary. The great thing about both of these books is that they fit this identity narrative within a larger story of hope and loss and grief, in a way that makes the books less about who they are as LGBTQIA+ people and more about who they are as *people*.
Honorable Mentions: Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera; The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Taught a Lesson
Book that taught me something about myself
Look, no one ever accused me of watching high-brow television, and when I saw that Hilarie Burton of One Tree Hill fame wrote a memoir, I jumped on it without knowing much about it. What I got from The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan was poignant lessons in what it means to work with your hands and struggle with miscarriage and infertility and try to make a difference in some small way. There were recipes and stories about cows and candy shops, and this book made me reflect on my upbringing and the life that I’m leading now. While that one made me look internally, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates forced my perspective outward. This is a short book written by a father to his son about what it means to be a Black man in America, and boy, did it hit. I was (obviously) not the intended audience for this novel, but it struck a chord with me and made me want to make the world a better place.
Honorable Mention: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Best Book Club Pick
Book that sparked discussion and encourage debate
Book club took a bit different approach this year, where we picked the genres for each month ahead of time, then each book club member was assigned a month (and therefore, a genre) to choose a book from. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi was my book club pick in February for BIPOC author, and it was hands down the best book of the year. It sparked amazing discussion and people actually brought notes to the meeting! The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White was Abby’s pick for April’s Mystery/Thriller genre, and it was surprisingly well-received, even for people who haven’t read Frankenstein. We loved the journey that the main character took and the twists and turns and surprises that it brought (especially for me, who loved Frankenstein and was a bit leery about a retelling).
Honorable Mention: The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton (July/Memoir)
Most Timely
Book that spoke to our current culture
These two books present quite different perspectives on what it means to be an American in current times, although both are not set in present day. Followers by Megan Angelo is a futuristic book about social media and the way it can consume our lives. I am not someone who has any aspirations to be an influencer, but the main characters in this novel show the dangers behind wanting to be known. I thought the dual timeline showed a great Before and After, and I really liked the way it all came together, especially the message it sent about the dangers of wanting fame. On the other hand, Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, set in the midst of the 2008 financial crash, was a book I was nervous to pick up because it’s won so many awards and I thought it would be tough to get through. But I was wrong! The characters were relatable, and watching the financial crisis through the eyes of immigrants gave me a perspective I hadn’t considered. It was a beautifully crafted story that spoke to the struggles of life in America and the death of the American Dream.
Honorable Mentions: The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar; The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Best Time Machine
Historical fiction book that set the scene
Historical fiction is my favorite genre to turn to when I need a break from the real world, and these two books were just… perfection. The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd takes Jesus in biblical times and gives him a wife. The focus of this story is on Ana and her life being married to (and loving) Jesus, before the wedding at Cana and his first miracles. Ana is strong and fierce and loyal and independent and loving, and seeing her strive to live during those times being married to who she’s married to was really eye opening and gave a unique perspective on the time period. Another book that transported me to a different time and place was Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley. I love Kearsley so much for her touches of magical realism in her historical novels, and this book felt like a warm blanket and a hot cup of cocoa on a cold day. Set in pre-Revolutionary America, it exposed me to a time period I know basically nothing about, but it had such an approachable love story, and it was just the soft pillow of a book I needed to read in 2020.
Honorable Mentions: The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys; The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Best Characters
Book whose characters stuck with me long after I finished the book
When I think back on my year of reading, there are quite a few characters that stick out in my mind, but none more so than the two teenagers leading With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. In With the Fire On High, Emoni is faced with the challenges of an adult while still be a high school student. She has a child, and she loves to cook, and she doesn’t like school much. She’s driven to succeed at her goals, despite the hardships she faces, and she does it all with a confidence I could only dream of. Juliet from Juliet Takes a Breath is another stunning female character who is just trying to figure out her identity. She’s put in some situations that make her question what she knows as a Black girl and as a queer teen, but she doesn’t avoid or ignore her issues… she faces them head on and questions everything she thought she knew. Both of these girls are characters I was rooting for.
Honorable Mentions: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd; The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
Best Dressed
Book with the most attractive cover (that shows the greatness within)
Enough said.
Best Place
Book that was set in an interesting environment
This year, I used books to transport me far away from my couch in the living room, and luckily, I had some great books that did the trick. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré took me to Nigeria and featured a character I loved and adored and admired. Each chapter opened with a (properly-cited!) fact about Nigeria, and it really helped set the stage for all of Adunni’s struggles and hopes and dreams. Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, on the other hand, was set squarely in New York City… except she lives her life out of order and jumps backwards and forwards in time. If you care about being able to figure out the science behind time travel, this book is probably not for you, but if you’re looking for a lighthearted read that jumps between the 80s and the 90s and the 00s (with a large dose of nostalgia), then this is the book to pick up.
Honorable Mentions: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff; The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Most Thought-Provoking
Book that made me think the most
This was the year of social justice books, and these two books I read (one in May, one in June) really made me question the way that I saw the world. A book that needs very little introduction is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. In fact, I may be one of the few people in the world who hadn’t read this book (or at least watched the movie). What I learned about Henrietta Lacks and her (unknowing) contributions to medical science was impressive, and what I learned about how her family lives, despite the fame and fortune doctors received from using HeLa cells, was disgusting. Another book-turned-movie that I finally read was Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This novel changed the way I look at the justice system, at death row, and at the death penalty. I mean… I wouldn’t say I agreed with the death penalty before, but after reading this one (and following it up with The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton), it’s hard for me to stay quiet about this.
Honorable Mentions: Recursion by Blake Crouch; The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Best Shock
Book that made my jaw drop in surprise
Mysteries and thrillers were clearly only a small portion of the books I read in 2020, but The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James was far and away the best of the year. Ghosts and dual timelines and lost bodies and vindictive pasts… all made for a suspenseful thriller that kept me up at night (literally). I don’t usually enjoy being scared by a book I’m reading, but this one knew just how to mix the terrifying with the personal, so I never felt overwhelmed but was kept on the edge of my seat. Now I’m cheating a bit here on my self-imposed rules, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Anxious People by Fredrik Backman on this category, since it’s the book that made me GASP the loudest. No spoilers, but there were some twists in this book that, after they were revealed, I actually went back and reread chapters to see if I had missed the clues. I loved both of these books (obviously) for their ability to slowly reveal information to the reader in a way that kept me wanting to read more.
Honorable Mentions: A Burning by Megha Majumdar; Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Most Humorous
Book that kept me laughing
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix was the unexpected star of the season… and yes, it is a horror book that is winning Most Humorous. Maybe it’s because I listened on audio, and damn if this narrator wasn’t so funny. The accents she put on these characters elevated them to the next level, and the story itself was hilarious in its satire. I mean, this was definitely a gory horror book, but some of the events were so ridiculous that I was actually laughing out loud while I was listening. On the nonfiction side of things (and also on audio), A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost had me belly laughing. Unsurprising, since he is a lead writer on SNL, but I truly didn’t think I would ever enjoy a book that mentioned shitting one’s pants so frequently… but here I am. There were some sincere moments in the book, and I actually teared up during his chapter about 9/11, but there were so many moments that made me gasp and giggle, and what more could you want in a memoir?
Honorable Mentions: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman; Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Most Feelings
Book that made me really emotional
I get that not everyone wants to read a book that will make them sob uncontrollably, but for the people that do, these two books are books that actually made tears come from my eyes and snot come from my nose. Obsidio (from the Illuminae series) was the culmination of a war fought across three novels featuring characters that I had come to love and respect and cherish. There is one moment, before the final battle, where the father figure writes notes to each of the teenagers, and DEAR LORD I am tearing up just THINKING about those notes. This final book was the perfect ending to a perfect series. Quite nearly opposite the Illuminae series, but still featuring battles of life or death, The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar ripped me to pieces with every turn of the page. Seriously, each chapter in this story of refugees and of hope and of resilience sliced me to the core. Each loss felt real and tangible, in no small part to the beauty in the writing of this novel. It’s not for the faint of heart, this book, but if you’re feeling like opening your heart to some of the harder experiences of the world, I highly recommend.
Honorable Mentions: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman; A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Best Fluff
Book that broke my routine of misery and heartbreak in books
This year was a year of fluff appreciation for me. Life was not always easy, but having a lighthearted read on audio made it more manageable. Also may have been on a royals kick? All around weird for me, but Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan were both so, so good. I didn’t want either of them to end, and that’s saying something considering they were both pretty long audiobooks. There’s just something about Americans mixing with the Royals that I couldn’t get enough of.
Honorable Mentions: Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley; The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan
Worth the Weight
Book that was long but worth it
Like I mentioned above, I didn’t read any doorstoppers (700+ pages) this year, which is kind of a bummer. But I did read some books that were 600+ and worth the read. The Alienist by Caleb Carr was a surprise to me. I’ve heard amazing things about it, of course, but I was not too excited to pick it up… until I did. This book was classic murder meets gritty commentary, and I was hooked from the first page. The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne was a completely different book, and it took me a little while to get into, but man… when I fell, I fell hard. This character study follows the main character from childhood through adulthood and death, and it was so poignant and beautifully done. Don’t be intimidated by either of these novels, because they will leave you wishing you had more pages to read.
What do you think of this list? Anything you think I got wrong? Any recommendations for 2021? Let me know!
Hi Emily!
Thanks for including my book, When We Were Vikings, on your list!
Hope 2021 is a good one for you and yours.
All best,
Andrew David MacDonald
I’m happy to include it! It was one of my favorites from Book of the Month this year!