My Year in Books | 2020 in Review
Thursday, December 24, 2020
The year is coming to a close. And all around, it really hasn’t been the best year. While I read a good chunk of books, I didn’t really rate that many 5 stars. I did get a lot of my owned tbr read which is always great to see. However, I’m hoping for a better year next year (both reading-wise and in general). I do the Perpetual Page-Turner’s End of the Year Book Survey every year; it’s just a great way to close out the year. Here is my bookish year in review:
Number of Books Read:
Star Ratings of 2020:
Genre I Read the Most:
Length of Books Read:
Best books I read in 2020?
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer and Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust: I can’t choose between the two because they were both phenomenal. Girl, Serpent, Thorn had amazing worldbuilding, morally grey characters, and unexpected creatures of the night. A Heart So Fierce and Broken turned out exactly what I wanted from a sequel with the perfect amount of action, political intrigue, and romance. Both of them were so fantastic!
Book(s) I was Excited About and Thought I was Going to Love More But Didn't:
American Royals by Katherine McGee: Based on previous books of the same premise, after all it involves royals, I thought this was going to be an easy 5 star for me. For some reason, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: I had such high hopes for this. There is just so much hype surrounding this book, even now, that I thought I was going to love it as much as everyone else. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. To be honest, I found the writing to be incredibly slow, even the action sequences seemed to drag on. I just couldn’t get into it, no matter how cool the premise was.
Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Switched by Amanda Hocking: I kind of had written this book as cliché-ridden before even going into it. However, it wasn’t what I expected. Sure, there are plenty of clichés throughout but the book still surprised me, in a good way.
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett: I don’t really like camping or survival stories so I didn’t really expect to like this one. However, once again, I get swept away by Bennett’s amazing storytelling abilities and absolutely loved it despite it containing both camping and survival.
Best series started in 2020? Best sequel? Best series ender?
Favorite new author you discovered?
Rachel Lynn Solomon – Today Tonight Tomorrow
Best book from a genre you don't typically read:
The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable reads of the year?
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager | The Iron King by Julie Kagawa | Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?
Night Spinner by Addie Thorley | Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim | Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Most beautifully written book of the year?
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir | Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Perez | The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh
Most thought-provoking/life changing book of 2020?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to read?
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: I was a huge Lord of the Rings fan back in high school and have read the trilogy more times that I can count. While I started reading The Hobbit during summer camp one year, I never finished it and never picked it up again. Until this year. I think if I had finished it during high school, I would have liked it more but now, it just didn’t meet my expectations after adoring Lord of the Rings.
Shortest and longest book read in 2020?
Favorite book you read in 2020 from an author you've read previously?
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer | Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry | Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting you read this year?
Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray | Slayer by Kiersten White
Books that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle | Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams | The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
Books that made you cry in 2020?
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich | Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hidden gem of the year?
Hungry Hearts edited by Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond
Books I didn't get to in 2020 but will be top priority in 2021?
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan | Honor Lost by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre | The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Non-debut books I'm most anticipating in 2021?
Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh | We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon | Lore by Alexandra Bracken
2021 debut I'm most anticipating?
Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan | Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey | The Descent of the Drowned by Ana Lal Din
Series ending/a sequel you are most anticipating in 2021?
Sky Breaker by Addie Thorley | A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer | We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal
Happy New Year! What was your favorite book of 2020? What book are you most anticipating in 2021?
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