Best of 2020

My blog may have been a barren wasteland for much of the year but I still read 117 books with an average rating of 3.8. That’s not too shabby. So as we turn our backs on this rubbish year, I share with you my top ten books read in 2020.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty

What an ending to a series! Just perfect, I loved how everything came together, questions were answered and the plot ploughed through this brick of a book. If you aren’t familiar with this trilogy, go check out my review of The City of Brass. I just cannot wait to see what S.A. Chakraborty does next!

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Apparently young adult crime fiction was exactly what my reading diet was missing and I absolutely loved the adorable sleuth, Pippa Fitz-Amobi, in this and the second instalment.

The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde

Who knew anthropomorphised rabbits were the perfect characters for a satire on Brexit Britain? Jasper Fforde at his best, funny, thoughtful and somehow you end up caring for human sized rabbits more than the humans. I can highly recommend the audiobook version.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

A fantastic take on the myth of the Knights of the Round Table, brought up-to-date with added demons and a lesson on generational harm. I liked it so much I actually wrote a whole review!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This was beautiful, and sad, the story of a girl who does a deal with the devil only to find her payment is to be forever forgotten. An immortal life of loneliness follows.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Why exactly did I not read this sooner? It was totally my cup of tea, I’ve since learned this whole vibe is called dark academia, and I love it. It is dark but it all serves a purpose and I hope we get a sequel. Read my full review.

In Pain by Travis Rieder

My non-fiction pick of the year was an eye-opening look at the opioid crisis in the US, told partly in memoir by someone who has struggled through a horrific injury followed by addiction. He talks about what pain actually is as well as giving a good overview of the situation. Read my full review.

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

A bit of a departure from my usual reading, I was sucked into this legal drama about an explosion at an experimental treatment facility, being used for everything from fertility to autism. It delves into the secrets and struggles of all the families involved and suspicion hops from character to character.

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green

Surveillance capitalism, private equity and the struggles of being a “thought-leader” don’t necessarily sound like a fun recipe for a science fiction story, but all that and more is wrapped up in this thoroughly likeable duology from Hank Green. Read my full review.

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

I can’t think of anything else quite like Middlegame, if you’re a fan of Seanan and haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for? Read my full review.