BOOK REVIEW ROUND UP // 2020 CONCLUSION + REFLECTION

And just like that, the year 2020 is behind us. What a wild, unexpected, and transformative year it has been. 2020 will forever be the year I rediscovered a love for reading.

In total, I read 56 books from a wide array of authors, formats, and genres. I read stories that were beautiful, mysterious, thrilling, and unsettling. I laughed, I cried. I had numerous, literal jaw dropping moments. My heart raced with anticipation, then fear while immersed in a handful of thrillers (e.g. Home Before Dark and The Shadows).

I recommended books to friends and family. Discovered and became obsessed with booktube and bookstagram. But most importantly, I learned along the way. If not about others, than about myself. I can’t want to see what stories end up in my hands in 2021.

Reading Superlatives

Favorite author: Riley Sager

Favorite book(s): Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo 

Least favorite book(s): You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero or The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Féret-Fleury

Favorite character: Noemí Taboada of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Least favorite character: Juliette of The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Féret-Fleury

Most interesting character: Theo Faber of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Least interesting character: Emira of Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Most loved character: Connell of Normal People by Sally Rooney

Most hated character: Elikem Ganyo of His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

Favorite relationship / parent-child: Roy Hamilton Jr. and Big Roy Hamilton in An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Favorite relationship / sibling: Simon and Klara Gold from The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Favorite relationship / friendship: Dannie and Bella of In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Favorite relationship / romantic: Addie LaRue and Luc of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Favorite setting: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Best imagery: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Best symbolism: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Favorite cultural references: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo and His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

Favorite redemption story: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Favorite love story: The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Funniest book(s): In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren and One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London 

Saddest book: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Favorite book format: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager or One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London 

Best twist: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager or The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Worst twist: All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Most overhyped: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Most underhyped: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Biggest disappointment: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Newest release: Pretty Little Wife by Darcy Kane

Oldest release: The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

statistics

best of lists

Aside from reading in general, I also have a new found obsession with book recommendation lists. The following is a reference list of popular media outlets and their best books of the year!

2020 BOTY Finalists // Book of the Month selection linked here
Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2020 // instagram post linked here
The Best Books of 2020 // Huffpost article linked here
The Best Books We Read in 2020 // The New Yorker article linked here
The Books Briefing: The Best Books of 2020 // The Atlantic article linked here
NPR’s Book Concierge // NPR article linked here
The 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 // TIME article linked here
The 10 best books of 2020 // The Washington Post article linked here

To follow along my reading journey, you can find my Goodreads account here and my merynmade Instagram where I post about the books I’m reading here. Additional blogposts about my 2020 books and reviews can be found under the category reading linked here. Be on the look out for my follow up book blogpost discussing my 2021 TBR and reading goals!

Until tomorrow, Meryn

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