Nikki’s Best Books of 2020
Happy New Year everyone! I thought I’d kick off this year with a post talking about my favourite reads from last year. I’m sorting them by age demographic to make it easier for you to look through 🙂
They’re not all books released this year (though most are!) but all ones I read this year.
Middle Grade Reads
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L. D. Lapinski
I loved the concept of the Strangeworlds Travel Agency! I wish it was real 🙂
Jonathan and Flick are lovely main characters and we get to explore some super fun worlds with them.
The High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson
Finally a modern-day middle-grade mystery! Once I found out about this, I knew I had to get it.
I found this fresh and funny, and an utterly brilliant addition to my middle-grade mystery collection.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! Amari is a wonderful main character who mostly wants to find out more about what happened to her brother. When she discovers the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, a whole new world – and a new view of Quinton’s disappearance – is opened up to her.
Young Adult Reads
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin
This book is wonderfully full of violence, revenge, and a messed up version of justice that I strangely loved. It felt like a book I needed to read – a way of dealing with some of the extremities of life, that I have luckily not personally experienced. It is dark but tempered by humour. It is glorious.
Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran
I feel everyone knows by now how much I loved this book!
It has queer royalty, political intrigue, spying and maths! What more could a girl possibly want?
Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury
This book blew me away. Honestly, I should have expected it, because I love Mel’s writing, but it still took me by surprise. It is so understatedly gorgeous. Every word feels purposeful.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
I just FLEW through this. I had to stop several times to remind myself to breathe. Holly has such a way of writing the most amazing mysteries.
Thorn by Intisar Khanani
This book is just gorgeously written, and even the darker points are stunning. there were two things in quick succession that had me in tears, both really got to me! But they were so well done, it was hard to begrudge them.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This book definitely sounded up my alley, and I was so very right! It’s so twisty!
You know going in that it’s going to be a fun game of “who can you trust”, and I love how well it plays out, and that the way the characters are (and how they interact with each other and the puzzle) is actually something that makes sense.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Ahhhhhhh, this book is so wonderful and lovely. Cemetery Boys really does feel honest to its trans and Latinx setting, and I loved that. Yadriel is a lovely main character – he is so cute around the stuff with his family, and his friendship with Maritza is so supportive.
Adult Reads
The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty
I have so much love for this series, and honestly, this final book felt like perfection. There’s no real way to rave about it without spoiling the series, so just – read it!
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Honestly, the writing and story just really work for me and are so stunningly beautiful. Much like the Night Circus, it is circuitous and confusing in places, but I loved it. There’s something I love about stories within stories.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
This book is so wonderful, heartbreaking, beautiful and full of love. It is not a children’s book, but honestly, I thought it really could have been a middle-grade book instead of an adult one. It has such broad appeal, and such joy to it that is rare in an adult read. Plus it has silly things like “Extremely Upper Management” which helps the book appeal to all ages.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
I was nervous to read Mexican Gothic – I am a complete wuss and stay pretty far away from horror most of the time. But I was also very intrigued by this, and swayed by people telling me it wasn’t too scary 😉 But honestly, this is SUCH a good read, and I can’t recommend it enough.
The Girl Who Can Move Sh*t With Her Mind by Jackson Ford
This book is laugh out loud funny in places, which is impressive as it’s fairly high octane throughout. I think the title sums it up perfectly – it tells you what the book is about and makes you laugh at the same time!
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19 Comments
Ellie
Some great recommendations here, thank you for sharing!
geekylorraine
Looks like you read a lot! The Inheritance Games has an amazing cover!
Booksandlemonsquash
Haha yes far too much some would say
geekylorraine
No such thing!
Beth
OMG yes to Empire of Gold and The Starless Sea! This year has been amazing for books and I am super glad you found some books that helped you get through! I also still read to need Strange Worlds Travel Agency so maybe 2021 is the year for me (I also want to read more MG as well!)
Kirsty
Yesssss Foul is Fair!!! That’s one of my faves of 2020 too, though I haven’t got around to writing my post yet
amyjanealice
Oh my gosh there are so many books on here that I NEED to read! Hold Back the Tide has been on my TBR for so long and Cemetery Boys is the next book I’m going to pick up!
Booksandlemonsquash
Omg they are both amazing so yes do get to them sooooooon
Hannah
I loved the Strangeworld’s Travel Agency too! Such a fun middle-grade adventure that I can’t wait to see where it goes next! There are also so many books on your list that I can’t wait to get to as well! Just waiting for most of them to come out in paperback too!
Booksandlemonsquash
Ugh yes the curse of paperback delays I have a few of those!
Bec
So many choices here that I was meant to read in 2020 and didn’t – and also so many of my favourites too! I especially loved Queen of Coin and Whispers and Mexican Gothic from your choices 🙂
Booksandlemonsquash
Haha this is what I say when I see everyone else’s lists! Those are def tops, they’re amazing
Literaryleisha
I need to read most these!
Nicola
I loved Amari and the Night Brothers too!
Booksandlemonsquash
Yay!
BookMeSomeTime
I’ve read none of these but there are some great ones that I have in my tbr or wl ;D
Booksandlemonsquash
Aw you have joy ahead then!
lauren
im so glad you enjoyed cemetery boys! and i promise i wILL read mexican gothic this year
Booksandlemonsquash
hahaha i am going to hold you to this