Various

2020 on Goodreads

Geoffrey Froggatt

I love the idea of yearly reading reviews, and I wish I knew about this option on Goodreads previously. 2020 was a complicated reading year for me, as this was when I began falling in love with reading again, but it was also a difficult transition in life for me as this year marked the end of the best four years of my life (my highest point) and was the beginning of the next two years of my life, which were easily my lowest point in my life so far. Despite the struggles and dark times, I used books to escape from my troubles and pain, and I fell in love with reading again. I began reading more than I ever had and I started to reignite my passion for storytelling. This was the first year I ever completed my Goodreads yearly reading goal, which was 25 books, not a lot, but a lot for me at that time. The three genres that dominated this year for me were contemporary, thriller, and fantasy, and I think those three genres easily describe how 2020 felt for me.

altlovesbooks

What a neat concept! If this existed for previous years, I apparently missed out!

This was the year I really started to branch out and explore all the genres I’ve never given the time of day to in years past. This was the year I began to leave (mostly) thoughtful reviews for things I’ve read. This was the year I started reading (a few) ARCs. This was the year boredom drove me to dip my toes into Instagram/Bookstagram posts (and then get out of the pool for a few months and then dip my toes in again). This was a really positive year for me, literarily speaking!

I’m going to borrow some prompts from reviewer Adina below, because I sort of stink at summarizing my thoughts on my own.

What was the best book you read in 2020?
If you know me at all, if you talk with me regularly at all, you’ll know this one instantly. I brought it up constantly while I was reading it. I would find ways to fit it into recommendations for people for months afterward. I bought a copy for my mom for Christmas. It's The Travelling Cat Chronicles! Books never make me cry. Like, never. And this one did. It also managed to be uplifting, lighthearted, and bittersweet all in one. You should take a look at the premise and absolutely read it if you haven't already.

What was the worst book you read in 2020?
Setting aside all the textbooks I add to my read list (because they're mostly universally terrible), and likewise discounting the ones I didn't finish (because I feel that would be cheating), of the ones I did manage to finish, I think this dubious honor would have to go to Moon of the Crusted Snow. It was neither satisfying as a thriller nor as a post-apocalyptic society story, the dialogue was flat (he said, she said, etc.), and the ending out of place. I was doubly disappointed because I had never read a book set in Canada or involving the First Nations, and this disappointed there too.

Which author(s) did you fall in love with, or rediscover, in 2020?
I could take the easy road and say Haruki Murakami, because I read both The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World almost back-to-back and found both incredibly enjoyable for different reasons. But really I think this honor should go to Kazuo Ishiguro for the extremely memorable experience I had reading The Remains of the Day way back in January. I really need to read more from him in 2021.

What are your reading plans for 2021?
I kinda stink at making plans. I don't plan my entire to-read list out, I have no idea what I'm reading next when I pick a book up, and I don't really do reading challenges because I sort of dislike having a roadmap to follow. All that said, I think my goal for this year is to incorporate more ARCs into my reading. I had a lot of fun previewing books in 2020, but I only really managed to weave in one every few months. I want to read them more frequently in 2021, but I'm hesitant to attach a number. Just, "more", I guess.

Here's to 2021!!!

Lacy W

Book read: 43 books

5 stars: 8
4 stars: 14
3 stars: 16
2 stars: 5
1 star: 0

Average star rating: 3.6 stars

2020 was a good year for me, despite the pandemic. I ended up contracting COVID-19 though. I am still dealing with the side effects of it today, mainly my chest hurting a lot. I sometimes have trouble breathing if I push myself too hard. But I’m dealing with it the best I can.
I also decided to restart my blog again. It’s been a bit slow going but I joined Blackthorn Tours, which has been a fantastic decision. They have been incredibly awesome to work with and the books I’ve been reading so far have been great! 
Overall, 2020 has been a decent year, despite the pandemic. I’m ready to see what 2021 brings!

My favorite books:
The Vines by Shelly Holden
Horrid by Katrina Leno
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (reread)
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky


My least favorite books:
I Was Amelia by Jane Mendelsohn
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Babayaga by Toby Barlow

Lucia Correa

2020 Favorite books (Top 3 in order, after that no particular order)

1.	Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton 
2.	Face the Wind by Caren J. Werlinger
3.	Alone by E.J. Noyes
4.	Reaping the Benefits by E.J. Noyes
5. Stargazing by Jen Wang
6.	Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
7.	Brooklyn Summer by Maggie Cummings
8.	Spindrift by Anna Burke
9.	16 Steps to Forever by Georgia Beers
10.	One More Chance by Ali Vali

2020 Favorite Audiobooks (Top 3 in order, after that no particular order)

Note: I tend to re-read favorites via audiobook. Since I retired, I don't listen at home as much as I listened at work. My listening sessions tend to be a day or more apart so its easier to pick up where I left off if it is a re-read.

1.	Breaking Character by Lee Winter
2.	Ask, Tell by EJ Noyes
3.	Ask Me Again by EJ Noyes 
4.	Turbulence by EJ Noyes
5.	Departure from the Script by Jae
6.	No Strings by Gerri Hill

Sheena

➤ M O N T H L Y　S T A T I S T I C S
⚊
  JANUARY

　○ Read: 48
　○ Hold: 1
　○ Dropped: 9
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s):
　
  


⚊
  FEBRUARY

　○ Read: 11
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 2
　○ Re-Read: 2
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  
 
  


⚊
  MARCH

　○ Read: 1
　○ Hold: 1
　○ Dropped: 1
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  


⚊
  APRIL

　○ Read: 45
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 12
　○ Re-Read: 8
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  


⚊
  MAY

　○ Read: 62
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 9
　○ Re-Read: 8
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  


⚊
  JUNE

　○ Read: 69
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 13
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  


⚊
  JULY

　○ Read: 55
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 0
　○ Re-Read: 0
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 

⚊
  AUGUST

　○ Read: 46
　○ Hold: 1
　○ Dropped: 1
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  


⚊
  SEPTEMBER

　○ Read: 39
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 0
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  


⚊
  OCTOBER

　○ Read: 65
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 7
　○ Re-Read: 3
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  
 
  


⚊
  NOVEMBER

　○ Read: 76
　○ Hold: 1
　○ Dropped: 15
　○ Re-Read: 0
　○ Favorite(s): 
　
  


⚊
  DECEMBER

　○ Read: 37
　○ Hold: 0
　○ Dropped: 14
　○ Re-Read: 1
　○ Favorite(s): N/A

　　➤ O V E R A L L　S T A T I S T I C S
⚊
  BOOKS BY AGE RANGE

　○ Adult: 535
　○ Children: 0
　○ Middle Grade: 2
　○ New Adult: 46
　○ Young Adult: 47

⚊
  BOOKS BY GENRE

　○ Classics: 1
　○ Contemporary: 4
　○ Fantasy: 49
　○ Graphic Novel: 3
　○ Historical: 53
　○ Horror: 2	
　○ Mystery: 9
　○ Paranormal/supernatural: 149
　○ Romance: 283
　○ Sci-fi/Science Fiction: 25
　○ Suspense: 10
　○ Thriller: 2
　○ Other: 40

⚊
  BOOKS BY RATING

　　☇ AVERAGE: 2.83
　○ 0.50 Stars: 0
　○ 1 Stars: 10
　○ 1.50 Stars: 82
　○ 2 Stars: 98
　○ 2.50 Stars: 95
　○ 3 Stars: 133
　○ 3.50 Stars: 91
　○ 4 Stars: 80
　○ 4.50 Stars: 29
　○ 5 Stars: 8

⚊
  BOOKS BY RELEASE

　○ ARC: 158
　○ Backlist: 329
　○ New: 288
　○ Re-reads: 27

⚊
  BOOKS BY SOURCE

　○ ARC: 158
　○ Brought: 155
　○ Borrowed: 297
　○ Gift: 8

⚊
  BOOKS BY STATUS

　○ Completed: 543
　○ DNF: 83
　○ On-Hold: 4

Ale ♡

So, 2020 was my year for read. I was kinda busy with uni, but I actually had more time to read than before, which is good. I completed my 45 books challenge, and I love that fact.

I didn't read a lot this year, but, here we are.

January.
Rereads.
♡ Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. 4 stars.
♡ Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. 3 stars.
♡ Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick. 4 stars.

favorite book:
 none.
least favorite book:
hush hush.

 February.
Rereads.
♡ Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick. 4 stars.
♡ Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley. 5 stars.
♡ Homecoming by Tonya Hurley. 4 stars.

favorite book:
 ghostgirl.
least favorite book:
finale.

 March.
♡ Lovesick by Tonya Hurley. 5 stars.
♡ The Help by Kathryn Stockett. 3 stars.
♡ P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 lovesick.
least favorite book:
the help.

 April.
♡ Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. 5 stars.
♡ The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 both.
least favorite book:
none.

 May.
♡ The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. 5 stars.
♡ The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 both.
least favorite book:
none.

 June.
♡ Marked by P.C. Cast. 3 stars.
♡ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. 4 stars.

favorite book:
 none.
least favorite book:
throne of glass.

 July.
♡ Uprooted by Naomi Novik. 5 stars.
♡ A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. 3 stars.

favorite book:
 uprooted.
least favorite book:
a court of thorns and roses.

 August.
♡ A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. 4 stars.
♡ A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. 3 stars.
♡ A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas. 3 stars.
♡ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. 5 stars.
♡ The Lost Sisters by Holly Black. 2.5. stars.
♡ Cinder by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.
♡ Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.
♡ Cress by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.
♡ Pestilence by Laura Thalassa. 3 stars.

favorite book:
 cress.
least favorite book:
a court of frost and starlight. (by far) 

 September.
♡ Winter by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.
♡ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. 4 stars.
♡ The Wicked King by Holly Black. 5 stars.
♡ The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 winter.
least favorite book:
crown of midnight.

 October.
♡ Fallen by Lauren Kate. 3 stars.
♡ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. 5 stars.
♡ War by Laura Thalassa. 4 stars.
♡ Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. 5 stars.
♡ Famine by Laura Thalassa. 4.5. stars.
♡ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. 5 stars.
♡ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. 5 stars.
♡ COVID-128 by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 the invisible life of addie larue (my fav of the year).
least favorite book:
fallen.

 November.
♡ The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare. 4 stars.
♡ Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. 5 stars.
♡ Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. 4.5. stars.
♡ The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. 4.75. stars.
♡ The Imaginary Invalid by Molière. 4.75. stars.
♡ How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black. 5 stars.

favorite book:
 how the king of elfhame learned to hate stories.
least favorite book:
empire of storms.

 December.
♡ Renegades by Marissa Meyer. 5 stars.
♡ The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. 4 stars.
♡ A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova. 2.5. stars.
♡ Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. 4 stars.
♡ Tempting Hades by Emma Hamm. 1 star.

Vera Sokolyanskaya

This was a good book year overall, so many books that I liked.

Best Book of the Year: A ​Sky Beyond the Storm
Best Standalone Book – The Wolf in the Whale
Best Contemporary Book/ Book is Better than Limited Series Award: The Queen's Gambit

Best Re-read: An Ember in the Ashes series
Best book club read/ Best series starter: House of Earth and Blood
Best non-fiction book of the year: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism 
Best memoirs: Barack Obama – A Promised Land
Best social horror: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
Best audiobook: Просто Маса (it’s also the only audiobook I’ve listened to in my entire life so there was no competition)

Best character and character development: Omat from The Wolf in the Whale
Best villain: Commandant from An Ember in the Ashes series
Best relationship development: Bryce and Hunt, House of Earth and Blood
Steamiest romance: Chloe and Red from Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Special “I can always rely on you” Award: Rick Riordan and the first three book of “Heroes of Olympus” series. I’ve read them in Q1 and I loved them and its characters but I feel like the books I read later in the year eclipsed them. 

Special mentions (I loved these books but couldn't find a place for them):
The Midnight Lie
The Hand on the Wall

All books I've read in 2020 can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...

Maria

по статистике гудридз, средняя оценка 2.9
ну да, как-то так

Jude Silberfeld

I often have trouble making decisions but this year, it seems borderline impossible. It doesn’t help – in regards to making lists – that it was a particularly good year in terms of books. I started this list of my favourite books of the year with twenty-six titles. When I tried to lower that number, I ended up adding two books. I then decided to keep one book per author. Obviously, it didn’t work. I finally managed to get down to sixteen books but deleting some of the titles broke my heart. I loved a lot more than sixteen books, so please check out my 4* and 5* reviews.

Here are my sixteen final choices, in chronological order of when I reviewed them:
#1 Dirt Nap by Carolyn Elizabeth
#2 Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood by Anna Burke
#3 The Road Home by Erin Zak
#4 Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
#5 Art of Magic by KJ
#6 Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton
#7 Spindrift by Anna Burke
#8 Face the Wind by Caren J. Werlinger
#9 Providence by Leigh Hays
#10 The Other Side of Forestlands Lake by Carolyn Elizabeth
#11 Undertow by Jazzy Mitchell
#12 Bulletproof by Maggie Cummings
#13 Hotel Queens by Lee Winter
#14 Midas Touch by Alex Hall
#15 Party Favors by Erin McLellan
#16 The Thing About Tilly by G Benson

There’s one book I couldn’t add to the list because I didn’t exactly enjoy it, but it’s still lingering in my mind, months after I read it, and not for what made me uneasy at the time, so I thought I’d mention it anyway: The Feasting Virgin by Georgia Kolias. It’s one of the most striking books I’ve read in years and I’m very curious to see what the author writes next.

And like last year, I’ll also publish a list of my favourite audiobooks of the year (more decisions 😱) so stay tuned!

Merged review:

It won’t surprise anyone if I say that 2020 has been an unusual year. 2019 was my first full year of listening, and I had found a pretty good rhythm. I would listen in the metro, on the train, on the bus, on my walks. 2020 put a stop to all that travelling and I had to create new listening opportunities.

It took a while for me to be comfortable listening to a story with someone else in the house, and to find activities I could do at the same time (dyspraxia makes it difficult to multitask). One of the wonderful surprises of the year – not everything was bad this year, a lot of good things happened to me – was finding out that I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, I’m good at them despite lousy fine motor skills, and – and it’s a significant and – I can listen to audiobooks while I’m working on a puzzle.

I listened to a lot fewer audiobooks this year than in 2019, but I also was a lot pickier. Since the first time we went in lockdown, in March, I’ve been monitoring my mental health more closely, which means I’ve been cautious as to what I listened to. So while I listened to a smaller number of books, I loved a bigger percentage of them.

Like last year, I got codes from authors or narrators for some of these (thank you!), others I got with my own credits. Whether I paid for them or not, if they’re on this list, it’s because I loved them. Here they are, in chronological order of reviewing:
#1 Wild Things by Karin Kallmaker, narrated by Abby Craden
#2 Brooklyn Summer by Maggie Cummings, narrated by Lori Prince
#3 Powdered Souls, A Short Story: They Decided to Survive by Dixon Reuel, narrated by Garrett Michael Brown
#4 Coming Home by KJ, narrated by Ruth Guice
#5 Curtis and Reynolds series by Carolyn Elizabeth, narrated by Lori Prince: Gallows Humor / Dirt Nap
#6 Tales from Ardulum by J.S. Fields, narrated by Lynn Norris
#7 Being Hospitable by Meka James, narrated by Phoenix McKay
#8 Phoenix of Hope series by Zora Marie, narrated by Senn Annis: Cast in Fire / Tempered in Ice
#9 Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker, narrated by Jill Smith
#10 Western Shores by Lise Gold, narrated by Addison Barnes
#11 Bet Against Me by Fiona Riley, narrated by Melissa Sternenberg
#12 The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold, narrated by T.J. Richards
#13 Those Who Wait by Haley Cass, narrated by Lori Prince
#14 Rough Around The Edges by Crystal Chard, narrated by Katheryn Siggers
#15 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, narrated by Lauren Sweet

I made the decision to only include in the list audiobooks released in 2020, but some of my favourite listens were released earlier. I have to mention at least E.J. Noyes’ Ask, Tell and Ask Me Again, narrated by Abby Craden, Cari Hunter’s Dark Peak series, narrated by Nicola Victoria Vincent, and G Benson’s Who'd Have Thought, narrated by Tanya Eby.

Read all my audiobook reviews here.

a ray

To be honest, read a lot of good books this year. Found some favorites. Started some cool series. Explored new genres. Read some stinker, too, but hey 🤷🏾 that’s life.

2020 on Goodreads

Reviews