My 2020 Reading Recap

2020 has been quite the year, but thankfully it is coming to a close. Through lockdowns, murder hornets, toilet paper shortages, and more I have comfort in the pages of books. 19, 648 pages to be exact.

My goal was to read fifty-two books this year, which amounts to a book a week, and I surpassed that goal by reading sixty books. While I read a lot of books, not all of them were great. So I’m going to share my favorites with you.

Favorite Ship

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

I adored this entire book, especially Maya and Jamie’s relationship. It felt so real and actually teenagery-ish. I also loved the spotlight this book puts on political activism for teenagers and cross-cultural relationships.

Favorite Fantasy

American Royals by Katherine McGee

I love, love, love this book! The twist on now and days America is ingenious, and I loved the historical tie-backs. I also loved seeing the royal life mixed in with American celebrity culture. Lastly, I adored the romances in this story and the theme of status not always being as luxurious as we believe.

Favorite Setting

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I have a lot of issues with this book, but I will never be able to say anything bad about the setting because it is exquisite. The backdrop of Paris and Europe throughout this book is so beautiful and well done. It isn’t cheesy or touristy, it feels real and made me want to fall in love in Paris.

Favorite Friendship

If We Were Us by KL Walther

I loved this entire book, but what I loved most was the friendship between Sage and Charlie. The way they protect each other and care for one another is so sweet, and their friendship is very realistic. My best friend happens to be a boy as well and the pressure that Sage and Charlie are constantly put under to be in a relationship is so real. Overall I loved the friendship between Sage and Charlie, and it broke my heart every time they fought.

Favorite Mystery

Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin

This book was so good!!!! I loved the girl power, I loved the school dynamic, and I loved the tie into King Henry! Dead Queens Club is definitely one of those books I wish I could read for the first time again.

Overall Favorites (sorry but I couldn’t pick just one)

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Jane Sinner is one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved her sarcastic nature and I found her battle with depression and religion refreshingly realistic. I also adored the Big Brother knock off “House of Orange”. This book is such a perfect mix of honesty, humor, and growing-up.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Every teenage girl should read this book, and it is a shame it isn’t nearly as popular as it deserves to be. It has impressive themes of feminism, and it explains it in such a way that motivates and inspires girls. Even when this book isn’t directly using zines and big moments to inspire girls it is doing so by showing positive, realistic relationships such as Viv and her mother or boyfriend.

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee

While I have never read Anna Karenina I adored this retelling. I loved the Upper East Side setting as well as the frivolous party life of the teens of the story. I especially loved seeing the character development, which Lee does a great job. Most of the characters really mature throughout the story, but Stephen and Lolly in particular had amazing character arcs. I would kill to read this book for the first time again.