Best of the Best: 2020 Book Review
Friends! Happy Wednesday! Happy New Year!
I took a little blogging break over the last couple of weeks, and just concentrated on my people. Such a fun time of relaxing and making some great memories.
But, now I am BACK!
As of today, I am back in business over here at Lunchbox Babies, and am kicking off the year with my FAVORITE type of post!! A book review! But, not any book review! The BEST OF THE BEST: 2020 Book Review! A week into 2021, but all the same! So excited!
This is the third “Best of” post I have done. If you want to look back at other years, these were my favorites!
Top Three Books of 2018:
Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Top Three Books of 2019:
The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger
Swear On This Life by Renee Carlino
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
In 2020, I read 50 books! FIFTY BOOKS! A step up from the 47 I read last year, and we are just going to “thank” quarantine for that one. A handful of them were amazing, but all of the books were great. This is the first year that I have started a book and then put it down after a few chapters in. I have NEVER done this before. I always finish, and give you my thoughts. Apparently, 2020 taught me that I have less patience for bad books during a global pandemic. I may go back to these books, but right now, I am VERY happy with the 50 that I read.
As a reminder, here is the list from last year. Click on the links to read the individual book reviews.
January
The Royal We by Jasmine Guillory
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
December
The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews
The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
I really think that you need to read every single one of these books. 2020 was a huge mix of chick-lit, suspense, and beautiful historical novels. After going back through this list, there are a handful that still stand out to me. Some weeks after I have read them, some months.
So, here is my list of THE BEST BOOKS of 2020! I have three favorites, plus three honorable mentions! Here we go . . .
Honorable Mentions
The books in this section were exceptional! I REALLY loved them, and highly, HIGHLY recommend these for all of you!
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I am a big fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. She writes a chick-lit with such depth that you get lost in the story, and can’t put the book down. This book follows a young woman that loses her high school sweetheart less than a year after their marriage. His body is never found, and after years of grief, she moves on. Suddenly, after she is engaged to another man and loving her life again, her husband is found and wants to come back to their life together. This story definitely makes you wonder how you would react in the main character’s situation, and is such a beautiful story of grief, healing, and strength. Loved it! Click here to read my initial review of this book, and click here to grab a copy for yourself.
Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino
Oh, this book. Friends! This book narrowly missed being in my top three of the year. This book gave me all the feels. I laughed out loud, cried a bit. Just everything. Ugh! So good! This is a story about loving someone with your whole heart, even when you know that there is no future. Parts of this book are hard. Especially if you have ever lost a loved one to cancer. Just know that it is raw, it is heartbreaking, it is beautiful, and there is such sweet redemption for the characters involved. I currently have chills writing this as I am thinking back on this book. Why is this not in my top three? Click here to read my initial review, and click here to grab a copy for yourself!
The Simple Wild AND Wild At Heart by K.A. Tucker
In the last year, this chick lit duo is what I have heard about most from all of you! You LOVE these two books, which makes me SOOOOO happy! A sweet little series (I hear that a 3rd is out!) that follows a young woman’s journey to know her father and then move her life to Alaska. Total chick-lit. A little rated R. And, y’all! SOOOOO good! K.A. Tucker is a great author and does not disappoint! Click here to read my initial review on both books, and click here and here to grab a copy for yourself.
Top Three Books of 2020!!
3rd Runner Up:
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is AMAZING! It is written entirely in an “interview style” type of format, and follows a band from its inception to its inevitable break up. When I finished this book, I had to turn to google to see if this band and these characters were real. It was that AMAZING. Spoiler Alert: this is a total work of fiction. But one that I loved so, so much. This was a beautiful book filled with ambition, heartache, growth, and rock and roll. Click here to read my initial review and then click here to grab a copy for yourself!
2nd Runner Up:
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
I am fascinated with historical fiction. Stories that take you back to a time and place that seems so harsh and unbelievable. While the characters are mostly fiction, the network and its successes are real. To think that a group of strong women were rescuing people and being spies throughout World War I and II is just amazing. Tough, strong, resilient women that fought for what was right in the face of indescribable evil. Please read this book. Truly amazing! If you loved Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale (last year’s BEST book!), then you will love this as well! Click here to read my initial review and then click here to grab a copy for yourself!
Winner:
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
It was hard to pick a winner this year! SO many great books are in my list of 50! But, I had to go with one that really made me think about how quickly life can change, and who will be there with you when it does. This is an awe-inspiring book as to what can happen in five years. It is disguised as a bit of a chick-lit book, but is really a story of how we would live our lives if we knew what was going to happen five years from now. Such an interesting concept that I still can’t get out of my head. So great! Click here to read my initial review and then click here to grab a copy for yourself!
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Whew! That was a BIG post for the first one back in 2021! I LOVE reading, and I am so happy that so many of you do as well.
Full disclosure . . . I have yet to crack a book in 2021. I have just had so much fun with my people, and any book takes a back burner to that!!
Of course, Reid and I have been completely addicted to Ted Lasso, so my evening time has been dedicated to that. No worries, though, I have a stack of books sitting on my desk and I plan to work through them soon.
Have a great day, friends! As always, let me know what books you are loving! Happy reading! XO
