All the Books I Read in 2020

There is definitely something to be said about the books we read in 2020. For me, and a lot of people, they were my escape from a world where everything seems to be increasingly difficult to feel good about. Escapism at its best took me to many fantasy worlds, and often times, books were the only thing that felt like true self care. I’m so excited to share my journey through books with you.

You can always check out all of my shelves on my Goodreads profile. Below is a short review of how I felt about each read. This post is in no way sponsored. I am writing this to reflect and give honest feedback on each book I read.

Books I Read in 2020

Sunshield (Outlaw Road, #1) by Emily B. Martin

Format: Paperback (Advanced Readers Copy)

What can I say about this book? I was so fortunate that Emily sent me an Advanced Readers Copy of this book before it made it’s debut. This book showed up at my house at the exact time I was feeling super down on myself because of some stuff going on with my job. Of course, I immediately binged the entire thing in one sitting. If you’re a fan of her original trilogy, then you have to pick this one up as it follows the next generation of characters through their own tales in the same world as the Creatures of Light trilogy. The second book in this duology is set to come out in 2021. Bonus – if you’re from the Upstate of South Carolina, you’re also supporting a local author.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Format: Audible

I chose this book for my February read of the M. Judson 2020 reading challenge, “A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you.” There are a few books on this list for this reading challenge, but it is safe to say, I did not follow the prompt and finish the challenge. Oops. As for this book, I really wanted to like this book, but I just did not relate to it at all. This is not a reflection of my opinion of Michelle at all, as I find her inspiring, well spoken, and stunning. The book itself came across as repetitive to me, and the subjects she spent the most time going into depth on I did not relate to. The parts I actually was interested in learning more about felt as though they were cut short or glazed over.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Format: Audible

This book is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but in a dark fantasy. I very much enjoyed this listen, and it is a great stand alone book for those looking for an eerie read. It has been a while since I read this, so sadly, I don’t have too much to say about this one other than it’s worth a listen.

The Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen

Format: Audible

If you have an Audible membership then you get different “originals” each month for free. This was a short listen, but I chose to listen to it since I was feeling burnt out myself at the time. Quite frankly, I am still working on this, and this listen is a very interesting look at our society and how we have created a culture where running at burnout is the expectation.

The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury

Format: Audible

This book was a pick thanks to the recommendation of Emily B. Martin. She describes it as “Hogwarts but with music!” There is no better way to describe this book, and the audiobook was a very fun listen because they incorporated music into the storytelling. The narrator of this audiobook also narrates the “Skyward” books from Brandon Sanderson, and made it an even more charming listen. This is definitely a tale for younger audiences, but I think it can be enjoyed by many generations.

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1) by Shelby Mahurin

Format: Audible

This book was highly recommended for readers who enjoy authors like Sarah J. Maas. Truthfully, I found myself getting distracted during this book quite often. It was ok overall, but it didn’t really wow me. The premise of the book is a witch and a witch hunter in an enemies to lovers tale. It is part of a series, but I don’t think I will be continuing the series.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Format: Paperback

I am sad to admit how long it took me to finish this book because it is absolutely stunning and unique, and more people need to read Naomi Novik. Don’t get me wrong, I love Young Adult (YA) fantasy books, but reading books like this make me realize how much I need to commit to bigger reads and add more adult fantasy into my to be read pile. I really feel like this story was its own tale that would be an instant classic on any bookshelf. Naomi Novik is an author I plan to read more of in 2021.

Air Awakens (Air Awakens, #1) by Elise Kova

Format: Audible

This book is the first book I purchased because of an advertisement on Instagram. I believe it was advertised as “Throne of Glass and Roses meets Avatar the Last Airbender.” Who doesn’t love those two things? Audible had the entire series available for 1 credit, so it was an easy decision to purchase. I really enjoyed the first book, which made me happy because my expectations were not high considering I discovered it from Instagram advertisements.

Fire Falling (Air Awakens, #2) by Elise Kova

Format: Audible

I continued straight into the second book in this series with enthusiasm that I had found new series to love. The second book was not as strong as the second book for me, but it did end on a cliffhanger that drove the need to start book three right away.

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Format: Hardcover

This is my “I can’t believe I read that in one sitting” book of 2020, and also the longest book I read in 2020. Crescent City was a much anticipated debut from Sarah J. Maas in the adult fantasy realm rather than her typical genre of YA fantasy. She did not disappoint. I was surprised this book is set in a more modern setting, but quickly adapted to the notion. The cover art and design of this book is as captivating as the story. I’m so excited to continue reading this series as it unfolds.

You Can Do All Things: Drawings, Affirmations and Mindfulness to Help with Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan

Format: eBook from Humble Bundle

I love HumbleBundle.com. If you don’t know about them then you need to learn. They offer a variety of different things from video games to programs to books in packages throughout the year at severely discounted rates. A portion of all their proceeds go to charity. This book was part of the “Spring Clean Your Life” bundle, and it has super cute art with encouraging phrases and affirmations throughout. It was a nice mental break from the chaos that was 2020.

Earth’s End (Air Awakens, #3) by Elise Kova 

Format: Audible

This is the book where the author started to lose my interest. I think the overall problem I began to have with this series was my lack of believability in a lot of the plot. I still had enough interest in the characters I did like to keep reading. We do get a good bit of spice levels in this one, but instead of rooting for the main romantic plot I remember finding myself frustrated with that as well.

Water’s Wrath (Air Awakens, #4) by Elise Kova

Format: Audible

This book really got on my nerves from the very beginning because they switched narrators after the third book in the series. It might have been easier to be forgiving, but the new narrator pronounced most of the main characters names differently than the previous narrator. See Crystal Crowned below to read my final thoughts on this series.

Halflife: Poems by Meghan O’Rourke

Format: Paperback

This book was given to me by my friend Virginia who has an amazing collection of poetry books. One of the M. Judson’s 2020 reads was a collection of poetry. I have never been a huge poetry person, unless you count Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss. While I would still say I’m not a huge poetry person, there were certain pieces in this collection that spoke to me, and it meant so much to me that she was willing to take the time to recommend something to me from her collection of poetry.

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1) by V.E.Schwab

Format: Paperback

V.E. Scwabb is an author who was instantly put on my “read all her books” list after this read. This book has been on my backlog forever, and I’m kind of sad I waited so long to dive into this world. I absolutely love books where I feel a unique system of magic has been created, and this series has done exactly that. I will definitely be trying to finish this series in 2021.

Crystal Crowned (Air Awakens, #5) by Elise Kova

Format: Audible

This was the final book in this series, and I really only finished it because I had already invested so much of my time into it to quit. I’ve noticed lately this book series has been getting quite a bit of hype on TikTok, and all I can say is I really don’t understand. It started off strong, but was overall just disappointing and not memorable for me.

Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher

Format: Audible

My friend Richard of Richard’s Comics and Collectibles and I had a long talk about books one night. When I mentioned I have been wanting to add Jim Butcher to my author’s read list, he recommended this one as a good segue between comics and books. I love Spider-Man too, so this was an easy decision. My husband and I listened to this book together, and we both really enjoyed it. Plus, I love that it had Felicia in it. I’ve already started another Jim Butcher novel for my early 2021 reads. Definitely recommend this one.

Bring Me Their Hearts (Bring Me Their Hearts, #1) by Sara Wolf

Format: Paperback

Another book recommended by a friend, Sara Beth let me borrow her copy of this book and the second in this series. I binged this book in about a week, and really loved the main character. The main character in this book is an antihero, and it also has enemies to lovers as well.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Format: Audible

I followed the Jim Butcher book with this audiobook, and it was a seamless transition. The DC Icons books all have great authors in the collection, and I just couldn’t go an entire year without at least one Leigh Bardugo book in my line up. If you’re a Wonder Woman fan then I highly recommend this book. Based on the reviews of the recent Wonder Woman 1984 movie, I think I’m happy to have chosen this book be my Wonder Woman experience for 2020 instead of the movie.

Find Me Their Bones (Bring Me Their Hearts, #2) by Sara Wolf

Format: Hardcover

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Bring Me Their Hearts, but I have one major problem with it. The problem being I’m upset this is not a duology, and there are more books on the way. I really felt like this book could have wrapped up our storyline so nicely, but instead it was left open for a third book. Honestly, there is a good chance I pretend this was a duology, and not bother with the next book. Both books were good so far though, so we’ll see.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Format: Kindle

This is a beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed this book, but I definitely have developed series fatigue. I am not convinced I will read the second one anytime soon due to my growing lack of enthusiasm for books I feel are being made into series for the sake of more books, and not for the sake of the plot.

Silverswift by Natalie Lloyd

Format: Audible

Another Audible Original offered for free. This book is about a granddaughter visiting her grandmother, and their search for mermaids. This is another book for younger audiences, but I enjoyed it all the same. I’ve finally returned to Audible, but I took a hiatus in audiobooks after this book. Between work and life, I found myself too distracted to enjoy them for a large part of 2020.

The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1) by Melissa Albert

Format: Kindle

A couple books on this list were purchased in a Kindle store sale, and I’ve been making an effort to actually read through them. This was one of those books, and another book I was annoyed to discover as part of a series. I really really enjoyed this book as it was. It is a great spooky read, and would be great for reading around Halloween with a touch of fairytale magic. It was good, but once again, it may live on as a stand alone in my head. I look forward to reading more of Melissa Albert’s writing in the future regardless.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Format: Paperback

Holly Black is one of those authors who just does fairy tales well, and she does them in a way that sets herself apart from other authors. This book was actually recommended to me a couple years ago by a friend’s younger sister, and my friend Gabby sent me a copy as a gift this year. I was super excited because this book was a stand alone story, and I think I read it in one sitting. I hope to continue to have Holly on my reading list at least once a year, and there are plenty of her older works I have not had the pleasure to read.

Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber

Format: Kindle

This has been on my TBR list since 2019, and was another book I purchased in a Kindle sale. I was so enamored with this book, and I think it helped me get past my annoyance with everything needing to be a series (if only for a short while) because I purchased the second and third one immediately after finishing this one.

Legendary (Caraval, #2) by Stephanie Garber

Format: Kindle

I thought I would be frustrated with this book because the first book in the series follows one sister, Scarlett, and her adventures in the legendary game of Caraval. The second book switches perspectives to be from her sister, Donatella’s point of view, but I quickly changed my mind. Donatella’s part of this quickly became more captivating than Scarlett’s story, and I enjoyed the second book just as much as the first.

Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber

Format: Kindle

Both Caraval and Legendary built a good amount of romantic tension, and while I did enjoy Finale as an ending to the series, I found myself wishing this book bordered the new adult line of YA reads. Lots of teasing and tension, but no follow through, so the spice wasn’t a great burn, if you get my drift. This book splits perspective between Donatella and Scarlett, and I found myself wishing it only followed Donatella because after Legendary I really just didn’t care about Scarlett’s side of things. Overall, I still highly recommend these books to anyone who loves a good fantasy trilogy.

Kissing the Coronavirus (Kissing the Coronavirus, #1) by M.J. Edwards

Format: Kindle

Yes, I am quite embarrassed to admit this one, but when I saw this on BookTok (the side of TikTok dedicated to booklovers) I couldn’t help myself. I guess 2020 got to me. In my defense, it was $1 in the Kindle store, and only 16 pages long. It is about 20 minutes of my life that I will never get back in which a doctor trying to find the cure for COVID-19 falls madly in love with the virus instead. There is definitely a lack of understanding for science terms and not the greatest of editing, but I got my $1 of giggling out of it. It is safe to say I will not be purchasing the sequel (YES, there is actually a sequel!), The Second Wave. 

And there it is… All of the books I read in 2020. What was your favorite read of 2020? What is a book you would recommend in 2021? Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to subscribe via email or Bloglovin’ to never miss a post!