Books I Read in 2020
By: Madeleine D.V
Tags: 2020, Books And Authors, Lifestyle, Challenge, Midnight Sun

Honey by Brenda Brooks

Two best friend live in a small town. One moves away abruptly without telling the other, then she returns years later with secrets as to where and why she left.

It was an okay book to start off. The climax and ending of the story felt very rushed. They are supposed to be best friends but their relationship didn’t feel established enough. (6/10)

2. The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll

A reality show filled with secret that are threatened to come out when a cast member is murdered

Not the best description, but I liked the concept. The reality show is an all women cast and the book tells the story through the perspective of 3 women on the show, so it gets a little confusing on who is who at certain points. (7/10)

3. Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian

A schoolteacher starts dating her professor, who later comes out to her as trans. The book follows the perspective of the schoolteacher, the professor, the school teacher’s daughter, and the school teacher’s ex husband as they navigate their relationship in a conservative town.

I went in with high hopes about this one because I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, I hated the ending of the book. It was interesting to see the schoolteacher and the professor’s relationship as they transitioned but I found the daughter and ex husband’s perspectives unnecessary. I was more interested in the romantic relationship dynamic. (4/10)

4. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

A memoir about a former addict and his time in rehab.

It took me a long time to get through this one because I wasn’t really enjoying it. There is a note at the beginning saying that the story was embellished, so after I read it I Googled the book and found out he fabricated a majority of it. It made me dislike it even more because he paints himself in a way that makes him sound stronger than everyone else. (5/10)

5. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Set in the 1800’s during the California Gold Rush, Argentinian Eliza Sommers goes in search of her lover who has left in search of riches.

This was one of my favorite reads of 2020. It was a book about adventure and self discovery. It is told with some humor and sarcasm. Overall, a fun book to read. (10/10)

6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter struggles with her identity as she lives in a poor black neighborhood but attends a private school in the suburbs. When her friend is murdered by a police officer, her community protests and she must use her voice to bring justice.

The novel reflected a lot of what was happening this year so it felt very real and honest. It is a great start to reading more book about topics about racism, police brutality, and being Black in America. (8/10)

7. Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran

The intertwined lives of two women: a Mexican mother in California who is placed in a detention center and an Indian- American woman who wants a child. It switches between the perspective of the Mexican mother as her child gets taken away and the American Indian wife who is placed in charge of him and grows to love the child

It was a heartbreaking story of separating children from their mothers. I grew to like both the women and at the ending it left me wondering what was the best decision for the child. (9/10)

8. Normal People by Sally Rooney

The book follows the lives of Connell and Marianne from high school to college as they break up, fight, love, and lose each other over the years.

Hulu turned the novel as a mini series and I much prefer the series over the book. The series does a really good job of adapting it. The writing style and format was not my favorite. (6/10)

9. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

A murder mystery about a professor in Paris who has been framed and must work with a cryptographer to see who really murdered the curator of the Louvre.

A page turner. I liked the puzzles and history (whether it was accurate of not) of the novel. It had some action, a bit of romance, and lots of mystery. (8/10)

10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

A writer in the 1960’s in Jackson, Mississippi tells the story of Black women who work for white households.

Very controversial book. I didn’t notice the author was white until about half- way though and it left a weird taste knowing how she wrote through the perspective of 2 black maids. That aside, I found it interesting how it felt the book took place YEARS ago but it was only 60 years. (7/10)

11. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

A woman murders her husband and then refuses to speak. A therapist starts working with her to try to find out the truth about that night.

A quick read that leaves you wondering where the story is going. I enjoyed it but didn’t feel it was as puzzling. (7/10)

12. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Historical fiction about Ernest Hemingway’s relationship with his first wife.

I didn’t know too much about Hemingway, except for a few works they made me read in high school. I liked reading about his personal life, even though it was technically fictitious. After reading this, I learned Hemingway was a womanizer who was troubled by his past. (6/10)

13. Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts

A famous musician moves to a small town for the summer. She learns that women having been getting murdered, and that the man she has been spending time with is a suspect in the murders.

It was a beach read kind of book. I didn’t like the love interest, I thought he was very arrogant and annoying. I could easily predict who the killer was, I just didn’t predict their motive. (5/10)

14. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight but told through Edward’s perspective. The reader learns more about Edward’s past and his struggle of falling in love with a human he is constantly wanting to kill.

It took me back to being in middle school when I first read the Twilight books. I’m not sure which perspective I preferred but it was nostalgic and fun to read. (7/10)

14. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Evelyn Hugo was Hollywood royalty in the 1950’s-60’s and now after many years she is ready to start telling the truth about her life.

My second favorite book this year. It was entertaining, tragic, and mesmerizing. It felt like I was reading a real Hollywood star’s memoir. (10/10)