This is the one year where I had ALL the time to read and then couldn’t. March through May was pretty difficult. Picked up many books only to put them down again. Once I got past the initial difficulty, reading became pleasurable again and some books stood out to me in a big way. This is a list of my faves read in 2020 in no particular order.
A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Second Home by Christina Clancy
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Not a bad list considering everything else in 2020 was a real challenge. All links point to my review of each book so check them out if you are looking for something to read.
I don’t want to jinx it but 2021 should be better and hopefully filled with some really good reads.
Book Chatter 
Great list! I see a few I may add to my 2021 list 🙂
Great list Ti. I’ve read all your faves except, Second Home. The Dutch House made my tops list in 2019, and, as you know Vanishing Half, The Sun Down Motel and Elinor Oliphant (read 2x) have been favorites.
Happy New Year!
I am pleased to see Eleanor and Vanishing Half on your list! I worry as well that we are all putting too much pressure on 2021. Let’s hope it can live up the pressure.
Thanks for sharing your favourites, wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
Happy New Year to you too!! Here’s to many more great books!
Two books I really hope to make time for this year made your list, I am happy to see. The Sun Down Motel and The Vanishing Half. Leave the World Behind also interests me. I don’t know that it was a stand out reading year for me. I was very stingy with my ratings this year. I gave one book a 5, and even that wasn’t a for sure solid. Close though. I hope the New Year treats you and your family well this year, Ti!
I was pretty stingy too but still have plenty of good reads to include on my list. I didn’t think I would even have five until I sat down to figure them out.
Eleanor Oliphant is the only one in this list that I have read but many others are still in my wishlist. Hopefully soon. This is a very good list and I am glad to see Leave the World Behind here.
Excellent list, Ti! The Dutch House and Eleanor Oliphant have been on my previous lists and The Vanishing Half is a favorite this year. The others are on my list…
Leave the World Behind and The Vanishing Half will likely be on my Favorite List as well … these were strong books! Great List.
I gave up on quite a few books this year with no regrets. Life is too short to read mediocre books.
From your list, I’ve read A Good Neighborhood, The Dutch House, and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (loved it!). I plan to read Leave the World Behind and The Vanishing Half sometime in 2021. Glad to know you enjoyed them!
I gave up on a few as well. I just wasn’t in the mood to be miserable reading a book I didn’t love just for the sake of reading it.
Some of these are on my tbr list this year
I really liked all of the books on your list that I’ve read. Dutch House was my favorite book in 2019!
I want a really nice copy of The Dutch House. I read it on my Kindle but another blogger told me she bought a copy from Waterstones and it was leather bound and gorgeous.