Cinderella's Bookshelf: My Favorite Books of 2020

Happy New Year, everyone! As 2020 finally came to a close (thank goodness!) so begins a new year in 2021. Before I start my To Be Read pile for this year, I thought it would be nice to look back on all the books I read in 2020 and which ones were my favorite. I also made a short superlatives list for fun. As I mentioned in my previous entry, I set myself a goal of reading 25 books in one year which I fortunately managed to complete at the eleventh hour. Below are all the books I read and which ones I really enjoyed.

LIST OF BOOKS READ IN 2020

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Disney's Land by Richard Snow
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Anna K. by Jenny Lee
The Behavior of Love by Virginia Reeves
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Recursion by Blake Crouch
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Beach Read by Emily Henry
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
Atomic Love by Jennie Fields
Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

TOP 7 FAVORITE BOOKS

Recursion by Blake Crouch

This one took me by surprise as I came into it not expecting much. It turned out to be the best science fiction book I had ever read with a surprising plot involving time travel and a big climatic ending. The story was exciting filled with twists and adrenaline and characters that could come straight out of a movie. I cannot wait for the Netflix adaptation and to reading more books by Blake Crouch.

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

This was the first book I read this year and the first post I wrote about when I decided to restart this blog. As someone who enjoys watching rom-coms like The Holiday, Notting Hill, and Sleepless in Seattle, this was the perfect book to read. The main character, Evie Summers, had all the elements of a romantic leading lady and I was rooting for her all the way through. Add in father-daughter duo, Ben and Anette, and you've got a story with the same charm as a Nora Ephron movie.

Anna K. by Jenny Lee

When I selected this book as my February Book of the Month pick, I was surprised by how much I ended up loving it more than I thought I would. It had all the glitter and allure of an episode of Gossip Girl along with the social drama that comes with young teenage love in high society. With this modern take we also get a much needed reimagining of its title character and some of the other female characters as well. There is a sequel coming out next year that will continue the story and I cannot wait to venture back with Anna K and her friends.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

This lovely gem was the emotional glimmer of hope that I needed when 2020 really turned into the mess that it was. For a story that initially appeared to be about grief, turned into something hopeful and about finding yourself again. This was both cathartic and beautifully told and made me want to hug everyone I care about.

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay

2020 really robbed us from traveling around the world, but thankfully I felt I was able to vicariously travel to Ireland, France, and Italy through this Jenn McKinlay novel. Each location described and experienced by Chelsea made me feel as if I was actually there with her, whether it was meeting old friends at a pub in Killarney, dancing atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or roaming the hills of an Italian vineyard. Excuse me while I plan my future travel arrangements once this pandemic is over.

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

As a fan of Ready Player One, both the book and the movie, I was eager to read this sequel. Despite some of the mixed feelings I had about certain storylines and choices, I ultimately still enjoyed it and felt the same geek out nerd energy that I had with the first book.

Disney's Land by Richard Snow

I'm definitely a Disney kid at heart (I mean look at my name). The Disney parks, whether it be Disney World or Disneyland, have always been a part of my childhood and adulthood. When I heard about this book exploring the history behind the creation and unveiling of the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, I immediately went to the bookstore to purchase it. The book goes into great detail on how Walt Disney conceived the idea and his dream of bringing it life, despite many people believing he would fail. Richard Snow also went on to highlight everyone involved and notable players who helped shape the park into what it is today.