I’ve been doing a LOT of reading this year so far and I know there’s two reasons for this. One – because at the start of EVERY SINGLE YEAR I always set myself a goal to read more books, which I always do really well with during the first few months. And two – because of covid. Having all the time at home has definitely encouraged me to focus much more on self care and for me, reading books is a great form a self care. So today I wanted to share some of my best books of 2020 so far!

Best Books of 2020

Once I said a fond farewell to my book blogging days a few years ago, I kinda stopped talking about books altogether. With the exception of the occasional book related blog post, books were by no means a main feature on my blog anymore. And that makes me kinda sad to think about. I stopped reviewing books and took myself away from book blogging for a variety of reasons – but none of those reasons were the fault of the books. 

Related: How To Become a Book Reviewer – Tips From An Ex Book Blogger
Related: 25 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

Books have always been my true love. My first love. Books have been there for me through some of the worst times in my life. And some of the best. I’ve learned more from books that I did at school and I always stand by the fact that holding a book is like holding a little piece of magic. So why the heck shouldn’t I continue to talk about books on my blog now and again?

These last few months have been a bit of an eye opener for me in regards to my blog, my content, my career and what I want to do going forward. I switched up my Instagram and it feels more like ‘me’ than it’s done in years and I’ve established some new goals and a new path for myself. I want to start talking about more things I’m passionate about, rather than things I think I should talk about. And books is 100% one of those things. So I can’t wait to share my best books of 2020 so far with you!

If you need some book recommendations, here are my best books of 2020 so far (in no particular order):

Best Books of 2020

 

Suicide Club by Rachel Heng

Genre: Dystopian / Fiction
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

“The older she got, the faster the years sped by, and the less of an impression anything made. The facts of her adult life were couched in general truths rather than in details.”

Suicide Club had been sitting on my bookshelf for YEARS. Like literally years. I got it for Christmas a few years back because I was so desperate to read it but something was stopping me for all that time. The hype? The expectations? Idk. But I finally picked it up this year and I’m SO glad I did. It was an incredibly easy read so I absolutely zoomed through it and it’s such a unique and thought provoking story-line.

They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera

Genre: YA / Contemporary Fiction / LGBT
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“But no matter what choices we make – solo or together – our finish line remains the same … No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end.”

Oh maaaan this book! I had heard sooo many great things about this book for ages before I actually read it but I did go in with an open mind. I had a brief understanding of the plot but so much of it still came as a surprise. This is such a life-affirming read. I think that quote I mentioned above alone shows that. Definitely one that makes you think. Also makes you laugh. And cry. And everything in between.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Genre: YA / Mystery
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to admit that sometimes they’re just assholes who screw up because they don’t expect to get caught.”

I really really loved The Breakfast Club-esque feel of this book. Albeit a much darker breakfast club. With murder instead of pancakes. It took me a little while to get in to but once I did, I was completely hooked on the mystery of this book. At no point did I really suspect what was going on and I think I was just as confused as most of the characters were. I can’t wait to pick up the second one!

Your Life In My Hands by Rachel Clarke

Genre: Non-Fiction / Medical
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

“In medicine, needless to say, the moment you feel as if you’ve mastered something is invariably the point at which your next experience will knock you straight back down to earth.”

I don’t read an awful lot of non-fiction but I tend to be attracted to medical themed books. I love all the squeamish details and find it all very interesting. This book was not what I expected to be totally honest but it actually taught me so much more than what I thought it would. This is a seriously eye-opening book. About junior doctors, politics and a severely broken system that a lot of us owe our lives to.

The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh

Genre: Fiction / Romance
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“Nobody warns you that life continues to be complicated after you’ve Done the Right Thing. That there is no reward, beyond some intangible sense of moral fortitude.”

Look, I am not a romance lover or a romantic person so the fact that this book has 5 stars AND features in my top books of 2020 really is saying something. I just loved it. I loved the concept and it’s something a lot of us can relate to. We’ve all been ghosted in one way or another and the anguish that Sarah felt in staring at a silent phone for so long is something I can painfully sympathize with.

Coraline by Nail Gaiman

Genre: Fantasy / Horror / Children’s
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn’t mean anything? What then?”

This one is a bit of an honorable mention because Coraline is my favorite ever film and I’ve read the book before but I finally gave it a re-read this year because I wanted to be reminded of just how good and creepy it is. It’s still just as good and creepy as I remember. There’s just something about this story that completely draws me in every single time so glad I gave it a re-read!

Best Books of 2020

Those are my best books of 2020 so far! I’m sure that the rest of the year will bring with it some more amazing books but for now, I hope you grabbed a few good recommendations! Leave me a comment and tell me the best book you’ve read this year so far!

139 Comments

  1. Suicide Club for sure sounds like something I would pick up. I adored They Both Die at the End as well. Stunning YA book. If you love medical nonfic books I definitely recommend checking out Stiff by Mary Roach. The audiobook is top notch as well.

  2. These are something my sort of books 🙂 I need to look into some of these Thanks for such cool recommendation 😉 You made my covid 19 time much more Interesting

  3. They Both Die At The End is really high on my TBR – I’ve heard so many good things! I recently finished This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay and I loved it – really eye-opening, with a great sense of humour.

  4. I’ve read soooo many books during lockdown – probably the only bonus to it all for me! I use my kindle but like to mix it up with a paperback. Adding these to my reading list now!
    Rosie

  5. I love Coraline! I’m also listening to the audiobook for They Both Die At the End, but I had to take a break. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back into it soon!
    I also want to read Suicide Club & One of Us Is Lying!

  6. I’ve read one of us is lying and they both die at the end and loved them both. Adam Silvera is one of my absolute FAVES I’ll definitely have to check out some more of these

  7. Ooo, i think the “One of us is lying” book sounds like my sort of book. I’ll have to have a look at it! Thank you for the recommendations xxx

  8. I’ve heard about a few of these, and all good things! Maybe I’ll pick one or two of them up one day. (But I think I love classics too much :’)) So far this year, I’ve really enjoyed The Grishaverse trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and I was very pleasantly surprised by A Separate Peace by John Knowles! xx

  9. I absolutely loved They Both Die At The End. I cried so much after I finished it but it’s just such a good book. I love the look of Your Life in My Hands. This is Going to Hurt is still one of the best books I ever read so I definitely want to do more reading in the medical non-fiction field!

  10. I loved reading One of Us is Lying too, definitely up there as one of my favourite reads of the year so far. They Both Die at the End will be on my TBR for next month as I wanted to try to read it over the dates it’s set on – looking forward to it even more now that you’ve rated it so highly! 🙂

    Thanks for sharing these recommendations Jenny!

  11. These sound like such great recommendations! I can’t believe I haven’t watched the Coraline movie, but I love reading creepy books, I might have to give it a try 😊

  12. I LOVE this post. One of Us is Lying has been on my list for so long to read – and sitting on my shelf for almost as long. I must get to it. Ooh I’m glad you liked Suicide Club – I did for most of it but then there were odd bits that freaked me out a bit. Although it’s been a few years since I read it, so maybe I’m remembering it wrong.

  13. I love a good easy read so I bet I will like Suicide Club. I loved One of Us is Lying, it is actually one of those books that I would like to read again. I am not a massive fan of Non-Fiction either, I find them really difficult to read and only end up reading about half and then getting bored, however Your Life In My Hands sounds like a book we should all read at some point in our lives. Great recommendations Jenny! xx

  14. I LOVE new book recommendations; so will immediately be adding some of these to my Kindle! I know what you been about trying to read more and setting goals; so much so that I’ve downloaded Goodreads within the past year to give myself some accountability.

    Paige // Paige Eades

  15. Oo I’ve been looking for a new book to read for ages! I haven’t read any of these books before but a couple of them are going on my list like One of us is lying, I’ve heard such good things about that book! X

  16. I love reading since I was 7 and could spend hours at the bookstore (my fave place). I always make sure to save and buy a bunch of books every 3-4 months, but it’s been ages since my last visit to the bookstore (kinda miss it). I mostly spend my days reading online platform now 🙂 The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh sounds good! Thanks for this list, Jen xxx

  17. Ah I’m yet to read any of these but have heard such great things about all of them, particularly They Both Die in the End which I’m glad to see you loved! I’ve discovered too many new favourites this year already, but ‘Girl, Woman, Other’, ‘Song of Solomon’, and ‘Pachinko’ are all up there! x

    Evie x | http://www.eviejayne.co.uk

  18. I really need to read Coraline. One of us in lying is a great book and They Both Die at the End is up there with one of my all time favourite books.

  19. I’ve heard so many things about One Of Us Is Lying – I am so happy you included it on your list as now I have no excuse not to read it! Thank you for sharing your favourites. I haven’t heard of The Man Who Didn’t Call, but it appears we have similar taste so It’s going in the basket!

    Em x

  20. These books sound fab! I have so many books on my TBR list; reading is something I want to get into again because I used to read for hours! x

    – Charlotte / charlottesspace.com

  21. Ooo – I’ve been looking for a book to get stuck into. I’ve not read a book that isn’t a textbook in so long and these are some great recommendations! They all sound so interesting… Now it’s deciding which one to go for!

  22. Great list, Jenny!
    They Both Die At The End & One Of Us Is Lying are two of my faves of the year too. I couldn’t put them down once I had started.

    I’m gonna have to give the book by Rosie Walsh a read because it sounds right up my ally! Thank you for sharing.

  23. I have a few of these in my TBR pile so good to see they come highly recommended.

    I have completely changed my reading habits over the last 4 months. I am back to loving picking up a book again and am trying genres I would never have considered before.

    I have also found that having a large TBR pile has kept me motivated to read quicker as I want to get on to the next one x

  24. One Of Us Is Lying is one of my favourite books this year too, although I’ve not picked up its sequel yet. I think a few of the best books I’ve read so far this year are The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, Hold Back The Tide by Melinda Salisbury and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by HG Parry.

  25. These all sounds great. I usually read a lot of romantics or crime books so I’ve been looking to find some recommendation for something different. Putting suicide club and you’re life is in my hands on my list!

  26. I think we’ve got a really similar taste in books! I love a medical non fiction book too, and all of these are right up my street. I absolutely loved One of Us is Lying and the follow up is good too! Really loved Karen McManus’ other book, Two Can Keep A Secret as well. I think the best book(s) I’ve read this year are Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd and The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell x

  27. I was looking for more books to finish my reading goal for the year. I love to read fiction. You have some great recommendations and variety here. Sounds fun. Thanks for this useful post.

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