My Favourite Books of 2020 | Ending on a good note

2020 was a weird and unexpected year that’s for certain, and I definitely can’t say that it was all-round positive. But what I can do, is try and view the year in a positive note and that’s where books come in! In 2020 I read 54 books (exceeding my GoodReads goal of 25 books by more than double!) and I’m so happy with that. Plus, the majority of books I read were perfectly picked and really enjoyable. So, without further ado, in this post I’m going to be looking back on the best books I read in 2020, from finally giving in to the hype to unexpected new favourites;

Six of Crows was a reread in preparation for Crooked Kingdom (loved it just as much as the first time) but Crooked Kingdom became my favourite book of the year when I read it back in May. It was incredible!! If you haven’t read the duology (at some point trilogy??) then please do because it is incredible. I have so much love for the crew (Kaz and Inej especially) and I can see myself rereading these two so many times in the future! The plot is also incredible – so many amazing twists and turns and it’s they’re two of the few books where I was genuinely so emotionally invested!

THIS SERIES. You guys if you haven’t read the Shadow Games trilogy then please please do because it is incredible. INCREDIBLE.
So many twists, so many turns, so many unexpected plot points. The endings were so intense and it was just such a wild ride.
The characters were brilliant. Levi wishes he was Kaz Brekker but he’s a softer version and I love that.
It also has that found family aspect which is one of my favourite tropes and I just really enjoyed this.
Out of the three though I don’t think I have a favourite? Maybe Ace of Shades book 1? Or King of Fools? I don’t know!! All of them were just insane.

2020 was the year I finally listened to the hype and listened to you all – I read Red, White And Royal Blue.
It only took me over a year to get to it but I’m really glad I did.
I loved it. The royals; the teasing and the banter (enemies to lovers but not really which is one of my fave tropes!); the slow burn, the realisation, the politics.
Loved it!! I really enjoyed Casey McQuiston’s writing and I can’t wait to see what else she writes.

I read Becoming by Michelle Obama back in lockdown and I absolutely adored it. I’ve always been interested politics but this (amongst other things in 2020) really affirmed for me that I want to go into politics and work for equality. Michelle Obama is just so so inspiring and I really enjoyed seeing more behind the scenes of being the First Lady. It was also the first fiction book I’ve read and adored so if you’re looking for a fiction book start here!
(And the book I’m going to mention next)

Another book that was just so so inspiring. Malala is absolutely incredible and her story is one I think everyone should read. I also mentioned the book in my personal statement for university because it just really hit me?
Made me so incredibly grateful for my education and actually really motivated me.

I finished this on Boxing Day and it was incredible.
I loved the story; I loved the characters (Kallia is maybe one of my favourite characters?); I loved the magic element; I loved the tension.
It was just so good and the cover is stunning too!!
I didn’t realise that it was a series though so I have to wait until August 2021 to find out what’s going on with the chaotic ending. It’s going to be a longgg wait honestly.

I read Caraval ages and ages ago and absolutely loved it. I then reread it twice but just never got to the sequels?? Until 2020.
I finally got to Legendary and Finale and boy were they worth the wait!!
I absolutely loved these, so many twists and turns and I actually ended up preferring Tella in Legendary and Finale to our OG Stella in Caraval.
It’s just such a fun and magical series and combined with all the tension of the plot = a recipe for a great book.
Will 100% be rereading this one at some point.

And that’s actually all of the standout books! It’s crazy how even though contemporary is my most-read genre, my favourite books always tend to be fantasies? Especially those with magical elements. Strong female leads, morally grey and secretive love interests, something dark happening in the background, found family. Love it.

What were your favourite books of 2020? Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned? What books should I add to the 2021 tbr?!

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