Our generation is sure to remember the year 2020 for the rest of our lives. In these tough times, books kept me company (what else can you expect from a book blogger). They helped me escape from all the sadness and negativity that this year heaped upon us.
Let’s have a look at the fifteen books that I enjoyed reading the most in 2020. These are the books whose stories are still fresh in my mind despite having read (at least some of them) months ago. They are from a variety of genres – thrillers, literary fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy.
Bird Cottage by Eva Meijer
Genre: Literary fiction
Meijer’s Bird Cottage is a unique novel based on the life and research of Gwendolen Howard, a British naturalist and musician, that weaves biographical facts with fiction. This book with its pretty cover and gorgeous writing will surely touch your soul.
Read the full review here.
Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall
Genre: Fantasy
Pirates, magical creatures, ships, islands, and a great coming-of-age story. What more do you need from a YA fantasy?
The first book in the Frith Chronicles, Knightmare Arcanist, by Shami Stovall, engrossed me from the first page and kept me interested till the last.
Read this. You won’t be disappointed.
Full review here.
BIRD IN A SNARE BY N.L. HOLMES
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
A fourteenth-century Egyptian diplomat’s investigation of a murder further complicated by the new king’s religious reforms. This was a beautifully written historical whodunit. The book not only provided me the satisfaction of reading a mystery tale, but also a tale full of political intrigue and courtroom drama.
Read the full review here.
THE COLLECTOR BY JOHN MAHER
THE CHILD WHO NEVER WAS BY JANE RENSHAW
Genre: Thriller
Sarah’s toddler, Oliver, has gone missing, but no-one believes her. Not even her beloved twin sister, Evie, who she loves more than herself.
Because she never had a son.
The child she is mistaking for her own is Evie’s son, James. But is he?
This was a provocative and stunning psychological thriller with a twist that blew away my mind.
Read the full review here.
SECURE THE SHADOW BY MARION GRACE WOOLLEY
Genre: Mystery
The story of three lives, spanning the history of photography and our relationship with mortality.
Secure the shadow, ere the substance fades.
This was a terrific book. Woolley’s beautiful prose pulled me right into this engrossing tale revolving around photography, death, and grief.
Read the full review here.
THE MOUNTAINS SING BY NGUYỄN PHAN QUẾ MAI
Genre: Literary fiction
It is a poignantly written story that charts the journey of generations of Trần family as they face severe adversities for more than two decades during the Việt Nam War and the infamous Land Reform of North Vietnam. Don’t miss this one.
Full review here.
WE ARE NOT FREE BY TRACI CHEE
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Moving and powerful, Traci Chee’s We Are Not Free is one of the best books I have read so far in 2020. It is a collective account of fourteen second-generation Japanese American teens who are rooted overnight from their homes, along with their families and forced into incarceration camps during World War II by the United States government. Don’t miss this one.
Full review here.
BROTHER’S KEEPER BY JULIE LEE
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee charts a North Korean family’s harrowing escape from its country’s oppressive regime to the democracy of South Korea. Braving border guards, napalm, frostbite, air raids, bombings, and the bitterly cold Korean winter, can this family arrive unscathed at their destination? You will have to read the book to find out.
Full review here.
SET THE STARS ALIGHT BY AMANDA DYKES
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Christian Fiction, Mystery
A truly magical and romantic novel. A story of love, hope, friendship, community, and devotion. It is also a story of courage and finding the truth.
Don’t miss this one. You can read the full review here
AN UNUSUAL BOY BY FIONA HIGGINS
THE MURDER CLUB BY NIKKI CRUTCHLEY
Genre: Thriller
The lives of Miller, Cassie and Logan – all affected differently by murder – become entwined as a serial killer strikes in the small town of Lentford, New Zealand.
This is a well-written, small-town, character-centric, crime fiction set in New Zealand.
You can read the full review here.
Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton
Genre: Thriller
In rural Somerset in the middle of a blizzard, the unthinkable happens: a school is under siege. Told from the point of view of the people at the heart of it, all experience the most intense three hours of their lives, where evil and terror are met by courage, love and redemption.
This is a brilliant thriller taut with suspense, brimming with action, and peopled with relatable characters.
You can read the full review here.
The Tigers in the Tower by Julia Golding
Genre: Middle grade
Sahira’s family is traveling to England to deliver two tigers to the menagerie in London. However, they fall prey to sickness leaving Sahira alone in the care of people who want nothing to do with her.
It is an enchanting tale full of action and adventure.
You can read the full review here.
A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Genre: Middle grade
The wolves do not trust humans or witches. Yet, when her pack is in danger, Zima, a young wolf, is forced to take Baba Yaga’s help. But Baba Yaga does not help for free. She wants something from Zima – her keen sense of smell. The result – Zima switched bodies with Baba Yaga, who flees into the forest to set her secret plan to fruition. Meanwhile, Nadya, an orphan girl, visits Baba Yaga seeking her help. How will Baba Yaga, Zima, and Nadya help each other and help their beloved forest?
Wolves, Witches, forests – my favorite concoction in the world. I am glad to say Karah Sutton’s A Wolf for a Spell brewed this concoction perfectly. It was enchanting Russian folklore retelling.
You can read the full review here.
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Debjani's Thoughts 
Great list Debjani. I have a few of these already on my TBR and a couple that I am adding. I have The Unusual Boy on audiobook, hope to listen to it this week.
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I hope you love The Unusual Boy, Carla. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Books certainly kept me company this year🙂
Great list!
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Thanks, Prachi. 🙂
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Lovely list😁 I see lots of thrillers here I’d live to read. I also was surprised to find that books I read much earlier in the year made a big impact on me and ended up on my “best books” list😁
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Well, my list has an almost equal distribution of books read earlier and later in the year, Tammy. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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So glad you found these fifteen books to enjoy, Debjani!
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Thanks for reading, Marialyce. 🙂 Although I read a lot of books this year courtesy lockdown, these 15 are the most memorable ones.
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These sound great. As you might expect, I’m interested in the fantasy and the thrillers The Collector in particular. I perk up whenever forensics is mentioned 😀
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That was an unusual book, Mogsy. Slow-paced but interesting. Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Great picks! Now would like to hear the fifteen interesting blogs you read this year….
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Thanks for reading! Can’t say I accept your challenge. I am not finding time for even reading books, let alone blogging. But I must say I find your articles very informative.
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Thanks, Debjani…
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