My Favorite Books of 2020

Well, all, this year was a crazy year for most everything, but a great year for reading! I think reading was different for everyone this year, even more than normal. Some people couldn’t focus enough to read. Some people (like me) drowned their overactive minds by reading.

While the fog of 2020 kept me from writing as much as I would have liked, I translated it over to reading. Reading so much, in fact, that I far surpassed my goal and read more books in 2020 than I have ever before in one year. In fact, it was only one of two of my 2020 goals that I completed. (And I’ll take that as a win!)

One of favorite posts I make every year is the one I write about my favorite books of the year. This year, it was easy. The first five star book rating that I gave of the year stayed as my favorite book of the year. Following is my review of it and the other 5 star fiction and nonfiction that were my favorites this year!

Best fiction I read this year:

The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

Holy moly. My first fiction 5 star review of 2020. And it continued to be my favorite throughout the year.

While I had every intention of reading this book as soon as I read the hype surrounding it, I picked it up for an online book club…….and I finished it in 3 days. Which for me is amazing. I put everything other book I was reading down and devoured it. I couldn’t get enough.
I adore how diverse Jojo Moyes has proven herself to be as an author.

Not many books have the ability to make me laugh out loud or react aloud in any way, but this one had me floored. I laughed. I teared up. I let out quite a few Ooooooo’s even in the presence of other humans!

I immediately wanted to read it again.

What You Wish For

by Katherine Center

(followed closely by another of her books, Things You Save in a Fire)

You know you’ve picked up a good book when you have both audibly laughed and cried within the first 20 pages.

Predictability is always given a bad rap. But you know when you just *know* what’s coming but the characters and the story world are just so wonderful that you are actually giddy reading to see when and how what-you-just-know-is-going-to-happen will happen. That was this book for me. I had it pegged within the first few pages (quite accurately, I might add), but that actually made me love it even more. It made me turn the pages even faster. It made me read breathlessly.

All the Impossible Things

by Lindsay Lackey

This is the first book my daughter read before me and recommended me to read. She gave it such rave reviews and it instantly became one of her favorites that I had to read it as well. How could I not give it a five star review after that.

It is a middle grade book that does NOT feel like a debut novel, which makes me know that Lindsey Lackey is going places. The descriptions and word choices were beautiful. The story is emotional (my daughter balled and couldn’t believe I didn’t cry!).

As a young adult/children’s novel, the ending is beautiful. Enough depth and darkness that it feels real but isn’t too much for my 11 year old. I can see why it was her favorite. It didn’t y’all down to her at all. In fact, the language and descriptiveness was just as beautiful to me as any other adult novel. I appreciate that in an author, who won’t talk to their audience of children like they are too young to understand important things.

Lastly, can we talk about this cover. *all the heart eyes*

Best nonfiction I read this year:

Take the Day Off

by Robert Morris

This is a MUST READ for every Christian. It is the perfect book to start the year off! This book is jam-packed with important ideas that are overlooked and have been misused and misunderstood. First and foremost, the idea that the commandment about the Sabbath is the forgotten commandment that is not taken seriously whatsoever. And the idea that giving God the Sabbath is a gift for us not take from us, the same way that tithing is for us and not to take money away from us.

Morris guides us through how God stressed this commandment to him, the difference between the Old Testament Sabbath and the idea of the Sabbath for us New Testament believers, as well as practical ways to apply the principle of the Sabbath. He breaks down the four tanks that we need to take rest in, and gives examples of godly rest for each tank.

I could go on and on about the eye-opening and fascinating nuggets taken from this book.

The Year of Yes

by Shonda Rhimes

This is a book for women. Women who say no to things but need to learn to yes sometimes. Women who say yes to thing but need to learn which yes is the right one. Basically this is a book for all women.

This book is also for writers. It speaks DEEPLY to me as a writer, as a woman, as a mother, as a human. I could have started the book from page all over again as soon as I closed the last page, that’s how much I love this book.

It also got my butt back in the chair and back to writing–after giving myself far too long of a sabbatical. This quote did it for me: “I could dream or I could do.” Heck yes, I am going to step up, stop dreaming, and DO.

Another gem that I can’t not share: “Stop dreaming of becoming her and become you.” Yes ma’am. I’m on it.

The Rural Diaries

by Hilarie Burton Morgan

Going in to this book, I had no idea what to expect. I follow Hilarie Burton on social media and have been a fan of hers since One Tree Hill days. Plus I am a lover of celebrity memoirs, so I knew I had to read it.

She opens the book with a clear promise: “ So, folks, this is a love letter. To a town. To a farm. To a man.” Beautiful. And that’s exactly what this book is.

In fact, their jobs could have been anything, because the book wasn’t at all about their jobs. They came up momentarily of course. But the point of the book was exactly as she stated in the introduction: relationships.

It’s basically one big love story to falling in love with her husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan (of Grey’s Anatomy and The Walking Dead fame) and with small town farm living. There are garden tips throughout, even some recipes. Some of the moments were hilarious. Some were tearful. Honestly, the book made me enjoy her all the more.

Which company of readers were you this year? Did you meet your reading goal? Are you setting one for 2021?

Let me know in the comments what book was YOUR favorite read of 2020!

Want to read more this year? Check out the blog post, How I find the time to read where I give all my best tips!