My Top Ten Books of 2020

For most readers, 2020 was either the opportunity to read as much as they could, or too overwhelming to read anything at all. I am happy to report that for me, 2020 was a huge reading success. Though I did not manage to read anything captivating until I came back home in March, the rest of the year led me to several wonderful books. And 2020 also allowed me to set a new record! With everything happening, and especially with classes starting again in September (2 to 3 books a week with all of my classes, plus at least a book a week for myself), I have managed to read 92 books over the year, the most I have ever read in my entire life! I have decided that today I would share my top ten favourite books that I have read this year.

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10) The Harpy, Megan Hunter

Is it possible to forgive your partner if they cheat on you?

I picked up this novel quite randomly at the end of October. I was looking through books at Waterstones – as I do regularly, at least once a week when we are not in a lockdown

situation – and this one kept coming back to me. I didn’t know much about it, but I was really captivated by the cover, which I think is really dark and beautiful. After coming back to it for a few weeks, I finally picked it up and decided to buy it.

The Harpy tells the story of Lucy and Jake, a married couple living together in the suburbs with their children. Lucy, who is quite devoted to her family, one day learns that her husband is having an affair. The couple decides to work through their issues, and as retaliation, they come to a peculiar arrangement: Lucy is allowed to hurt Jake three times, in anyway she wants, and without warning.

This novel dives deep into questions of human relationships and trust. It leaves us readers to try and reflect on whether or not relationships can be mended, and forgiveness can be found through vengeance. Or, will that lingering resentment always be trying to break through, so much so that you will be forever changed?

Through beautiful, lyrical prose, Megan Hunter explores the pain of being cheated on, and the difficulty to try and move past it. She also mentions important subjects such as feminism, motherhood and the body.

9) The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins

During the summer, I finally saw the opportunity to read The Hunger Games for the first time. And I absolutely loved every second of it. After that, I decided to pick up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, happy to get a bit of background on this world that Suzanne Collins created.

The novel deals with a young Coriolanus Snow during the tenth annual Hunger Games, as he mentors and falls in love with a tribute from District 12.

You could call this Snow’s villain origin story, as it truly shows a certain descent into madness in which Coriolanus, bright, innocent and optimistic, slowly turns into what will become President Snow. I clearly did not expect Suzanne Collins to make me like someone like Snow, and yet, I felt a lot of empathy for him.

This novel has a similar style to the Hunger Games, in the sense that it is politically relevant and not a simple story of good guys and bad guys. However, this is not as fast paced as The Hunger Games was, especially because the main character is not a tribute in the games. In this book, we get to see the other side of it all.

I really enjoyed learning more about this universe, especially since we get a lot of context about how the Capitol created the games and how they evolved until the original trilogy. It was also interesting to see bits of philosophy in the story, mainly with the discussion of nature vs nurture and the social contract theory, both used by characters in the story.

I think that what Suzanne Collins manages very well is the breadth of reading that her novels have. On the one hand, these books can be read as simply dystopian YA novels, but dig deeper, and you’ll find yourself dealing with questions of politics, philosophy and psychology. For that, I will always pick up one of her novels.

8) On the Come Up, Angie Thomas

What can I say about this book?

I have been a huge fan of Angie Thomas since I picked up The Hate U Give about a year ago. She manages to talk about important issues and bring awareness to those, while also creating characters who feel real and authentic. Still, I have to admit that The Hate U Give is probably a heavier read, mostly because of what it deals with.

On The Come Up is still a very heavy and important read. Not only does it deal with racism and the expectations and prejudices that people have, but it also talks about poverty, ptsd and substance abuse. Its primary strength is probably that while these issues are here and dealt with, they are well incorporated in the story while being really subtle. Paradoxically, by being more subtle, they feel almost more important and impactful.

However, just like THUG, this book still has an hopeful tone, especially through the relationships between the characters. There is a strong sense of family and friendship that will make you care for them.

I would recommend listening to the audiobook, as the story uses rap and rhymes, and the impact of the songs is bigger when listening to the book.

Throughout the book, I have cried and laughed and felt with Bri, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

7) Dear Reader, Cathy Rentzenbrink

I have never really enjoyed non-fiction books, and as you may notice, this is the only one in this list. I have always found non-fiction books to be long and boring, and I always struggle to deep into a non-fiction the way that I would a novel. However, this was such a marvellous read!

Maybe it is because it's about books and reading, and that the author's love of books is something that I relate to. Or maybe it is because it almost feels like a novel, as we navigate our way through her life and through the many, many book that have been significant in her life.

We watch as Cathy Rentzenbrink discovers her first books, and shares her joy with her loved one. We see her encourage her father to learn how to read, and see them later enjoy talking about books. We see her finding her path and what makes her happy through books. As a reader, I cannot help to yearn to find a life for myself in which my love of books is so central.

6) My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russel

This is a dark and twisted novel, one that will stay with you, disturb you.

The book relies on two timelines: one in which a young and naïve 15 year-old Vanessa starts in a new school and finds herself in an affair with her 42 year-old teacher, the other, in which 17 years later, Vanessa’s teacher is accused of sexual abuse by a former student.

Vanessa’s world is thus turned upside down as she tries to reconcile her memories of what she thought was a consensual affair with the reality of her former teacher’s abuse.

This novel fits incredibly well with today’s narrative of the #MeToo movement, while showing how it can be used and forced upon others. As far as trauma narrative goes, this is a very powerful story. I found myself having to put down the book several times, in shock of the reality of these events. What I find most interesting is how the story works with questions of recovery and how forcing women to speak up against their abuse is not always the best solution for their recovery.

It is of course a very triggering read, and I would definitely advise you not to read it if you can be triggered by instances of abuse, rape and paedophilia.

5) I Was Born For This, Alice Oseman

I picked up this novel under the advice of one of my closest friends, who is a huge Alice Oseman fan. I didn’t know much about it, but I trusted my friend enough to know that if she recommended it I had to read it.

This novel follows two main characters: one, Jimmy, frontman of a famous band called the Ark, and Angel, one of the Ark’s number one fans.

When it comes to representation, Alice Oseman always does a wonderful job in her novels. Maybe that is why her characters are so easy to love and relate to; they are human, people who you could meet anywhere, anytime. Not only that, but her depiction of the relationship between artist and fan is incredibly realistic. I myself was never a fan of One Direction, and even then, I could feel some important parallels with the Ark. This novel does a great job at showing the pressure of fame, but also how toxic and harmful it all can be.

I remember finishing the novel, in tears, and calling my friend to talk about it all. And those are my favourite moments after reading a book, when you just need to talk about it for hours after reading it!

4) Vicious, V.E. Schwab

This one book is pretty much every trope that I love, all wrapped up in one story. Powers? Morally grey characters? Found family (sort of)? And of course, written by V.E. Schwab.

This novel is incredibly well thought-out. Everything is here for a reason, and there is never a dull moment. Eli and Victor, as well as all the other characters and narrators are incredibly complex and well-developed. It was an absolute pleasure to read.

What I found amazing about this novel is the idea of a superhero story, in which nobody the very notion of hero is challenged. Instead, each character has their motives, their values, and there is no right or wrong.

I cannot believe that I read this in 2020. I already want to pick it up and read it again, even though I read it 8 months ago!

3) Before the Coffee Get Cold, Toshikazu Kawaguchi

I had Before the Coffee Gets Cold on my tbr for a little while when I saw that the second one came out in September, and I decided that it was finally time for me to read it.

The premise of the book is lovely. A small café in which you can go back in time to meet people you love, with the most important rule being that you need to finish your coffee and come back to the present before your coffee gets cold.

I was blown away by this novel. It is one of those stories that leave you speechless, sobbing, and in love with every character who step foot through the café.

I have read Tales From the Café shortly after, and while it was just as wonderful, there is something about the first one that will leave its mark on me for the rest of my life.

2) Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid

By now, I’m sure that you’ve heard about this, novel. Everyone that I have met who has read this novel has been praising it, and I completely agree!

Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down, and so, instead of going about my life, I just sat on the couch for the entire afternoon, turning the pages, reading chapters after chapters, unable to put it down.

This novel deals with such important issues of woke culture and white saviour complex. The characters feel like real people who, while being well-meaning – or thinking that they are – end up doing more harm than good.

This is an incredibly relevant read, one that will (hopefully) blow you away.

1) The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, V.E. Schwab

Another V.E. Schwab book? I am definitely not surprised by this.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, and it was one of the few books that I pre-ordered and started as soon as I had it in my hands.

This a very particular novel, and I can understand how some people might not enjoy it. But to me, this felt like a love letter to literature and art, to life and dreams. I mostly rank books on how engaged I was with the story and the writing, and on how much it made me feel. This got 5 stars in both categories. After a while, I couldn’t stop myself, and after the first few pages, I just knew that I would finish it on the day. And as I finished reading, I had to stop myself every few lines as my vision got blurry and I started sobbing.

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With 2021 already started, I look forward to a new year of wonderful books - and to hopefully reach the 100 books read in one year. What were your favourite books of 2020? Anything you are looking forward to read this year? I would love to know!