At long last, I have attempted to narrow down my favorite reads from last year to a top 10 list!
I read some really memorable books and series throughout the long course of 2020, many of which I feel will remain personal favorites of all-time. I’ve included mostly YA books, but also some adult titles that I really enjoyed and feel have some crossover appeal for YA readers! So let’s get into it…
- The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand
I read all three books in this series last year and felt totally transformed into its world and fierce, unapologetic characters. I’ll just picture the finale, Lightbringer, here because it is the one that was released in 2020, but please do pick up this series ASAP if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind YA series to spark a new obsession. Also, be sure to check out my review of the first book, Furyborn, here.
- Saga: Compendium One by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
In the same vein, I binge-read the entire Saga comic series and completely fell in love. This series totally renewed my interest in comics and set me off on a quest to read more graphic novels (see some of my recommendations here). I loved the episodic nature of each volume, yet also how the unending twists and turns and cliffhangers made me never want to stop reading.
- House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
As a long-time Maas fan, I was so excited to dive into her newest series and was not disappointed! I have a full review of the book, so won’t go too in depth now, but just wanted to say don’t be intimidated by the size of this behemoth. It’s worth it!
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I read this book pretty early on in the year (as evidenced by my note about it being my mid-year fave in this post), but it left a lasting impression on me! Reid is such a compelling writer whose work I would definitely recommend. Daisy Jones & the Six was one of my top reads of 2019 and I cannot wait for her upcoming release, Malibu Rising, later this summer.
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
An absolutely dynamic story, this is one of those books that I consider a must-read and instant recommendation! I had not read Bennett’s work before, but after the amazing impression this novel left on me, she is definitely a writer whom I will be following for her new books.
- The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
What I consider to be an underrated gem, this spin-off to The Winner’s Trilogy (one of my long-time favorite series) totally worked for me and I cannot wait for the next installment! Check out my full review of this book here.
- We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Just in time for the release of We Free the Stars, I read and adored We Hunt the Flame. This will go down as one of my go-to recommendations for YA fantasy lovers from now on. Make sure to read my full review for more thoughts!
- Skyhunter by Marie Lu
Can Marie Lu ever disappoint? For real, I have adored each of her series and Skyhunter is no exception! A thrilling adventure from start to finish, this book was so much fun. Check out my review here.
- The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
One of my last reads of the year, The Magic Fish is the perfect mix of heart, fantasy, and storytelling magic. The art is beautiful and the interwoven storylines are seamlessly explored. If you’re looking to get into graphic novels, this is the book I would recommend to get you started.
- Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Another recent review of mine, Grown is an unforgettable contemporary thriller that shows just how masterful of a writer Jackson is and tells a heart-wrenching, important story. Please do check it out!
It was difficult to narrow down this list to just 10 (and really with the two series at the beginning, it’s technically more like 15, but shh…), yet I still have so many honorable mentions that I will be sure to discuss throughout the coming months in recommendations posts and the like, so stay tuned 🙂
Feel free to let me know some of your favorite reads of 2020 in the comments.
Happy reading!
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