10 Books That I Read In 2020

For the last few years, I haven’t been making new year’s resolutions as I never stick to them and end up feeling rubbish about it. Instead, I have been trying to create little goals of things that I want to improve or incorporate into my life. Last year I gave myself the goal of reading 12 books (1 a month). This may not seem like much, but I just never give myself enough time to read – even though I love reading!

For most of us 2020 didn’t really go to plan and I didn’t manage to read all 12 books that I wanted to. I am sure many of you managed to read more books during lockdown, but I did everything but read… I did manage to read 10 books though, so I didn’t do terrible😂

So, let’s get into it and have a look at what I read in 2020.

January: As Old As Time – A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell

Blurb –

Unravel the dark secrets surrounding the Beast’s curse in this intriguing tale.

Trapped in the castle with the terrifying Beast, Belle learns there is much more to her angry captor when she touches the enchanted rose. Suddenly, her mind is flooded with images of her mother, a woman Belle hardly remembers.

Stranger still, Belle realises that her mother is none other than the beautiful Enchantress who cursed the Beast, his castle and all his staff.

Stunned and confused by the revelation, Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel years of mystery.

My Thoughts –

I received a few of the Twisted Tale collection and I was so excited as I love Disney and had wanted these for ages! If you love Disney, but are looking for something a little different then I recommend these (as you will see I have read a few). I really enjoyed this one. There were lots of twists and turns and some new characters. I recommend for a Disney lover.

February: Poor Unfortunate Soul by Serena Valentino

Blurb –

How did the sea witch, Ursula, become so twisted and filled with anger and hatred?

Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous with Ursula. Will the cost of losing her enchanting voice and nearly her soul prove too high for Ariel, or will the power of good prevail?

Losing then finding one’s voice is at the heart of the classic story of The Little Mermaid. 

My Thoughts –

This book is part of the Villain Tales collection and so I was hoping that it would be similar to the Twisted Tale collection. And although I liked the different perspective, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I am still going to read the other books from the collection and maybe my opinion will change. I would still recommend the book to those that like Disney as it still have the Disney feel.

March: Let It Go – A Frozen Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita

Blurb –

Following the unexpected death of her parents, Elsa finds herself the sole ruler of Arendelle and mysterious powers begin to reveal themselves.

Elsa starts to remember fragments of her childhood that seem to have been erased – pieces that include a familiar-looking girl. Determined to fill the void she has always felt, Elsa must take a harrowing journey across her icy kingdom to undo a terrible curse…and find the missing Princess of Arendelle.

My Thoughts –

I absolutely love Frozen and have watched all of the films and shorts multiple times. So, when I received this for Christmas, I was so excited to read it! If you too love Frozen are looking for more, then this is the book for you.                                                                                     

April: Black Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Blurb –

I am the start of screaming tabloid headlines and campfire ghost stories. I am one of the four Black-Eyed Susans. The lucky one.

Left with three other girls in a grave shrouded by black-eyed Susans, Tessa alone survived, her testimony helping to put a killer behind bars.

Now, sixteen years later, he is about to be executed. But Tessa feels no relief.

Because someone is planting black-eyed Susans outside her window. Someone is sending her daughter sinister messages. And there’s a lawyer telling her the man about to be put to death is innocent.

Which can only mean one thing: the wrong man has been sentenced, the real killer is still out there and Tessa might not be the last Black-Eyed Susan…

My Thoughts –

I initially really loved this book as it was my first delve into reading thriller (I’ve always been a bit too scared to😂) It was a book that I didn’t want to put down! But when it ended, I was kind of left wanting more. And not in a ‘OMG I didn’t want it to end’ it was more of I felt it got a bit messy towards the end. However, I read this towards the beginning of lockdown, and I was a little all over the place. So, I’m thinking of re-reading it this year and taking more time to understand the ending. If you’ve read this book, please let me know your thoughts.

May: Reflection – A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim

Blurb –

What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?

When Captain Shang is mortally wounded in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily.

With the help of Shang’s great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must find Shang’s spirit and leave by sunrise, or become King Yama’s prisoner forever. Mulan, still disguised as the soldier Ping, wrestles with the decision whether or not to reveal her true identity to her closest friend.

Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it’s too late?

My Thoughts –

Okay so, I really enjoyed this book as Mulan is one of my favourite films. However, it took me absolutely ages to read😂 It’s completely different to the film and it explores some of the characters more which I really enjoyed.

June: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – by Maya Angelou

Blurb –

Maya Angelou’s seven volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows cruelty. As a black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope and joy, achievement and celebration. In this first volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American South of the 1930’s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother’s lover.

My Thoughts –

If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart, make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry and teach you about the racism that so many people face – then I highly recommend this book! I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to read it – but I can’t wait to read the rest of her autobiographies.

July: Normal People by Sally Rooney

Blurb –

Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation – awkward but electrifying – something life-changing begins.

Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can’t.

My Thoughts –

I kind of have this thing where when something becomes popular, I run in the opposite direction…😂 I’m not really sure why I do this, but I do.

However, when I heard that this was coming out as a series, I wanted to read the book beforehand (I haven’t actually finished watching the series…). If I am completely honest, I did sometimes get a bit lost with the time frame and had to flick back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself. However, that aside I completely see why this book was so raved about. I really enjoy how Sally Rooney writes and I cannot wait to read more of her books.

August: Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Blurb –

The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race is the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relation in Britain today.

My Thoughts –

This book has been talked about so much and I can see why! It’s been on my ‘to read’ list and on my Amazon wish list for a long time. So, when I decided that I wanted to spend more of 2020 reading I finally got it.

If you’re looking for a powerful read and to learn more about race relations, then I definitely recommend! I think it’s a book that I’m going to read again and again.

September: My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Blurb –

When Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what’s expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This’ll be the third boyfriend Ayoola’s dispatched in ‘self-defence’ and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola stars dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede’s long been in love with him, and isn’t prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other…

My Thoughts –

I absolutely loved this book! It wasn’t as dark as I was expecting it to be, but it was so well written and wasn’t like anything that I’ve read before. My only negative is that reading it nearly made me miss the train to work quite a few times😂

December: The Magpie Society – One For Sorrow by Zoe Sugg & Amy McCulloch

Blurb –

The screaming was coming from the sea. A figure was standing by the water. The sun had disappeared from the horizon, but there was enough ambient light to see by.

A body lay on the sand, waves lapping at the soles of her feet. She was on her front, but her head was tilted to one side, her lips tinged an unnatural blue.

Pale skin, blue lips, tangled strands of hair, twisted limbs.

And, on her back, elaborate tattoo of a magpie…

My Thoughts –

I pre-ordered this book when it was first announced, and I was really excited for it. I read it within a couple of days over Christmas and really enjoyed how easy it was to read, while also having lots of twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the second one.

There we go, those are the books that I read in 2020. Have you read any of them? I’d love to know your thoughts!

If you have any recommendations then please let me know as I’d love to explore a range of different books (although I do already have a really long ‘to read’ list😂)

Cerys x

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