My Top 10 Books of 2020!
For my final post of 2020, there’s no better way to end the year than to share my top favorite books! Here are some notable reads of books I read in 2020 that I enjoyed and/or left a lasting impression on me. As always, it was hard to narrow down this list, but I did it!
Kindred by Octavia Butler – I appreciated how this novel blends Sci-fi and historical elements. Just the premise alone was enough to get me hooked into the story since I had never previously read many novels with a Black woman that time travels. Especially during the Antebellum era. I appreciated how it sets itself apart from other time travel novels.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson – This story had a very strong narrative and even from its web comic origins it translates well into graphic novel form. The characters show a great amount of development and I liked the question of hero vs villains. There’s no clean cut answer, and this question is prompted by the actions of the characters decisions.
The Vanishing Act by Brit Bennett – Bennett is such a fantastic writer and I love her lyrical writing style that has such depth. The way she created these relatable and complex characters and their narratives was amazing. I was constantly invested into the plot and wondered how the story would play out in the end (I personally liked the ending). It has some themes of self-discovery that are incredibly deep.
Good Talk by Mira Jacob – had a lot of emotions while reading this book. It was hopeful, entertaining, sad, realistic, and heartwarming all at the same time. I liked that this book was an open letter to Jacob’s son and I felt the strong personal connection to the narrative as a woman of color. Though the stories and conversations are snippets from different periods of Mira’s life they all seamlessly weave together into one larger piece.
Spin The Dawn by Elizabeth Dawn – What a rich fantasy novel with solid world building! It was a highly immersive reading experience and I couldn’t wait to see what quest Maia would go on next. I also enjoyed the wide range of characters from Maia’s family who gave her strength, the cruel and conniving Lady Sarnai, to the whimsical and unpredictable Edan.
Abbott by Saladin Ahmed – If you love mystery stories with a supernatural twist this is a must read! Being a native Detroiter I was excited to hear that this story is set in the Motor City during the 70s. The art is breathtaking and the story is a page turner. It’s got a lot of action-packed scenes that keep the reader constantly engrossed.
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson – This book hit me real hard, but it’s an important narrative that needs to be told. Because the story had such heavy content, it really stuck with me. The narration style was so good! It was hard to read to at times, but it’s an important narrative about missing Black girls/children cases in the US.
Topaz by Beverly Jenkins – Normally I don’t read Westerns, but I was drawn to this one as it was more of a Romance novel with Black cowboys. A lead couple that constantly bickers and denies their true feelings? Check. A wild chase to catch a swindler? Check. A happily ever after story with a little sweet and spice? Check!
The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao – This is a novel about family, growing up, self-love, and finding your voice. Each of the characters goes on their own self-growth journey throughout the big adventure. I loved that this book was full of such rich Chinese culture and how it explored the Diaspora through folklore. In addition, the folklore aspects gave the book very magical qualities.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams – I loved Carty-Williams writing and her words had me hooked from page one. Queenie’s journey is not an easy one and I deeply felt her struggles as she tries to get her life back one day at a time. There is no happy ending, but rather the promise that she will continue working towards getting better and working through her issues.
What books made the the top 10 list for 2020? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Great list here. I might give Kindred a reread in the new year. I really didn’t like it the first time I read it but it has received so many praise lately that I want to try again.
Thanks! I hope you like it if you decide to read it again.
So different from mine! That’s what I like about these sort of lists, I end up reading about books I would otherwise have never known.
Thank you! I love reading favorite book lists too. I always find some new books to read. 🙂
What a wonderful list! I weirdly had a great reading year this year? I started making a list of my best books of the year and there are close to thirty of them — I’m still trying to decide if I want to winnow it down or just lean into the excess. And yay for Nimona as well! I have been thinking I’d like to reread it — I caught it at the tail end of its being a webcomic and am just so delighted that it now exists as a physical book.
I’m glad to hear you had a great reading year! It’s so hard to narrow down the best of books for each year. I keep thinking I should make a book bracket of sorts, but that may just complicate things for me, lol.
So many of the books on your favourites list are on my TBR–the only one I’ve read (which we’ve already chatted about) is Kindred. You probably already know about this, because I know you listen to a lot more podcasts than I do, but I just added this to my subscriptions recently: https://www.tor.com/2020/06/22/octavia-butler-parable-sower-talents-podcast-adrienne-maree-brown-toshi-reagon-listen/
I hope your 2021 reading year is amazing.
I haven’t read the Parable books but I do own them. Thank you for sharing the link. I always like finding new podcasts to listen to.
Read Kindred this year, tough but necessary. My top 10 reads of 2020 were Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, Empire Star by Samuel R. Delany, Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noir edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz, The Shadowed Sun by N. K. Jemisin, Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes, The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson, A Ruin of Shadows by L. D. Lewis, Bodyminds Reimagined by Sami Schalk, and You are Magical: MagnifiqueNOIR Book 2 by Briana Lawrence.
I agree about Kindred, it was a difficult read. Sounds like you had a good reading year. Legendborn is on my TBR. I need to read N.K. Jemisin too. Her books have been on my TBR for a while. Happy Reading in 2021!