favorite books of 2020

I know, I know. I'm a little late on this one. In 2020, I made the resolution to find more moments for myself and that included reading more. I made a hot cup of coffee and a book a part of my morning routine. That time did wonders for me, but that's for another post.

I've rounded up my top books of 2020.

Where the Crawdads Sing is absolutely beautiful. It's a coming of age story about a mysterious girl growing up in the swamps of North Carolina. There is a lot of beautiful language about nature that may be lost on some readers, but you really get to know the setting and the characters. There's also a murder mystery, which unfolds in such a good way.

Woman in the Window is hard to put down. It's a thriller, which I love! It's about an isolated woman in New York who witnesses something shocking while spying on her neighbors. You spend the entirety of the book trying to figure out what's real and what's not.

This Is How Is Always Is really touched my mama heart. It's about a family that sticks together, while carrying a big secret, as one of their children is trying to figure out who they are - a boy or a girl. While it tackles a challenging subject, it's funny, honest, heartwarming, and real.

Educated is a heartbreaking memoir. It's about a teenage girl living in in the mountains with her survivalist family, who is eager for more. There are tough moments in this book, as you see a dysfunctional family and the damage it can cause. However, you also see the strength and conviction of someone who wants to break free.

Before We Were Yours is haunting. It's based of the real-life scandal of Georgia Tann, who would kidnap children and sell them to wealthy families, under the ruse of an orphanage. It's told through the eyes of children taken. It still gives me chills remembering parts of the book. Still, the book is beautifully written. It really sucks you in. I had a hard time putting it down.

The Great Alone is kind of similar to that of Educated in the survivalist sense. Although it's not a memoir, it's about a teenage girl living with her family in the isolated Alaskan wilderness. Her father suffers from PTSD, and you see how this affects the family through emotional and physical abuse. It's heavy and emotional, but it's also powerful seeing the strength and survival of women. I will say, it's a slow start, but then it really picks up.

...and that's the roundup! I'm eager to continue reading in 2021.