The hype was lost on me, here’s six popular books I hated, plus five I couldn’t even finish.
All in Audiobook
Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
Expectation: A heartfelt story about forming connection.
Reality: A solid first half is squandered by several convoluted plot twists that put Klara in the backseat.
The House in the Cerulean Sea – T.J. Klune
Expectation: An overdone young adult romance about magical children.
Reality: A charming and queer-positive character-driven story that will keep adults and teens enthralled.
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life – Christie Tate
I was intrigued, uncomfortable and mostly bored by Tate’s memoir of life in group therapy. Read the description and a few reviews before deciding if it’s right for you.
Nothing to See Here – Kevin Wilson
Expectation: A kooky, scifi comedy with political themes and “After School Special” lessons on tolerance and second chances.
Reality: Funnier than expected with a fair amount of heart, it’s mostly feel-good plot starts to fall apart near the end.
In Defense Of…The Books That Only I Seem to Like
I defend five books that have obnoxiously low Goodreads ratings for how much I enjoyed them.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
Expectation: A hot and heavy romantic fantasy about living without consequence that will appeal to non-genre fans.
Reality: A tad overcooked, and sometimes repetitive, but it succeeds in bringing forward uncomfortable feelings about the main characters while still delivering a satisfying ending.
The Four Winds – Kristin Hannah
Expectation: A sprawling, heartbreaking, and utterly American story about overcoming adversity.
Reality: A sometimes rushed and emotionally disconnected narrative that’s still powerful given Kristin Hannah’s solid writing and historical research.
Hidden Valley Road – Robert Kolker
At one time the Galvins were described as “the most mentally ill family in America.” For a little more than a decade starting in the 1960s, six out of the 12 children would receive a schizophrenia diagnosis, but all family members felt the impact – and those alive still do.
They Both Die at the End – Adam Silvera
Expectation: A young adult romance weep fest.
Reality: A good balance of heavy subject matter with lighter moments, buoyed by two charming main characters and an understated love story.
The Prophets – Robert Jones, Jr.
Expectation: A remarkable debut novel giving a queer perspective to the experiences of those held in slavery in pre-Civil War America.
Reality: Gorgeous writing, memorable characters and a tense last third help overcome a somewhat confusing structure. This is a book people will talk about all year.
Ring Shout – P. Djèlí Clark
Expectation: An adventure story with political and social commentary.
Reality: A genre-defying horror fantasy featuring an amazing cast of BIPOC women and one of the most terrifying literary villains in recent memory.
Anxious People – Fredrik Backman
Expectation: A balanced examination of second chances delivered with Backman’s signature style of homespun philosophy.
Reality: A somewhat slap-sticky and, at times, annoying character study that tries to do a bit too much but finds its footing in the end.
Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
Noah shares the darker moments of his South African upbringing with a casual and humorous delivery that will make you feel guilty for laughing out loud at memories so painful.
A Promised Land – Barack Obama
An exhaustive - and sometimes exhausting - recap of about seven years of Barack Obama’s political career.
2020: The Best Books I Read
Curious about what to read first in 2021? These five-star reads and honorable mentions are a great place to start.
2020: The Worst Books I Read
I read these books so you don’t have to.
2020: The Best And Worst Audiobook Narrations I Heard
Almost 82 percent of my reading this year was done through headphones, but you don’t need to be an audiobook all-star to recognize a good narration from a bad one.
“A Christmas Carol” and the Other Classics I Read This Year
All told, I read 10 classics this year, which accounted for about 13 percent of my total books read – my English teachers would be so proud!
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
Expectation: A science-fiction version of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Reality: A deeply emotional, highly philosophical and ultimately feel good “what if” story.