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.
The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta
Written for younger readers, it’s an accessible introduction to conversations about intersectionality as we see Michael process the various facets of his identity before fully embracing and sharing openly the parts that make him feel seen, not as a “this or that,” but as a person.
All the Young Men – Ruth Coker Burks with Kevin Carr O’Leary
In modern gay history, a lot of attention is (rightfully) paid to the individuals that demanded action on AIDS, but we haven’t heard much about the everyday warriors -- the caregivers, like Ruth Coker Burks -- who were often not family members or trained medical professionals but that stepped up to help people live and die with dignity when they were shunned by so many.
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.
A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness
Expectation: A mushy, hopeful tale of a teen manifesting a monster to help him grapple with the death of a parent and the ways it will change his life.
Reality: A simply told, yet incredibly impactful exploration of the ways in which we lie to ourselves.
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.
Pretty Girls/Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes – Karin Slaughter
After Claire’s husband is murdered during an attempted robbery, the duplicity she slowly uncovers might be connected to her sister’s disappearance 20 years earlier.
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.
2020: My Year In Reading – The Stats
This infographic breaks down my reading by page count, hours listened, author diversity and genre.
2020: My Year in Books
Whether you stopped by once or were a return visitor, thanks for being a part of my book reading and reviewing hobby this year.
“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.
The Houseplant – Jeremy Ray
“The Houseplant” proves that you can pack as much story, character development and emotion into a 5,000-word standalone story as some full-length novels.