Top 20 Books of 2020

I am not putting the books in any particular order since that would've been too hard to pick which one was the best of the best. For the most part, I loved all of these books equally and rated them the same. Also for some series, there is more than one book that I put down, while for others I just put down the entire series. For the ones I put down the entire series it is because I read or reread the entire series in 2020, and for the ones where I put down individual entries it is because I either haven't read all the books yet or because I thought those books were better than the rest of the books in the series. 

 1) Ouran High School Host Club the complete series by Bisco Hatori

This series follows a girl named Haruhi who after getting a scholarship to go to Ouran Academy gets confused for a boy by the host club at this school. After breaking a vase she has to repay her debt to the club as a host. I loved this series so much. It's incredibly funny and light-hearted, however, there are times where the story gets serious. I highly recommend watching the anime as well as reading this series. 

2) Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

This book is the sixth book in the Ravenel series by Lisa Kleypas. I read this one first but after reading the other books I recommend reading this series in order. However, this one has an incredible romance between Cassandra and Tom Severin. I was drawn to this book at first by the cover and the series is now one of my favorites. In the series, you follow the Ravenel family as each of the members finds romance in regency era London. 

3) The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo 

This book contains a series of short stories by Leigh Bardugo that are dark fairy tale retellings. For example one of my favorite stories in this set was based on The Little Mermaid except it was a backstory for the villain in that story. It is easy to tell which fairy tale each story is based on and they are all really good. 

4) Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

This is the first book to a middle-grade series about a girl named Sophie Foster who discovers she is an elf. This book definitely reminds me of Harry Potter and in my own personal opinion, I almost found it better in some ways. I loved the characters in this book and the fact that it also dealt with some more serious issues for a middle-grade novel like adoption, and losing a child. This book is really well done and I recommend picking up this series. 

5) Crescent City House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Okay first off the cover for this book is stunning. Secondly, this is the first book in a New Adult series by Sarah J. Maas and it is one of the best books I have ever read by her. The story gets better and better as it goes along. It is also a book that actually made me cry (however I won't go into why because it was a moment closer to the end and spoilers duh.) I am excited to see what will happen in the next book in the series. 

6) The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

This book featured a hate to love romance that was absolutely hilarious. After her sister and her new husband get sick Olive ends up getting to go on her sister's honeymoon, with none other than Ethan the best-man and brother to her sister's new husband. Olive and Ethan dislike each other and at first, are not too excited about this trip. However, when they get there they discover that since it is a honeymoon trip they have to do all these things together including a couple massage which was so funny. If you want a book that will make you laugh out loud read this. 

7) Circe by Madeline Miller

I really liked this book and thought it was really interesting how the story followed Circe. Circe is a child of Helios who when the gods discover she has magic, she gets cast out to an island where she is forced to reside. While the pacing was sometimes slow the writing more than made up for it.  I definitely want to pick up more books by this author in the future. 

8) April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier

This book follows two Metis sisters after they are put in the foster care system. This book is one that is hard to read because of some of the content but deals with a very relevant issue. I really loved this book and read it in one sitting. The message is powerful and this book is definitely one I would recommend. 

9) They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera 

This book follows two boys Mateo and Rufus on their last day. In this alternate reality on the day you die you get a phone call from death cast. They don't tell you how or the time but you know it will happen within that 24 hour period. This book made me cry as well, even though with the title you know it is gonna happen. I am super excited to pick up other books by Adam Silvera. 

10) Clockwork Angel trilogy by Cassandra Clare 

This trilogy takes place in the 1800s and is my favorite series by Cassandra Clare so far. I loved all the characters in this set and it has an amazingly well-done love triangle. I am really excited to read Chain of Gold which follows the children of the characters from this set of books. This set follows Tessa who goes to London in order to find her brother. After going to London she ends up needing the help of the Shadowhunters, and after they save her she lives at the institute. 

11) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

This book follows Jacob Jankowski who at the beginning you see as an elderly man living in a care home. It's the day when the circus is in town and he is waiting for one of his children to pick him up so they can go. While waiting he starts to dream of the past when he worked on a circus himself. This book is really good. The movie is good as well but of course, like many others, the book in my opinion is even better than the movie. 

12) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book is so mystical and exciting. It follows two characters who are chosen to compete with each other in a competition. The setting is a circus, which is only open at night. I absolutely loved this. I heard this book is one that people either really love or really hate, and I can see why. However, this book was just magical and by the time I got to the end everything came into place and I had to give it five stars.

13) A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This book follows the lives of two women in Afghanistan. This book is also one that is a difficult read because of the content but one I highly recommend. I have mentioned this book in previous posts and do not want to spoil anything about it. 

14) Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

This is the fourth book in the Ravenels series and it is also my favorite book in the series. I loved this book so much. From the strong female lead of Garret Gibson who is a doctor to the fact that the love interest Ethan Ransom is one of the best guys in the series. Ransom works with the law enforcement and after a series of events Garret saves his life. Also, the ending of this one was so good. 

15) The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

This book by Julia Quinn is my favorite book out of The Bridgerton books I have read so far. Mainly because of Katherine Sheffield (Kate). I found Kate to be such a relatable character and loved her romance with Anthony. I originally didn't like Anthony that much but this book definitely changed my opinion of his character. You understand why he is like he is after reading this book and I am so excited to see this one adapted on the screen in Bridgerton season 2. 

16) A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

This book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that follows Harper a girl who has cerebral palsy and Prince Rhen who is cursed. Grey the Prince's guard brings a girl from the modern world into their world at the start of every season in hopes that she will be able to break the curse. After Harper stops Grey from taking a different girl she ends up going herself. However, romance isn't on the mind when she gets there and sees what's happening to the kingdom around her. This book was really good and I am excited to read the rest of the series. 

17) 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

This book was hilarious and just what I needed. Basically, after Sophie and her long-term boyfriend broke up right before Christmas Sophie's extended family decides it might be a good idea to set her up on some blind dates to help cheer her up. This book was well worth the read and I highly recommend reading it during the holidays.

18) Exile by Shannon Messenger

This is the second book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and just like book one was really good. In fact, books one and two are the best out of the three, I read so far. I loved this one though because in this one we got to meet Silveny the alicorn who I love. Also, Keefe is one of my favorite characters in the series so I loved that he had a big part in this book. 

19) The Shadows Between Us

This book was one that I purchased on sale and didn't know too much about before reading it. I knew that some people I follow online had previously read this book and really liked it so I added it to my tbr on Goodreads but other than that not much. I do have a review of this already on my blog so I won't say too much else about it in this post other than it's an enemy to lover's fantasy romance that is worth the read. 

20) Punk 57

This book is the best Penelope Douglas book I have read. This book follows Misha and Ryen who when they were in elementary school were matched up to write letters to each other since Misha's school thought Ryen was a boy, and Ryen's school thought Misha was a girl. The pair promised they wouldn't meet in person since neither of them wanted to ruin the image they built up of the other in their heads. However, by chance, Misha ends up meeting Ryen who doesn't realize she has met Misha. This book is so good, and while I don't agree with some of the things the characters did in this book I still highly recommend it. 

These were the top 20 books I read in 2020. What were some of your favorite books from 2020? Comment down below.