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You'd think that 2020 would have been a hugely successful reading year, because I was at home all the time with all this reading potential. I didn't know this when I set my goal of reading 50 books in 2020 of course, so I don't really know why I set it at that number. I think maybe I read about 30 books in 2019 and thought I should push myself to improve? Can't remember anymore, but one thing I learned this year is to be present in the moment and stop pushing so I won't be doing that again!
I read 28 books in 2020. Here are the highlights, first fiction and then non-fiction.
Fiction
I felt I needed a lot of light reading this year, but most of it was only mediocre. If you have any recommendations for light but great books, do let me know! I was trying to work my way through some of the books I already have on my shelves this year, to get rid of them before our move. But this meant that I ended up reading a lot of average things I picked up at charity sales... If you want to see everything I've read find me on GoodReads - otherwise, here are the ones I'd actually recommend.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - a beautifully written story about a Chinese-American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. As someone who has spent her whole life living in countries where I was a foreigner, I love books about immigrants and finding your way in a culture that's not your own. This particular book talks a lot about other things too, like expectation and how one should be in the world. It also addresses our collective focus on achievement, something that I'm personally interested in.
Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates - This is the first book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series and really fun. It combines two things I adore - baked goods and witchcraft. Very niche, but there you go. 🙂 I read the next couple in the series too, but kind of lost interest. This first one was great though, if you like this sort of thing.
Why Mummy Doesn't Give A ***! by Gill Sims - The third in this series, I simply had to have it as I loved the others. I found it to be a realistic though exaggerated view of motherhood, parenting and family life. It made me laugh out loud, which was great fun. If you need a laugh and don't mind lots of swearing, this series is great! There's a 4th book out now too, and it's most definitely on my 2021 list.
Unspoken by A.M. Harris - The author is my sister-in-law so I may be slightly biased, but hey, all reading opinions are biased! I enjoyed the fact that the story was set (mostly) in Ireland, and I found the topic of adoption in the 1970s interesting. I read a couple of other books set in Ireland and touching on adoption this year, and those were mediocre... something about this poignant story really stood out.
Ferney by James Long - I loved the time-travel premise of this book, what a fantastic idea. Also loved the historical aspect - I don't know much about British history so that was interesting. And of course at the heart of this book is a love story, which makes it even better. I wish there were more great books that touch on time-travel, reincarnation, and similar topics but aren't fantasy... Recommendations welcome!
The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling - what a charming book! I don't remember where I picked this up, but it was a clear case of judging a book by its cover. It looked so uplifting and cheerful to me! I love a good story set in a bookstore, and this didn't disappoint. It had all the elements of a good story that I could possibly want, lots of book references, kooky characters, and more. A perfect cozy read.
Non-Fiction
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer - if I had to pick just one favorite book of the year, this might be it. It completely changed my attitude towards surrender, and in a year in which I was forced to surrender and just go with the flow (like everyone!), I really did need a change of attitude. I always viewed surrender more as a failure or defeat. Michael Singer's experiment showed me what was possible if I allowed myself to surrender, and made it so much easier to actually let go. I listened to this one on Audible, which I highly recommend. There's something special about listening to the author read their own book! Get your free trial of Audible here.
The Game of Life and How To Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn - a great, simple, down-to-earth introduction to the law of attraction. I enjoyed reading it as a reminder of what's important about how the law of attraction works - so much of what I see online these days is glossy exaggeration. If you're new to the law of attraction or also feel like you need to go back to the basics, this book is for you!
The Middle-Finger Project by Ash Ambirge - I had the pleasure of seeing Ash speak at a conference in 2019 and was absolutely blown away by how down-to-earth and inspiring she was. So when her book came out in early 2020 I knew I had to get it. As expected, it was an inspiring and motivating read. I think what I appreciated about it most is how simple it makes business success. I have a tendency to overcomplicate so I need as many reminders of this as possible!
Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield-Thomas - I've followed Denise for years and have read all her other books. I'm also part of her Money Bootcamp and love the way she runs her business and her life. Reading Chillpreneur was another reminder to keep things simple and to stay consistent with what I can see is working. Honestly, I still go back to part of it when I get too caught up in complicated strategies. If you run an online business (or would like to), Denise is a wonderful role model.
Have you read any of these? Will you add any to your 2021 list? Tell me in a comment below, I'd love to know!
Love,
