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#TopTenTuesday: Books I’m Thankful for in 2020!

Dini @ dinipandareads42 Comments

So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Thanksgiving/I’m Thankful for… Freebie!

When I saw the prompt for this week I wasn’t really sure that I was feeling it, plus, we also don’t celebrate Turkey Day but I let the prompt simmer for a while and then decided I’d just share ten books I’m thankful for (sorry for the unoriginal idea lol)!

We all know what a hellacious year 2020 has been, more so for some than others, and all the ways that has impacted various aspects of our lives including reading. So I thought it’d be fun to take a look at the ten books that I am especially thankful to have read this year! Whether it’s because they brought me joy and gave me all the heartwarming feels, or it took me out of the nightmarish reality that we’re all living in, or it just really helped me process emotions and was a cathartic read (intended or otherwise)! Basically, these books helped me to keep going this year and I’m very thankful for them! Picking only ten from the 100+ books I’ve read is going to be tough AF but let’s see what I come up with! Maybe I’ll include some honorary mentions 😂

* book covers are linked to my reviews if available!*

It should surprise nobody that The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favourites of 2020 and one of my new all time favourite books as well! You want heartwarming and hopeful? You wanna be hit by ALL THE FEELS? THIS is the book to read! Check out my gushing review 😍

I finally picked up With the Fire On High two months ago now and it was AH-MAY-ZING! I’m such a goose for putting it off so long but all the hype? So worth it! Acevedo’s writing is gorgeous and made me feel so much emotion. Emoni was such a fierce and strong character & I loved her story!

I was so unprepared for how much The Poppy War would blow me away! It was honestly quite heavy with lots of dark themes (please check the CW/TW before you read it) but oof, what an amazing story! The depth of history and the richness of the characters and writing. I still need to post my review but it was a struggle to write because all I could think was WOW WOW WOW 😳

I read The Kinder Poison as part of a blog tour and I was so surprised by how enjoyable this was! It was a fast-paced and action-packed fantasy set in a desert with a competition between three siblings. The world building was immersive, the characters intriguing and there’s a humour in the writing (with some delightful banter between characters) that just made this a super fun read!

Considering how much I’ve gushed about the world of Nevermoor to everyone who’ll listen, it’s no surprise that The Trials of Morrigan Crow made it onto this list! I feel like it deserves so much more hype than it gets! It has a wonderfully whimsical world and really loveable, entertaining and intriguing characters that you will root for. Plus, the friendships 🥰 You’ll hate leaving Nevermoor at the end!

The Silence of Bones was another unexpected gem and it’s hard to believe that it’s Hur’s debut?! There’s so much that I want to praise! From the rich and well-researched history, to the exploration of familial relationships and the murder mystery itself–everything tied in well and it was a very satisfying conclusion. Not only did the history & mystery absorb me completely, it made me want to read more!

I read Words in Deep Blue in the midst of a mini-slump at the start of the pandemic and while I wasn’t necessarily looking for a cathartic read, this one hit me so hard in the feels that all the emotions came out (i.e. I ended up bawling (quietly) like a little baby)! Despite that, I felt recharged and eager to read again after I finished. This story broke and then remade my heart again!

Are you looking for a diverse romance with great disability and chronic illness rep? Want characters full of sarcasm and sass? Craving deliciously witty banter and a good heaping of fiery friends-to-lovers chemistry? What about a dose of steaminess? Well, look no further! I’d recommend both books in the Bergman Brothers series because they’re AMAZING, but Always Only You was book two and ohemgoodness, friends! It hit me so hard in the feels and had me swooning all over the place 😂

I got really sick in January-February (fortunately not Covid) and was hardly reading anything because of it, but then I picked up To Kill A Mocking Girl and it opened my eyes to cosy mysteries! Wow, I loved it so much plus the play on words/names was so much fun 😍 I can’t wait for more in this series!

I had put off reading Spin the Dawn for months since I received my Owlcrate edition but I read it earlier this year when I was traveling for work while super sick and I didn’t think I’d read but I zoomed through this book! The writing, story and world was well-developed and gorgeous, the characters full of passion and heart, and the romance extremely swoon-worthy!

honorary mentions

What books have you read this year that you’re especially thankful to have read? Have any books helped you keep pushing on this year? Take care, friends 🥰

42 thoughts on “#TopTenTuesday: Books I’m Thankful for in 2020!”

    • YAY! I don’t know how people don’t love that book since it’s all the amazing and heartwarming feelings in one! 😍 I have one more of Acevedo’s books to read but yes, she’s amazing! Her writing is just *chefs kiss*!

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    • YES, Becky! You need to read Cerulean Sea and I hope you enjoy Silence of the Bones. It so different to anything I’ve read, especially in YA, and it’s so hard to believe it’s Hur’s debut. I hope you enjoy it 😍

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    • I would highly recommend it! The whole Bergman Brothers series is so good and deserves so much love 😍 I hope you enjoy Love Lettering whenever you pick it up! It’s such a good one 💙

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  6. Yes! Elizabeth Acevedo is def one of the authors I’m forever grateful to have found 🙌🏽 another is Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Adriana Herrera. Grateful to have read more from Latinx authors this year💞great post!

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    • Same here for sure! I need to read her latest release but her writing is amazing 😍 So much emotion and always so relatable–her words hit deep! I really need to check out Moreno-Garcia and Herrera and was hoping to this year still! Thank you so much for stopping by 🥰

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    • How good was it?! Omg, I knew I was going to enjoy it but I didn’t realise how deeply it would hit me and how MUCH I’d love it! It’s so, so good! Haha I think forcing it on your best friend sounds like a grand plan and I hope they enjoy it just as much 😂

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  17. I love these lists so much because if there are books I haven’t read.. I add them to my TBR! I do love so many of these. Currently in Burning God.. I’m half way and scared. haha I’m starting the newest Nevermoor book tomorrow!! I hope it’s as good as the previous two!

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    • Omg, are you still reading Burning God, Leslie!? I’ve been trying to avoid reviews/ratings/spoilers but I’m so curious how you’re finding it. I’m waiting until BG comes out before starting Dragon Republic coz I know I’m gonna wanna immediately start the final after 😂 I can relate to the fear! Good luck 😂 And AAH! I can’t wait to get my hands on Hollowpox! I feel like I’m gonna have to wait a while to get my physical copy but… I hope you enjoy it too 😍

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      • I am. haha. Gosh… it’s been a ride so far. I’m 84% of the way through and hoping to finish this week. It’s really good but omg it’s crazy. I think waiting is a great plan. Just plan on a major book hangover after.
        Hollowpox was so good! It was a little long but such a fun time. I hope you enjoy all of these when you get your hands on them. 🙂

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