As I have done the last couple of years (see my 2018 reads here and 2019 reads here) I wanted to begin the year by sharing a little about every book that I read last year, along with my ratings and links to any more in-depth reviews and thoughts.

So without further ado, here's the lowdown on every book I read in 2020...


An Edited Life by Anna Newton 

I loved this guide on home, work and life organisation. I found the tips to be useful and Anna's tone to be relatable. I talk about it more here.

★★★★☆


Good Morning, Good Life by Amy Schmittauer Landino 

I listened to the audiobook of this guide on how to make the most of out of your mornings. I found it had some great tips and made me want to spring out of bed in the mornings - however a lot of the tips and content you could get from the author's Youtube Channel.

★★★☆☆


The Best of Me by Nicolas Sparks 

This is your typical Nicolas Sparks tear-jerker romance, so naturally, it had me hooked and I loved it. I talk about it here.

★★★☆☆


Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic habits is another one I listened to the audio version of. The book shares the science behind and the benefit of small daily habits. It discusses how to create new habits, and break the bad ones. I found it really insightful.

★★★☆☆

Nothing More by Anna Todd

Nothing More is the spin-off to Anna Todd's After series (which I talk about here). It focuses on the life of the character Landon. Considering I couldn't put After down (despite all of its flaws)  I had higher expectations for this, but if I'm honest, I just found it to be boring (I didn't like Landon's character much in the after books so I guess I should have expected this).

★★☆☆☆


The Course of Love Alain De Botton

The book tells a realistic story of a relationship, it's written in a thought-provoking, philosophical style. Despite being undeniably beautifully written, I didn't feel much connection to the characters or the narrative. I talk it more in this blog post.

★★★☆☆


Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I absolutely adored this memoir about Cheryl Strayed journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. It's full of life lessons and I couldn't put it down.  I talk it more in this blog post.

★★★★★


My Life in Thirty-Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchinson (*gifted)

In this memoir, the author talks about how she turned to alternative therapies - from yoga to tarot card reading and so much more. I found this lighthearted read really enjoyable. You can read my full review here. 

★★★☆☆


The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles 

After watching the Netflix film, I had to give this one a read. This YA novel tells the stories of a young relationship between a girl and her best friends brother. Although I didn't love the relationship (kinda... toxic) I found it to be an enjoyable, lighthearted read. I talk about this more here.

★★★☆☆


The Kissing Booth Going the Distance by Beth Reekles 

In the second instalment in The Kissing Booth series, the couple navigates physical distance within their relationship and new characters come into the story. Again, I found it to be an enjoyable (albeit frustrating) read. I talk about this more here.

★★★☆☆


Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott 

Five Feet Apart tells the story of two teens with Cystic Fibrosis, who fall in love. Their illness means they cannot get with five feet of each other without the chance of it being fatal. I could not put this book down, I loved everything about it. You can read my full review here.

★★★★★




We of the Forsaken World... by Kiran Bhat (*gifted) 

We of the forsaken world tells several stories about the different facets of humanity and environmental impacts. The stories range from the tales of a remote tribe, a town destroyed by an industrial spill and more. It's not my usual style read, but I found this book to be interesting and thought-provoking. I talk about this more here.

★★★☆☆


Find Me by André Aciman 

This is the second instalment to Call Me By Your Name (which I talk about here), however, the majority of the way through it felt like a completely unrelated story, and I began to enjoy it more when I stopped thinking of it as "Call Me by Your Name 2" and instead thought of it as it's own thing. This book tells several, quite lovely love stories and is very beautifully written. I talk about this more here.

★★★★☆


The Map From Here to There by Emery Lord 

The Map From Here to There is the second instalment after The Start of Me and You. This young adult novel follows Paige, her boyfriend and their group of friends as they face many decisions about the future (colleges etc), juggling school, work and social life, alongside living with mental health struggles. It was an enjoyable read, however, I didn't feel I could relate to the characters as a woman in her late twenties.  I talk about this more here.

★★★☆☆


Why I Am No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

I listened to the audiobook of this and would strongly recommend it - I think everyone should read it. I felt it really educated me on my white privilege and how to use that. It also taught me a lot of the history which we aren't taught in school and the importance of anti-racism. It is written in an intelligent yet easily digestible way, but given the content, it is still quite a heavy read, while also being very important.

★★★★★


A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This book felt very special, I've never read anything like it before. It's written in the perspective of a child, with a vivid imagination, going through a troubled time, with sick mum. He is visited by a monster during the night, who tells him stories. It's really special. I talk about this more here.

★★★★☆

She Means Business by Carrie Green

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this self-help book. The author shares tips on running a business, and motivation and working towards your dreams. I found it to relatable and useful.

★★★☆☆


Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stones by JK Rowling

My boyfriend and I decide to make our way through the Harry Potter audiobook for nostalgia reasons. I assume I don't need to go too far into the summary of this one? (It's about a boy who finds out he's a wizard...)

★★★★☆


My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing 

I enjoyed this thriller style book far more than I expected it. There's a twist at end of the first chapter which got me hooked. It tells the story of a seemingly normal couple, who share some secrets, and each has secrets of their own. I also really loved the ending of this.   

★★★☆☆


Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl was a book I really loved. It's the story of what happens when Stargirl, who is different from anyone he's met before, joins Leo's highschool. Everyone is fascinated by Stargirl and this impact how Leo treats her.

★★★★★

Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

This is the one with a wizard boy and a really big snake...

★★★★☆

Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

Wizard boy spends time at wizard school with wizard friends and a prisoner has escaped from wizard prison...

★★★★☆


Get Rich Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas

I listened to the audiobook of this self-help guide to manifesting money. I found it to have some great tips and really enjoyed the author's tone of voice throughout the book.

★★★☆☆


The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward

To me, The Potion Diaries felt like a more lighthearted version of The Hunger Games. It's the story of an Alchemist who is put forward to enter a competition to create a potion to cure the Princess, who has fallen in love with her own reflection. There are also more books in this series, which I do intend on reading in the future.

★★★★☆

Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas

This is Denise Duffield-Thomas's guide on manifestation and the story of how she manifested the trip of a lifetime. I found this read to be really interesting and insightful.

★★★☆☆

The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams

This rom-com is about Penny who finds herself caught in a love square, going from having no men in her life, to having three different men in her life who each have different qualities. It's a very lighthearted, fun read.

★★★☆☆

The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne 

I found this young adult novel to be really touching and educational. It tells the story of Amelie as she is facing a breakup, and decided to revisit the places she's cried in public since entering the relationship which she believed to be wonderful, that was actually toxic. You can read my full review on it here.

★★★★★

No Turning Back by Tracy Buchanan

I couldn't put down this thriller. It's about a woman who accidentally kills a boy whilst protecting her child and a serial killer making their comeback. It's full of twists and turns. I didn't for a second expect the ending but found it very satisfying.

★★★★☆


Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

The second book in the Stargirl series does not feature Leo's character at all, instead, the story is told in letters to him written by Stargirl. Stargirl talks about her life in a new town with new characters. I found this book to be just as enchanting as the first in the series. 

★★★★★

Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King

This is a guide to the importance of living a positive life, using the law of attraction and the importance of your energy. It's a great, easily digestible guide, and is pretty enough to work as a small coffee table book.
★★★★☆


The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I listened to the audiobook of this, but I loved it so much that I'm considering buying a physical copy so I can read it too. The Midnight Library is the place Nora Seed enters after attempts to take her own life, it is the place between life and death. When Nora is here, she has a chance to relive her life, as it would have panned out if she made different decisions. It's thought-provoking and beautifully written.

★★★★★

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones and The Six is about a (fictional) popular 70s band. The book is written interview style, through the comments of different band members and the people around them, showing how everyone remembers the experience differently.

★★★★★


Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Ruben

I listened to the audiobook of this to help encourage me to do some end of year tidying and found it was full of good tips, despite being very condensed. It was a very quick listen.

★★★☆☆


Feminist Don't Wear Pink & Other Lies by Scarlett Curtis

Technically this one is a bit of a cheat because I read quite a lot of the essays in 2019, but 2020 was the year I finished, so I think it counts. This is a book of essays on feminism which are educational and empowering. 

★★★☆☆

Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein

Super Attractor is a spiritual guide on manifestation. I found it to be slightly more woo than the other books on manifestation I've read, as it refers a lot to angel guides a lot throughout - but I found it to be really interesting.

★★★☆☆