2020. Am I right? Lawd, have mercy, what a year. I actually set my personal reading goal lower this year (without any foresight of what the year would bring). 2018 and 2019, I was able to read 100+ books each year. For 2020, I set my goal at 60 and planned to focus on my ever-growing TBR (To Be Read) Shelf. I also get (at least) 1 new book per month from my Book of the Month membership and I tend to just randomly buy books at my favorite local shops. In this post I’ll share my Top Faves of 2020 – these were all 5-Star Reads for me, pick one up for yourself in 2021! I would love to hear your 2021 Reading Goals! This post also uses affiliate links and I will earn a small commission if you purchase books using these links.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Finished on 1/7/20
Click the Cover to Purchase This Now!
EVERYONE was talking about this book in various Facebook reading groups. It is outside my preferred genre but I was curious about the hype. It did not disappoint! I flew through the story in 2 days and (of course) was sobbing at the end. It is fiction, but reads more like a memoir. I found myself wanting to Google the characters and read more of their stories then remembered that it was a novel 🙂 It’s a beautiful story of love, loss, and chasing your dreams despite obstacles. Not a thriller but a solid 5 star read!
- The Holdout by Graham Moore – Finished on 2/25/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
The Holdout was my February pick from Book of the Month. It’s a legal thriller that focuses on the reunion of jury members from a decade-old murder trial that did not convict the defendant. All of a sudden – there is another murder (cue music). This story was character-driven and captivating from the beginning. A likable protagonist, quick pacing, and a satisfying ending gave this story a good punch. This was 5-Stars for me, if you enjoy crime documentaries and legal thrillers you should check it out!
- Final Girls by Riley Sager – Finished on 3/9/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
Thanks to Book of the Month, I have discovered several new authors. Riley Sager is one that I read for BOTM then promptly went and bought everything else he has written. Final Girls is a fantastic take on the “Serial Killer” genre that is a perspective I haven’t encountered before. Basically, the idea is that a “Final Girl” is the one person who escapes after a Serial Killer attacks. Final Girls reach out to one another for support and healing and try their best to start over. But what happens if you don’t remember what happened? You know you survived but your mind has blanked on the details. Ahhhhh….sooo good. A definite 5-Star murderino book – if you are obsessed with Serial Killers pick this one up!
- The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware – Finished on 3/26/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
A creepy mansion, a family with secrets, a live-in nanny, and an unreliable narrator make for a great story. I loved “how” the story was told. It was basically a letter from our narrator (the nanny) to her lawyer. She lays out what has transpired and we discover that she is on trial for murder. Did she do it? Why? This book felt like a giant game of Clue and kept me guessing till the end. I would classify this one as more mystery/suspense. Definitely worth picking up!
- Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson – Finished on 5/31/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Peter Swanson is a genius when it comes to psychological thrillers. In Eight Perfect Murders a lowly bookstore owner finds himself in the middle of an FBI murder investigation. The whole issue is because he wrote a blog post about “perfect murders” in literature and this new killer seems to be copying these murders. A likable but unreliable narrator, a setting of a cozy bookstore, and the intricacies of FBI profiling made this un-put-down-able. 5 Stars from me and you can follow my Facebook Page to be entered into a Giveaway for this one as well – Giveaway will be posted after the New Year!
- Home Before Dark by Riley Sager – Finished on 6/28/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
What I love about Riley Sager is each of his books seems to be a different genre and a unique take on these genres. Home Before Dark is Sager’s take on the “Haunted House” Genre. The story focuses around a woman returning “home” to a house her family fled from after 3 weeks of inhabitation when she was a child. She has since dealt with her father’s popular book detailing the house, the supernatural occurrences and their flight in the middle of the night. The problem is – she doesn’t remember…or doesn’t believe anything happened. If you enjoy ghost stories and haunted houses – you will definitely want to check this one out!
- The Shadows by Alex North – Finished on 9/11/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
Creepy. Creepy. The Shadows follows the story of teens who go missing, those who turn up murdered, and the horror that follows them. As someone who has been sleep-walking and sleep-talking since I was a child, this one got me! It centers around the idea of Lucid Dreaming and although it’s not easy to creep me out – this one succeeded. It’s the second book I’ve read from Author, Alex North and I will certainly continue to seek out his work! This was also my August Book of the Month pick – if you are interested in EXCELLENT monthly choices – you can join me at BOTM! Just send me a request for my Referral Code!
- Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson – Finished on 11/13/20
Click on Cover to Purchase This Now!
So, this one could quite possibly be my favorite of the year…can you give 6 Stars? I do what I want – 6 Stars it is. Peter Swanson is a genius with psychological thrillers. He masterfully weaves non-stop plot motion with characters you want to continue to learn about. If you are going to pick up one Thriller in 2021 – make it this one. You can check out my full review here.
Overall, a pretty solid, murder-filled year for 2020. Looking forward to many more thrilling reads in 2021! You can follow me here, on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads – I’d love to know what you’re reading and enjoying in 2021!
The Merry Murderino 