The 10 best books I read in 2020

At the beginning of 2020 I set myself a challenge - I wanted to read 100 books before the year was out. Of course, back when I set that goal I had no idea what this year had in store for us, or that books would be such a source of solace, comfort and escapism for me.

There have been times this year where I’ve struggled to concentrate enough to read, but on the whole, curling up with a good book has been one of my favourite ways to find joy. I’ve now got less than 10 books to read in order to hit my target, and so I’m hoping that with some calm, cosy time over Christmas, I’ll get there.

I’ve been sharing what I’ve been reading over on Instagram (I have a 2020 books highlight if you’d like to have a little nosey), but for today I thought I’d share a little round up of the 10 best books I’ve read this year. It was a struggle to narrow it down, but I’d wholeheartedly recommend everything on this list!

Untamed - Glennon Doyle

This is one of the most transformative books I’ve ever read - at last count, my copy was littered with over 20 post it notes, and almost every sentence is highlighted or underlined in some way. This is a call to arms, a manifesto for embracing our most authentic selves, and a lesson in how to do just that. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or fear, if you’ve ever wanted to live more intuitively or intentionally, this book is for you.

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett 

I actually read both of Brit Bennett’s novels this year, and both were brilliant, but I think The Vanishing Half was my favourite. Telling the story of identical twins who end up on very different paths in life and the fallout of that for everyone around them, this book explores race, identity, family and desire, with a plot so pacey you’ll struggle to put it down. 

Rodham - Curtis Sittenfeld

We read this book for our book club in the summer, and I’m not ashamed to tell you that it sent me down a rabbit warren of research afterwards! This is a fictional novel based on the question: what if Hillary never married Bill?, and I found it so gripping and fascinating. It really got me thinking about the butterfly effect and how every action we take creates millions of reactions.

Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo

This was another book club read for us, and another one that I truly adored. Bernadine Evaristo creates the most incredible characters, spanning different generations, classes and backgrounds, and getting to know them in this book felt like such a treat. The book is written as 12 separate short stories that weave together to create something so unique and clever - it deserves all the hype it’s gotten this year!

Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books - Cathy Rentzenbrink

As a huge book lover and big fan of Cathy Rentzenbrink’s previous week, I knew I was going to adore this memoir about the role books have played in her life, and I wasn’t disappointed. Peppered with beautiful stories, heartbreaking moments and plenty of excellent book recommendations, this is a joyous read for bibliophiles everywhere.

I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Braithwaite

I love reading memoirs because they help me to understand perspectives and life experiences that feel different to mine, and that’s exactly what this book did for me. Candice Braithwaite writes honestly and beautifully about her experience of being a black British mother, sharing anecdotes that had me sobbing one minute and laughing out loud the next, while also developing an important argument for why our portrayal of motherhood needs to be more diverse.

Just Like You - Nick Hornby

I love that sometimes our experience of a book can be shaped by where and when we read it, and I’m sure that part of my enjoyment of Just Like You was aided by the fact that I read it during a weekend staying in a beautiful log cabin in the woods. I devoured it in one sitting, and I was so hooked by the rich and interesting characters and the setting of that fateful 2016 summer in the UK. Weaving together themes of race, class, age and politics, I’ve thought about this novel a lot since I finished reading it. 

Uncanny Valley - Anna Weiner

Another memoir, and one I was completely hooked by! In Uncanny Valley, Anna Weiner writes about her experience of working in tech startups in Silicon Valley at the peak of their growth. This book was truly fascinating, and explored so many themes that feel pertinent at the moment, from the role that technology plays in our lives, to the constant tussle between a desire for success and a desire for meaning.

Where The Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens

I seemed to miss the boat when this book was on everyone’s bestseller lists in 2019, but I’m so glad that I rectified that this year. This is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read, and it so deftly weavers together a passionate ode to nature with a truly gripping plot. This tugged on my heart strings so much, and I truly missed the characters when I finished the last page.

No One Tells You This - Glynnis MacNicol

One final memoir to round out my list, and one that I had to include purely because it made me think so much after I finished reading it. Glynnis MacNicol writes about how it feels to turn 40 with none of the things society tells you you’re supposed to have at that age (namely, a husband and kids), and she does so in such a beautiful way that I found myself underlining entire pages. This book was empowering, inspiring, and galvanising - I know I’ll return to it many times.

There you have it, the ten best books I’ve read this year. What have you loved reading in 2020?