It’s been a long semester, and, needless to say, a long year. Not that I would have chosen the state of our world right now by any means, at all, whatsoever—there was some good to come out of this year. What comes to mind instantly, is the amount of reading I’ve been able to do over the course of this pandemic. I have always loved reading, but with school, and the very little free time I’ve had over the course of the last eight or so years going towards extracurriculars or spending time with friends and family, I’ve haven’t really had the time to read for fun. Since last March, when the pandemic first planted its roots in the US, I’m glad to say that I have read upwards of thirty novels (a chunk of which were for school, but I enjoyed them nonetheless).

I’ve always loved Barack Obama’s lists of favorites that he puts out at the end of each year, and while I almost always have enough movies to compile a substantial favorites list each December, I don’t think there’s ever been a year in which I’ve read enough novels to put together a legitimate list of my true favorites. This year, I finally have enough novels in my 2020 repertoire, and I’m excited to share with you my top 15 favorite novels that I’ve read in 2020. Disclaimer, these are all fiction novels because that is what I’m typically drawn to, but I’ll mention some nonfiction honorable mentions at the end!

15. Sabrina by Nick Drnaso - This was the first, and only, graphic novel that I’ve ever read and truly enjoyed through and through. I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels, to me they read like glorified picture books the majority of the time, and I like a book that will make me think, rather than one which will do the thinking for me. Sabrina, however, did both, and I was pleasantly surprised. Drnaso creates a world in his illustrations and narrations that feels borderline paranormal, while still being entirely realistic. This novel made me think more than most novels usually do, and part of that comes from the fact that this novel has stayed with me since I read it. It’s made me rethink some of my everyday occurrences, and view a lot of different aspects of life in ways that I hadn’t thought about before. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone, but I would recommend it especially to those who are into conspiracy theories.

14. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - This was a novel that was recommended to me by a visiting author in a class, as well as the professor. While I can’t say that I loved it as much as I expected based on the glowing recommendations I received, I can say it is an extremely intellectual novel that also makes the reader think, but not in the way you might expect. This novel was mysterious and even a bit confusing at times; every time I thought I had something figured out, I was either proven wrong, or I was not given confirmation or denial. This book has a certain aesthetic, and a very broad audience, it was honestly just an enjoyable (but not at all easy/fast) read.

13. The entirety of the Harry Potter series - This one I just felt like I had to include because it took up a pretty big portion of my time during the March-May quarantine. As I’ve said in previous blog posts, I was never a fan of Harry Potter growing up; I was not even indifferent towards the series, I actively refused to read it. However when I read the first novel for my a class last semester, I decided to continue on to the rest of the series. I was not at all disappointed, I breezed through these novels so quickly and efficiently, mainly because I couldn’t put them down. While JK Rowling has been under fire lately (rightfully so), and I can hardly ever separate the art from the artist in situations like hers, I honestly loved the Harry Potter series.

12. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - This was a novel that I was a little skeptical of, given that nearly all of my friends had read it and loved it, and had been pushing me to read it for awhile. I was worried that the book wouldn’t live up to the hype, and upon finishing it for the first time, it didn’t. That said, this is another novel that has stuck with me since reading it, and a novel that I think rewards multiple reads. I haven’t had the time to reread it just yet, and I don’t know that I’ll be able to any time soon, but I certainly plan to eventually. One other thing I’ll say about Where the Crawdads Sing, is that the aesthetics, and the writing itself is so beautifully done, the plot could have ceased to exist at all and I would have still enjoyed Owens’ writing.

11. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - This one, I’ll admit, is based pretty heavily in nostalgia. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to The Hunger Games series, a series that I absolutely loved when it was originally published. I saw the movies in theaters, and became so attached to the characters, the plot line, and the very concept of The Hunger Games. I was so excited to hear that there was a prequel coming out, and it most definitely did NOT disappoint.

10. Marlena by Julie Buntin - Reading Marlena was really cool experience for me, because Julie had been my professor at the time that I read it. I always love to read the works of my mentors and instructors, I think it’s a really unique experience to be able to read something, and know the writer personally. That’s a big part of why I loved Marlena, but I would also recommend this novel to anyone, particularly anyone who grew up in the midwest. It was an enjoyable read that keeps the reader on their toes and wanting more, and it isn’t easy to put down.

9. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid - I loved this novel for it’s complex simplicity. What I mean by that is, the entire narrative centers around one video taken on a phone at a grocery store, but from that video stems a completely unexpected interconnectivity between characters, and conflicts that wrestle with a lot of things that go unnoticed in our daily lives. The novel portrays race relations and racial prejudice in a way that was different from any other story that I’ve ever read or seen. It’s a novel that also kept me on my toes, and also made me think deeply about our internal biases and the way we perceive others in our day to day lives. Such a Fun Age is by no means simple, but it is much more complex than one would expect from what unfolds in the first couple of chapters. This novel was undeniably socially relevant, and I think it’s a book that could benefit any reader.

8. The Lost Family by Jenna Blum - The Lost Family is a novel that tackles so many different issues at once, and I think Blum does that flawlessly. I found myself getting pretty attached to the characters, so much so that I really wanted to know what their lives looked like after the story ends, and I wanted to unread the book so that I could go back and read it for the first time all over again. I would recommend this book to just about anyone. The world building is so intriguing, and I got this book as a gift from my Grandma who also loved it, and she is very critical of the books she reads, so if you can’t take my word for it, hers is as good as it gets.

7. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - I got this book based purely on the hype, and it did not disappoint. I genuinely loved Little Fires Everywhere, I thought the story was incredible and there wasn’t a dull moment throughout the entire novel. The only reason this book isn’t higher up on the list is because I don’t believe in making ordered lists and leaving two or three tied for a spot in the list. If you haven’t already, please do yourself a favor and read this book. The hype is literally all justified.

6. Normal People by Sally Rooney - This novel also received a fair amount of hype, and I had actually just finished Sally Rooney’s other novel Conversations With Friends not long before reading this one. I thought Normal People was uniquely routine and excitingly mundane. Stripped down, it really is just a novel detailing the course of two people’s relationship. But it is so nuanced, every scene fleshed out to the extent that I thought possible, I was left wondering for sure, but not out of dissatisfaction or unanswered questions. Rooney is simply a talented writer, and this is a truly entertaining read.

5. The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe - I’m honestly surprised that this book hasn’t received the same amount of hype as some of the other books on this list. I truly loved this book, and I thought it was one of the most interesting coming-of-age-esque stories I’ve read in a long time. The narrator, Michael, establishes such an intimacy with the reader that it’s hard not to come away from this book loving it. I’m not sure if this was Thorpe’s intention or not, I have to believe it was at least a part of it, but this novel really made me think deeply about identity and agency.

4. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - When I say that I found this to be an immaculate story, I don’t know if that even does Whitehead’s novel justice. This book was chilling, and honestly difficult to read at times, but it’s a novel that I think everyone should read, if not out of want then out of necessity. I think it’s pretty common for white people to genuinely believe that because they’ve learned about slavery and segregation and are against both of those things, that they simply cannot be racist. And that is so incredibly untrue. I’ve been trying to educate myself, unlearn and relearn, and really do my part to be a better ally. Personally, I think I’ve learned more from this novel, and The Vanishing Half , than I ever did in school. As a white person, I recognize that this issue is not about me. But it is a responsibility of mine, and of every other white person, to listen, educate themselves, and act. For the white people who say they’re “too tired of having to deal with racism”, read this book. It’s entertaining, and if you can’t realize that your privilege means you don’t get to be too tired, then this book is a part ofyour solution, and there’s no excuse not to read it.

3. Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson - The military has become somewhat of a point of contention in 2020. At the end of the day, though, disrespecting the military is unacceptable. This novel shows the hardships that soldiers face, that are unique to them and help them forge bonds that are truly unexplainable to those who never experienced the things they did. Beyond the Point tells the story of three girls who enroll at West Point, and how their lives remain connected over time. It really is a touching story, and one that forges bonds not only between the characters, but between the characters and the readers as well. Incredibly well written, I was shocked to find out that this was Gibson’s debut novel.

2. The Friend by Sigrid Nuñez - This was a novel that I had to read for a class, and when I finished it, I texted a friend who was in the same class that I had only been so touched by a novel one other time, and that was when I read my favorite novel of all time, The Chosen. This book had such a profound effect on me; it was so eloquently written, and my heart swelled even more with every page. It was a relatively short novel, and when it was finished I desperately wanted more. I adored every aspect of this novel, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

1. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett - It’s funny that Barack Obama inspired me to compile this list, and my number one also appears on his 2020 list. What can I say, great minds think alike! In all seriousness, this book was flawlessly written. I did not have a single qualm or critique of this novel, and this is another one that I wish I could unread and read all over again for the first time. While the effect of this novel on me was not as profound as The Friend, per se, it left a different kind of impression on me. There isn’t much I can say about The Vanishing Half, simply because no words of mine could do this story justice. If you haven’t read this novel yet, please do, you’re doing yourself a major disservice not to.

And honorable mention nonfiction: How ‘Bout That For a Crack Baby by Shawn Blanchard, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, Untamed by Glennon Doyle

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