A thread of books read in 2020

1. More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer
• A very moving YA contemporary
• Second book in series which I loved more than the first!
• Read in just a few hours
• Rev is e v e r y t h i n g
• NEED to read more of Brigid’s contemporary novels
• 4/5 stars

2. Be the Girl by K. A. Tucker
• YA contemporary
• Autism rep
• Lots of discussions about bullying, both online and in school
• Not my fave Tucker story but I don’t feel I’m the intended audience
• Something just didn’t click for me
• 2.5/5 stars

3. Credence by Penelope Douglas
• First half of the book was great but the second was... wtaf
• Age gap romance
• Super smut
• Miscommunication as a plot device
• Mega compelling writing as I have come to expect from Penelope!
• 2.5/5 stars

4. All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban
• Sad I didn’t love this as much as I anticipated
• Mystery thriller with typical high school stereotypes
• I didn’t guess the ending!
• Felt uncomfortable about some of the language used

5. Bone Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie
• One of my most anticipated reads of 2020
• Unique and interesting storyline
• Enemies to lovers
• Super sad that I didn’t love this more!
• Stunning cover art

6. Hideous Beauty by William Hussey
• Lots of CWs - pls ask if you want a list
• Author includes CW at the beginning of the book & support at the end
• LGBTQ+ mystery-ish romance
• Not graphic. Would class as upper YA/NA
• This is not a happy story but v moving and powerful

7. Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
• Latest instalment in the LGBTQ+ diverse comic
• Deals with coming out to family and friends
• TW: self harm and eating disorders
• Despite the discussion of serious subjects it was also of course super cute and fluffy!
• 4/5 stars

8. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (gifted)
• Diverse retelling of Beauty and the Beast
• Boarding school setting
• Sweet and a lil cheese YA romance
• Finished in one day
• Discussion of topics like white/male privilege and feminism
• 3.5/5 stars

9. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
• Kinda a lot in the first 30%
• Much more mature/complex than previous books
• Loved the characters - so well developed!
• Gripping plot
• Last 200 pages are a ROLLERCOASTER
• Can’t wait for future books
• 5/5 stars

10. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• NA paranormal romance fantasy
• Seen some major hype for this
• Enjoyable enough with typical tropes
• Little too info dumpy
• Didn’t really connect with the characters
• Enjoyed the romance and tension
• 3.5/5 stars

11. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

• CW: mental & physical abuse
• Diverse adult romance with chronic pain & anxiety rep
• Fell in love in two chapters!
• Super cute & smutty with hilarious exchanges
• This was exactly what I needed
• 5/5 stars

12. Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (gifted)

• Super fast paced and action packed YA sci fi fantasy
• Didn’t suffer second book syndrome
• Found family trope
• Laugh out loud moments and so much heart
• THAT ENDING?!!!!
• 4.5/5 stars

13. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

• CW: cancer
• Adult romance with autism & Aspergers rep
• Vietnamese American MC & side characters
• Smutty but soft
• Loved how well they worked together
• Fake dating trope
• Strong family bonds
• 4.5/5 stars

14. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
• Can’t believe I waited so long to start this series
• Much prefer the characters and setting to TMI
• Really enjoyed how this story was set up and I’m excited to see where it goes
• WILL AND JEM. That’s all
• 4.5/5 stars

15. The Deal by Elle Kennedy (3rd read)
• NA college sports romance
• Smutty, so cute and hilarious
• Love this gang
• I now need to devour the rest of the series
• Had to reread alongside @FictionTea @imireviewsbooks & @conniereads_ didn’t I?
• 5/5 stars

16. The Mistake by Elle Kennedy (3rd read)

• Second book in the Off Campus series
• Second chance romance
• CW for alcoholism
• Had me cackling
• Think this is my least fave of the series but still a fab NA read
• MC with messy dark hair & blue eyes
• 4/5 stars

17. The Score by Elle Kennedy (3rd read)
• Continuing my re-read of the Off Campus series
• NA sports college romance
• Actually howled with laughter
• Winston... if you know you know
• The smut we love from Elle
• CW: death, grief, cancer, MS
• 4/5 stars

18. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
• Book two in The Infernal Devices
• Felt much more character driven than plot driven
• I love Will and Jem!
• Really enjoying the time/setting
• Didn’t love it as much as I expected but still a great read
• 4/5 stars

19. The Goal by Elle Kennedy (third read)

• Final book in the NA college sports romance series Off Campus
• Enjoyed how this story went beyond the characters just being in college
• I love Tucker and Sabrina definitely grew on me!
• 4/5 stars

20. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

• Fast paced and gripping YA thriller
• Written in three months ?!!!!
• Kept me guessing and plotting right up to the end
• The plot and the clues were so detailed and clever
• Super emotional ending
• 4/5 stars

21. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

• First time reading the series
• Fast paced with lots of action from beginning to end
• I don’t have an emotional attachment as I didn’t read when younger
• Enjoyable but I’m not in a rush to pick up the next book
• 3.5/5 stars

22. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• Re-reading for the first time since 2011
• The OG young adult fantasy
• Forgot how much I loved this story!
• Fast paced, action packed & totally gripping
• Serious commentary about society
• Peeta deserved better
• 4.5/5 stars

23. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

• Didn’t love it as much as the first book
• Time was spent building up the revolution and the characters
• We see them dealing with the aftermath of the games
• Finnick!!!
• Peeta still deserves better
• 4/5 stars

24. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

• Love the story but it was my least fave in the series
• Felt like the ending was very rushed/unsatisfying
• Deaths were just massively brushed over?
• Finnick and Peeta deserved better!
• Still a fave OG young adult series
• 4/5 stars

25. Furyborn by Claire Legrand

• Interesting story
• Sex positive characters
• Fast moving plot
• I worked a couple of things out but it did take a turn I wasn’t expecting
• For me there was a slight lack of character development
• Elemental magic & trials
• 3/5 stars

26. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

• Multimedia/epistolary format YA sci-fi
• Unique story concept and style
• I struggled with visualising the story
• Was tempted to DNF
• I don’t read a ton of sci-fi so this may have hindered my enjoyment
• 2.5/5 stars

27. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

• TEARS
• So happy to be immersed in the Shadowhunter world again
• Will and Jem
• Plot was definitely secondary to the characters and relationships for me
• Ok I love CC’s writing again
• STILL CRYING
• 5/5 stars

28. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (sixth read )

• You know I love this book
• Tabbed and annotated for the first time - so much fun!
• I learn something new every time
• I agree that there is a lack of diversity/rep
• This book changed my life
• 5/5 stars

29. The Dare by Elle Kennedy

• A fave series
• Fake dating
• Suuuper hot
• CONOR IS MY FAVE
• Devoured in 4.5 hours
• Took lots of notes
• Absolutely hilarious + couldn’t stop grinning
• CW: calorie counting, insecurities around weight + revenge porn
• 4.5/5 stars

30. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

• Why did I wait so long to pick this up
• Ace, trans and contamination anxiety rep
• Super creepy and totally gripping
• Quick read that was the perfect length
• Can’t wait to read the rest of the series
• 5/5 stars

31. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

• Very poignant and powerful
• Discussions of racism and privilege
• A story about family and forgiveness
• Told in verse through captivating writing
• CW: grief, death, sexual harassment
• 5/5 stars

32. If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann

• Summer in a small town with a cute romance
• Fat rep
• Black MC identifies as queer
• Very diverse read (sexualities + ethnicities)
• Low stakes plot + character driven
• TW: lots of weight + diet culture talk
• 3/5

33. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

• Exactly the kind of YA fantasy I love
• Multiple POV, feuding kingdoms, elemental magic and broody love interests
• Didn’t expect such visceral reactions
• Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
• 4/5 stars

34. The Falconer by Elizabeth May

• Main character hunts the Fae
• Exciting action
• Set in 1800s Edinburgh
• Steampunk vibes
• Enemies to lovers
• Lots of different faeries and folklore
• Commentary on how women are treated in this era
• 3.5/5 stars

35. The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

• A cursed child undertakes several trials to join a magical society
• Such a unique and vibrant world
• This story could have taken any path to the conclusion - I really had no idea where it would go!
• 3/5 stars

36. Shades of Magic Vol 1: The Steel Prince (re-read) - 4/5 stars

37. Vol 2: Night of Knives - 4.5/5 stars

38. Vol 3: The Rebel Army - 4/5 stars {gifted}

• Story of Prince Maxim before he became King
• Action packed & exciting plot
• Amazing artwork
• Diverse characters

39. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

• Author is a queer black man
• Memoir about his life from a young boy to now
• Discussions of racism, homophobia, marginalisation, sexual harrasment
• Powerful & impactful
• Recommend audiobook which is narrated by George

40. The Damned by Renée Ahdieh

• Magical and mythical beings in New Orleans
• Forbidden love between rival families
• Definitely more of a fantastical vibe in this sequel
• Higher stakes and faster paced
• Would have liked a bit more angst
• Multiple POV
• 4/5

41. Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

• CW: anxiety, grief & death in the family
• Diverse adult romance
• Friends to lovers & fake dating
• Suuuuper hot
• Male love interest reads romance books
• Hilarious, soft & smutty
• Devoured in 24 hours
• 5/5 stars

42. Beach Read by Emily Henry

• CW: cancer, death, grief and abuse
• Enemies to lovers
• Both characters are authors!
• Small town romance
• Smutty but not too explicit
• This went a lot deeper than I was expecting
• 3.5/5 stars

43. Rule Breaker by Kat and Stone Bastion

• CW: cancer, death & grief
• NA romance
• Male MC is from Washington & the female is Hawaiian
• I believe the Hawaiian rep is own voices
• Discussions of racism, privilege, oppression & prejudice
• Insta love
• 3/5 stars

44. 40-Love by Olivia Dade

• Summer romance
• Age gap (older woman)
• Fat rep
• Hot Swedish tennis coach who is v thoughtful
• Banter and laugh out loud scenes
• Angst, yearning and smut
• So full of love and compassion
• A new fave author
• 5/5 stars

45. Teach Me by Olivia Dade

• CW: abuse, poverty, classism, sexism, fatphobia, divorce
• Adult romance with a fat main character
• Both main characters teach history
• Wholesome but super hot
• Discussions of consent & frank conversations about sex
• Smut

46. Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew

• I read this earlier in the month but forgot to post it - oops!
• Told in verse
• Important discussions about periods, slut shaming, online trolling and harassment
• Explores friendships and relationships

47. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

• CW: death of a parent, racism, anxiety & homophobia
• A fuzzy-feeling, swoon worthy coming of age story
• Lots of prom shenanigans
• Discussions of sexuality, identity & white privilege
• Loved seeing Liz flourish!!!

48. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

• A fierce, feminist reimagining with a queer, black main character
• Loved how the original story was woven in
• Faster paced & darker than I anticipated - necromancy!
• The romance was but it didn’t overshadow the plot or themes

49. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

• How am I ever going to be able to review this in a way that conveys my thoughts and feelings properly?!
• 5/5 stars and more!

50. Loveless

Had lots of thoughts while reading, good and bad, and it prompted lots of thinking about myself. Can’t speak for all the rep but understand there were harmful aspects.

Here’s @faerieshelf’s review which is more articulate than I could write! https://beyondabookshelf.co.uk/2020/loveless-review/

51. The Pale Dreamer by Samantha Shannon

• Starting my re-read of The Bone Season
• Prequel novella that I hadn’t read before about Paige and how she became The Pale Dreamer
• It’s made me even more excited to read this series again!

52. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

• Continuing my re-read of the series
• I loved this book the first time I read it but appreciated it so much more this time around!
• So good to be back in this world, I was gripped
• 5/5 stars

53. The Minute I Saw You by Paige Toon {gifted}

• A Summer contemporary read
• CW for child abuse, death of a sibling, addition, drug use and suicide
• I always love Paige’s books - this might be my fave!
• Friends to lovers
• Super slow burn romance
• 4.5/5 stars

54. Yield: Emily and Damon by Lilia Moon

• Recommended by pals!
• Adult story focussed on one couple over a short amount of time
• Part of a series where each book focuses on a different pair
• Very quick to read and easily addictive
• 3.5/5 stars

55. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James

• A young adult ghost story!
• LGBTQIAP+ and diverse
• Wasn’t quite what I expected but still a fun read
• Didn’t see all the plot twists coming
• Unlikeable main character which was interesting
• 3/5 stars

56. Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

• Short story set after the Heartstopper when Nick goes to uni
• Didn’t enjoy it as much as the graphic novels
• The characters felt kinda different to the ones I know & love
• Still a cute read
• 3/5 stars

57. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco {gifted}

• A witch makes a deal with a devil to avenge her twin’s death
• Super atmospheric & chilling
• Felt immersed in the story
• A tall, dark haired love interest??? Sign me up!
• Review coming soon!
• 4/5 stars

58. Radiance by Grace Draven

• Friends to lovers NA fantasy romance
• Arranged marriage where they are initially disgusted by one another
• Mostly character driven but there is action too!
• Part of a series but no real cliffhanger
• CW: gore and death
• 4/5 stars