2020 end of year reading rewind
I far surpassed my reading goal this year! I started with a goal of 25 books and finished off with 44 completed books for 2020. Rediscovering my great love of reading was one of my highlights of the past year. I mostly read on my Kindle Paperwhite and highly recommend it.
I always have been drawn to dark reads and got deep in the thriller genre for most of the Fall and Winter. I also enjoy good memoirs and self help books and was able to sprinkle some of those into the mix.
Below is a list of all the books I read in the second half of the year. Click the link on the title of each for the Amazon link (if you purchase, I get a small kickback)!
The Last Sister - Kendra Elliott
Set along the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon, this mystery was slow moving at first but picked up the pace by the end. I enjoy reading about settings that I’m familiar with so I loved the pacific northwest vibes and also the historical information provided.
I have seen this one on my suggested reads from Amazon for years and I finally committed when I saw the author on TikTok. This is a memoir documenting her life growing up in an extremely abusive home and eventually being able to leave. While it is hard to read books like this, it also can be helpful to see signs and know what could be helpful for people in these kinds of situations. It was a powerful memoir.
I like learning about witchy things and spiritual things and lunar phases and all that jazz and this was a fun read to learn a little bit about the witchy world. There are recipes, lists, and activities between sections of writing. I think I want to buy the hard copy of this one so I can re-read bits and pieces of it through the year.
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
This book is often recommended from people in two fields that I am interested in business & finance AND manifestation. This is one of the oldest books (that I know about) about the law of attraction and it really surprised me that this topic was talked about by businessmen hundreds of years ago and not just hippies in the past 30 years. It took me a long time to get through but I am very glad that I completed it.
This memoir was an examination of life in Appalachia. If you are someone who grew up in or near an extremely poor area, I don’t think this book will be very entertaining. It isn’t the most exciting book for people who are already aware of how poverty affects communities. I’m sure this is an eye-opening read for a lot of people but I wasn’t shocked.
Raving Fans - Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
This should be required reading in high school. My boyfriend’s dad gave me this book because he knows how much I enjoy business and leadership. It is an extremely easy read that focuses on the value of customer service. I know it sounds kind of boring but I promise it is actually a fun read and provides so much value!
Running the Light - Sam Tallent
I am obsessed with stand up comedy. It is why I started my podcast and brings me an insane amount of joy on a regular basis. This fictional story of a comedian on the road, living his dysfunctional life from one show to the next, making all the wrong decisions, was a fantastic read. This was the debut book from the author, who is a comedian, and I’m excited to see what he does next.
Starvation Heights - Gregg Olsen
This was on the top of my “TO BE READ” list for a while. Starvation Heights is a sanitarium that is about 20 minutes from where I currently live. Gregg Olsen is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to hear about the terrible things that happened in Olalla, WA. It is a historical book so it moves much slower than most of his books and it was less scary than some of the others I had read but I’m glad that I read it and learned about some dark local history.
Unspeakable Things - Jess Loury
This mystery thriller is written from the perspective of a middle school girl in the 1980s who is trying to solve the crime steak that is happening in her town. It is kind of like the Hardy Boys but 100000 times darker. The way this is written is very interesting in the way that the darkest parts of the book are inferred and not explicably stated.
The Stillwater Girls - Minka Kent
My first Minka Kent book of the year and the one that made me fall in love with her thriller writing style. With multiple storylines intertwining, this book kept me on the edge of my seat through the whole read. This one has a twist ending that you NEED to experience for yourself.
INTENSE. INCREDIBLE. EXTREMELY DARK AND TWISTY. I’m obsessed with this book and it is tied with one other book as the best read of the year.
Nothing Like I Imagined - Mindy Kaling
This group of six short stories was a breath of fresh air. I love Mindy’s writing style and all of her book have been just plain fun to read. These stories made me feel the way that I do when I watch shows like The Real Housewives or Sex and the City - mostly fun with a couple heartwarming moments.
This mystery thriller was intriguing and addicting. It kept me asking WHY? HOW? WHO? You know, all the detective questions… The idea of personality disorders is extremely interesting and the way that Minka Kent writes about them is unmatched.
To Hell With the Hustle - Jefferson Bethke
We all know we should probably pay less attention to our phones and social media and spend more time focusing on our families; that is the message of this book. Jefferson is a Christian writer and I enjoyed most of what he had to say about hustle culture. I would say this is perfect for someone who has children or wants children. As someone who is very career-focused at this time in my life, some of the subject matter didn’t apply so much to me but I enjoyed the message.
Have You Seen Luis Velez? - Catherine Ryan Hyde
I read this one because it was a book club choice for a podcast I listen to and it was really boring. It has a good message and is a good coming of age story but it was bland. It was lighthearted and emphasized the importance of connections and small actions, which was nice to think on during all that was happening in 2020.
To The Bridge - Nancy Rommelmann
This is a very dark non-fiction true crime read about a mother who dropped her two children off a bridge in Portland, OR in 2009. The author, Nancy, documents the families life before and after the tragedy while searching for the reason that a mother could do such a thing. I definitely suggest this one if you like true crime journalistic writing.
Another memoir about child abuse… I don’t know why I am drawn to these books but I have read a couple of them now and this one was extremely rough. It made me angry. It made me want things to change. For that, I am thankful to the author for writing this and reliving her experiences. I think it is important to understand that these kind of actions can be happening behind closed doors and things are not always what they seem.
The United States of Anxiety - Jen Lancaster
I never write bad reviews… I did for this book. I have anxiety and this book barely talks about anxiety. The author acknowledges her privilege while still tearing down other people with out of touch comments. She tried to touch on controversial topics but couldn’t pick a side. She tried to be humorous and missed the mark. I was extremely annoyed while reading most of this book.
Wholly Unraveled - Keele Burgin
Another powerful memoir that really made me think about life and how we spend our days. The growth from a childhood in a religious cult to living life addicted to drugs and alcohol to rediscovering herself and the purpose of her life; Keele tells this story wonderfully. There are some extremely traumatic experiences in this book but it will give you hope.
The Coddling of the American Mind - Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
This book has been on my “TO BE READ” list since it came out and I am SO happy that I finally did it! The authors researched multiple instances on college campuses where freedom of speech has been redefined and discomfort and danger are thought to be one and the same. I agreed with a lot of the topics that were covered before reading this book but feel much more stable in my convictions after reading through this. I highly suggest it for anyone to read but especially millennials.
After reading Verity, I was very excited to read another book that was dark from Colleen Hoover. This one has a lot of paranormal activity, which is something that I really enjoyed. It is not even close to as intense as Verity but it is a great, quick read that makes you think.
The Perfect Roommate - Minka Kent
This book brought together so many things that I love to read about. It was kind of a combination of lighthearted chick lit and thriller. There is drama on every level - from minuscule clothing and makeup choices to affairs and murder. Minka kept turning up the heat on this one through the book and I loved it from beginning to end.
Another great read from Minka Kent! From romance to a thriller, this book evolves wonderfully. I especially loved this one because it is set in a rich neighborhood in the Utah mountains and the characters in this book mimic the lifestyle I’ve been watching in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
The Memory Watcher - Minka Kent
Okay, I was on a roll with Minka Kent books. The interesting thing about this book is that I don’t think you are supposed to like the main character. She is kind of the worst. But she is so destructive and keeps making impulsive decisions that keep you hooked and wondering what she is going to mess up next. It has a good twisty ending that left me shocked!
Eat, Pray, #FML - Gabrielle Stone
I fell into the FOMO trap with this one. I saw a lot of people saying they were reading it and the author got a lot of attention on TikTok so I gave it a shot. It was okay. The writing style gets better through the book and I enjoyed hearing about her travels but it was not great for a memoir or self help. I need to read the original Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert this year.
Check out the podcast recap HERE!
Check out the YouTube video HERE!
Check out the other reading blog posts HERE!
Comment any books you think I need to read in 2021!