My Favourite Reads of This Year

I must admit, I’ve been really struggling with what to write about this week. My inspiration has flown out of me like a bird out of a cage, and I’ve just been a bit lost really. But when I find it hard to write, I read. So if I can’t think of what to write about I will talk about what others have written!

This year I have really got back into reading. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed it this much since I was a child! I often find reading exacerbates my tiredness – my eyes start to burn and my arms ache from holding up the book (I really need to invest in some kind of stand!).

The more I read now though, the more I want to read. I tend to do it before bed now and it helps me sleep, although I do often get too into the book and stay awake longer than I should. 

I made a goal for myself this year, after finishing my first book of the year, that I would attempt to read one book a month for this year. 12 books may not be a lot to many avid readers out there, but having read less than that in the last 10 years it seemed like a huge goal. 

Well, it’s August now, 8 months in, and I’ve read 9 books – which I am amazed at. I didn’t think I’d be able to keep up! It’s not just about how many books I’ve read though, it’s about falling back in love with reading. And I’ve definitely achieved that!

So, I thought I would share with you my favourite reads of this year. I loved ALL the books I’ve read, but I wanted to limit it to my 5 favourite. I will list the rest at the bottom if you wanted to check the out!

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My 5 favourite books of 2020

The Humans – Matt Haig

The Humans was the first book I read this year, so it definitely deserved a mention. It was the book that started it all! I loved exploring the world Matt created, with an alien struggling with his life impersonating a human, and learning all about our way of life and what makes us beautiful. 

The story follows Professor Andrew Martin, or an alien in the body of Professor Andrew Martin, who has been sent to Earth to destroy some of his work and anyone who knows of his recent discovery. The alien learns all about the life and family of Andrew, and how to be a human. It’s such a great story, exploring the way we live, love, and treat each other. 

If you’ve not read it yet I definitely recommend it!

Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig

I’ve read a lot of Matt Haig this year. 4 of the 9 books I’ve read are his, and there’s a very good reason for that. He is a fantastic writer, who manages to completely captivate me every time. His fiction books are fascinating, but this book about his experience battling severe depression and anxiety really spoke to me.

This book really helped me feel less alone. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety myself for many, many years, and it was amazing to find a book that described perfectly how I feel and what I’ve struggled with. It’s also a great book for people who have never experienced mental illness – it’s a really good insight into what life is like for us. 

So, whether you want to understand yourself and your illness more, or to know more about someone you care about who may be struggling, this book is for you!

Matt’s (sort of) sequel to this book, Notes on a Nervous Planet, is another really great book, all about surviving in a world surrounded by modern technology and expectations. It’s a timely reminder to look after yourself first, and not believe everything you read online!

How to Stop Time – Matt Haig

I did say I’ve read a lot of Matt Haig this year! (And that’s not going to stop here!)

This book follows Tom, a man with an interesting condition – he ages much, MUCH slower than normal people. In fact he’s been alive for centuries when we meet him. It’s a wonderful story of a man wanting to live a normal life, but having to make peace with never settling down and living with the rules of a secret society. 

We also get to see Tom’s life through history, meeting some very interesting people who you may have heard of (William Shakespeare anyone?). 

There’s definitely something in this book for everyone!

Soulless: The Case Against R Kelly – Jim DeRogatis

I honestly don’t know where to start when it comes to describing this book. I’d been wanting to read it for a long time, and it by far exceeded my expectations. 

Jim has followed R Kelly’s story from the beginning, and was the first person to ever report on what he’s been doing with underaged girls. His investigation is thorough, and he has stuck by the women who have come forward all the way through. Even though this is a real story, and I know of the case myself, I spent most of the book in disbelief. 

I couldn’t put this book down. You learn so much, not just about the crimes or victimes, but about Kelly himself and how he got to where he is. The only downside is the lack of happy ending! (Not really a spoiler, as we all know how it ends). 

One thing I will say is this book isn’t for you if you may be triggered by the acts Kelly committed with underage girls, as there are some descriptions in the book that may cause you some distress. 

Leaving Time – Jodi Picoult

I won’t lie, when I first starting reading this book I wasn’t sure what to make of it. But once the story really got going this was another one I just could not put down.

The story is told from the point of view of 4 characters. Jenna, a young girl whose mother went missing when she was a baby. Alice, Jenna’s mother. Serenity, a washed up psychic Jenna hires to help her find her mother. And finally Virgil, the officer in charge of this investigation of her mothers disappearance. 

Now stay with me here, I was a bit turned off by the presence of a psychic at first, and honestly didn’t see how the book could redeem itself. But it did. 

We follow Jenna, whose mother was a specialist in grieving among elephants, as she struggles to find out what happened to her mother. She doesn’t know if she is dead or alive, and we slowly learn more and more about her mother’s life, how she met her father, and the lead up to her disappearance. There are many twists and turns along the way, and the plot is so gripping. By the end I could not stop until I discovered everything that happened, and judging by Goodreads many others couldn’t either.

If you think this sounds like the book for you, why not give it a go. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

I also thoroughly enjoyed Picoult’s Small Great Things, which I read about 2 years ago, and highly recommend it as well.

The Other Three

As promised, the other three books I read (and really enjoyed) this year are…

The Backup Plan by Elsie McArthur following Marsailli as she works out where she wants her life to go after dreaming of being an actor for over 30 years.

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman telling the story of Ove and his life following the death of his wife, whom he adored. 

Lyrebird by Cecelia Ahern about a woman with a fascinating talent, to mimic the sounds of anything (living or not), and the people who discovered her.

Honourable Mention: Unnatural Causes by Richard Shephard

This one is an honourable mention because it’s the book I am currently reading and I am loving it. Shephard was a Forensic Pathologist, and this book is about his career and the cases he was a part of. 

It’s a bit gruesome at times, but it is so interesting. Not only do you get to learn all about the cases themselves, but you learn so much about the human body and how it functions, what it can tell you. 

I’m only a quarter of the way through, but it has left such a mark on me that I had to mention it!

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So there you have it. All the books I’ve read so far this year!

Have you read any of them? Did you enjoy them as much as I did?

What has been your favourite read of the year? 

Why not share your thoughts below!