New Episode! Favorite Reads of 2020
Plus looking back on the decade and forward to 2021 and Michelle's 2020 superlatives
Hey, listeners—
Michelle here! This week Chelsey and Sara are discussing their favorite reads of 2020. I have been loving all of the 2020 reading recaps that have been coming out in the last month and Chelsey and Sara have picked some great books for their own list. I’ve read a few of their picks and I’ve heard of some of their picks, but I am especially interested in the titles that I had not yet heard of. I’m excited to add these to my TBR list and look up the backlists of many of the authors, as well. I’ll be sharing some of my own superlatives below to give you even more ideas for what to read next. I hope you all find some hidden gems for your own stacks!
While reflecting on 2020 reading accomplishments and looking forward to 2021 reading goals, take a look at these links…
Get some ideas for how to read more in 2021.
2020 is also the end of a decade. See if you agree with these best novels of the last 10 years.
If you’re trying to fit in last-minute books for your 2020 count, check out these titles.
Some of our links are Bookshop affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links (plus, you support independent bookstores).
My superlatives:
Best underrated gem…The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I don’t know why I didn’t see this one on bookstagram more because it was adorable, heartwarming, and had an unpredictable ending. This year, I really gravitated toward novels where vastly different people come together and bond over unusual yet shared circumstances.
Best debut…The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. I am so glad I listened to this one on audio! The narrator’s British accent really transported me and I connected with each individual character.
Most comforting read for a pandemic year…Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Another novel where a group of very different people come together to achieve a common goal. This story was artful, funny, relatable, and one I was telling my friends about afterward.
Book that should be in the classroom…A Burning by Megha Majumdar. I loved the way this story gave me a clear look into the Indian slums and the struggles people face there but the fictional elements kept me turning the pages. Although it’s short, it packs a punch and I could see it fitting in perfectly with the Globalization and Cultural Texts class I took last year.
Best cozy book to curl up with this winter…Recommended For You by Laura Silverman. This one had me at “a book about books.” Mostly set in an independent bookstore, this story takes place during the holiday season. Two seemingly-opposite teenage employees at the store compete to sell the most books and win a cash prize but end up working together in the end.
Best book that fit right in your wheelhouse…By the Book by Amanda Sellet. Another book about books, this one was an adorable story of four high school girls who try to understand boys through the lens of classic 19th century romance novels.
Best book that got you out of your comfort zone…How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang. This novel was a difficult read because it was tightly packed but I loved the chronology of it and the characters of Sam and Lucy.
Best reread…My Ántonia by Willa Cather. I am so glad I re-read this for an episode of the podcast that aired a couple weeks ago!
Coming up:
Next week, Chelsey and Sara are discussing the essay collection Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. Audre Lorde’s essays on feminism, race, intersectionality, poetry, and love are rich and multifaceted. If you only have time to read a few essays in the collection, the discussion and pairings will focus on Poetry is Not a Luxury, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House, and Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference.
The following week, there’s another installment of the Short Story Club comin’ at ya! This episode will cover “The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr. I am a big fan of the Short Story Club because it is always so easy to take a few minutes to read the story before listening to Chelsey and Sara’s discussion and that makes the episode that much more meaningful.
Currently Reading:
I just finished Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett. Narrated by a 10-year-old girl trying to understand her mother’s sudden death, this story explored the complexities of grief and growing up in a humorous way.
Now, I am in the middle of Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. This novel features scenes of the Russian tundra complete with snowy and icy expanses. It feels fitting to read while the weather is blustery outside.
Next, I hope to pick up Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. I really liked her novel, The Music Shop and I am confident I will enjoy this one, too, as it is a WWII historical fiction and I can never go wrong with that!
Listeners, we’re excited to be partnering with Libro.fm to offer you two audiobooks for the price of one. Just click this link to get two audiobooks for $15 all while supporting the pod and independent bookstores!
Where to find us:
Download episodes of Novel Pairings wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Check out our blog for bonus pairings, reading tips, and book recommendations. Find Chelsey at @chelseyreads or @hereadsheread. Find Sara at @fictionmatters and her newsletter. We love hearing what you’re reading, so feel free to tag us in your #bookstagram posts!
We declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!
Have a happy new year, listeners!
-Michelle