The 5-Star Reads of 2020 – the vibes are ~immaculate~

Hello Bookworms, 2020 was an ASTONISHING year in terms of reading for me. Especially in March and April, being stuck at home enabled me to read more books than I’ve ever read. I was able to discover countless authors and my tbr is now fully stocked for at least a few years. I’m pleased to say that I expanded my horizons with the genres I read, and I read more non-fiction, memoirs and adult novels. This post is a look back onto my favourite and most memorable reads of the year. Also, keep in mind that I am a fairly critical reader, as books that I rate four and five stars are EXCELLENT. The only distinction is the ones I’ve rated five stars have stayed with me for longer, and are novels I will cherish forever.

I have reviewed almost all of the books on this list(or I will shortly), so I may not expand a lot on each one. If there is a review for the book I’m mentioning, it will be linked!! Keep in mind, that I review EVERY book I read on my Goodreads and some on my Instagram.

this is me, excited to share my fav books with you!

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Five Star Reads

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

This trilogy BLEW MY MIND! I read this series at the start of 2020(back when everything was normal….) and now looking back, I desperately need a reread. Jude can STEP ON ME!! _{Thank you very much}. Also, I have a detailed review of the series coming in a few months!!

Favourite Quote:

“If you hurt me, I wouldn’t cry. I would hurt you back.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

If you’ve even taken a slight glance at my blog, Instagram or Goodreads, you know that this novel has ripped my heart out of my chest, slammed it on the pavement and jumped on it….REPEATEDLY. Here’s my review! 

Favourite Quote:

“…things get broken, and sometimes they get repaired, and in most cases, you realize that no matter what gets damaged, life rearranges itself to compensate for your loss, sometimes wonderfully.”
― Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life

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The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Non-fiction and memoirs are one of the genres that I’ve come to love this year. And The Glass Castle was a large part of introducing me to this unknown territory, and truly moved me. I wrote a review for this memoir, and I would love it if you checked it out!

Favourite Quote:

“I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.”
― Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

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City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

I finished this beauty a few weeks ago and FELL IN LOVE!! THE VIBES OF THIS BOOK AHHHHHH CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING!?! I cannot WAIT to write my review so that I can hopefully formulate my screams into something more meaningful. But for now, just know that I demand you all to read this.

Favourite Quote – it’s impossible to choose just one, this book is SO quotable!

“…at some point in a woman’s life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, City of Girls

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Fable by Adrienne Young – _{I’m also reading Namesake right now, and I’m hoping it will be another favourite!!}

Once I’ve read Namesake(in a few days), I PROMISE i’m going to write a review for this duology! I am so grateful to have been provided an arc for both these books, and I can assure you, THEY ARE GOOD! The writing, the characters, the…..romance…._{wink wink}…..BEAUTIFUL!

Favourite Quote:

“He looked at me with a hundred stories lit behind his eyes.”
― Adrienne Young, Fable

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The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Testaments was also a PHENOMENAL sequel, and i’m so happy that was the case(usually, sequels to such amazing books can be quite disappointing) Do I need to really expand? I feel as though this novel has been discussed quite a lot, so I will save my feelings for my review. And yes, I sound like a broken record, but A REVIEW IS COMING!!

Favourite Quote:

“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

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Honourable Mentions

Some of the books in this list are also five star reads, but didn’t impact me as much as the books above. And the rest are four star reads, some were simply fun and light, others made me shed quite a few tears, and you may even spot a classic if you look hard enough. And I wasn’t able to fit this series in here, but the Caraval trilogy was also a magical read! Here is my review!

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Can anyone guess what I’m going to say…….review coming soon….*hides*. I read this book for school, surprise surprise, but it hit HARD. I was bawling my eyes out as one point. Anwyas, this book deals with important themes(as you can imagine, because I had to read it for school), but it’s not dull by any means.

Favourite Quote:

“Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

FINALLY, we have a book that I’ve actually written a review for! Another genre I’ve read more of in 2020(and hope to discover more in 2021) are CLASSICS! This book was the perfect entrance into classics(although it wasn’t my first classic), as it’s very fast–paced and has such an intriguing storyline. Here is my review!

Favourite Quote:

“You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

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Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig

I listened to this boko through an audiobook in April and had SUCH a good time! Audiobooks can be so special when done well, and this book seems to have been written to be read out loud. Anyways, here’s my review and interview with the author! This book is a wonderful combination of quirky characters, with fun writing adds to such a multidimensional read! I cannot recommend it enough.

Favourite Quote:

“As it turned out, a pissed-off drag queen with a grappling hook was a force to be reckoned with.”
― Caleb Roehrig, Death Prefers Blondes

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The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

THIS SEQUEL MURDERED ME. And with all the pain Roshani keeps putting me through, I DON’T KNOW WHY I KEEP COMING BACK?(_{actually i do….severin my grumpy king and leila my gorgeous queen}). Here is my review for the first book in this trilogy, and the review for this sequel will be published shortly!

Favourite Quote:

“I wish my love was more beautiful.”
― Roshani Chokshi, The Silvered Serpents

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Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

There isn’t much to write about this book(and series), as I’ve communicated most of my feelings in my review. Here it is! But to sum up, this book is great if you have just come off of a reading slump, are in between long and heavy novels or just want a change of pace. This book is nothing if not FUN!

Not to mention, there is a film(which I have not seen yet, but have heard great praise for).

Favourite Quote:

“I love new clothes. If everyone could just wear new clothes everyday, I reckon depression wouldn’t exist anymore.”
― Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

An entire series review is coming on my blog!! Yes, evidently, 2021 is going to be the year of catching up on book reviews for me. whoops…. but for now, all you need to know is that kaz and inej ADOPT ME PLZ AND THANKS.

Favourite Quote:

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

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And that marks the end of my most memorable reads of 2020! I am positive that 2021 will bring this and so much more💙

Thanks for reading! What were your top books from 2020?