Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Best of 2020: Favorite Adult Books


It's time to celebrate my year in books. I will be spreading my favorites throughout a bunch of categories, but these are all favorites. For more of my favorites, check out my Five Star Friday posts. Today I will be sharing.....

Favorite Adult Books!

When I first became part of WLABB, I stuck with their vision of this being a YA blog. Though I read mostly contemporary fiction, I do cross age group lines reading YA, middle grades, new adult, and adult books. These are some of the standout adult fiction I have read this year. Most of these stories were really moving and filled my heart with joy, and I hope to read more from all these authors in the future. 
  • Beach Read by Emily Henry - I truly adored Henry's YA books and her adult debut was stunning. People can fight me, but for me, this was not a rom-com, and though there was romance, it felt more like January's story. So, I am sticking in here in my adult books section. 
  • A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - I had read one of Backman's books years ago, and finally went back and read the rest. There is something really special about his storytelling, and Ove simply stole my heart. 
  • Into the Blue by Chanel Cleeton - I had been meaning to finish this series forEVER. It's funny, I didn't expect this book to be as emotional as it was, but it had me feeling the feels, and I loved it. 
  • The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley - What I loved about this book was along the lines of why I love Backman's books. This was a story about human connection, and I really enjoyed the way it was told. I was that crazy about the very end, but the rest was fantastic for me. 
  • The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis - I remember feeling unsure about Shalvis doing a women's fiction series, but the Wildstone books own my heart. The strong romantic element combined with found family and friendship works for me every time. 
  • Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn - This was such a lovely and touching story, but it also made me laugh. The mix of humor and heartache was a winning combination for me. 
  • Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis - I shed all sorts of tears as I read Emmie Blue. THIS was the up-lit I was looking for. Right when I thought my heart was irreparable, something happened to mend it and fill it with warmth and joy. So. Good. 
  • The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver - This book was tough. Lydia's grief soaked these pages and had me sobbing left and right. It was long journey for both me and Lydia, but there were plenty of bright spots along the way, as well as a happy ending. 
  • What You Wish For by Katherine Center - I cannot comment on Center's older books, but the last three have been phenomenal for me. They are always so moving and touching, and she incorporates beautiful themes into them. I am always left happier after reading a Center book. 
  • The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman - Waxman has become of favorite of mine. I lover her humor. I can always depend on her books to make me laugh, smile, and cry. They both tickle my funny bone and tug at my heartstrings, and honestly, what more could I ask for? 

Did you read any notable adult books this year?
Let us know in the comments!

40 comments:

  1. I love the cover for Bear Necessity.
    Dear Emmie Blue is on my kindle and is one of those books I need to make time to read... You know, during my "book buying ban" of 2021. ;)

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    1. Bear Necessity was such a fun and heartwarming story. Loved it! I hope you read Emmie Blue. It blew my expectations out of the water.

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  2. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird was a great read! I need to get to Beach Read next year!

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    1. Lydia Bird was all the tears. My heart! Can't wait to see what you think of Beach Read.

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  3. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird was so, so good. And it was *this close* to being among my top ten of the year. Silver did an incredible job of communicating Lydia's grief and her ever so start of a new life.

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    1. The grief was explored to the hilt. I felt every heartache.

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  4. Beach Read and a Man Called Ove are two books I have high on my tbr! I have been reading a Backman a year and I think that is going to be the next one for me I think. I have been loving your favourites lists!

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    1. Both were spectacular. I think Ove is my favorite Backman book. It was such a special story. I'm crying here just thinking about it. Thanks! I love making these lists. It's hard with 457 books to pick from, but I think I was able to spread the love with my various lists.

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    2. I just finished reading Anxious People by Backman, but have never tried Ove. Will have to pick it up!

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    3. Melissa - Ove is my favorite, though none disappointed. I am such a fan of his stories. I hope you get a chance to read it!

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  5. Some of these I definitely need to try more of. I have read a few of them but for the most part, this is probably the genre I've read the least in this year for whatever reason. I do want to try to read more next year.

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    1. These are all contemporaries, since that's really all I read.

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  6. I almost added What You Wish For. I should've! Totally loved Into the Blue and Beach Read! Yep, both had unexpected depth and emotions. Must re-read Into the Blue someday.

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    1. Pick any one of Center's last three books, and you'll have a winner. I am trying to get to her backlist, but so far, only read one. It was good, but not like her most recent three.

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  7. I have not read any of these books, but I will look into them and hope to add some of them to my TBR!

    Wish you all a great 2021.

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    1. These are probably the most popular books I read this year. I am known for reading books nobody has heard of, but I am pretty sure there are some best sellers up there. Hope you get to try a few.

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  8. Beach Read and What You Wish For were so good! I still need to read that Chanel Cleeton series. It's going to have to be in 2021 now. Nice list!

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    1. I loved the Aces series. Every book was quite emotional, and I was so happy to return to that world.

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  9. Beach read and What You Wish For are two amazing reads this year!

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    1. So good. Cannot wait until both those authors release something new.

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  10. I feel the same way about Center. I've only read two of hers, but they both really resonated with me. They make me laugh, they make me cry ...

    Happy TTT!

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    1. I have read four and they were all great. I love the themes she works into her stories and the way she stokes my emotions

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  11. These look nice. I want to read more contemps in '21.

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    1. That's my go-to genre, and I was really happy with the releases that found me.

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  12. I'm just smiling at your list and nodding my head. Beach Read, Lydia Bird, What You Wish For, Ove, and the Abbi Waxman book were all books I loved. I also just started reading Chanel Cleeton's books this year and have loved what I've read so far.

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    1. She has really impressed me with her historical fiction books, because I don't really like historical fiction, but she sold me on that family and their stories.

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  13. I got Beach Read for Christmas so I am looking forward to that one! I also want to read Ove, too. My favorite adult books... let me think. So these are all sci-fi/fantasy, but Black Sun, The Space Between Worlds, The Only Son, Unreconciled, and Goldilocks. BUT I also loved The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon which is adult romance so that one I have a feeling you will like!

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    1. Don't know if you will be a sobbing puddle like I was at one point, but I really did enjoy the journey with January as she worked through her stuff. I didn't include The Ex-Talk here, but it was 5-stars. So good. Black Sun is getting all the love. I have seen good things about that book.

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  14. A Man Called Ove is fantastic. Also the movie adaptation was excellent - that's what made me want to try the book. Actually, I think it's one of those that I preferred the movie... :)

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    1. I have not seen the film, but that book was so moving. I am getting chills just thinking about it.

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  15. I've only read Beach Read and really liked it too!

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    1. Though it wasn't what I was expecting, I really enjoyed it too. It was super emotional for me

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  16. I got Beach Read and the Two Lives of Lydia Bird through the Book of the Month Club. But have yet to read them. I need to though! Especially if they are on your list. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Lydia Bird was all the tears, and there were parts of Beach Read that made me sob too, but I adored them. I hope you get to them.

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  17. I have got to make time for Beach Read! I keep seeing people raving about it. I also hear that it isn't an actual lighthearted read like the title and cover convey.

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    1. I expected a light and fluffy rom-com, but it was a lot deeper than that. The main character was trying to come to terms with her father's death and the things she learned about him after his death. It was heavier, in parts, than I expected, but absolutely wonderful. Yeah, I was salty about the cover being misleading, but I have nothing but good things to say about the actual story.

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  18. It looks like I've missed out on some good ones. Thanks for recommending these.

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    1. Some seriously heartwarming stuff up there, if and when you are in the mood

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  19. Loved Beach Read, Dear Emmie Blue, and What You Wish For! A Man Called Ove and Lydia Bird are both on my tbr. Knowing we have such similar tastes in books, I need to take a closer look at the rest of your list. ;) Happy Reading!

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    1. Ove was hyped and it really lived up to it, I have to say. The story really touched my heart. Buckle up and bring tissues for Lydia Bird. It a rather painful reach, and that just goes to show how well Silver depicted her grief.

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