Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Best of 2020: Favorite New-to-Me Authors


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 New-to-Me Authors!

I LOVE discovering new authors. Whether a debut or someone with a backlist, it's a thrill to connect with an author, who creates books I love to read. Most of these are authors, who I have been wanting to read. Their books have been on my TBR for a bit, and boy, am I glad I finally started hitting my backlist, because I absolutely fell in love with these books, and quickly sought more of their work. 
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson - This was Johnson's debuts and one of my favorite books this year. I cannot wait to read lots more from Johnson. 
  • What I Carry by Jennifer Longo - This book impressed me so much, I ran out and read Longo's other two books, which were also big hits for me. 
  • Barry Squires, Full Tilt by Heather Smith - This book had me laughing and sobbing. It was something special for me. It inspired me to pay full price for another of Smith's books, which also had me feeling too much, and I loved every second of it. 
  • Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram - This was such a beautiful and touching story, and I could not wait to get my hands on the sequel. I am very much looking forward to reading more from Khorram. 
  • Taking Down Evelyn Tait by Poppy Nwosu - Neither of Nwosu's books are new, but they are new to the US. This was my pick from winning the Discussion Challenge, and I am so glad I picked it. Nwosu's other book equally delighted me, and I am ready for more. 


  • Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese - You know I really enjoyed a book, when I pre-order the sequels, and that's what happened here. I have not read any of Liese's other series, but I will read books about the Bergman's forever. 
  • The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler - Another debut author here, and is it wrong that I want her to write a million Moose Springs books? I am three deep in this series, and each book has been an utter delight for me. 
  • Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn - I have seen Flynn's books around for a while, and when I saw her new series was a hockey romance, I knew it was time to check her out. I really enjoyed this book, and the next book was an even better experience for me. I definitely plan to check out her other series as well.  
  • The Girl Next Door by Emma Hart - Hart has a million romance books out, and is another author I have been meaning to read something by her forever. I finally did it, and I had such a great time, I have read two more books since then. Her humor really works for me, and I am glad I finally gave her books a try. 
  • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling - Aven Green is one of my most favorite characters ever. I just adored this kid. Shannon had talked about this book, and the title intrigued me, but when I heard about the sequel, I knew I had to give it a go. Both books were huge successes for me, and I hope to read more of Bowling's other books soon. 

Did you discover any great new authors this year?
Let us know in the comments!

32 comments:

  1. What a glorious lists of finds for the year! It reminded me of You Should See Me in A Crown!

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    1. I hope you get to it. It was such a wonderful book!

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  2. I really need to get moving on The Tourist Attraction, I have a lot of books to catch up on in that series!

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  3. Yay for Avery Flynn and Emma Hart! (Those are the only two I've read.) I enjoy their books so it makes me happy to see you liked them enough for them to make this list.

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    1. So far, all the books I read by them have been hits. I am looking forward to reading more.

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  4. I also loved Leah Johnson's and Adib Khorram's books - such well written contemporaries. Glad you got to discovered so many new favorite authors. :)

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    1. Their books were really touching, and the characters were memorable.

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  5. You already know that I discovered Jennifer Longo thanks to you!

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  6. Emma Hart and Avery Flynn--I LOVE them! You've got some really great authors on this list!

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    1. It's crazy that I have not ready anything from them until this year.

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  7. It is so nice to discover authors like that! And these all look really good. The Tourist Attraction looks fun... :)

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    1. The Tourist Attraction was wonderful. It's a fun series, and I love being in Alaska

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  8. Morgenthaler and Flynn have been new to me this year, too. I definitely anticipate reading more from them! Several of the others are on my to read list. I read more Emma Hart this year, but it wasn't my first year with her.

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    1. I was delighted to find all three. Their books were such fun.

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  9. I love discovering new authors. I haven't read any of these yet but Darius is on my tbr list.

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    1. Darius' story was so touching. I hope you get a chance to read or listen (the audio was great!)

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  10. I cannot believe that the only author on this list I have read is the one I recommended! For shame, really! I WANT to read quite of a few of them though, and I OWN quite a few of them, so I will need to change that ASAP! So glad you discovered so many great new authors this year!

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    1. Well, at least you know it was a great recommendation, right?

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  11. I am happy to see that Emma Hart is on your list, she is an author I have been wanting to try for so long, and her covers are so infectious and give you those happy vibes.

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    1. Her books were so fun. I recommend them for when you want a good laugh

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  12. Oh what a lovely list! I really want to read You Should See Me in a Crown, I heard it's incredible and I can't wait to discover it. What I Carry also sounds so good :)

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    1. Do it! The book is so sweet and adorable. I think you would love Crown. I cannot rave enough about Longo's books.

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  13. I discovered Adib Khorram this year too! And I bought the cactus book because of you and Shannon. I haven’t read it yet.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I promise you won't regret the Aven Green book. It was a standout.

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  14. Yay! So glad you discovered Emma Hart! She is one of my favorites because her stories are so funny! I have liked Avery Flynn, although her audiobook that I tried didn't work, while I think I'll love reading all her books. And of course the Moose Springs books are on my list of what I wish I'd read last year!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Hart's books have been really fun for me, and I am always looking for more laughs. I have only read Flynn's Ice Knights books, so not sure about the others, but I am fan of that series.

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  15. I really want to try Leah Johnson and Jennifer Longo. My favorite new to me author this year was Chanel Cleeton. I'm getting ready to start my third read from her because I enjoyed my first two reads so much.

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    1. If you want a feel-good book, you really need to read Johnson's. It's just pure happiness and joy. Longo's are pretty emotional, but ultimately happy and hopeful. I am happy to be reading Cleeton again via her Cuba series. I had read like 6 or so of her contemporary romances years ago and have been really delighted with her historicals.

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  16. You Should See Me In A Crown was an absolute delight. I can't wait to read whatever else Leah Johnson writes in the future!

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    1. Same. I am very excited about her next release. I think it will be another heartwarming one.

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