TOP TEN TUESDAY: Favorite Books of 2020

It’s my first Top Ten Tuesday in a dog’s age!

I finally narrowed down my favorite books.

You might see some familiar books. I couldn’t stop talking about these reads all year longs.

The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures

by Noelle Stevenson

The Fire Never Goes Out may have ousted my longtime favorite Something New.

I read it at least three times.

Reading this book helped me make peace with my past and gave me a tiny spark of hope for the future.

I also signed up for multiple dating apps after reading this, spurred by envy of Noelle Stevenson and Molly Knox Ostertag’s relationship.

I will change my future, dammit.

Mark my words.

Slay

by Brittney Morris

I adored this book.

Best worldbuilding of 2020, hands down.

The twists were great.

The message was great.

The resolution was complicated.

The multiple POVs added so much depth.

Looking forward to Morris’ The Cost of Knowing, her YA sci-fi follow-up.

Felix Ever After

by Kacen Callender

Of the many excellent trans narratives I read this year, Felix Ever After was my favorite.

All of the teen characters were realistically messy.

The romance in this one was so soft and supportive and it resolved beautifully.

The reveals made me gasp.

I loved this book so much.

Here’s to more like it.

Written in the Stars

by Alexandria Bellefleur

Here I thought I hated romance novels.

Written in the Stars forced me to rethink this prejudice.

I didn’t expect to feel so deeply and relate so much while reading this.

I loved the astrology addition and was so tickled by the Seattle setting.

The author’s next book follows Darcy’s brother and I will ABSOLUTELY BE READING IT.

The Devouring Gray

by Christine Lynn Herman

This was my favorite ensemble novel of 2020.

It was magical and spooky and had bisexuals aplenty.

Like, a WHOLE VILLAGE full of bisexuals.

I ADORE Isaac Sullivan with all my heart. That Sad Plaid Magic Boi is everything to me.

I rarely get hyped up about sequels and here I am anxious to read The Deck of Omens.

(To that point: I WANT a Deck of Omens. I just think it’s neat!)

This is Major: Notes on Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope

by Shayla Lawson

Books that can make me laugh and cry automatically become favorites.

I received this book in my Call Number – Nonfiction Box and I can’t recommend the book or the subscription enough.

Lawson includes two poems of hers and they’re PHENOMENAL. I would love to attend a reading of hers.

The essay about the teens performing For Colored Girls stayed with me.

Somehow, the Bad Tinder date essay went from making me laugh to making me contemplative at the last second. IT WAS DONE SO WELL.

This is Major was the best book of essays I read all year. It’s highly underrated and deserves all the love.

Read it now. Witness the magic.

Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey + Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Stones

by Ngozi Ukazu

This year, despite my deep loathing of sports, I fell in love with Ngozi Ukazu’s scrappy hockey team.

I loved the healthy male friendships and the surprisingly tender romance.

I also loved all the pie. And cookies. And cakes.

This was a very good, very soft duology that brightened my entire year.

There’s a callback involving a side character that left me in tears. It was so satisfying.

I guess I like sports now. I did not foresee this happening in 2020.

The Starless Sea

by Erin Morgenstern

I want to live inside this book and never leave.

I want a fancy hotel room and sinister cat roommates and a mysterious Kitchen that does my laundry.

I want a cool love interest who wears fancy coats and and protects books and fights evil creatures with a sword.

This book made me so hopeful for 2021.

I want to believe better things are coming.

Heart of Iron

by Ashley Poston

On December 19th, 2019, I had my heart broken by The Rise of Skywalker.

Heart of Iron made me love sci-fi again.

I got everything I wanted and more besides.

I was more invested in this book than any other book I read this year.

I had to pause several times to scream out my feelings.

I’m afraid the sequel won’t live up to the glory of the first (HELLO, STAR WARS, THIS IS YOUR FAULT), but I am glad for the hope Heart of Iron gave me.

It was just fun. And queer. And action-packed.

In other words, it was the perfect book.

Those were my favorite books!

I found some forever favorites this year!

Hope 2021 is even gayer and more exciting than this last year…sans pandemic.