Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to the 2020 End of Year Book Survey, originally hosted by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner! This is actually my sixth time taking part - check out my posts from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 if you dare. Anyway, without further ado, let's get to the tag:
2020 Reading Stats
Number Of Books You Read: 545 - Let's just say I had more time to myself than usual this year, and I read a lot to escape from this terrible year. By the way, this counts DNFs.
Number of Re-Reads: 0 that I can think of
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy - Big surprise, right?
1. Best Book You Read In 2020? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2019 release vs. backlist)
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune - I read a lot of great books this year, but this one took the cake! Check out my Top Ten Tuesday post where I featured my favorites of the year here.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn't
Cries from the Lost Island by Kathleen O'Neal - I thought this sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, but it was not what I was expecting unfortunately.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Alex McKenna & The Geranium Deaths (Alex McKenna #1) by Vicki-Ann Bush - This book made my Mid-Year Book Freak Out and as of now, it's still one of the best hidden gems of the year. It's an incredibly unique YA LGBT+ Urban Fantasy featuring a medium who can communicate with ghosts who comes from a long line of Strega witches and also happens to be trans guy. If that doesn't sound cool, I don't know what does.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager - Well, I'm a librarian so pushing books is kind of in the job description, but it seems like I talked this one up a lot this year! Riley Sager has quickly become one of my favorite mystery thriller authors.
5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel of 2020? Best Series Ender of 2020?
Opener - The Fever King (Feverwake #1) by Victoria Lee - Like I said, I read a lot of great books this year, and for these three books I'm featuring my favorite under the radar books from this year. As for this one, I'm dying to read the sequel.
Sequel - Titan's Day (The Carter Archives #2) by Dan Stout - This was one of my most anticipated sequels of 2020 and it totally lived up to the hype. I can't wait to see what's next for Carter and Ajax!
Ender - The Iron Will of Genie Lo (The Epic Crush of Genie Lo #1) by F.C. Yee - The first book in this duology was amazing and it ended so well, but I honestly wouldn't mind a spinoff or revisiting the cast several years down the line.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?
T.J. Klune - I've only read one of his books so far, but I need to read everything else he's ever written.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
The Women With Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II by Katherine Sharp Landdeck - I don't read a whole lot of nonfiction, but this was truly outstanding. I've always been interested in hidden women's history, especially in wartime and the WASP are so cool to learn about.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/ unputdownable book of the year?
The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard #3) by Scott Lynch - I love this series so much, and I'm dying for book four. I've listened to all of them on audiobook and I can't recommend it in that format enough. Michael Page has a great voice for the story.
9. Book You Read In 2020 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Pizza Man by Marjorie Pillar - This is an absurdly popular Juvenile Nonfiction book library that was originally published in 1990. I see it all the time and I smile every time. The Pizza Man clearly loves his job. I rarely reread books, but this turned out to be a lot of fun and I might need it as a pick me up next year if this year is anything to go by.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?
Titan's Day (The Carter Archives #2) by Dan Stout - Look how cool this is! I love the throw back to the cover of the first book which you can see here.
11. Most memorable character of 2020?
Going Rogue (Spells, Swords, & Stealth #3) by Drew Hayes - The entire Party from this series is so cool - I can't get enough of hearing about Gabrielle, Eric, Thistle, Grumph, and Timuscor. It's so much fun to see just how much they go against expectations. I just happened to stumble upon this series via Libby on audiobook this year and it's quickly become a favorite. I've been waiting for book four, the finale, for quite a while now and I'm dying to see how it all ends.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2020?
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2020?
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to finally read?
Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis - I was only 28 years behind the game on this one, but better late than never!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2020?
16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2020?
Shortest - The Shadows: Chapter Sampler by Alex North, 15 pages - This counts right? Plus, the full length final copy was really good.
Longest - A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) by George R.R. Martin, 1,179 pages - I've finally decided to jump back into this series and I wasn't disappointed.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James - This mystery thriller with a dash of paranormal horror kept me on the edge of my seat. The audiobook production was fantastic and I need to read more from the author. I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on it.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)
Dwight and Caroline from The Four Swans (The Poldark Saga #6) by Winston Graham - Who am I kidding, it's the same as pair as last year - and the year before that! I love the tv adaptation and the original novels are fantastic as well. As much as I like Ross and Demelza or Drake and Morwenna, Dwight and Caroline are the real MVP of the series!
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Henry and Ling from The King of Crows (The Diviners #4) by Libba Bray - I love everyone in this series, but Henry and Ling make an awesome team. By the way, this was an outstanding series finale.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2020 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Peace Talks (The Dresden Files #16) by Jim Butcher - I love this series so much and this was a great return!
21. Best Book You Read In 2020 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
The Book of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #1) by M.R. Carey - Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy totally sold me on this. I doubt it would have been on my radar otherwise, but it was fantastic. I've also been pushing this one quite a bit lately!
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2020?
Ummm, I don't have one.
23. Best 2020 debut you read?
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune - This one totally takes the cake. I felt like I could actually visit the titular house.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson - This was just absolutely fantastic. It definitely lived up to the hype.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2020?
Walk the Wild with Me by Rachel Atwood - I wanted to love this historical fantasy retelling of Robin Hood with faeries, but I DNF'd it. It bored me to tears which was really upsetting because it had such great potential.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Sensational (Spectacle #2) by Jodie Lynn Zdrok - This duology was outstanding and this finale was excellent. It deserves so much love.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2020?
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - At least I finally read it on my own terms, but Holden made me so angry!
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2020?
Sorry to say that I have a hard time remembering when I've followed anyone, and that's even worse than normal this year of all years.
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2020?
I always love putting together all of my Sci-Fi Month posts - November's always so much fun.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?
This photo of me holding a finished copy of The Black Sky (The Perseverantia Trilogy #1) by Timothy D. Minneci - I screamed when I saw my name on the cover! A bit of my review was blurbed on the front and black cover! It totally made my day!
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
Sci-Fi Month is always so much fun!
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2020?
See my answer to number three above!
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
The whole global pandemic - definitely made everything difficult this year.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Music Monday: Star Wars, A Bad Lip Reading - it got the most views on my blog this year.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Book Riot's 2020 Read Harder Challenge - October Update: Zombie, Ohio & Oryx and Crake - it got the least number of views on my blog this year.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I practice my foreign language skills using Duolingo and I love practicing my French while listening to the French Duolingo podcast.
I practice my foreign language skills using Duolingo and I love practicing my French while listening to the French Duolingo podcast.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes, I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, and the Popsugar Reading Challenge.
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2020 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2021?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - I'm so excited to read this!
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2021 (non-debut)?
Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga #3) by Fonda Lee - It hasn't been released yet when it's coming out, but I need this!
3. 2021 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino - This is going to be released on August 10, 2021 and it sounds like it will be my exact combination YA fantasy horror.
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2021?
It's doubtful it will be an option given the global pandemic that's been ongoing, but I'd like to attend an in person bookish event. Chances are I won't be getting out much for fun, but I guess I can dream.
6. A 2021 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
Have you taken the 2020 End of Year Survey? What books have you loved this year and what are you looking forward to in the coming year? As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!
Wait, 545 books? How is that even physically possible? Wow I am impressed😁 It looks like you had a fabulous reading year, and I see many books on your list I read and loved as well. I can hardly wait for Dan Stout's next book, and I wish the publisher would reveal the cover!
ReplyDeleteThere were quite a few picture books, short stories, and graphic novels in there. Plus, I do enjoy listening to audio books when I'm driving or exercising. They really added up, I guess! 😁
DeleteI can't wait to see that cover - I know it's going to be awesome!
Everyone is convincing me to buy The House in the Cerulean Sea. So glad to see Cemetery Boys as best debut. Such an incredible read. I hope you have a wonderful New Year, Lauren!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you do as well, Alicia.
DeleteYes, you totally need it!
Cemetery Boys was incredible. I'm glad it's getting all the recognition.
I've heard such good things about Home before Dark and Cemetery boys. I need to read them.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll enjoy them!
Delete