Favorite Books of 2020 ☆

I absolutely loved this. it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me look up information and listen to music and appreciate the internet and hate the internet, and made me question my status as a person who makes videos on the internet, and it was fucking wonderful.

next I had Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson. this is my favorite for the writing and also because I got to be part of a YouTube original in 2020 where I was one of the people who interviewed Jacqueline Woodson and I got to fly to Brooklyn and it was absolutely incredible.

Next, we have Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. this is a favorite book of the year and I also watched the first season of Big Little Lies this year and it became like a favorite tv moment of 2020. a winner in more than one way.

second to last on this list, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. romance a+, magic a+, all around such a fun time.

Book 2: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi Ukazu the conclusion of the Check, Please graphic novel series or the Check, Please webcomic depending on how you consume Check, Please. How I consume Check, Please is often, voraciously, and while frequently crying. and I kind of can't believe that it ended.

I think the thing with Elizabeth Acevedo is that I’m not allowed to read one of her books unless I break down sobbing at least once and if I break down sobbing it's a five-star book.

So, Close to Spider Man by Ivan E. Coyote. this is in no way an old book, it was published in the year 2000, but it's still the earliest note that I had to make. brilliant collection, my two faves from this were “This, That, and The Other Thing” and the title collection “Close to Spider Man”.

I’m glad that I finally get to talk about this book and I’m glad that a book that I was excited about for this long gets to be on this list. Like, I remember when this book was sold, I remember when the cover was announced, it exists now and it's so good.

I think what made this stand out from some of the other collections I read is the fact that it was extremely accessible in terms of writing style. And, like, as someone new to poetry it felt like I could jump into this and really get into, it but as someone who loves words and who loves interesting and gorgeous writing all of that was here too.

one of two short story collections on here How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin. my two favorite stories were “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” and “The Effluent Engine”. both supreme fabulousness, and “The Effluent Engine” is queer as fuck.

So, last year Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World was one of my favorite books that I read.

so this was fucking amazing, and I can't wait to read the graphic novel adaptation as well.

this was a debut, which blows my fucking mind. I can't even believe Brandon Taylor did this. and it is a 2020 release, which means this is my favorite 2020 release.

my favorite book of the year was Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno. I could have built it up, I’m not going to. I knew from the first page of this book that it was going to be a favorite of all time, I just- I read the first page and it hit the way that so many of my other favorite books have.

my four and a half star reads, ranked for your ease and for your 2021 TBR pleasure. let's do it, top 10 runners-up. so this is going to be in my 20th spot technically for the year, The Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson, this is a memoir in pictures.

this is about a young girl with a heart condition who is dealing with an estranged parent and possible burgeoning, like, queer identity? queer feelings? and there's… that's so much for a middle grade book. and all of those topics are completely accessible to middle graders, it's just that I think that there's such a skill and power of being able to weave all of those individually really difficult concepts into a book that not only works for middle graders but, you know, made my bitch-ass cry.

favorite book of 2020 is The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. this is the book that I gave four and a half stars to that I think has the most potential to become a five-star book upon a re-read.

we have This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow, a standout YA contemporary not only because it was joyful but also because I think it's supremely underrated and if you haven't picked up a copy yet you should. because it's about girl bands.

Anyway, this was joyful this was perfect YA contemporary coming-of-age story that's queer and about the power of your own identity. you know I live for it.

next up, there was Soft in the Middle by Shelby Eileen. this was a beautiful poetry collection.

it's Soft Magic by Upile Chisala. I’m so glad that I was sent this book, thank you so much to Kirsten @mothgender because this was such a surprise. this is short and simple poetry that packs, like, a huge punch.