Last year I decided to do a post about my favourite books of the year so far (as of 30 June) and whilst this year I haven’t read quite as many books as last year at this point I decided to still do it. It’s always lovely to have the chance to celebrate amazing books!
At the time of writing this post I’ve read 115 books and have 20 five star reads that I simply can’t narrow down any further. These aren’t necessarily books published this year but the books I loved most that I’ve read this year. The books are in no particular order, I loved them all!
So here are my top 20 books of 2020 so far!
It’s A Wonderful Night by Jaimie Admans
A new spin on It’s A Wonderful Life and it’s gorgeous. It doesn’t shy away from the severity of depression but manages to still be a feel-good novel. I loved this one and will re-read it again one Christmas!
A brilliant crime novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. This is fast becoming a favourite new crime series!
This is the third book in the Sam Shephard series and she is now one of my most favourite characters. I love spending time with her in a new novel and I can’t wait to read more!
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
I haven’t managed to review this one as yet but I absolutely recommend it. It’s a novel about a teenage boy called Justyce who’s dealing with the racism in the society around him – from the police and from people in his school. He deals with it by writing letters to Martin Luther King. It’s a prescient novel and I still find myself thinking about it.
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan
This is my new favourite Sarah Vaughan novel. It’s a novel about toxic friendships, about not feeling like you can be your true self with even your closest friends and what happens when suspicion sets in. I loved this book!
The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves
This is a stunning novel that looks at what caused a man to stop talking to his wife for six months, and what happens when she suddenly stops talking to him. We learn about what happened from both of their perspectives and it’s so moving. I adored this book and I already want to re-read it!
This is a stunning, claustrophobic novel about the immediate aftermath of a teenage girl going missing. It has a dream-like quality to it and I got swept away in this book.
Black and British by David Olusoga
I haven’t reviewed this book yet but it’s a brilliant and eye-opening non-fiction book that I recommend to everyone. It’s the forgotten history of black people in the UK and I learnt so much from this book. It helps you join the dots of the things you learnt at school and the full story of why and how things happened.
One Split Second by Caroline Bond
This book is heartbreaking but it’s a book I couldn’t stop reading (I read it in just two sittings). It follows the aftermath of an horrific car accident as the survivors come to terms what happened and the impact it’s had on their lives. I loved this book and it’s one that is really staying with me.
Evening Primrose by Kopano Matlwa
This is a brilliant novel that packs so much into it’s few pages (it’s only around 200 pages long). It follows a doctor as she deals with race issues in her life in South Africa. Her struggles with her periods were so relatable in a way that I’ve never found in a novel before. Later something horrific happens to her and it was hard to read and yet I couldn’t look away. This is such a powerful and compelling book.
The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman
This novel follows a disparate group of people on a normal morning but who get caught up in a hostage situation. I loved learning about the characters in this book and how they coped in the terrifying situation they found themselves in. It’s an excellent novel and I recommend it.
Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie
I’ve not reviewed this book as yet but it’s one that I read as I was trying to get out of my reading slump and I just got completely engrossed in this story. It follows a few characters who live in a tower block in London before and after a terrible event occurs. I loved these characters, and how the novel explored how the event affects them. I recommend this one and can’t wait to see what Luan Goldie writes next!
The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
I read and loved The Roanoke Girls a few years back so was keen to read the author’s new novel. I devoured it! It’s such a dark, unsettling novel but one that I just couldn’t put down. I still keep finding myself thinking about this book, it’s one that haunts you. I loved it.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it absolutely lived up to my hopes for it. It follows Edward in the aftermath of a plane crash where he was the sole survivor. His parents and brother died in the crash so he has to live with his Aunt and Uncle. The novel also shows what happened on the day of the plane crash – you get to know, briefly, the people onboard, which makes it even more heartbreaking. I adored this novel and want to re-read it one day.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
This is such a powerful and moving memoir, I’m so glad I read it. Chanel Miller is the young woman who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner. This book is her telling her own story in her own words and she is such a courageous woman. I recommend that everyone read this one.
The Day We Met by Roxie Cooper
I had this novel on my TBR for ages before I picked it up, which I’m kicking myself about as when I did pick it up I read it in just a couple of sittings. This is such a beautiful novel, one that makes you wonder about fate and destiny, and also makes you want to live in the moment. It’s a book you need tissues for but it’s such a gorgeous read.
Wild Spinning Girls by Carol Lovekin
I’m a huge fan of Carol Lovekin’s writing and this novel was another stunning book. It explores grief and the loss of a mother, and it’s so beautiful. I highlighted so many paragraphs as I was reading it and I keep thinking about it. I know I will re-visit this one of these days.
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
This is another stunning book following a teenage girl in the present whilst also filling in her back story with chapters about her mum, dad and grandparents. She knows her mum was her age when she was born and that is the catalyst for everything that happens down the line. This book is short and at times spare in the writing but it packs such an emotional punch. I recommend it.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
This is one of my most favourite books of this year so far. I wanted to read it because it’s premise is intriguing (an engaged woman dreams of a different life with a different man and five years later she bumps into this man) but the real love story in this is the one between the two women who are the best of friends. It’s an incredible book, one that made me cry but also made me smile. I adored this one!
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
If I had to pick just one book that was my favourite of 2020 so far it would have to be this one. Before reading I felt a little intimidated by it but from a couple of pages in I was gripped. I love all the interweaved stories running through this book, I love the characters and the surprises along the way. It’s a stunning novel and one I will never forget.
Okay, so I said I had a top 20 books of 2020 and I do… all of the above. I always like to sit with a book for a while before I put it on a list of favourites but I read a book on the very last day of June and it just feels like it should be on this list. So I’m adding an honourable mention at the end. I know I’m cheating but it’s my blog, my rules! So the 21st book in my Top 20 is…
The Mating Habits of Stags by Ray Robinson
This is a stunning novel, one that I’m struggling to write about as yet because I loved it so much. It’s set on the North Yorkshire Moors and follows Jake, a man on the run from a murder charge. It explores his memories of his relationship with his late wife, and his lost son. It also looks at his complicated relationship with his new love. I’m originally from this part of the country and I felt I was right back there with Jake. This novel mixes utter desolation, hardship and violence with such beautiful, poetic writing. I loved this book and I highly recommend it!
What are you favourite books of 2020 so far? I’d love to know. 🙂
RatherTooFondofBooks 
The ones on your list that I’ve read have been among my favourites Too!
I’ve read some cracking books this year so far – I’m glad some of my favourites are yours too. 🙂
wow, you have done quite a lot of reading already. Glad to see so many 5 stars. I really need to get my hands on Noelle’s series. I loved the first book but missed the following ones. Thanks for all these recommendations.
Noelle’s series is so good, I’ve read and loved the first two and am keen to get to her third which is out later this year. I hope you enjoy any books that you pick up after reading this post, I loved all of them 🙂
Some cracking books on your list. I have a copy of The Mating Habits of Stags, I must get around to reading it.
Thank you 🙂 The Mating Habits of Stags is a stunning book, I recommend it. I got it on Kindle Unlimited, read it in one go and now can’t stop thinking about it. I hope you love it as much as I did when you get to it.
I love the sound of that first book. One of my favourite reads this year is Jaimie Admans The Little Bookshop of Love Stories and It’s a Wonderful Life is my favourite film so sounds a good fit for me! A couple of other favourites are Four Minutes to Save a Life by Anna Stuart and The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.
It was my first Jaimie Admans but I definitely want to read more of her books now. I’ll look for the one you mentioned. I hope you enjoy It’s A Wonderful Night as much as I did.
I loved The Flatshare when I read it at the end of last year. I’ll look up Four Minutes To Save A Life now. 🙂 x
That’s a lovely and varied list! I have just requested the sequel to Dear Martin from NetGalley so have a copy read to buy if I win it, but think I will anyway.
Thank you 🙂 I didn’t realise the Dear Martin sequel was on NetGalley, I’m going to request that now.
I really like your list, Hayley. You have all sorts of interesting choices, and they come from different genres, so lots there to enjoy. I’m very happy you like Vanda Symon’s work. She’s very skilled, isn’t she? And Charity Norman is great, too (Have you read her See You in September?). I’m glad you’ve had some excellent reads, even though it’s been a strange year….
Thank you 🙂 I do enjoy putting together a favourite books post, it’s so nice to celebrate books. Vanda Symon’s writing is excellent, I’m always eagerly anticipating a new novel from her. Charity Norman is great too, I have read See You In September and loved that book as well.
This list looks wonderful! I have only read In Five Years, so you have given me a lot to add to my TBR!
Thank you so much, I hope you find some new books that you’ll love as much as I did. 🙂
Silent Treatment
That is such a beautiful novel 🙂
I know! I’m actually mentioning it in my blog tomorrow, but not about the novel per se
I’ll look out for your post tomorrow 🙂
Such a great list! Some of these titles I hope to get to soon. Notably Dear Edward and In Five Years.
Thank you 🙂 Both of those books are stunning reads, I still keep thinking about the characters. I hope you love them as much as I did.
Heatstroke sounds excellent. Great round-up.
It’s such a good read, I read it all in one go as I just didn’t want to put it down. Thank you 🙂
These sound great. That first one looks especially wonderful.
Thank you, I recommend all of them. It’s A Wonderful Night is such a lovely read.
Thanks for making me aware of them 🙂
I read It’s a Wonderful Night Xmas 2018 and it still makes me vost just thinking about it.
Loved In 5 years too. Very unexpected
It’s such a lovely novel, isn’t it? I want to read it again one Christmas.
In Five Years was so much more than I was expecting, it made me cry but I adored it.
I cried at both.
I love Jaimie Admans and the street in Winderful Night reminds of where I live.
She makes everyday places so magical.
In 5 years was just wonderful
I definitely need to buy more of Jaimie Admans’ books, I feel sure that I’ll love them all. How lovely that the street in It’s a Wonderful Night reminds you of where you live, I know when I read it that I wanted to move there. It sounded so pretty.
Yes it is but has been run down and a little neglected with more focus on our sea front area.
I highly recommend Little Carousel
I’ll go look Little Carousel up now, thanks for the recommendation. 🙂
Hope you love it as much as I did.
I’ll definitely need to check out Black and British. I know things from a US perspective but I’d like ways to branch out on this topic.
It’s a really good book, I learnt so much from it that I didn’t know before. I recommend it.
These all look like great reads and I have not read a single one on your list!! I’m adding some to my TBR though!
Thank you 🙂 I hope you enjoy all the books you add to your TBR.
Dear Edward is definitely in my top too! I have no idea how I’ll make at list at the end of the year, haha! Too many awesome books! x
It’s such a beautifully written novel, isn’t it?
I struggled to make a top 20 from what I’ve read so far as there have been so many brilliant books this year so I know what you mean about end of year favourites. x
This is such an impressively varied list, Hayley! I particularly like the sound of the Vanda Symons series – I’m a sucker for a good crime novel… and Little Disasters also is calling to me. You have clearly had a marvellous run of reading – I hope the second half of 2020 provides more gems:))
Thank you so much! 🙂 Vanda Symon’s novels are excellent, I highly recommend them. Little Disasters is brilliant too. I’ve been very lucky to read so many great books this year. 🙂
So glad you have your reading mojo back!
Fantastic list! Dear Martin would be on mine too and so many of the others are on my TBR… I’m especially hoping to read Dear Edward some time soon as I’ve heard fantastic things about it. xx
Thank you so much 🙂 Dear Martin is an incredible novel, I keep thinking about it. Dear Edward is stunning, I recommend it. xx
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I have not read any of these books although a few are on my TBR. Do you know how much damage you do to my endeavour to lower that mountain? I will be reading Dear Martin this week on your recommendation Hayley.
Oops, I’m sorry about your TBR mountain! Mine is enormous, I think if I never bought another book I likely wouldn’t run out of books to read. I hope you enjoy Dear Martin as much as I did, I’ll look out for your review.
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