A Roundup of My Favorite Novels I Read in 2020
Is there anything better than books?
Can we all agree that 2020 is a year that will be both unforgettable and, to put it lightly, crap? Honestly, how many of us are actually coming out of 2020 unscathed? Not me, that’s for sure.
A lot of folks had a hard time reading this year. The most devoted bibliophiles found themselves floundering every time they picked up a book. This is understandable. John DeMont wrote in The Guardian that as our collective anxiety skyrocketed, our ability to concentrate took a nosedive into the raging dumpster fire that has been the last 11 months.
Quoting psychologist Simon Sherry, DeMont writes, “[w]hen anxious, our attention is focused on threat. And when we are in ‘threat mode’ it is harder to pay attention to activities like reading.”
Yeah, this hits home.
Strangely, around mid-Spring I found refuge in books. I’ve always loved reading, but in 2020 I actually read more books than I ever have (49 to be exact). And sometimes at the sacrifice of my laundry or cleaning or general life responsibilities. But hey, 2020. Whatever.
Here’s a roundup of my favorite novels I read in 2020.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáens
Oh my god. Oh my god.
What can I say about this novel?
Everything.
This has to be one of my favorite books of all time. I couldn’t put it down. It shook me.
Set in 1987, this is the story about two teenage boys, Aristotle (Ari) and Dante, who meet at a swimming pool. They share a love of swimming, and apparently other things, but as the reader progresses through the novel, we learn about Dante’s inescapable love of life which contrasts with Ari’s walls. Despite (or even because of) their differences, Ari and Dante find themselves drawing closer to each other, in a refuge of friendship that both tests their individual perceptions of the world, but their own self-identities.
Seems like an expired trope, but Sáens has reenvisioned a subtle story about two boys with almost insurmountable choices and sacrifice, love, and what it means to be family.
Sáens weaves racism, gender, and sexuality into a beautiful mosaic of truth in these characters that will set out to destroy you, then gently sew your parts back together, infusing you with a new understanding of the universe and the incredible power of love.
Honestly, I’m crying as I write this.
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
I usually find myself disappointed with fiction that centers around mental illness.
But not this time.
While the book is marketed as a psychological thriller, I beg to differ. It’s really a story about love, friendship, and never giving up.
August, the main character with a pyromania condition, is not exactly the epitome of teenage popularity. His friend, Jack, is. But August is holding a secret for his friend: Jack lives with hallucinations. Jack’s real world is veiled by a magical one where he is the Wicker King and August is his loyal second.
Ancrum’s take on mental illness is breath-taking and his use of fantasy to tell the story of a mentally ill boy is genius. It makes it both real and digestible. And honestly, Jack is loveable and all you want to do is protect him. As August does.
It’s the ending though that tore my heart out. But I won’t give any spoilers. Read it for yourself.
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
When I picked up this book and started reading, I kept saying, “what the actual…?” I mean, it’s weird. Totally weird. But so is Hutchinson. In an awesome way.
The reason I love this book so much is because the main character, Henry, is simply perfect in all his imperfect ways. He’s morose, sarcastic, bitter, and to be honest, suffering from pretty significant depression.
Henry was 13 when he was first abducted by aliens. He became known as the alien boy, and every time they took him, they left Henry back on Earth buck naked.
When the novel opens, he is abducted again, only this time the aliens give him a choice — save the world or destroy it at the press of a button. And he has 144 days to decide. That’s it. That’s the choice. Seems simple right?
Wrong.
The thing is, Henry has always been picked on. He has sort of a rotten home life. His friends are… well he has none. And the guy who is his most reviled enemy is also his friends with benefits on the side.
Why would Henry let the world live? There’s nothing for him here.
Until he meets Diego Vega.
I won’t tell you more other than this is another novel that deals with suicide and depression in such an astounding way that it is just shy of perfect.
Plus Henry is pretty hilarious. So, win win.
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
This is a subtle urban fantasy novel that lets the writing speak for itself, and Waymouth has created characters who are understated but have so much power.
Set a few years after WWII, siblings Eve, Philippa, and Jamie are still recovering from the shock of hiding in the London Underground during the bombings. For the rest of the world, that was just a few years ago. But for the siblings, it has been a lifetime.
Just before the bombs drop, the siblings find themselves in a magical world called the Woodlands. They lived, grew up, and loved in the Woodlands. Eve particularly, the youngest of the siblings.
That was years ago and each sibling is struggling in their own way with not just loss in the aftermath of WWII, but the loss of a magical world that sheltered them and became their home.
But Eve longs to go back and simply can’t move on.
Now she has disappeared. As Philippa is searching for her young sister, she discovers that Eve never really left the Woodlands behind.
Honestly, this novel stayed with me for a long time. It wasn’t just the urban fantasy aspect, which I adore. But it’s Weymouth’s delicate take on mental illness, PTSD, and even suicide that makes this novel, and her writing, admirable. She makes it so easy to read, but also lets us know that it’s okay… it’s okay.
Trust her. You’re in good hands.
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T. J. Klune
Okay, huge disclaimer: this book is not for kids. Like not even remotely. In fact, do not let children within physical proximity of this book — it will corrupt them and their children and their children’s children. This book is rude and crude and entirely inappropriate with way too many sex puns (read: just the right amount).
I’m blushing even as I’m writing this.
Having said that —
This book is awesome.
Sam Haversford is a horny 20-year-old gay wizard with a super awkward and completely unhealthy crush on Knight Ryan Foxhart a.k.a Knight Delicious Face.
Who also happens to be Prince Justin’s main squeeze.
When all hell breaks loose and Prince Justin is captured by a sexually aggressive dragon, Sam and his two best friends — a hornless gay unicorn and a giant who isn’t the brightest crayon in the box — must save him.
With Prince Delicious Face of course. Because why not?
I really have nothing else to say about this book other than it’s just funny. I can’t stop laughing. I’m laughing right now. Everyone is annoyed with me. It astounds me that Klune can carry the absolutely crude humor throughout the entire novel and still make Sam the most loveable character in the whole world of overly-thirsty barely-out-of-teenagehood gay kids. Or any kids. Or adults. Or unicorns
Read it. Now. (no pressure)
Care to check out my other book reviews? Head on over here. In the meantime, happy book shopping!
