~ Includes affiliate links to either indiebound.org or libro.fm, both of which benefit local bookstores.~

#1. Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster: This epistolary novel from 1912 is on every list of novels written in letter form so I had to start the year with it. I’m on a mission to read many. Daddy Long Legs is listed as a children’s book, but seems more appropriate for an older audience to fully appreciate the tone of the main narrator. I liked it! Though since the last book I read in 2018 was Dear Mr. Knightley, which was based on Daddy Long Legs, I had a hard time separating the two.

 

#2. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: I read this a few years ago, but listened to the audio this time because having Elizabeth Gilbert’s voice in my ear is the perfect start to new creative endeavors in the new calendar year. I loved the book more this time than last time, and that’s saying a lot.

#3. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: I like to read a solid motivational book at the beginning of the year. Year of Yes was a good choice. Rhimes is (obviously!) an excellent writer and the details of her work schedule and family life were so interesting.

#4. The Parting Gift by Evan Fallenberg: I’m still in a stage of reading novels in letter form. Fallenberg’s is a recent release about an unusual arrangement between two men that is really hard to explain. You have to just read the description in the link. It’s very good. Different. Very graphic (definitely “adult situations”) so consider yourself warned.

#5. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver: A chilling book written as letters from a wife to a husband. Almost painful to read (I did the audio, which was maybe even harder because I couldn’t skim the most difficult moments.) Yet, I could not stop listening to see what would happen next. Things got even worse for the characters than I imagined, and I imagined bad things. Did I like this book? Like doesn’t seem to be the right word. I appreciated how it was crafted. I found it compelling. But its darkness has stayed with me in an uncomfortable way. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm because it benefits my local bookstore, which I love! 

#6. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff: I loved this book! Acuff’s writing is both entertaining and extremely helpful. This is my favorite self-help book in ages. He also wrote a book called Start, but like many people, starting projects isn’t my problem. Finishing is!

#7. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: This nonfiction book of letters between Hanff and the employees of the little bookshop in London where she preferred to get her books is so charming. That’s the best word for it. Published in 1970, it’s the compilation of 20 years of correspondence with an abrupt and tear-jerking ending.

#8. Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson: A sweet story that reminded me of 84, Charing Cross Road. In this version, a married woman living on an English farm with her husband, children, and grandchildren, corresponds with a man around the same age, who recently lost his wife and who runs a museum in Copenhagen. The end disappointed me, but the story was a thoughtful meditation on marriage and the seemingly permanent choices we make. In one of Tina’s letters she says, “I can see that living alone, as you do, leaves empty space around you, and that can feel lonely. Living together with other people, as I do, can feel lonely, too.” This line highlights a theme woven throughout the book of loneliness and being understood.

#9. Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul: I should have really enjoyed reading this book, but I had bad dreams about one or two of my kids each night. I think the average person would like it though. The story just didn’t sit well with me. Also, knowing there were so many people involved in the story felt a little strange for the reading experience. And no, I haven’t seen the show yet.

#10. Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro: I am a huge Dani Shapiro fan. I’ve read every novel and memoir, which made reading this latest memoir about finding out the truth of her paternity after taking a DNA test on a lark, that much more fascinating. Shapiro tells the story beautifully. If you’re intrigued by bioethics and the fallout from DNA testing, or just a well-told family story, this one is for you. Highly recommend.

#11. Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: If you write essays or ever perform them, this book is a MUST. Thank you to Pam Moore for the recommendation.

#12. You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian: This story collection reminds me a bit of Curtis Sittenfeld’s, which I enjoyed last year (I liked Sittenfeld’s more though). I respected the writing in this collection. A surprisingly quick read for a short story collection, which I usually find a little hard to plunge through in a few sittings. Finished this one in three nights. I cannot say I felt optimistic about human nature at the end. The situations are on the bleak side.

#13. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: There’s a lot of truth in this book that is hard for me to deal with about the amount of time many of us (me included, for sure) spend on our phones, almost as a nervous tick. I listened to the audio and may need to listen one more time. I wouldn’t exactly call it a page turner, nor would I say the audio voice is pleasant. At all.

#14. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: The best novel I’ve read so far this year. By far. It is everything I love in a novel. Characters I care about, situations that make my heart race and worry, a setting that is partially new (to me), and writing that is excellent. Highly recommend. We are discussing Homegoing soon for the book club I lead at ModernWell. I cannot wait!

#15. One Day in December by Josie Silver: I really enjoyed this sweet romance. And I did the audio, which was fun with the British accents. It’s possible if I’d read this book at the wrong time, I would have found the story too predictable, but there were some good surprises and I grew to adore the characters. I read it immediately after Homegoing, which was excellent, but extremely heavy. So One Day was the right book at the right time. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm because it benefits my local bookstore, which I love! 

#16. The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage, or Fiction by Erik Bork: Helpful breakdown of what makes readers love a story (or deeply dislike one or simply not connect with one). I always read a few craft books each year. This was a good, straightforward one. Thanks to KJ Dell’Antonia for the recommendation on the #Amwriting podcast.

#17. A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey: Deep into my run of reading epistolary novels, my friend Lisa asked if I’d read this one. She said it was a must for the form. I really enjoyed it. Written in the 70s and based on Hailey’s grandmother, the novel gives us a portrait of a one woman’s childhood, marriage, motherhood, and more. She’s determined to maintain her independence despite’s society’s expectations for women in her time, and watching her do so is an interesting read.

#18. Asking for a Friend by Jessica Weisberg: I absolutely loved this nonfiction read about the history of advice columns. I learned tons and read it in only a few days.

#19. This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps: This was my favorite celebrity memoir other than Tina Fey’s, which is still number one. I did the audio, which I always recommend for memoirs whenever the author is also the one reading the work. I found Busy’s honesty about how many ups and downs she experienced before getting to where she is now really refreshing. She didn’t seem to sugar coat Hollywood life. Her story was entertaining and thought-provoking. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm because it benefits my local bookstore, which I love! 

#20. The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess: I devoured this novel in two days. It had all the things I love in a story: writers, readers, some forbidden romance, an 80s setting, and good literary writing. (Doesn’t release until July 2019. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy.)

#21. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Sometimes when a book comes out with a huge publicity budget, it sets the reader up for expectations that are way too high. I think that happened here for me. I liked this one enough to finish, but I kept waiting to get swept away like the reviews said I would. It didn’t happen.

#22. I Might Regret This by Abbi Jacobson: I enjoyed listening to this memoir about Jacobson’s rise as an actress and writer. She also shares quite a bit about heartbreak and other realities of becoming an adult. Definitely a more down-to-earth Hollywood tale than Busy’s a few entries above. Though I really enjoyed hers, too. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm because it benefits my local bookstore, which I love! 

#23. No Happy Endings by Nora McInerny: It was interesting to hear how McInerny created the next chapter of her life at the point where her first memoir ended. We don’t often get this kind of back-to-back look. I always enjoy her writing.  

#25. I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott: I related to Philpott’s essays so much. And the last paragraph of the final essay is perhaps my favorite final paragraph of all essays ever. It’s a perfect end to the essay and the memoir as a whole. (I read half and listened to half.) 

#26. The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames: This is really my kind of book—a friendship between four women that starts in college and moves forward from there. Ames does a good job getting the reader (at least this reader) to care about all four characters and feel like we know them. Though I will say that one plot point at 80% of the book made me incredibly squeamish. The characters reacted the same way. Will be hard to get that part out of my mind, not in a good way, per se. Thank you netgalley.com for the advance copy.

#27. Normal People by Sally Rooney: I listened to this one and felt compelled to get to the end, but I think I might have put it down if I was reading it in print. I was interested in the up and down romance between the two characters through high school and college, but there was a stiffness to the story that did not speak to me. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm, which I LOVE! 

#28. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb: Really good and fast read about Gottlieb’s work both as a therapist and a patient of therapy. 

#29. Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane: Well-told story about two families connected through proximity, friendship, romance, and tragedy. There’s a thread of sadness to the entire story, but hope, too. I found the characters nuanced and believable. Stayed up until 3:00AM to finish. 

#30. Woman Rowing North by Mary Pipher: Even though I’m not quite at that stage yet, I appreciated hearing the perspective of wise women looking back on their lives and even more so living their current “second middle age” to the fullest. Excellent thoughts on friendship, marriage, and work from a point of view we don’t hear from enough. 

#31. Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander: Clever novel following a character doing everything in his power to right an old error. I enjoyed it. 

#32. When You Read This by Mary Adkins: I absolutely loved this book told in emails, texts, and blog posts. 

#33. The Farm by Joanne Ramos: I listened to the audio and it was definitely engrossing. It’s an original story and I did like the book. But I had a hard time feeling attached to any of the characters. The audio narrator was very good. 

#34. If, Then by Kate Hope Day: Interesting concept in this novel with a Sliding Doors type of plot where several characters can see their alternative lives, which aren’t too different from their regular lives, but different enough to help wonder how their lives might have gone differently. I was confused at times. 

#35. Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks: I got a kick out of this clever novel told in the form of lists. I got a good sense of the story and the voice of the main character even though there was little to no prose. There were times when I craved seeing more of the side characters and their points of view, but that was impossible since the entire story comes through the list-maker. But I still found this a really fun and original read. Thank you Net Galley for the book! 

#36. Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner: I listened to this one and often drove out of the way to hear more. That’s my highest compliment for an audiobook. The story was really good. The audio narrators (there were two to represent the two sisters) were excellent voice artists. This was a quality, epic story spanning about six decades (or more?) and covering the tough and limited choices available to women. I get my audiobooks at Libro.fm, which I LOVE! (affiliate link.)

#37. Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin: This is my year of tons of book that are told in alternate form (letters, emails, lists, etc.) This book falls into the emails and text category. I found it a quick, readable, enjoyable story about two friends newly making their way in the working world. Their friendship felt believable though I’m probably a little old for some aspects of the story and the way the girls talk. I wish that rather than little icons for the texts the authors had chosen to use the characters’ names. Otherwise, was easy to follow.

#38. The Book of Delights by Ross Gay: Started with the print, but moved on to the audio. I recommend the audio, which is delightful, indeed. 

#39. Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl: Listened to this one and enjoyed it immensely. After it ended I purchased some of Reichl’s older titles. 

#40. We Love Anderson Cooper by R.L. Maizes: This story collection is excellent. I appreciated for its–what I like to call–“non-fussy” writing. Maizes reminds me of Phillip Roth, Curtis Sittenfeld, and Elisa Albert mixed into one. 

#41. Magical Realism for Non-Believers by Anika Fajardo: The writing is outstanding–the perfect mix of good story, eloquent at the line level, but not over the top in the descriptions. That’s exactly the kind of prose I prefer. 

#42. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman: I was excited about this one for the topic, setting, fun cover (yes I admit that), and of course the character’s name. It was not quite what I expected/hoped, but there was a certain charm to it. Listened to it. 

#43. Thick and Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom: Powerful essays about being black in academia, beauty, media, and so much more. This collection was very different than the essay collections I’ve read lately. More academic and researched, but still with a personal touch. 

#44. Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino: This is one of the best essay collections I’ve read this year. It’s more on the academic side somewhat like Thick, but the topics are lighter while still delving deep into culture, race, gender, and more. Excellent writing. I did the audio and Tolentino does a great job reading her work. 

#45. Holy Lands by Amanda Sthers: Quick read about a quirky family with a dad who moves to Israel to raise pigs for non-kosher restaurants. Liked it. 

#46. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: This book was SO good. If you’re scared to fly, you might stay away, but otherwise I highly recommend this story about a teenage boy who is the only survivor of a plane crash. He goes to live with is aunt and uncle and despite this dark premise, there’s a lot of light and sweetness in this book, too. Thank you to netgalley.com for the preview. 

#47. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes: Really enjoyed the audio version of this book. I liked the character of Evvie and the baseball player who intersects with her life. A good read. 

#48. On Being 40ish edited by Lindsey Mead: Poignant (and some funny) essays about the highs and lows (mostly highs!) of life in our 40s. I say “our” because I’m right there with these authors. This would make a great gift for anyone in this particular stage. Really enjoyed the collection. 

#49. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: This was a reread—third time in ten years. I did it to lead the fall book club at ModernWell and to prepare for the release of The Testaments. 

#50. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: Really liked it and am glad I read it. Can I say I loved it? No, I can’t. But as a Handmaid’s Tale fan (book and show) I can’t imagine not having read it. 

#51. I Like to Watch by Emily Nussbaum: I always enjoy Nussbaum’s television analysis. It was great to dip back into old pieces of hers about Sex and the City, Lost, and others. I don’t always agree with her take (she hates Maisel) but I appreciate her smart writing. 

#52. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal: I listened to this one and truly adored it. I loved the characters, the setting, and the story. And the narration is excellent. 

#53. My Ex-Life by Stephen McCauley: Liked it, but I wish I’d read this one instead of listened because I might have preferred to skim some parts that got repetitive. 

#54. Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore: I read this is a pre-release from netgalley.com. I really loved it! If you liked Time Traveler’s Wife, this is one is for you. Oona, the main character, starts living her life out of order after the age of 21. Each January 1st she wakes up in a different year of her life. Sometimes leaping ahead, sometimes leaping back–but always to a year she hasn’t experienced before. 

#55. Kitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel by J. Ryan Stradal: I liked this book so much, all the way to the last paragraph. 

#56. There’s a Word for That by Sloane Tanen: Well-told story, good characters. I did the audio and the narration was great. I recommend this one for sure. 

#57. The Book of Jeremiah by Julie Zuckerman: I really enjoyed following this family through the form of these well-crafted, crisp short stories. Excellent writing! 

#58. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow: Did the audio. What a story. Farrow did excellent reporting and the book is so well told. I already knew Harvey Weinstein and those who protected him were terrible, but book made me think even lower of them. The Matt Lauer stuff had details I didn’t know, and it was so upsetting to hear. I didn’t love Farrow’s accents (he reads his own book), but I do highly recommend this one.

#59. The Last by Hanna Jameson: Engrossing plot and characters following the story of a post-nuclear war world. I’d love to see a sequel! 

#60. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson: Such a random premise and SO WELL executed. I did the audio and really loved it. 

#61. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Was worried going in that the book was overhyped, but I loved the story, which was really a family drama + a romance + a mystery. Beautifully told. 

#62. Dear Girls by Ali Wong: I listened to the audio–of course! Because you can’t waste an opportunity to listen to Wong tell her own story. She’s funny (obviously), but also insightful about parenting, love, and more.

FIND PREVIOUS BOOK LISTS HERE

FAVORITES OF 2020 HERE

*Links lead to Indiebound, which connects you to your local bookstore and pays me a tiny bit as an affiliate at no cost to you, and (barely) helps cover some costs of running the blog.