I love taking time in December to look back at all the books I’ve read during the year.
As in years past, I set out with a book list, and then I changed my mind as I discovered books in the library (pre-COVID!) and books came recommended by friends. Also, as the world shifted and changed this year, I looked for books to reflect that.
This year, I read 27 books (not counting the ones I started and didn’t finish).
(And for those of you who are curious, I keep a list during the year in Evernote and write a short description of each book as I finish it.)
Looking for book recommendations for 2021? Today, I’m sharing the seven best books I read in 2020, along with a brief description of what I liked about each one:
The Seven Best Books I Read in 2020
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Small Great Things (Jodi Picoult)
I was captivated by the story of Ruth, an African-American nurse in a Connecticut hospital who was removed from an infant’s care based on the color of her skin. When the baby went into distress, Ruth found herself caught up in trying to save him, until she remembered her orders. Despite having done everything she could, the baby died, and the parents pressed charges. The story follows her through an arrest and trial, while also telling the stories of the baby’s father and the attorney who was assigned to her case. A fascinating, heartbreaking look at civil rights in our country.
Bella Tuscany (Frances Mayes)
Like all of Frances Mayes’ books, I am drawn to her lyrical writing style. This book is a poetic recollection of spring and summer in Tuscany, from farmer’s markets to road trips along winding roads, gardening and trying new recipes, discovering new cities and villages, and developing new daily rhythms.
Save Me the Plums! (Ruth Reichl)
I read Ruth Reichl’s novel, Delicious! last year over Christmas break and loved it. Reichl’s writing is so clear and descriptive and left me wanting to read more. Save Me the Plums is a wonderfully-written memoir about Reichl’s time as Editor-in-Chief at Gourmet magazine. Plus, there are recipes!
Digital Minimalism (Cal Newport)
This was one of my favorite reads this year. Cal Newport provides fascinating insight into the world of digital and social technology, inspiring stories, and practical steps for using these technologies with intention.
The Invention of Wings (Sue Monk Kidd)
This book has been on my to-read list for a year or two now and I finally checked it out from the library (digitally) earlier this year. If you haven’t heard of it, The Invention of Wings is a historical fiction novel set in Charleston, SC in the early 1800s. The book follows the parallel lives of a wealthy family and the slaves they own.
Inspired by the real-life character, Sarah Grimke, an early abolitionist and women’s rights advocate, Kidd develops a strong cast of female characters all searching for freedom, justice, and a sense of belonging.
A Homemade Life (Molly Wizenberg)
I found this book when browsing on Amazon last year and it was the perfect read for the beginning of fall.
The Homemade Life is part memoir and part cookbook. I loved Wizenberg’s warm, relatable story-telling, and the essay structure of this book. We’ve tried several of the recipes included in this book — the French Toast and Cider-Glazed Salmon are our favorites so far!
Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything in Between (Lauren Graham)
This was a fun memoir to read, written by one of my favorite actresses.
I learned so much about Lauren Graham’s life and family, but I was especially intrigued by her description of her writing process. It made me want to write more consistently this year.
Have you read any of these? If so, I’d love to hear what you thought!
In case you’re curious, here are the other books I read this year:
The Music Shop (Rachel Joyce) - set in the late 1980s in London, this book centers on a small record shop, its grumpy owner, and a range of characters who own other shops on the street. Their world is turned upside-down when a mysterious German woman in a green coat shows up one day and changes everything.
Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens) - a beautiful coming-of-age story turned murder mystery that’s full of poetry and nature and lyrical writing that will draw you into the sights and sounds of a Southern marshland.
Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Had All the Answers Learned How to Ask Questions (Rachel Held Evans) - in this book, Rachel shares what it was like growing up in the world of apologetics, when she wrestled with certain faith questions, and how she learned that faith was meant to evolve and change.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (Greg McKeown) - a guide to choosing what’s essential in your business and your life and making daily decisions that help you stay focused on those things.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (Heather Webber) - a new work of women’s fiction, I loved the setting (small Southern town), the characters (and their storied pasts), and the intrigue of uncovering family secrets.
The Whole Town’s Talking (Fannie Flagg) - a fun novel about a small town in Missouri, from its founding in the 1890s through the century that followed. Part historical fiction, part murder mystery, this novel sets the stage for Flagg’s Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven.
Outer Order Inner Calm (Gretchen Rubin) - quick tips for cleaning out, organizing, and living with less.
Blindspot: The Hidden Biases of Good People (Mahzarin R. Banaji & Anthony G. Greenwald) - a fascinating look at implicit associations and hidden biases related to race, gender, age, among other things.
The French Chef in America: Julia Child’s Second Act (Alex Prud’homme) - an interesting biography on Julia Child in her later life (a sequel to My Life in France).
Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude (Stephanie Rosenbloom) - I read this one at the same time I was reading Digital Minimalism and was pleased to find several points of overlap, especially in conversations about solitude. I enjoyed reading about the author’s approach to traveling, her experiences traveling and going out alone, and her reflections on learning to be fully present and savor the moment.
In the Company of Women (Grace Bonney)- Grace Bonney (of Design*Sponge) interviewed 100 entrepreneurial women — leaders, creators, makers, and business owners. Here, they share their art and work, their joys and challenges, the lessons they’ve learned, and the women that inspire them.
The Knockoff (Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza) - a lighthearted, funny novel about a fashion editor who is unexpectedly thrust into the digital age. A strong female lead, a wicked villain, and a cast of interesting characters across the fashion-tech spectrum.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Abbi Waxman)- a story about Nina — a 29-year-old introvert and bookworm working in a bookstore in LA (she reminds me of a grown-up Rory Gilmore). Early on in the book, she discovers her father (whom she never knew) passed away and she has an entire family living nearby that she didn’t know existed. The book follows her as she navigates the craziness of a new family, struggles at the bookstore, relationships with book club members and trivia team friends, and a new love interest.
This is Marketing (Seth Godin) - a brilliant perspective on marketing and running a business that serves. A must-read for 21st-century entrepreneurs in any field.
Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - a spiritual memoir about a 34-year-old woman who goes on a year-long exploration of her faith and identity, with four months in Italy, four months in India, and four months in Indonesia.
The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger) - a story about a 23-year-old college graduate who lands a job as assistant to a fashion icon at the premiere fashion publication, Runway magazine.
Everything I Never Told You (Celeste Ng) - after reading Celeste Ng’s second novel, Little Fires Everywhere last year, I couldn’t wait to pick this one up. A story about family, intertwined relationships, and the lifelong quest to fully understand one another. One of my favorite writers.
Seven Days of Us (Francesca Hornak) - a perfect book to read this Christmas season! A family gathers for the holidays, including their daughter who has just returned from treating an epidemic abroad. The family must quarantine together for a week, which brings out old and new tensions and a host of family secrets.
Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott) - a classic (and one that’s been on my to-read list for a couple of years now!). Anne Lamott shares wisdom and humorous insight into her life as a writer, with advice on writing and life in general.
Crafting the Personal Essay (Dinty W. Moore) - a friendly, easy-to-follow guide for writing a variety of different types of essays and other creative nonfiction work.
What was the best book you read this year? What challenged you, inspired you, broadened your perspective, helped you develop a new skill, or made you a better person? I’d love to hear your recommendations as I make my 2021 book list!
P.S. See a list of all the books I’ve read in the past few years here.
