My Favorite Books of the Year

I read well over a 100 books this year (116 to be exact) and started many more that I never finished.  I love looking back over the books I read and seeing which ones stand out in my mind.  Those that I enjoyed reading the most don't always make it onto my favorite book list.  My favorite books tend to be those that I can't stop thinking about many months or weeks later.  The books I tell everyone they need to read!  


Here is a list of the ones that stood out the most from all the ones I read this year:

1.  The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls



2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr


3. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys


4. Regretting You by Colleen Hoover


5. In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn


6. Night Road by Kristin Hannah 


7. Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey


8. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs



9. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes


10. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart


11.  The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

12.  The Friendship List by Susan Mallery 


13.  The President is Missing by James Patterson & Bill Clinton




You can see the ALL 116 books I read this year by clicking on each individual link:



























Linking Up With: Spread the kindness, 













Comments

  1. HollyDecember 29, 2020 at 6:18 AM

    Love this list and have to tell you Regretting You was one I really enjoyed this year BUT Night Road has also stayed with me for years! Just added Feels Like Falling to my list- thanks Joanne! We are reading each other's minds- my post today is all about my 2020 Books :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:06 PM

      It's such a wonderful book about friendship!

      Delete
  2. Jillian K.December 29, 2020 at 7:26 AM

    I really liked The Giver of Stars too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:07 PM

      I am a huge historical fiction fan and I'm trying to branch out from just reading about the world wars.

      Delete
  3. Abby @ That’s Life For YaDecember 29, 2020 at 8:06 AM

    Wow, 116, that’s a lot! I’m not actually sure how many books I have read this year. I just recently started using Goodreads to track my books. Thanks so much for recommending The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise! I loved it! Have a wonderful, wonderful day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dara @ Not In JerseyDecember 29, 2020 at 9:23 AM

    I know we have some different tastes but I always enjoy seeing what you've read each month. I'm actually reading Regretting You now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:07 PM

      We definitely do have different tastes but I like seeing your books lists too! I get quite a few new ideas from them.

      Delete
  5. Michele MorinDecember 29, 2020 at 9:59 AM

    Kristin Hannah shows up on so many lists! I need to read something she has written.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:09 PM

      She is amazing! Her books are almost always heart breaking before they become heart warming. My favorite of hers is Winter Garden.

      Delete
  6. Tina TBR EtcDecember 29, 2020 at 10:03 AM

    I totally agree that the books I liked the most don't always make my "favorite of the year" list- it's more about how memorable they are, for me! I still need to read The Glass Castle (somehow!) Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:10 PM

      I started watching the movie and when I saw it was based on a book I stopped watching it until I could read the book--- and, of course, the book was so much better. It's amazing to think what some of these people live through in their childhoods!

      Delete
  7. Shelly @ The Queen in BetweenDecember 29, 2020 at 10:09 AM

    Working on my tops today! I seriously fell in love with audio biographies this year but still need those easy reads to get me to bed at night. I loved Regretting You too! Definitely finding some new reads to add to my list...love your reviews.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:11 PM

      Thank you! I rarely get to listen to audio books; unless it's more middle grade fiction or young adult since we tend to listen to audiobooks in the car but I do love a good biography!

      Delete
  8. AniDecember 29, 2020 at 10:44 AM

    That’s a lot of books! Is there a through line for your favorites like genre or subject? I only read a handful of books this year but my favorite was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I may add that to the list to read again in 2021.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:12 PM

      I think I have pretty eclectic tastes and will read just about anything that holds my interest; though I do tend to like stories that deal with family dynamics.

      Delete
  9. Shooting Stars MagDecember 29, 2020 at 10:56 AM

    I really want to read The Fountains of Silence!

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:13 PM

      It was so good! I had no idea what life was like in Spain under Franco's rule.

      Delete
  10. SMD @ lifeaccordingtostephDecember 29, 2020 at 11:10 AM

    I liked Night Road a lot.

    I go back and forth between wanting to read In an Instant and knowing I probably will not like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:14 PM

      I wasn't so sure I was going to like the whole "told from a distance/ghost" perspective but it was a compelling read. I easily read the book in less than a day.

      Delete
  11. BeckiDecember 29, 2020 at 11:45 AM

    I think I need to read something by Colleen Hoover in 2021. I haven't yet, and she comes so recommended all the time. Thanks for sharing and happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:15 PM

      I find she can be hit or miss but mostly hits. I just finished her book (today) November 9 and LOVED it! I'll have a full summary of it on my January book round up.

      Delete
  12. Memphis BridgesDecember 29, 2020 at 4:00 PM

    This is such an accomplishment!! I plan to read in 2021 and someone just gave me The Glass Castle, so glad to see it on your list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:15 PM

      Oh that's a good one! I was floored that it was a true story... just floored!

      Delete
  13. AnneDecember 29, 2020 at 4:45 PM

    Sounds like you had a great reading year! All the Light We Cannot See is one of my favorite books of all time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 29, 2020 at 6:16 PM

      That was such a great book and I was in suspense for much of it wondering how the two stories were going to intertwine.

      Delete
  14. Jana @ Jana SaysDecember 29, 2020 at 7:02 PM

    The Giver of Stars was in contention for my honorable mentions list. And I read The Glass Castle forever ago but it is definitely one you don't forget.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kimberly @ kimberussell.comDecember 30, 2020 at 12:04 PM

    The Friendship List sounds right up my alley, but All the Light We Cannot See was such a showstopper of a book! 116 books in a year is a fantastic accomplishment - congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownDecember 30, 2020 at 10:30 PM

    I love that I've only read two of the books on this list - lots to add to my TBR pile!! Thank you for sharing. Loved The Giver of Stars!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tanya December 31, 2020 at 8:06 AM

    You had an incredible reading year. Thanks so much for linking up! I'm putting a few of these on my TBR - Glass Castle, Fountains, and Night Road. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Shelbee on the EdgeJanuary 2, 2021 at 8:29 AM

    Oh wow, Joann, you have really accomplished a lot of reading this past year. I used to read in excess of 100 books every year, but now I feel fortunate if I get through 5 a year! Thanks for sharing your reading list and linking with me! Wishing you all the best in 2021!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. NatashaJanuary 4, 2021 at 5:34 PM

    Yay for a Ruth Sepetys I haven't read!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. MelissaJanuary 4, 2021 at 6:47 PM

    Thanks for sharing you list with us at Farm Fresh Tuesdays Blog Hop! Your list is one of my features at this week's hop! Be sure to stop by and say hi!
    Happy New Year!
    Melissa | Little Frugal Homestead

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Favorite TV Shows Growing Up in the 80's and early 90's

Image
Do you remember the TGIF lineups on Friday nights? I can remember planning sleepovers and time with friends around TV Show lineups of our favorite shows... or else trying to set the VCR to record our favorite shows if we weren't going to be home. And through the years I had SO MANY favorites! Growing pains aired in 1985 which put me around age 8 and it stayed on the air until I was 15 or so; I'm pretty sure most people in my age group watched mostly for Kirk Cameron and all his antics.  I still have a soft spot for family sit-coms!  The Facts of Life aired when I was just 2  and stayed on the air until I was 11 so I'm sure the episodes I remember so fondly were either some of the later ones and then reruns shown later on when I was old enough to watch from the beginning. I think everyone would have loved an Edna Garret in their lives.   Benson another sitcom that began airing when I was just 2 and was done by the time I was 9 (another one I must have watched mainly through
Read more

Dollar Store Candy Cane Wreath

Image
Today I am linking up with some fellow bloggers for a Dollar Store craft challenge.  I don't often participate in these challenges since I try to stay away from our local Dollar Stores; I find they can be quite dangerous for me!  I knew this was the perfect time to find some inexpensive holiday decorations though and I just LOVE how my wreath turned out!  I hope you stop by and see what the other hosts are sharing. Meet this month's co-hosts! Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me This Autoimmune Life | Our Unschooling Journey Domestic Deadline | Sew Crafty Crochet Stone Cottage Adventures | Sum of Their Stories | Two Chicks & a Mom I bought the candy cane wreath base and a few rolls of mesh (not knowing how many I'd need I bought waaay to many; I only ended up using one white roll and one red roll. Using some chenille stems I already had on hand I attached the mesh to the wreath base trying to alternate the white
Read more

Things That Make Me Laugh

Image
I loved the challenge of this week's list for our 26 lists link up.  I don't know about you but I really need to laugh more lately.  It's such a great stress reliever. 1.  Books-- I love a good funny book that makes me laugh out loud.  I haven't read one in a while but if you have any recommendations I'm all ears.  The last book I can remember making me laugh was the Un-Honeymooners. 2  The boys being silly. 3.  Watching shows like America's Funniest Videos or Family Feud. 4. My husband.  Most people don't realize it but he's actually pretty funny and often makes me laugh. 5.  Whenever my sisters/ family get together and we get to reminiscing (particularly if my Aunt Elaine is around) we end up laughing so hard at all the old family stories that we are all in tears by the end of the night.  It's fabulous. 6. Movies like Mom's Night Out, Christmas Vacation, and Grown Ups make me laugh out loud. 7.  When my boys were youn
Read more