This is the last blog post of 2020 and it feels a bit weird. I kind of took an unexpected week off publishing blog posts on the blog (though nobody noticed but me, maybe) and it was weird, too, but well, life.
Anyway. I’m excited to wrap this shitty year with our traditional year in books blog post, which I’ll be writing with my one and only co-blogger and sister Nyx. Every year, we share some of our reading highlights, to look back on the books we’ve read, the ones that stayed with us and so on, so… here goes. We hope you’ll find new books to read and love!
You can check out our 2019 reading highlights if you’d like to!
This blog post contains affiliate links. If you buy something on my recommendation, I will receive a small commission. Purchasing via these links will not cost you any extra and will help me cover the costs of book blogging. You will find more info on my privacy policy and disclaimer pages. Thank you!
A quick look at our 2020 year in books
Favorite protagonist
Nyx: Shoshanna, from Recommended For You. I found her hilarious and dorky. I loved her internal dialogue! She really felt like a teenager and I enjoyed seeing her growth.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: Natalie, from It Sounded Better in My Head. It’s one of the first times I saw myself and my teenage-self so clearly in a book. I loved her anxious, messy, realistic-self SO much.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
An author you cut ties with
Nyx: A Castle in the Clouds. I don’t know if I would really cut ties with this author but since it’s originally a German book, maybe it was the translation that just wasn’t that good.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: Same answer as Nyx here!
A book that surprised you
Nyx: You Say it First surprised me in a really good way. It was more than a romance novel about a long distance relationship, it dealt with important topics like political activism, suicide, alcoholism… 100% recommend!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: I was shook by Miss Meteor, in a good way. From the synopsis, the small town, the beauty contest, the broken friendship, I thought I’d love it. I was wrong. I ADORED IT and can’t stop screaming about it.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
A book that rocked your world
Nyx: Meat Market!!! Its a hard-hitting story about the dark sides of the fashion industry, it’s gripping and terrifying and I just couldn’t stop reading! Hats off to Juno Dawson!!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository
Marie: Girls With Sharp Sticks can’t get out of my mind and I don’t know what to do about it. The twists and turns, the smashing down the patriarchy and darkness and fierce friendships. I love love love this book.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Favorite book cover art
Nyx: When the Stars Lead to You. I’m SO in love. The colors, the writing font, the setting… I love it all!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: I’m very much in love with the cover of Summer of Salt. It’s so beautifully illustrated, it makes my heart happy.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
A take-my-money
Nyx: One True Loves. It’s official, anything written by Taylor Reid Jenkins is an auto buy! I just love everything she writes, she’s definitely the queen of my heart!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: TIME OF OUR LIVES, obviously. You all know Austin & Emily’s books are like, my brand and I’ll scream to get anything they write as soon as I possibly can.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
A sequel that overshadows the first book
Nyx: The Electric Heir. I didn’t expect anything from this series but I ended up really enjoying it. It’s full of complex and incredible characters, a stunning world building and a great immersive writing. A perfect sequel!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: The Storyteller broke me into a thousand billion pieces. If you haven’t read this series, you should. It’s brilliant, the world-building leaves you breathless and it will break your heart.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Favorite diverse read
Nyx: Without a doubt, A Very Large Expanse of Sea. Hands-down the best YA book on what it means to be a Muslim American post 9/11. I cried, I laughed, I cringed, a brilliant and emotional story you absolutely need to read.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: I fell for With the Fire on High real, real hard. From the writing to the cooking to the main character to everything, this book felt like a hug and I loved it.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Most disappointing book
Nyx: A Song Below Water. I guess I’m not really into magic woven into the real world. I struggled to follow the story and had issues keeping up with the different mythos creatures.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: I was a bit disappointed by The Mall. I think I expected it to be a little more than it was? It was entertaining as a whole, but the characters felt a bit too one-dimensional to me.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Favorite ship
Nyx: Vada and Luke from More Than Maybe. They complimented each other in a genuine way and I really loved that. They had such beautiful chemistry, I couldn’t help but root for them!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Marie: Leave it to Rachel Lynn Solomon to write the best romances. I really fell for the characters in Today Tonight Tomorrow and their adorable chemistry and romance.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Favorite 2020 books
Marie: There are SO many incredible books I’ve read…. I’m going to pick three Nyx hasn’t picked out (because she also choose some favorites of mine!!).
MISS METEOR: A broken friendship, a beauty contest, a small town and a bit of magic. I adore this book.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS: A strange academy, perfect girls and a dark, dark secret… I’m obsessed with this series.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
TIME OF OUR LIVES: I adore everything Austin & Emily write and Time of Our Lives is a wonderful story about growing up, family, romance, I just love it.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Nyx: I think we can all agree that 2020 was a crappy year. Thank god for those wonderful books!
YOU SAY IT FIRST: You think it’s just an adorable long-distance meet-cute, but it’s also about expressing your voice and more. A delight!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
MEAT MARKET: A raw and powerful story about the realities of the fashion industry. Addictive!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository
ADMISSION: A story inspired by the recent college admissions bribery scandal. Provocative and thought-provoking!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
Most anticipated book for 2021
Marie: Uuuh can we talk about HOW MANY 2021 releases I’m looking forward to? I’m just lost and confused and might need to win the lottery and get 50 hours a day to read them all. I can’t pick between all of them, so here are three:
I THINK I LOVE YOU: Two rivals compete for a film festival and fall for each other. I’m so in!!!
Add to Goodreads☂️ Buy on: Bookshop – Book Depository
A SISTERHOOD OF SECRET AMBITIONS: They’re trained to become wives of the most powerful men. I’m screaming this sounds so good.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Bookshop – Book Depository
HAPPILY EVER AFTERS: The main character’s a writer and she enters a creative writing program and finds inspiration again and uuuh this sounds wonderful.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Bookshop – Book Depository
Nyx: I’m SO excited about SO many books! Here’s my top 3:
MALIBU RISING: Taylor Jenkins Reid? Auto-buy! A story about famous siblings throwing an epic party that will change their lives forever??! I’m SO in!!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
THE ONES WE’RE MEANT TO FIND: This one sounds twisty, surprising and a real page-turner. Plus it’s about sisters. I need it NOW!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Bookshop – Book Depository
INFLUENCE: A book about the world of teen influencers. YES, YES, YES! I am such a sucker for books that spill the beans on the dark side behind internet stars’ lives.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop
If you want some more, we have a list of our most anticipated 2021 releases right here!
📌 Pin our 2020 year in books on Pinterest!
What are some of the best books you’ve read this year? Please give us ALL the recommendations!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin’ ☂️ Support the blog
tasya @ the literary huntress says
Great wrap up! I just finished Today, Tonight, Tomorrow and I’m loving the romance too! The couple and the nostalgic feeling just hits all the right spot for me 🥺
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ahh thank you so much! I’m so glad you agree, I love them SO much <3
confessionsofayareader says
Great post! It made me move Miss Meteor to my TBR cart. I forgot about it on my shelves.
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
AH! I hope you’ll get to read it soon, it’s SO GOOD! <3
evelynreads1 says
Loved reading these answers!
(www.evelynreads.com)
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
anovelglimpse says
I don’t blame you for choosing the More Than Maybe couple. I adored them!
Nyx says
Yaaaay! They were SO cute together 😍😍
Happy New Year! ✨
Melina Elisa says
Most of these are already on my TBR list (mainly because of you), but there were still 2 of them that I had not added! While I’ve read a lot of books this year, there are so many more I have to read! Happy New Year 🙂 xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ah this makes me so happy <3 <3 Happy New Year, Melina, wishing you all the best! <3 <3
Ruby (Ruby Reads and Reviews) says
I loved Today Tonight Tomorrow! I agree with a lot of these: I was also disappointed by A Song Below Water, I enjoyed both Recommended for You and It Sounded Better in My Head, and I liked Time of Our Lives. I really need to read Miss Meteor! Wonderful post!
Nyx says
Yaaay! 🤗🤗
Thank you so much for stopping by and happy new year!! 😘
Kat @ Novels & Waffles says
I loved reading this post so much! There’s just something so intensely satisfying about seeing all the books a person has read throughout the year. I read IT SOUNDED BETTER IN MY HEAD based on Marie’s recommendation and I totally agree that Natalie is one of my favorite protagonists! She is just so darn relatable!
Anyways, I hope you both have a very happy New Year filled with joy, peace, and many, many good books!
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Oh thank you so much <3 I'm so, so happy you loved It sounded better in my head, it's such an incredible, underrated read I adore <3
I hope you'll have a wonderful new year as well, Kat, sending you all the love <3
May @ Forever and Everly says
i am so happy to see that you loved miss meteor so much, marie!! i just got it for chrirstmas, and i can’t wait to read and fall in love with it as well 🥺 you’ve definitely gotten me interested in the reader trilogy with all your praise, hopefully i can read it sometime soon! i hope you both have a lovely 2021 and read amazing books 💓💓
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ah please keep me updated when you can read Miss Meteor, I adore it so, so much <3 <3 Thank you so much <3
Mridula Gupta says
Enjoyed reading this 🙂 Cheers to a new year and amazing books!
Nyx says
Aww, that makes us so happy 🥰
Thank you, happy new year to you too!! ✨
Lais @ The Bookish Skies says
i am so excited to read miss meteor, it’s already in my january TBR! it sounds amazing and i hadn’t fully realized it had sci-fi elements, which i think will be interesting to read about.
malibu rising has been everywhere and i do have to agree, i am definitely excited for that too! i am not *super* sold on like thriller-esque stories, but i think it can be interesting considering the author always does an amazing job with her characters. i hadn’t heard of influence before, but i think it can be really interesting! i don’t think i ever read a book that delved into the “dark side” of internet personalities, but it sounds like a really good concept!
Nyx says
Same here!! I haven’t read it yet but since my sister already did and absolutey loved it I’m even more excited about it 😍
Yaaaay! It sounds SO promising and since I’ve loved every single book she’s written I’m pretty sure I’m also going to fall in love with this one 😁
Yeees, I’m really really excited about Influence! I hope it won’t disappoint 🤞
Thank you so much for stopping by and happy new year!! 😘😘
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
If it makes you feel any better, I took an accidental unplanned week off over Christmas. Oh well! Sometimes life happens (especially at Christmas!).
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Yeah, I guess we can’t do much about it ahah, life happens 🙂
Macey @ Brine and Books says
What an epic roundup omg!! Happy New Year to you both <333
Nyx says
Aww, thank you!! ☺️
Happy New Year 💞✨
Ruby Rae Reads says
Omg I LOVE this post and that you both wrote for it so so much!! And I LOVE the list of books and authors you talked about ugh. I hadn’t heard about It Sounded Better In My Head but ahh it sounds so good, def bumping it up my tbr. And also can’t wait to read The Feverwake duo <3<3<3 Such a fun post you two. Lots of love
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ahh thank you so much! I hope you’ll love It Sounded Better in my Head, it’s SO GOOD I love it so much <3
Sophie @ Me & Ink says
ahh… I loved reading this and seeing your year in reading. I honestly need to read most of these books because I always feel behind, haha !!
I am really excited to check out It Sounded Better In My Head and You Say It First, they both sound like really amazing contemporaries with a lot of qualities I would love. I also look forward to checking out today, tonight, tomorrow.
I definitely, definitely need to check out more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s backlist as I’ve loved all her books so far but I am also very excited about Malibu Rising, I can’t wait !!
and every other book mentioned I need to read too !! haha!! This was such a great read and I wish you both a wonderful 2021 !! 💕💕
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ah thank you so, so much Sophie! I hope you’ll love both of these contemporaries, they’re some of my favorites of all times <3 <3 Thank you!! I hope you'll have a wonderful year as well <3 <3
Malka @ Paper Procrastinators says
I always find it so interesting to see how everyone wraps up their year of reading! I thought it was really fun how you picked specific books for specific categories!
Some of my favorites that I saw on this list were Today, Tonight, Tomorrow and A Very Large Expanse of Sea! I’m so glad that the two of you enjoyed those books!
I haven’t finished compiling my list of 2020 favorites, but a few that I know will definitely make it on there are Take a Hint, Dani Brown, Snapdragon, and Fangs! Those are the ones I keep wanting to recommend to everyone!
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Oooh, I have my eye on Take a Hint, Dani Brown, I heard it’s amazing, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! 😀 I’ll have to check it out. Thank you so much, Malka! <3
Caro @ bookcheshirecat says
Loved seeing your year in books! Natalie was such a great protagonist, I related deeply to her as well and adored the book too ❤ I have yet to read Recommended For You but it looks so great! I still like Kerstin Gier but Castle in the Clouds unfortunately wasn’t any better in German 😅
You’ve also made me very excited about Miss Meteor and Girls with Sharp Sticks and Today Tonight Tomorrow 🥰 Now I only need to find the time to read all the books 😱
drizzleandhurricanebooks says
Ah I hope you’ll love Recommended For You, it’s so good! <3 and yay! Miss Meteor, Girls with Sharp Sticks and Today Tonight Tomorrow are all excellent, I adore them <3 We need way more time every day ahah.
Stephen Writes says
Excellent wrap-up, you both read some great books last year! I loved With The Fire On High so much 🥰
Nyx says
Thank you so much!! ☺️ Oh yees, me too 😍😍
ashley @ socially awkward bookworm says
It’s so fun reading your year in books posts each year! I love seeing the different books that you both choose. I have so many of these books on my TBR. I can’t wait to read all the books this year! 🙂
Nyx says
Aww, thank you!! 🥰
Same here, I’m so excited about ALL the books 😁😁
Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 😘
Meeghan reads says
Yes!! It Sounded Better in my Head is one of my faves of 2020!! Adorable!! Love it!!
Nyx says
YEEEEES! So adorable!! Such a great book 😍😍