As with everything else last year, my reading didn’t quite go according to plan. I had so many books to chose from in my 2019 wrap-up after a really solid year, and – needless to say – this year hasn’t been as good.
While everyone else seemed to be getting more reading time this year, my lack of commute meant I struggled to carve out reading time and make it part of my routine: I’d never had to before.
But by the latter half of the year, I think I finally managed to get myself sorted. My aim for 2021 is to clear through my backlog of ARCs as well as reviewing closer to the release dates. I’ve got myself organised for how to do it, so now just need to get reading.
As I get myself excited for the books that I’ve got coming up, it’s time to take a look back at last year.
Books: 74
Pages: 26,272
Shortest book: The Mark of the Crown by Jude Watson
Longest book: The Burning White by Brent Weeks
Average length: 361 pages
First review of the year: The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
Last review of the year: The Nothing Within by Andy Giesler
I did realise writing this that this year involved a couple of 900 page books – no wonder I didn’t get through as many!
Here are a few that stuck out for me this year:
Favourite stand-alone book (the impossible question)
I’m not usually a non-fiction person. After the hype around this book, I thought I’d give it a go. I learnt so much and was completely inspired. I have a lot of respect for Michelle Obama and it increased ten-fold reading this. It wasn’t an easy choice because I’ve read a lot of good books this year, but it feels like the right one.
Favourite series
The Honors by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre. Although I haven’t yet finished the series, I love the premise, the characters, the representation. Both Honor Among Thieves and Honor Bound were five star reads for me and I’m looking forward to concluding the trilogy.
Favourite new author
MJ Porter. Her books was a strong contender for favourite series, but I love the world she has created here. Her characters are so realistic and some of the best that I have read set in this time period. Her plot twists have also caught me out in all three books. I’m looking forward to the final one.
Favourite re-discovered author
This feels like a cheat answer because it’s not like I ever forgot how much I loved Christopher Paolini. But it’s been a few years since I read this books and his new one is so different from before… I adored To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and am very excited to see what he comes out with next.
I usually include my most popular book review from the last 365 days. Due to changing to self-hosted halfway through the year, that’s a little harder. But my most popular review since making the switch is To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.
But as a sneaky second as that one’s already been featured, I also want to highlight The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden.
How did your reading year go?
You may also like:
A Rambling Reviewer 
Great review! Congratulations on making it through 74 books. I also loved becoming and want to read more memoirs this year. I’m currently reading Chef Mashama Bailey’s Black, White, and The Grey. Def recommend.
LikeLike
Ooh thank you, I haven’t heard of that one, I’ll have to check it out.
LikeLike
You had a great year especially considering how your routine had to change! Happy reading in 2021!
LikeLike
Aha thank you!! Here’s hoping for lots of great books. Same back to you, lovely!
LikeLike
Great post Lindsey. I can’t believe how many books you’ve read in a year. I am really upping my reading game this year and I am already on book number 6. I am so loving getting back in to reading.
I think i need to give Michelle Obama a try, everyone seems to love it x
LikeLike
Ooh yay for already being on number 6, that sounds like a great start to the year. I’m not normally one for hyped books but I did love it. I made my mum read it and while she enjoyed it, not quite to the same degree as me, so I think I was as much in the right place for it at the time? But definitely recommend!
LikeLike
I adored Becoming! And I’m with you, it was hard for me to find time to read when my normal routine completely shifted. I hope you can make more space for it this year!
LikeLike
Thank you, I’m really trying to. I hope you can as well and we can get read what we want to.
LikeLike
This post has inspired to get back to weekly reading. 74 books?! Wow!
LikeLike
Aww yay that makes me so happy to hear that!! I really hope you can find reading time again – if the inspiration stays, that is!
LikeLike
I hoped to get back into reading this year, but sadly I didn’t even make it close to 74 books! Even though we shouldn’t judge books by their covers, the cover of Honor Among Thieves looks amazing! I hope you manage to read everything you have planned for 2021!
LikeLike
We shouldn’t… but there’s always a part of us that totally does, haha. I hope you can if the inspiration stays!
LikeLike
Sounds like you had a great reading year! Glad you enjoyed Becoming – I’ve been meaning to read it forever, but somehow non-fiction books never seem to move up my TBR 😅 Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
It’s really rare for me to read a non-fiction book but this was definitely the right one to pick. I hope you get the chance to read it soon!
LikeLike
74 books is SO impressive – I’d love a post on tips to read more throughout the year! My 2020 goal was 20 but I only ended up reading 18, I’m still kinda happy with that though! xx
LikeLike
Ooh that’s a good idea, maybe I’ll see if I can write that up as a post – thanks, lovely! 18 is still really good – as long as you are happy with it, then that is the most important thing!
LikeLike
Totally understand the lack of commute messing up your reading. That happened with me pre-covid when I got a car because the drive was too short for audio books and then when covid hit, I had to figure out when I’d read at home. I am easily distracted at home.
LikeLike
It suddenly becomes so much harder, doesn’t it? I’m trying to make it into more of my routine but not done particularly well as of yet. I’m also way too easily distracted at home.
LikeLike
The honour series sounds like one that I would genuinely really enjoy! I’ve also heard some amazing things about becoming x
LikeLike
I’m not normally a hyped-book kind of person but Becoming definitely is my exception there. I’ve really been enjoying the Honor series – looking forward to finishing it!
LikeLike
[…] 2020: My Year in Books […]
LikeLike