I may not have read 52 books in 52 weeks this year like I did last year, but I was lucky to have lots of time to dig into some terrific new releases. Here are my 2020 book recommendations.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid — If your life is anything like mine, everyone you know has already recommended this book to you. In her debut novel, Kiley Reid masterfully explores the messy gray areas of race and class through larger-than-life characters.
Writers & Lovers by Lily King — As someone who’s obsessed with the writing process, I absolutely loved this book. Lily King follows an aspiring novelist who is finding her way through love and life while working at a restaurant. Oh, and the ending is one of the most satisfying I’ve ever read.
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb — This memoir is a stunning (and hilarious) memorial to the author’s grandmother. Throughout the book, Bess Kalb weaves in and out of her grandmother’s own voice, even going so far as to include the transcripts of some truly superb voicemails her grandmother, or bubbe, left her in her final days.
The Switch by Beth O’Leary — No book has stuck with me this year quite like The Switch. I’ve never been a fan of novels with multiple perspectives, but this book made a convert out of me—the story follows a grandmother and her granddaughter, who swap lives and find themselves in the process.
Beach Read by Emily Henry — I’m a sucker for contemporary romances, and this book did not disappoint. The protagonist, a romance novelist, gets stuck living next door to her archnemesis, a successful literary fiction writer—and boy, do the flames flicker!
How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy — Like literally everyone else during this pandemic, I’ve devoted more time to a hobby. I’ve been playing guitar and taking my first stab at writing songs, which is… hard. So how lucky am I that my favorite songwriter of all time, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, released a book on the subject this year? It’s equal parts educational and inspiring.
Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh — In this novel-in-verse for young adults, Candice Iloh tells the story of Ada, a college freshman at Howard University who’s grappling with her past in order to devote herself fully to her passion—dance. This book would make an excellent gift for every teenager in your life. While you’re at it, read my interview with the author as well as my blurb of the book at Cambridge Common Writers!
Self Care by Leigh Stein — Satire has never been more satisfyingly cringey than in Leigh Stein’s new novel. The story of a fictitious wellness start-up with Gwenyth Paltrow vibes, Self Care is bound to make any millennial woman feel all the “I’m in this photo and I don’t like it” feels.
Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear your book recommendations. What’s your favorite new release of 2020 you read? Answer my reader questionnaire and I may include your response in a future issue!
Your 2020 Book Recs
Here’s what you’ve been reading and loving this year.
Michael recommends When My Body Was a Clinched Fist by Enzo Silon Surin. “In these poems, the author manages the inherent tension between trauma and growth through sublime poetic craft.”
Cindy recommends Mobile Home by Megan Harlan. “I love the things she weaves into the book that are separate from her own personal history. She lived in 17 different places during her childhood, and I just finished an essay about one of the homes she lived in and it led her to writing about Palo Alto, CA and the architecture there and an architect and builder who created tract housing in that town and why they did it the way they did. Which led me to a real estate search for Eichler houses in Palo Alto. Fascinating!”
Damini recommends How to Think Like Shakespeare by Scott Newstock. “An extremely useful guide to developing critical thinking. My favorite aspect of the book is that the prose is littered with quotes from thinkers and artists from across ages.”
Becca recommends Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth. “I love almost any book with funny, interesting queer women in the lead, and this novel is chock full of them.”
Lyle recommends Personality Isn’t Permanent by Benjamin Hardy. “This book helped me to rethink my own personality and tendencies. It motivated me to officially—and publicly—declare that I'm a writer.”
You know I love to hear that!
Tell me about your lonely victories.
“I have been writing publicly while dealing with crippling anxiety and perfectionism in my work. I’ve been able to push out weekly pieces and it makes me so proud. Feels good that I can finally ignore that critical voice in my head.” —Damini
Tell me about your writing process in my reader questionnaire!
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“Writing alone can give you a very deep sense of satisfaction and lonely victory.” —Greta Gerwig