Join me as I wrap up the last few months of 2020, sharing all my bookish news from November and December and looking ahead to 2021.
Somehow it's December, and there are only a few days left of the year. It's safe to say that 2020 hasn't turned out the way any of us planned this time last year, but it's certainly been memorable and it won't be forgotten in a hurry!
In amongst all the talk of COVID-19, Brexit, and social distancing, it has been difficult to find some semblance of normality to remind us of brighter times. However, despite all the doom and gloom, that thin thread of hope is still there, shining in the darkness and making sure we keep doing our best and working towards a time - hopefully in the not-too-distant future - where all this is just a bad memory.
Until then, though, I'm back with my annual round-up of the past year. 2020 was always going to be a difficult one thanks to the pandemic and everything else happening around the world right now, but I've done my best to pick out the flowers among the weeds from what has been a challenging year for us all.
2019 was a pretty good year, but what positives did 2020 hold for me?
In early December, I smashed past my target goal of reading 50 books in 2020. This year has been a bumper one for my reading habits, where not only have I read more books than I've managed since 2016, but I've also read more pages across those books than I have since 2013!
But with so many books under my belt, it's been even harder to narrow down my favourites this year. However, after a lot of deliberation, I've finally managed to come up with my top five books of 2020!
AD* | Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves...
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it...
Jack is used to living life to the fullest and is going stir-crazy after just days of isolating. Until that night he hears a woman crying from the balcony beneath him. He strikes up a conversation with the stranger and puts a smile back on her face.
Soon their balcony meetings are the highlight of Jack and Sophia’s days. But even as they grow closer together, they’re always kept apart.
The headlines scream warnings about the ‘Butcher of Berner Street!’ and the journalist behind them – Leo Stanhope – is secretly thrilled to see the effect his words are having.
Leo’s previous work has largely been concentrated on more mundane issues but when an anonymous letter summons him to a club in East London, only for the owner of the club to be found murdered shortly afterwards, Leo sees a story worth pursuing. Not to mention an opportunity to make a name for himself.
Yet the more Leo digs, the stranger the story becomes, taking him from the club to a nearby convent, and into the past of a very unusual woman. But he is not the only one hunting for a killer. And it seems Leo’s initial newspaper reports may have put someone else in grave danger...
AD* | After Corazon's mother catches her kissing her older female teacher, Corazon is sent to the Philippines to live with a half brother she barely knows. There she learns more about loss and love than she could have ever imagined.
Corazon Tagubio is an outcast at her Catholic school. She’s attending on scholarship, she keeps to herself, and her crush on her teacher Ms Holden doesn’t help anything. At home, Cory’s less-than-perfect grades disappoint her mom and dad, who are already working overtime to support her distant half brother in the Philippines.
When an accident leaves her dad comatose, Cory feels like Ms Holden is the only person who really sees her. But when a crush turns into something more and the secret gets out, Cory is sent to her half brother. She’s not prepared to face a stranger in an unfamiliar place, but she begins to discover how the country that shaped her past might also change her future.
This #ownvoices story takes readers on a journey across the world as Cory comes to understand her family, her relationships, and, ultimately, herself.
Happy Autumn - and Happy Halloween! In my latest spooktacular reading round-up post, I'm sharing all the details of the books I've been reading, buying, and wishing for over the last two months. As the nights start to draw in and the weather turns colder, there's nothing better than curling up with a good book!
Read on for all the bookish mischief and mayhem from September and October 2020.
Last Updated: 01 June 2024
AD* | If you’re looking for ways to save money when buying clothes for your family then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you buy clothes regularly and you want to save money or you’re looking to replenish everyone’s wardrobes on a budget, it’s important that you are saving as much money as you can. Luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can do exactly that. From shopping in charity stores to looking at the different options you have online, you may be surprised at how easy it can be when it comes to saving money on clothes.
The tale of the infamous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is one that has captivated the world since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first put pen to paper way back in the 1800s. Ever since countless adaptations and spin-offs have been released, covering books, films, TV shows, events, and much more. It seems we can't get enough of Sherlock!
However, Enola Holmes, the latest release to feature the great super-sleuth, leaves Sherlock as a supporting character. Instead, this film focuses on the adventures and exploits of Enola Holmes - Sherlock's younger sister.
2020 has been a year of curveballs and uncertainty all around, but one positive to come out of the situation is that many more people have found the time to rediscover their love of books. Reading has always been one of my biggest passions, and I can wholeheartedly get behind this newfound love for literature.
When I came across the Stay at Home book tag on Rebecca's book blog, I couldn't wait to get involved and share my answers to the questions in the tag. So, what's the Stay at Home book tag all about?
AD* | With the cooler weather we've been having recently, it definitely feels as though there's a chill in the air and autumn is on its way. Once the nights start to draw in and we all dig out our cosy jumpers again, there's nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa with a blanket and a mug of tea.
I am a big tea lover and I'm always up for the opportunity to try different blends and types of tea. So, when the lovely people at Blue Tea Box contacted me and offered me the chance to try one of their tea subscription boxes, there was only ever going to be one answer!
The Umbrella Academy has swiftly become a cult hit since the first series landed on streaming giant Netflix in 2019. With millions of viewers around the world left wanting more - especially with the last episode of season one ending on such a cliffhanger - it was a long wait for many until season two was finally released on July 31st 2020.
So, nearly a month later, what was season two's reception? Many eager fans have already headed online to read up about the show and beg for a speedy release for series three, but just how good was season two? Did it manage to live up to the high standards set by the first series?
The Kissing Booth 2 is a fun teen rom-com movie and the sequel to 2018's The Kissing Booth. This film is the perfect antidote to counteract the washout that is summer 2020. It has plenty of humour, excitement - and, kissing, of course - in-store and ready to offer you a fun-filled escape from reality.
So, if you're in the mood for a little romance, buckle up! The Kissing Booth 2 is the film for you this summer!
