“Decision-making is a complex, messy activity that can lead to significant stress. But it doesn’t have to. One of the goals of this book is to remind us not to fall prey to the numerous social forces that increasingly turn making a decision into an unnecessarily anxious process.”
Now that 2020 is nearly over (!!!!!!!!) it’s time for my annual reading wrap-up! I’ve always challenged myself to write one-line reviews* of books I’ve read throughout the year, and am continuing the tradition this year as well.
I had originally set myself a goal to read 52 books this year, but thanks to lockdown, I hit that pretty early. Then, I upped my reading goal to 100 books, and have since surpassed that as well. However, for the sake of my sanity (or at least what’s left of it), instead of writing a one-line review for every book I’ve read this year, I’m sticking to the first 100.
If you’re interested in seeing every single book I’ve read in 2020, feel free to check out my Goodreads. Otherwise, feast your eyes on the following 100 one-line book reviews.
And remember, I am writing most of these reviews months after finishing the books, so they aren’t necessarily good, but they are fun! (Get ready for the run-on sentences!)
*These reviews are more like the first thought that pops into my head when I think back to each book.
Christmas erotica? Sure, why the hell not?? When I saw the cover for JINGLE LADY I knew I had to read it🤣 and so many of my friends were excited to hear my thoughts, so here they are!
“I hope you aren’t afraid of ghosts.”
I first heard about Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour during Penguin Teen Canada’s fall preview event this past summer. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Nina LaCour’s books from friends, but I’ve never actually read one . . . until now. The way this book was described—a beautiful story full of ghosts and grief—piqued my interested a lot, and I knew I needed to read it.
“Lana Lee is feeling stressed. Between updating her family’s Chinese restaurant, the Ho-Lee Noodle House, orchestrating a weekend long sidewalk sale for her restaurant and the other businesses in the Asia Village, and lending a sympathetic ear to just about everyone in her orbit, she’s beat. Unfortunately, things are about to get even crazier for poor, overworked Lana.”
I heard about the Noodle Shop Mystery series earlier this year and was immediately intrigued by the titles and covers! When I saw Killer Kung Pao by Viven Chien on NetGalley, I knew I had to read the book and give the series a try. I wasn’t sure if they had to be read in order, but I took a gamble and was so pleased with the story.
“Quinn Maybrook just wants to make it until graduation. She might not make it to morning.”
When I first heard about Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare, I had two immediate thoughts: 1) this book is going to be terrifying, and 2) I absolutely had to read it. Needless to say, I was over the moon when I received an early digital copy, and friends, it did not disappoint.
“She was here, in the daylight. She is breaking all her own rules. She is going to finish what she started.”
Friends, I did it: I finally read a book that takes place in the woods that didn’t scare my pants off! Sure, it made me uncomfortable at times, but it didn’t give me nightmares (yet). Instead, Some Kind of Animal by Maria Romasco Moore used a creepy setting to create thriller centered around the love two twin sisters have for each other.
I can’t remember the last time I read a book that made me cry as much as More Than Us by Ryan Jones did. This book deals with themes of suicide, mental health, and self-harm, so please be aware if you decide to add this title to your TBR list.
“The stories of Inglewell, like the tellers, are hybrids of tales from distant woods and forests.”
You’d think a story with such a bright, sunny setting wouldn’t be dark and gloomy, but that isn’t the case with Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings. Instead, this book is full of haunting stories, shattered memories, and family secrets that were buried deep for a reason.
Isn’t the cover of this graphic novel beautiful? As soon as I saw it I knew I had to read it. But friends, don’t be like me and assume a pretty cover means a nice, carefree story, because Ever After by Olivia Vieweg is the total opposite. In this story, the main character Vivi is trying to escape not only zombies, but the ghosts of her past as well.
