Today I bring you my “best books of 2020” list. As I was compiling this (very long) list, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by the poet Mary Oliver: “Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.”
For many, many reasons this year has been one of the hardest, most tragic and unbearably stressful times of our lives. And like many of us who are starry-eyed bookworms, novels were a necessary escape I clung to every day of 2020. Like many authors, I treasured the privilege to write those escapes into the two romance novels I released this year. But after every finished draft, I’d grab my books and my Kindle and camp out on my couch, or by a pretty stream in Vermont, or on my back stoop here in South Philly. And I’d read for hours ❤
All of that to say - I am unbearably grateful to the incredible authors who gave me strange, unique, mysterious and romantic worlds to slip into. They were truly the rope I know many of us cherished.
Category: Best Romance of 2020
Reading this book felt like eating a delicious and decadent slice of cake. Talia's prose is exquisitely crafted, hilarious and witty, pointed and sarcastic and smart as hell. This romance is feminist, inclusive, and full of sex-positivity. Bonus - the heroine is bisexual and you know I love that kind of queer representation! Danika and Zafir are in my romance novel couple hall of fame now. I smiled the entire time reading it.
Very Close Runner-Up
XENI is a marriage of convenience romance, with a bisexual, bad-ass heroine and a bisexual, plus-size Scottish hero. Seeing two bisexual main characters made this bisexual girl's heart so so so so happy! Their romance was sweet and aching and tender and hot-hot-hot-hot. I felt like I was being hugged the entire time and was grinning from ear to ear.
Category: Romantic Suspense
The first two books in Maria Luis’ Broken Crown Trilogy absolutely enthralled me this year. These dark, royal romances are packed with history, mystery and tons of action. The romances are gritty, angsty and raw. The world she’s created is dark and mysterious. And her prose, as usual, is vivid and stunning.
Very Close Runner-Up:
Holy shit, I finished this book basically in one sitting. This is the first in a trilogy (three different couples but one overarching story) and the suspense, the thrill, the stakes made this book such a page-turner. Plus a truly bad-ass heroine, a hot as hell hero, tons of steam, and TONS of action. A true escape and a marvelous one!
Category: Historical Romance
Brilliantly written and incredibly romantic - this dreamy, sexy historical F/F romance novel was truly amazing. Lucy and Catherine's love was real, beautiful, sweet and sultry. As they (literally) charted the stars together, I was utterly swept up in their love affair, their quest for science and equality, their curiosity and bravery. I'm new to this author's work but I'm a fangirl now!
Very Close Runner-Up
I would like to personally thank all of the amazing historical romance authors who created this anthology - it brought me an absurd amount of joy (and lusty thoughts amirite). Sexy dukes and scandalous meet-ups and Regency-era drama and corsets and so, so, so much more. Each story was, honestly, incredible on its own. And I'm not sure of the actual length of each - I'm guessing it was novelette or novella length - they were remarkable. Steamy, fun, tropey, sinfully sexy. This book was like some kind of balm for my soul right now.
Category: YA Romance
"I never needed this race or a hashtag or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown." '
I swooned, cheered, happy cried and fell madly in love with Liz Lighty and her crown. This queer prom romance was everything I've always wanted in a love story. The HEA was bright, sparkly and hopeful. I cannot wait for more books from Leah Johnson!