Having read 136 books in 2020, I’m struggling to choose my top ten. So today I’m indulging myself after I saw a number of bloggers do a best books by genre post on Instagram last week. Surprisingly, this list did help me narrow down my top ten (which I’ll be posting on Thursday), and you might be surprised by which of these books made the cut and which other books snuck on to the list.
Contemporary:
I don’t think anyone is shocked about this one … I regret nothing 🙂
Runner Up:
I’ve been gushing about this book all December. Kristen Granata became an autobuy author with this one!
Historical:
Why did I wait so long to read this. I’m already planning a re-read of this book this year, because it was just so good!
Historical Romance:
Choosing my top historical book was such a hard call as I think of all three of these books as equals. But I had to go with my gut instinct here, and The Perfect Rake came out on top just!
Runners Up:
Romance:
This book …. is everything.
Sports Romance:
I read so many sports romance books (not surprising) this year, and so I sneakily added this category into the best of the best genres. I’m not surprised that Ice Hockey romances were my top pics, but I was surprised that both of these are millionaire romances … a trope I didn’t think I liked but clearly love!
Fantasy/Paranormal:
I struggle with what to classify this one. It reads like middle grade, but its main characters are definitely adults and thus its an adult novel, with a hint of m/m romance. It’s fantasy based …. and its brilliant.
Runners Up:
Holly Black almost took this crown out on the very last day of 2020, but given The House on the Cerulean Sea is such a mixed genre book and it fits fantasy the best, it just beat it out for the top fantasy/paranormal book of the year.
Mystery/Thriller:
Hands down this was my favourite and most creepy read of the year. I put the audiobook down so many times because it freaked me out … and those plot twists! Boy, was this one a wild ride.
Runners Up:
Young Adult:
I can’t choose between these books! All of them are hard hitting Young Adult novels that are diverse and Queer reads. I adored each of these for very different reasons and I can not, and will not choose one over the other.
Middle Grade: 
This one was so hard to choose. I love Jessica Townsend’s writing, but the Jumbies has been on my mind of late. I definitely re-discovered my love of middle grade in 2020 and I will be exploring it more so this year for sure.
Runner Ups :
Graphic Novels:
Check Please vol 1 and 2 beat out Heartstopper Vol 1-3 and the Prince and the Dressmaker here for top spot. I just loved the art style, hockey references, and the adorable romance between the main characters. It was such an inclusive and happy read.
The Never Ending Bookshelf 
I too discovered Kristin Hannah with her books Firefly Lane and Fly away home – wanted to read them before the Netflix series adaptation coming in February. Absolutely brilliant – will read The Nightingale this year as the film comes out later this year too.
I really want to read more of her books this year. The Nightingale was brilliant! I didn’t realise there was a film coming … I’m now excited to see how they adapt it.