Everything I Read in August 2020 {Book Recap & Ratings}

What I read in August 2020

August Reading…

August was an interesting month of reading. The first half I made it through quite a few books (both ebooks and audiobooks) and then the last half it really slowed down for me. I am struggling like many with the state of our country, and I have spent more time scrolling and listening to the news than I would care to admit. I certainly know it is important to be updated on what is going on in the world, but there is definitely is an amount that is good without going overboard…and I had a hard time finding a balance with this lately.

Continue reading “Everything I Read in August 2020 {Book Recap & Ratings}”

Everything I Read in March 2020 {Book Recap & Ratings}

Blank Instagram Portraits-48

Thinking back to the beginning of last month and knowing it was only a little over four weeks ago feels almost unbelievable. So much has changed and continues to change and it is a scary time for everyone. I have also felt a little vulnerable to share, even on this relatively small public platform because many of my feelings seem(are?) trivial in the larger scheme of things. 

How It’s Going…

global crisis{image via Liz & Mollie}

Continue reading “Everything I Read in March 2020 {Book Recap & Ratings}”

Bookstagram Survey: Reading Highs & Lows of 2019 & Most Anticipated Books of 2020 {Gen The Bookworm}

2019 reading

End of the Year Recaps

It’s the time of the year where the end of the year recaps are everywhere! When thinking about how I wanted to share my own reading wrap up of 2019, I thought it might be fun to not only share mine but also include a bunch of my reading friend’s feedback from #bookstagram so that is what I am sharing today!

#Bookstagrammer Bonanza!

A few days ago I shared on #bookstagram HERE that I would love to include feedback from my fellow bookworms when I shared my reading recap of 2019.

I asked them to share their favorite books that they read in 2019, the ones that didn’t meet the hype and the ones they are looking forward to reading/publishing in 2020 and boy did they deliver!

SO many reading friends took the time to share their feedback and today I am excited to be sharing it with you!

Varying Perspectives & Genres with Reading

I love posting my own reading wrap-ups and recommendations but I also love being able to share other people’s perspectives and genres that might be outside of what I tend to regularly read.

While putting this post together I loved seeing the wide variety of answers because it is just so fascinating that we all react to books so differently…even when we read similar titles!

This blog post is definitely a long one, but I am hoping it inspires your own reading lists and helps you discover some titles and authors you might not have previously heard of.

Meet The Bookstagrammers!

While not everyone on this list is a “book reviewer”, everyone is an avid reader and I loved the diversity this allowed for. If they do share books publicly, I included a link to their Instagram page for easy access along with their first names.

You will notice that some of the books that are shared below are either ARCs that have not been officially published yet and some people shared books that were highlights of their 2019 reading even if they were published in previous years.

I am including links to all of these books for easy access where you can easily see more details about each of these titles.

Here we go!!

Gen The Bookworm

Katie @katieneedsabiggerbookshelf

2019 Reading Highs:

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim, The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff and A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum.

2019 Reading Low:

Ninth House and Saint X.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

I am excited about American Dirt finally coming out because I loved it!

2019 reading

Kristy @kristy.dooley.photography

2019 Reading Highs:

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer and The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo.

2019 Reading Low:

The Night Tiger

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

I read ARCs of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and loved them!!

2020 reading

Melissa @readalotwritealot

2019 Reading Highs:

American Dirt, Just Mercy and The Most Fun We Ever Had.

2019 Reading Low:

Whisper Network 

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

A Good Neighborhood, Saint X, The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagan, and Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.

2020 reading

Sarah @sarahsbookshelves and sarahsbookshelves.com

2019 Reading Highs:

The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff, Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

2019 Reading Low:

The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.

Most Anticipated Books of 2020:

Long Bright River (already read and loved!) by Liz Moore, We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan, American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.

2019-12-31_0005.jpg

Wrenn @wrenn_bongo_and_books

2019 Reading Highs:

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen and Where The Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah.

2019 Reading Low:

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison. 

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs.

guest post

Erica @ericalovesbooks

2019 Reading Highs:

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.

2019 Reading Low:

I was really excited about The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman and it just fell flat for me.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle and The Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White.

2020 nonfiction

Tara

2019 Reading Highs:

The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey and To Have and To Hold by Molly Millwood were my top two picks of 2019.

2019 Reading Low:

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Most excited about Jenni Allen’s book coming out called Get Out of Your Head but so much more! I am a lover of nonfiction mostly!

reading highs and lows

Kelly @miss_kellysbookishcorner

2019 Reading Highs:

The Gown by Jennifer Robson, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

2019 Reading Low:

Where The Crawdads Sing (loved the story, but it was such a slow read for me) and Sing, Unburied Sing (DNF)

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle and The Return by Nicholas Sparks.

book recap

Jen @jenlovesreading

2019 Reading Highs:

Daisy Jones & The Six and The Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center.

2019 Reading Low:

Normal People by Sally Rooney and Three Women by Lisa Taddeo didn’t work for me.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt and My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.

2020 readsErin

2019 Reading Highs:

Inheritance by Dani Shapiro, Normal People and The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri.

2019 Reading Low:

I felt that both The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Most Fun We Ever Had did not live up to the hype.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt and Untamed!

2020 books

Maggie @maggiee_reads

2019 Reading Highs:

Long Bright River, Dear Wife, and Little Fires Everywhere.

2019 Reading Low:

The Silent Patient & A Nearly Normal Family

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Darling Rose Gold and American Dirt.

2019 reads

Victoria @victorias.loves.lit

2019 Reading Highs:

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, Inheritance by Dani Shapiro and This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.

2019 Reading Low:

Sadly, City of Girls by Elizabeth GIlrbert did not live up to the hype for me. Neither did Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly (though I loved Lilac Girls the prequel).

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Dying to get to American Dirt and Know My Name by Chanel Miller soon!

2019 reading

Julia @booksbitesbeaches

2019 Reading Highs:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager, and The Idea of You by Robinne Lee.

2019 Reading Low:

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin and The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

I’m most excited about Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey, You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, and Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel.

2020 books

Jessica @jessbooksit

2019 Reading Highs:

Night Road by Kristin Hannah, The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo, Say You Still Love Me by KA Tucker, and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.

2019 Reading Low:

Dominicana by Angie Cruz and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (publication on the last day of 2019 counts as 2020, right?!)

2020 readingShannon

2019 Reading Highs:

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary and Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

2019 Reading Low:

The Unhoneymooners and Normal People.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

2020 reading list

Melanie

2019 Reading Highs:

Maybe You Should Talk to Somone (total surprise as nonfiction books are not my favorite) and Where The Crawdads Sing.

2019 Reading Low:

The Giver by Lois Lowry (I have always wanted to read it but it was SUCH a slow read for me) and The Silent Patient (highly recommended but also a slow read and just couldn’t’ get into it.)

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Soooo many on my TBR list, but thinking of starting with The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Things You Save in a Fire or The Most Fun We Ever Had.

2020 books

Mandi @mandi_reads

2019 Reading Highs:

Beyond The Point by Claire Gibson, Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Swallows by Lisa Lutz and Call me God.

2019 Reading Lows:

My Friend Anna and Saint X.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

The Missing Sister, The Girls Weekend and Long Bright River.

2020 books

Lori @yoyosyumyums

2019 Reading Highs:

The Book Women of Troublesome Creek, Cilka’s Journey and Where The Forest Meets The Stars.

2019 Reading Low:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Flatshare.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle and Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

2020 reading list

Melissa

2019 Reading Highs:

Where The Crawdads Sing, Queen Bee, and Cemetary Road.

2019 Reading Low:

Still Lives by Maria Hummel.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver and The Lies that Bind by Emily Giffin

2019 books

Stacey @staceyloscalzo

2019 Reading Highs:

The Dutch House, City of Girls, and A Hundred Summers.

2019 Reading Low:

Normal People and the end of After The Flood.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt!

2020 book list

Emily

2019 Reading Highs:

Daisy Jones & The Six, Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain and Just Another Kid by Torey L. Hayden (while this book was first published in 1988 I read it for the first time in 2019.)

2019 Reading Low:

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand and Run Away by Harlan Cobin were both books I really looked forward to and fell short for me.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Writers & Lovers by Lily King, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell and The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren.

2020 books

Jenn @theliteraryhedgehog

2019 Reading Highs:

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton.

2019 Reading Low:

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah.

2020 books

Andrea

2019 Reading Highs:

The Ensemble by Aja Gabel, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.

2019 Reading Low:

Where The Crawdads Sing – I think it’s possible the hype was too high by the time I read it.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt. 

2020 reading list

Kelsey @klgloyd33

2019 Reading Highs:

The Wreckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood, Children of Virtue & Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi, A Woman is No Man by  Etaf Rum.

2019 Reading Low:

Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Long Bright River by Liz Moore, These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card, The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Madel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

2019 books

Laurie @bookaddictpnw

2019 Reading Highs:

A Woman is No Man, The Lost Man and She Said were some top books.

2019 Reading Low:

American Predator, Get a Life Chloe Brown and Verity (I know everyone loves it but aargh the stupid naive woman trope!!)

2020 book recommendations

Genevieve @bookgirlgen

2019 Reading Highs:

The Dearly Beloved, Ask Again, Yes, Ten Thousand Doors of January and Gilead.

2019 Reading Low:

The Last Romantics, The Huntress, and The Starless Sea.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt!

2020 reading

Meaghan @anopenbookblog

2019 Reading Highs:

The World That We Knew and The Dutch House were my absolute favorites.

2019 Reading Low:

Nevermoor and The Giver of Stars were books I was so excited about but just weren’t for me.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Very excited for American Dirt and The Heir Affair!

2020 book list

Natalie @doctornataliereads

2019 Reading Highs:

Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and A Woman is No Man.

2019 Reading Low:

City of Girls.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

American Dirt and A Good Neighborhood.

2020 reading

Jessica @nocknockbooks

2019 Reading Highs:

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, The Dearly Beloved, The Dream Peddler, Ask Again, Yes, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and The Flatshare.

2019 Reading Low:

Three Women and Talking to Strangers (I felt hoodwinked by the marketing of both of them.)

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Saint X, Valentine and American Dirt.

2020 book list

Lisa @nzlisam.ig

2019 Reading Highs:

The Stand by Stephen King, The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton and The Chesnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.

2019 Reading Low:

The Whisper Man, Good Girl, Bad Girl, and Elevator Pitch.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

The Other People by CJ Tudor, Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough and The Dilemma by BA Paris.

2020 reading

@thelazybookshelf

2019 Reading Highs:

Ask Again, Yes, The Flatshare and Rise and Fall: The Story of 9/11.

2019 Reading Low:

Once Upon a River and The Bromance Bookclub.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel!

favorite books

Jasmine @sistersandpages

2019 Reading Highs:

A Woman is No Man, and There’s Something About Sweetie.

2019 Reading Low:

The Beautiful and We Met in December.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Such a Fun Age, Ten Things I Hate About Pinky and In Five Years.

2019 books

Rebekah

2019 Reading Highs:

Beyond The Point, The Girl in the Letter and One True Loves.

2019 Reading Low:

The Divorce

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

I have so many on my TBR that aren’t 2020 book releases…Things You Save in a Fire, Labor with Hope and The Most Fun We Ever Had.

2019 book recap

Kristen

2019 Reading Highs:

The Great Alone, The Things We Cannot Say and The Idea of You.

2019 Reading Low:

Next Year in Havana (too slow for me)

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Looking forward to American Dirt and Long Bright River!

2020 reading

Debbie @storiesandstacks

2019 Reading Highs:

The Silent Patient and The Unhoneymooners.

Most Anticipated Book of 2020:

Looking forward to Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson and In Five Years by Rebeca Serle!

The Most Highly Anticipated Book Voted by #Bookstagrammers is…

Jeanine Cummins

You probably noticed a pattern in this post, but American Dirt is most definitely the most anticipated book of 2020!! I read an ARC copy this past month and I can’t wait to share my thoughts soon, but let’s just say, I already know it will be one of my top 2020 reads because it was THAT GOOD.

My 2019 Reading Wrap-up!

My 2019 reading recap will be posted soon, in the meantime, you can see check out my favorites of 2019 (so far!) post from July, to see how things were stacking up at the halfway point.

best books of 2019

Best Books of 2019 (so far!) blog post


Thank you to everyone who shared in today’s post! I hope this has inspired your own book list and helps make 2020 your best reading year yet! Happy reading. <3

*I apologize in advance for any errors or misunderstanding with titles/book covers when transcribing these results from Instagram to this blog post. I am happy to update anything if necessary! <3

Disclosure: Some of the links on this blog are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog (at no cost to you). Thank you!