A Year of Books: 52 Books in 52 Weeks

I use to love reading. It was my first passion in life. As a child, I was never without a book- I would hide them under my bed and sneak them out whenever I was suppose to be doing homework or practicing piano. I would bring them along in the car to pass time while we drove the 50 minutes to Chinatown on Sundays (yes Houston suburbs are insanely far apart!). I craved the summers because I would get to read for an entire day uninterrupted by life’s demands (aka school). But as I got older I started to experience other activities and slowly started to grow other passions. I was no longer the girl from the suburbs where the only entertainment around was the movie theater and the mall. which you can really only go to so many times before the novelty of it wears away. All of a sudden, there were Korean dramas to watch, restaurants to eat at, and countries to travel to. Books were no longer my only interests and after a while I guess I just forgot about them. and how much joy they use to bring me. After 9 hours at the office, it was just easier to watch another episode of the drama I was currently following on TV or more fulfilling to step into a gym and knock a workout out.

This year, however, I really wanted to get back to my roots and my childhood passions. It was the start of a new decade and a fresh beginning. I wanted to pick up a book and actually read it from cover to cover. And I wanted to read not just one book in total- but to read one book per week. 52 books for the year. I knew this would be a huge challenge for me- in 2019 I opened up several books, but only managed to finish around 5-6. When the end of January rolled around, I was at a total count of 3 books and could not get into reading. It was so hard at the end of the day to choose a book over my laptop or TV. But I kept pushing through and 52 books later, I have to say I'm so happy I did this challenge! I’ve rediscovered my love for reading and I can see now how reading has really enriched lives.

Over the past year, I’ve gotten a lot of questions on how I select my books. Choosing the right books was critical for me because it meant that my interest levels and desire to read would be increase if the book suited my tastes. Luckily, in this day and age there’s always social media to help us make decisions! I turned to my all time favorite celebrity, Reese Witherspoon, and her book club, Hello Sunshine, to help select my book picks. She focuses on books that have a female lead, which I loved. I also paid attention to Barack Obama’s book recommendations that he makes every year on Instagram as well as what Oprah was currently reading. The Youtuber, Zoella, is another one of my favorite women so I checked her adorable website (goals!) to see what she read in 2019. The New York Times Bestseller List is also great way to check out what’s popular and what’s been recently released. Then I hit the library and reserved the books that peaked my interest (some of them took forever to become available) and the rest is history! 52 books later… here are some of my thoughts!

Disclaimer- The books are listed in the order I read them in and not ranked in any particular way. I’ve been working on this blog post since January 2020 so my thoughts on each book came as soon as I finished- I didn’t just try to recall at the end of the year! I tried to select a wide variety of books from nonfiction to fiction, from women authors to male authors and from minority authors as well, but you’ll see below that almost all my picks ended up being from female authors.

Girl in Translation (by Jean Kwok)- This was the first book I read in 2020 and I loved it. I chose it first because I wanted to support an Asian author and knew the story would be relatable. The main character is a Chinese immigrant (similar to my family’s story) and the story line revolves around her experiences being an immigrant in America and growing up. The book really got me thinking if this was how my parents beginnings in America was like and how lucky I was to have grown up a citizen of this country. This book is a good peek at the immigrant experience and is an awesome coming of age story.

More Than Words (by Jill Santopolo)- This is your typical chick flick novel- girl has boyfriend, girl actually secretly likes another guy, girl has life drama. The author throws in a few plot twists throughout the book, but nothing was too surprising. If you’ve seen as many Korean dramas as I have, you’ll know whats coming by the way the author sets up her plots. Still, a comforting easy read!

The Other Woman (by Sandie Jones)- The book’s title is a bit misleading, but that’s part of the intrigue I guess! Despite appreciating the intrigue and suspense, I was overall disappointed and frustrated in how the main character, Emily, was portrayed. At times, I wanted to just reach into the novel and grab her by the shoulders and shake her for being so dumb. Definitely not for the feminist in me!

The Light We Lost (by Jill Santopolo)- I originally thought this book would be similar to the author’s other book I had previously read (see above) in that it would also be a chick flick novel. I was so wrong. While it is a love story, it goes much more in depth of the idea of fate and free will and destiny and as a result is so much more complicated. The book gave me the feels as people say and I definitely recommend it. Just beware- its not for the lighthearted.

Normal People (by Sally Rooney)- This book came highly recommended by several celebrities and book clubs, but I just couldn’t get into it. It took me forever to finish and I felt like the story was just dragged out. It is very similar to some of the other books listed above in that it is also about a couple’s love story. However, I love that the author is a millennial like me (she was born in 1991) and is taking the literary world by storm (she’s even on Time’s 100 list).

Still Lives (by Maria Hummel)- After reading a series of romance books. I was looking forward to this suspense novel and boy, it did not disappoint. Filled with art, murder, betrayal, and friendship, it is the perfect mix of murder mystery and thought provoking. The author focuses on obsession of violence and what it does to its victims both living and deceased. Throughout the book (which I could not put down), I felt as if my brain had to work extra hard to pick up on “clues” to help solve the mystery. I really enjoyed the thrill of the plot and the well developed main character, Maggie.

Searching for Sylvie Lee (by Jean Kwok)- I loved the first Jean Kwok book I read (see above) and decided that I needed another! And she definitely didn’t disappoint. This book is about two Chinese American sisters- one who is missing and one who is searching for her missing sister. Similar to Girl in Translation, there are numerous aspects about the story that relates to me and having grown up in a Chinese American immigrant family. I love that Jean Kwok is bringing our experiences and culture to the masses.

Little Fires Everywhere (by Celeste Ng)- I love supporting Asians in media so when I found this book on Reese Witherspoon’s book club list I knew I needed to grab a copy to read. Fun fact- Reese is also making this book into a movie! Although it is written by an Asian author (yay for Asian representation in media!), it is not about an Asian family (there are Asian characters though which I loved). I loved that the book had some controversy and drama in it- it is the perfect book club read. I even made my best friend read the book just so we could have discussions and debates over it!

The Couple Next Door (by Shari Lapena)- I was literally on the edge of my chair the whole time while reading this book and could not put it down. The ending (and a lot of the book actually) was shocking! After reading so many love stories and coming of age stories, it felt good to immerse myself in a story about kidnapping, crazy families, and murder. Its not set up as a mystery, but as a thriller and WOW was it a fun read. The book is also not too thick, which I appreciated because I was able to get through it in one sitting. Just prepare yourself for many many ups and downs!

Maid (by Stephanie Land)- So far in the year I’ve only read fiction novels and felt that it was appropriate to switch it up for a nonfiction memoir. Maid was on President Obama’s 2020 reading list and details 5 years of the author’s life when she worked as a housemaid struggling to get by on food stamps and other government assistance programs all while caring for her young daughter alone. It was an interesting look into the life of America’s poor and their will to survive. My family employs maids and like everyone else, I don’t give them too much thought. They clean my home once a month and then they go on their way. I don’t treat them poorly, but I also don’t go out of my way to get to know them. I felt like this book opened my eyes to other people’s experiences and lives in a way I hadn’t noticed or thought of before.

The Last Romantics (by Tara Conklin)- Chosen as her first book club (Read with Jenna) pick, Jenna Bush Hager recommended this book and I have to say, I also enjoyed it. Although, it was a little hard to follow at first in its format (the author tells her childhood story from the future point of view), the story follows a well loved tale of the life and love between family members.

Born A Crime (by Trevor Noah)- I first heard Trevor speak live at a company event in New York and loved everything about him. Yes he’s the Daily Show host, but he is much more than that. I’ve had his memoir on my to read list for quite a while now and was glad that I managed to get a hold of the book. Born A Crime tells the story of Noah’s childhood in South Africa where he grew up essentially an innocent criminal- it was illegal for black and white people to be in a relationship, much less have a child together. It is also the heartwarming story of Noah’s love for his mother and how he became who he is today.

Evvie Drake Starts Over (by Linda Homes)- They say to never judge a book by its cover, but I have to admit that for this book I judged its more mundane cover so much. To the point where I almost didn’t read it! If it weren’t for Jenna Bush’s book club recommendation, I wouldn’t have. And I would have sorely missed out. The story follows Evie after the death of her husband and gives us a glimpse into her life as we see her deal with multiple issues that come along with relationships and death. It’s a very heartwarming story and one that has a happy and hopeful ending.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (by Gail Honeymoon)- This was Reese’s very first book club pick and was one of Zoella’s 2019 reads so I knew it had to be a good one. It’s a story about survival, overcoming loneliness, knowing when to ask for help, and friendship. I read this book while in self isolation due to the coronavirus (I did not have the virus, but had a cough so the doctor recommended I stay indoors for a period of time) and related to Eleanor’s time alone away from people. I loved learning Eleanor’s story and it was one of the best books I’ve read so far in 2020! I’ve recommended this book to several of my friends so far and they have all loved it as well.

Everything I Never Told You (by Celeste Ng)- I loved Little Fires Everywhere so much that I decided to read the author’s first book as well. While Little Fires Everywhere is about an American family, Everything I Never Told You revolves around a Chinese American mixed family set in the 1970s, which I found extremely interesting because there aren’t too many stories about what it means to be interracial. Although the plot itself was interesting, several of the characters annoyed me throughout the book and their flaws at time were a little TOO real for me to really enjoy. I realize that there are many families like this in the real world, but having to read about it was a bit much for me to take.

City of Girls (by Elizabeth Gilbert)- This was Caila Quinn’s first book club pick, which I meant to read, but I have to admit I was intimidated by how thick the book was- it felt like I would never be able to finish it! The book started off slowly, but gained traction and the ending was great. I have to admit though, this book wasn’t a page turner- I had to set daily reading goals for myself in order to get through it. If you’re looking for a feminist book with a strong center female protagonist, then this is the book for you. If you’re someone who prefers to get in the middle of the action quickly, then I would skip this one. I didn’t get into the story until Chapter 20! I’ve also realized that I’m not a huge fan of the books Caila Quinn chooses for her books club so probably will pass on the future book picks.

A Wedding in December (by Sara Morgan)- After reading heavier novels and nonfictions, I was looking forward to cracking open this light hearted romance book. Over the years I’ve read so many of these rom com novels, and over the next few years I’ll probably read even more. These types of books are the best when trying to take your mind off serious real life issues (aka the coronavirus) and help you dive into a fantasy world where happy endings abound. Don’t expect anything too thought provoking, but instead expect a good time! The story is told from 3 different perspectives and focus on 3 different love lines.

One of Us is Lying (by Karen McManus)- Since we’re still under coronavirus quarantine, I decided to follow along with Zoella’s March 2020 book club pick. I wanted to read something mysterious and suspenseful and this book definitely serves up both those things. It is listed as a Young Adult fiction so I wasn’t sure I would really get into it, but ending up loving how the book was written with different perspectives from the 4 main characters. It is a bit like The Breakfast Club with a nerd, a jock, a bad boy, and a homecoming queen stuck in detention together. But that’s where the similarities end. This book brings you on a full speed mystery/who dun it ride and beware- it is extremely enjoyable!

Dear Girls (by Ali Wong)- I’ve loved comedian Ali Wong’s hilarious jokes and acting for a while now and have been dying to read her latest memoir set in letters she crafts for her two daughters (to read when they grow up because some of the content is definitely adult rated). It’s a book filled with Wong’s dry humor, stories about the realities of motherhood, and her experiences growing up an Asian American woman. I laughed out loud at some parts and other parts really resonated with my own life- the book just has an overall feeling of “real” to it.

One in A Million (by Lindsey Kelk)- I’ve been binge reading fiction novels recently and wanted to read more feel good romance stories. The world around me is going crazy with the virus (I haven’t been able to leave my house in over a week!) and for now, I just want to immerse myself in a story with a happy ending. One in a Million definitely delivers on the happy ending! Although I do feel like the story had some plot holes to it, I didn’t even care because that the story allowed me to not use my brain for a few hours while I read and I ended up feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Get ready for a British love story!

Loveboat Taipei (by Abigail Hing Wen)- I was hesitant on reading more YA books, but this one was recommended to me on Instagram and I was pretty curious on if IG suggestions and ads were accurate or not so I decided to give it a go. The book is about 18 year olds so I thought I would need to try my hardest to keep my eye rolling to a minimum, but it turned out that the story actually made me very nostalgic for that time in my life. It’s a coming of age story all about going abroad and meeting new people, learning about a new culture, falling in love, and all the while discovering yourself. And it definitely reminded me of my study abroad experience in Hong Kong! If you’re looking for a cheesy read that is also a blast from the past then this is the book for you.

Two Can Keep a Secret (by Karen McManus)- I loved One of Us is Lying (see 4 books above) so much that I decided to read another book in the series. The library is still closed because of the virus and city shutdown so I tested out the ebook app, OverDrive, and while it is not the same as having a good old physical book in your hands, it’s not bad! Two Can Keep A Secret is written along the same lines as McManus’ previous book- there is a cast of unique characters who work together to solve a crime that they are involved with. There’s suspense, love, sibling relationships, and everything that makes a great mystery novel.

Daisy Jones and the Six (by Taylor Jenkins Reid)- This book has been a staple on Hello Sunshine’s book club list and I was pretty excited to read it. The plot starts slow, but quickly picks up- I couldn’t put it down! It follows the rise and fall of a fictional rock band in the 1970s and reminded me so much of the movies, Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody. It is all sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but the book is also so much more than that- it’s loyalty, reality, and emotions as well. The story is told in interview format with all the characters giving their various perspectives, which I loved because it was so interesting to see how different people interpreted the same events.

Startup (by Doree Shafrir)- Instagram knows me so well- it has started recommending books for me even and the recommendations are actually spot on with my interests. Startup is set in New York City’s Madison Square Park where I use to work and I became so nostalgic reading about the characters strolling the park and eating lunch at my favorite salad spot, Chopt. I miss NYC so much now! The book revolves around a fictional startup, TakeOff, and tells the story of the rise and fall of the business from various characters perspectives. I’ve always been curious about what working at a startup would be like (the uncertainty and lack of formal rules, but oh god the snacks!) and this book gave me a glimpse into that lifestyle. The narrative was great, but I was disappointed by the ending because I felt like there were a few open holes. But then again, maybe that was the author’s purpose…

The House Swap (By Rebecca Fleet)- This book was recommended to me via Google when I was searching for reviews on Daisy Jones and the Six so I thought why not. And wow, I’m starting to be scared of all the analytics these social media sites run because they all know my personality so well. This book is told from the perspective of the main character in two different time periods- when she is away on the house swap and when she is still at home (prior to the swap). There were also little excerpts from the culprit, which only drove my suspicions through the roof. However, I did enjoy the mystery in discovering how the various characters related to each other, there was a bit too much confusion on my end to truly enjoy the story.

The Proposal (by Jasmine Guillory)- Another quarantined day, another rom com book. That’s what my life has been like lately. The Proposal is a lighthearted story about a women who gets proposed to publicly at a baseball game, but responds with a no. Instead, she starts a romance with the guy who saved her from public embarrassment! It isn’t the greatest story I’ve read and if I weren’t documenting all my books in this blog post, the story would just be a blip on my reading radar. But, for the 3 hours it took me to finish this book, it kept my mind off real life so I would say this book definitely served its purpose as a rom com.

Why Not Me? (by Mindy Kaling)- I’ve been taking a break from reading for the past few weeks (ok its been a month) and decided to ease myself back into it by listening to my first audio book. I’m a huge fan of Mindy’s TV shows and thought it would be a great idea to listen to her voice read me her second memoir. Best idea ever. Her voice brought to life the humor, anecdotes, and life stories that her book conveys. I loved it. I loved hearing about her meeting with Barack Obama and her relationship with her mentors and her insights into female confidence. If you’re planning to read this book, I highly suggest listening to the audiobook instead as it provides a third dimension to the story.

The Hunting Party (by Lucy Foley)- Told from 4 different perspectives in a current and past tense, this New York Times bestseller is a bit slow in the beginning but picks up so fast you won’t even see what’s coming. The book has so many twists and turns I was literally left spinning and needed moments to mentally catch up with everything. There are 9 friends who have all kinds of interesting secrets and are on a vacation in middle of nowhere Scotland, but only 8 of them manage to stay alive. If that doesn’t make you interested, then I don’t know what will. This was a fantastic introduction to the author, Lucy Foley, and I can’t wait to read her other books.

Last Tang Standing (by Lauren Ho)- This book is the cross between Crazy Rich Asians and Bridget Jones Diary and is told via the main character’s diary entries. It’s based in Singapore and revolves around the pressures placed by Chinese families on adult single women to get married. The story also delves into the traditional Chinese relationships between parent and child and is so relatable for any Asian kid growing up in the Western world. There’s frank humor, a splashy love story, and a peek into the lives of the rich and glamours Singaporeans. It’s the perfect Saturday afternoon beach read!

Marriage Game (by Sara Desai)- In my quest to support minority authors, I discovered this book by the Indian American author, Sara Desai. From the title, you can probably guess that it is a romance novel (and it sure doesn’t disappoint on this front!), but the story is also about finding yourself and familial love- typical romance novel stuff. It’s the ultimate cheesy novel, but I have to admit I still shed a few tears while reading…

I’ve Got My Eyes On You (by Mary Higgins Clark)- I was obsessed with Mary Higgins Clark’s mysteries in high school and always got the chills when I would read them alone in my big empty house after school. I haven’t touched her books in years, but when I found out she passed away earlier this year in January I decided to choose one of her most recent books to read. Reading it late at night probably wasn’t the best decision, but the suspense and writing was definitely top notch. If you’re looking for a solid mystery novel, this is your book!

One Of Us Is Next (by Karen McManus)- If you haven’t already figured it out by now, I love Karen McManus and her books. One of Us Is Next is the sequel to One of Us Is Lying and revolves around the little sister of one of the main characters from the first book. All of the main characters from the first book appear in the second one, only making me appreciate this book even more. McManus has a talent for crafting and developing the best characters and also for dropping clues throughout the plot so the reader can help solve the mystery. I can’t wait for more books from the author!

Becoming (by Michelle Obama)- Wow. I don’t know what took me so long to finally read Michelle Obama’s memoir, but it was worth the wait. Her book is amazing and that’s not an exaggeration! I listened to the audiobook version since I had heard that it won a Grammy previously and felt so inspired listening to Michelle talk about her life story, experience as a First Lady, and her thoughts, beliefs, and advice on topics that matter. Everything you’ve been curious about is all up for grabs in the book- her thoughts on the public’s obsession with her fashion, her thoughts on Donald Trump’s presidency and politics, her experience raising two young daughters at the White House, and so much more. One of the best books I’ve read this year hands down!

The Last Black Unicorn (by Tiffany Haddish)- I listened to Tiffany’s memoir as an audiobook and her voice definitely brought her story to life and made me laugh out loud multiple times. Beware though, the usage of curse words is a lot and there are a few stories in the book where I wasn’t sure it was appropriate to laugh even though Tiffany was clearly cracking a joke about the situation. See, Tiffany’s childhood was not easy and she recounts many stories that reflect her tough bringing up. This resulted in numerous instances where I felt plain uncomfortable laughing. If you read the book, you’ll see what I talking about. Still, her story is one that shows her grit and determination to be successful and how hard work does translate into a better future. I also loved her stories about Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith! Just be prepared, it is a total 180 from Michelle Obama’s Becoming.

The Secrets We Kept (by Lara Prescott)- Thankfully, my local library began doing curbside pickups for library books so I was able to start reading physical books again instead of the tiny print on ebooks. There’s just something about flipping actual pages that just can’t compare with swiping on an electronic device. One of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks, The Secrets We Kept is about female spies operating as CIA agents during the Cold War and America’s use of literary weapons to win assist in bringing down the Soviet Union by infiltrating information into Russia that way. While I loved the thought of all these strong women spies carrying out missions for our country in a time when women were mostly expected to stay at home and have children, I wasn’t too big a fan of how the story was told and found the switching between protagonists slightly confusing.

The Hate U Give (by Angie Thomas)- I borrowed this book on a whim after seeing it on a random shelf at the library one day and after reading it, was so moved and touched by its contents. I”m wary of sad books and tend to stay away from them, which is why it took me so long to read this one. This book was both eye opening and informative on the topic of police brutality and racism in America. As an Asian female, I’ve never been scared of the police nor experienced any negative encounters with them. Reading this book gave me insight into what it must be like to be black in America and allowed me to gain a better understanding into the inherent racism they face. I still will never fully understand what its like to be black, but I’m grateful that this book provided me with even a little peek. Considering the current times, I highly recommend this book!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (by Jenny Han)- Ever since this book was made into the most adorable Netflix movie ever, its become a cult classic. The love story is so cute and I really can’t believe its taken me this long to read the book. Lara Jean brings us back to the simpler times of our high school years and lets us enjoy her relationship ups and downs with Peter. It is a heart warming story about first love, families, and growing up. I also loved that the main characters are of Asian descent! We need more of those in this day and age. I’m so excited that there are two more books left in the series for me to read.

Nothing To See Here (by Kevin Wilson)- Probably the oddest book I’ve read thus far… but also one of the most heartwarming. When I first saw the book as part of the Today Show’s Read with Jenna Book Club, I was slightly surprised because stories about children that spontaneously catch on fire (yes I know) don’t usually make national TV. But once I started reading I realized why. The book is more than just a story about odd children, it’s about the relationship between childhood friends who were once close but haven’t seen each other in years (I know this is something many people can relate to), the relationship between blended families, the unconditional and sometimes non-unconditional love of parents, and most importantly discovering who you truly are and falling in love with yourself.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird (by Josie Silver)- I’ve seen this book promoted on Instagram by a few influencers so despite not being a fan of Josie Silver’s writing (I couldn’t get through her first book One Day in December), I decided to give this book a shot. Lydia Bird lost her fiance, the love of her life, to a car accident, but now she can actually still have a life with him. In her dreams. Lydia has to now choose between living in reality and living in her dreams, between who she use to be before the accident and who she has become after the accident. It’s an interesting premise and explores the concept of grief, which can be such a hard topic to talk about. Although a few moments of the book brought me to tears (I can only imagine what its like losing your fiance suddenly) and I appreciated the overall theme of finding yourself and holding on to who you are, I had a hard time really getting into Silver’s words and felt that her writing was very generic.

The Dutch House (by Ann Patchett)- This acclaimed novel discusses the lives of two siblings whose life stories revolve around the childhood home they were forced into and subsequently forced out of. It is written in memoir style with the younger sibling Danny serving as the narrator. Although, it’s clear throughout the book that the story he tells is mainly about his older sister, Maeve. The siblings deal with all kinds of blows during their early life- their mother walks out of the family, their father isn’t very present, and worst of all, there’s even an evil stepmother involved. But nonetheless, the book is about how your past makes you who you are today as well as the tigh bond that can exist between siblings.

American Dirt (Jeanine Cummins)- I’ve been so hesitant on picking up this book because despite being on Oprah’s 2020 Book Club list and a New York Times Bestseller, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding the fact that the book invokes negative stereotypes about Mexican immigrants and also the fact that the author does not come from a Mexican immigrant background (she;s half white half Puerto Rican). However, in the end my curiosity won out and I wanted to see for myself what all the hype and criticism was about. The first few pages of the book alone are shocking (especially for us Americans who have most likely never experienced the terror of drug cartels) and I definitely wasn’t able to put the book down after that. Reading about Lydia’s journey by cargo train (she rode all the way on the roof of the train) from Mexico City all the way to the Arizona/Mexico border (she then spent days trekking through the desert and hiding from border patrol) left me speechless. The amount of hardship, suffering, and terror these migrants endure just for a tiny glimmer of hope for a better life is so hard for me to wrap my privileged brain around. The author spent 5 years researching for the novel and based the fictional events around accurate facts so I actually felt like I was learning so much and becoming more aware of the illegal immigration situation. And for that, I think reading this book is a must.

American Royals (by Katharine McGee)- This book imagined America as if it was governed by royals instead of Presidents- George Washington was offered a crown instead of a presidency and the main characters of the story are his direct descendants. It’s your typical YA novel in that there is love and breakups, loyalty, and betrayal, and tons of cheesy but sweet moments. The lightheartedness and endearing creativity of the author (all the American states are led by individuals with titles instead of governors!) was much welcomed after the heaviness of the previous book I read. The story follows the lives of the first Queen of America and her two younger siblings as well as the intricacies of their love lives and loyal subjects. The book ends on a cliffhanger because the sequel is scheduled to come out this Fall.

Writers and Lovers (by Lily King)- Chosen as Read with Jenna’s March 2020 pick, I had high expectations for the book. But after a few pages, I quickly realized that the book wasn’t for me. The premise seemed interesting enough- the idea of working hard for your dream and holding out for eventual success is something that every single person wants to believe in and strive for. However, the execution of the story was too mundane for me and I got lost in the many turns the plot took. From grief, to love and romance, to blue collar jobs, to friendship, to intricate family relationships, the book also explored many other themes, which I felt was too much for a 324 page novel. The book doesn’t have any extreme highs or lows, it’s just a book about a girl finding her way in this world and trying to work hard for her dream of being a writer.

Interpreter of Maladies (by Jhumpa Lahiri)- 7 months into the year, I’ve finally joined a book club! I’ve been wanting to join one for the longest time because sometimes its nice to have someone to discuss with after you’ve read a particularly great book. Another book club member selected this book as our club’s first reading and I have to admit that I wasn’t too excited about it because, well, I admit I judge books by their covers. But Interpreter of Maladies was a pleasant surprise. The book is a collection of short stories about various people with Indian heritage. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the lives of random passerbys and learning more about the common struggles of people’s everyday lives. From a boy and his memories of his nanny who was trying to learn how to drive to the failing marriage of a couple struggling to deal with the aftermath of a miscarriage, I felt like these people’s stories could be a reflection of anyone’s life.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (by Taylor Jenkins Reid)- I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daisy Jones and the Six (also by Reid) and thought I would check out another one of her books. Seven Husbands is an Elizabeth Taylor inspired novel about a gorgeous 1950s movie star who has hired a modern day journalist to write her biography. Her story starts from childhood and goes all the way through all seven husbands. There are love triangles, betrayals, friendships, Hollywood drama, and tons of twists and turns. The ending is a true shocker. But more than that, I really started to think of Evelyn Hugo as a real life movie star. One whose movies I might have seen. I think that’s the beauty of Reid’s writing- it is so believable.

Open Book (by Jessica Simpson)- I’ve really gotten into listening to celebrity memoirs via audiobook because it is so interesting hearing their life stories told in their voices. Jessica Simpson’s memoir was released earlier this year and received raving reviews, even making it to the New York Times Bestsellers list, so I knew I wanted to give it a listen. The book was shockingly good. I never knew that one of my favorite 90s pop icons lived such a unique and interesting life. The two best parts of the book was getting to hear how Simpson overcame her previous struggles (and she had many) to achieve her current version of happiness and also having the opportunity to listen to her newest songs that can only be heard via her audiobook. There are so many opinions on Jessica Simpson out there, but there’s no doubt in my mind that she had to gather a lot of courage to share her story to the world.

The Authenticity Project (by Clare Pooley)- I loved the premise of this book. The idea of a little green notebook making the rounds of a neighborhood, documenting people’s “authentic” truths and bringing together an odd group of people who otherwise wouldn’t have known each other just made me feel so good and tingly inside. It really showed that everyone you see has all different kinds of struggles inside and that everyone needs someone to trust and rely on. Although I’m sure the purpose of the book was to divulge something profound, personally my favorite part was the love story between 2 of the characters and their journey to finding each other. The Authenticity Project is told from the perspective of many different characters in the order that they receive the green notebook. There are a few major surprises that occur along the way, but for the most part, the book is a calming read.

Bringing Down The Duke (by Evie Dunmore)- Set in the late 1800s in London when women are first allowed to attend Oxford University, Bringing Down the Duke tells the story of a young woman (who is only 25 years old but apparently that age was considered “ancient” in those times) who is among Oxford’s first female students and only obtained the funds to attend the prestigious university through a suffragette organization. Her scholarship stipulates that she has to help support the suffragette movement by persuading men and women of nobility status and political power to take up their cause. As a result, her life (and her heart) is entangled with a mysterious duke. This book was your normal romantic comedy novel and a great breather for when reality gets too stressful.

The Invitation (by Lucy Foley)- There are so many characters in this book its kind of hard to keep track of everyone and their personalities and their individual stories. But the basis of the plot is that a group of people from the entertainment industry (investors, movie director, actor/actress, and a journalist) set out on a weeks long cruise around Italy and the Mediterranean to promote their movie. Along the way affairs occur, drama bubbles up, and secrets are uncovered. The main arc that surrounds all characters is their experience with the recently ended World War II. The War has affected every single character differently and all are reacting in different ways from its after effects. I felt like The Invitation was dreadfully boring in the beginning, but picked up towards the middle and end. Lucy Foley is a master at crafting elaborate and surprise endings.

The Flatshare (by Beth O’Leary)- I’ve heard several good things about Beth O’Leary and how her books are fun to read so I thought I would give one a go. The Flatshare tells the story of a guy and a girl who are essentially roommates and share the same tiny London flat, but never actually see each other because one is only home during the day and the other is only home at night due to their respective work hours. Now that type of living arrangement would never fly during these pandemic times when everyone is working from home, but the plot is still ingenious. Its one of those situations that you’ve probably wondered about and now O’Leary brings the story to life. O’Leary also spotlights emotionally abusive relationships in the book and highlights how overcoming a toxic relationship is possible. Personally, I couldn’t put this book down. I had to know what would happen between Tiffy and Leon!

Where the Crawdads Sing (by Delia Owens)- This was another book club pick and one that I was really looking forward to read. The story focus on the life of a young girl who grew up alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her family and isolated from the towns people. There is romance and mystery, but the best part of the book was reading the language the author used to describe the Carolina marshes. Her descriptions are so vivid that I could almost picture being in the marsh with “The Marsh Girl” as the main character is called. The ending was a shocker, but overall the book was well worth the read.

Such a Fun Age (by Kiley Reid)- For my 52nd book, I thought I would read a book that I had been waiting on for a while. Such a Fun Age has been hyped up on social media and covers very important and relevant topics such as racism and the differences in relationships between black and white people. The premise of the book revolves around an African American babysitter who was tasked with bringing her young charge to a grocery store at night while the child’s parents dealt with a house safety issue. While at the grocery store, a racist incident occurs, which as a result impacts all the main characters of the book. It was an interesting read that opened my eyes to the race dynamics that influence how we act and speak.

CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHED! I’m so proud I was able to go from reading literally one book a year to reading at least one a week. I felt like I rediscovered my joy of reading again and I also discovered audiobooks as well as ebooks. Although, I’m still an old school girl who prefers physical books.

BONUS READS - I didn’t expect myself to finish reading 52 books so early on in the year when I started the challenge, but thanks to the pandemic, which put a serious damper on my social and travel life, I had tons more time to stay at home reading books. I also started coming across more and more titles that I was interested in reading. So I’ve decided to finish out the year with a few more books! I guess that brings my total 2020 reads to 56 books!

Royal (by Danielle Steele)- The plot of Royal essentially covers the life of a mother and daughter so I felt like the story telling was pretty rushed and basically only stated the facts instead of delving into thoughts and emotions. However, it was a pretty easy read and would be perfect for a sunny beach day. The story isn’t too unique in that it is about a lost royal princess (I had serious Anastasia vibes from it!) who is eventually found by her birth family and achieves great things for her country, Britain. The writing felt very old fashioned (which makes sense because the author is an older renowned romance writer) so I think maybe this book may be targeted towards a different set of people than myself.

The Guest List (by Lucy Foley)- This is my third Lucy Foley book this year (they keep getting recommended to me!), but this one is the one that was chosen for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club so I had even higher expectations for it. And it did not disappoint at all. I couldn’t put it down and felt like I had to find out who would be the killed and the killer. The ending is a huge surprise but ties the story together nicely without any loose ends- another reason why I loved this book.

My Sister, The Serial Killer (by Oyinkan Braithwaite)- This book came with high praise from Zoella’s book club so it was another one that I had high expectations for. It was also one of my first times reading a novel by an African writer (the author is from Nigeria where the book takes place). If you love romance and mysteries, this is the book for you. The title of the book gives away the main premise, but I was still hooked in with every single page. The book comments on the idea of loyalty of family versus morality and ethics. It’s a very interesting read!

Talking to Strangers (by Malcolm Gladwell)- My last book club read for the year (can I just say how grateful I am for my little book club?) strayed into the nonfiction realm, but the book selected is one I would have never chosen to read on my own or even been aware of- which is the beauty of book clubs. I’m not huge on “self help” books or books that try to give too much advice, just because I feel like reading should be enjoyable and fun and not an experience where I need to be taking physical notes (that reminds me too much of school). However, I actually found the information presented in the book very interesting and compelling. Would I read it again? Probably not, but it is a pretty unique first read!

Any ideas for my 2021 reads? I’m starting all over with 52 new books so I’ll need a lot of recommendations!