Top 10 Backlist Books I Read in 2020!

It is so hard for me to decide my top 10 books of the year, I read a lot of amazing books. What I decided to do is share two lists one for books released in 2020 and one for older books I read this year. Today I am sharing my top 10 backlist books i read in 2020!

I am so happy I made the time to read backlist books (books published in 2019 or earlier). It is easy to get distracted by all the new books and let’s be real the Bookstagram FOMO is real. I think some of my overall favorite books I read this year were backlist books and because of that I am going to make it one of my reading goals for 2021 to focus on backlist books.

10 – Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Genre – Young Adult

Short Synopsis – Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship–the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Thoughts – This is an amazing book and I want everyone to read it! If you like audiobooks please do yourself a favor and listen to it in audio, it is narrated by Lin Manuel Miranda and it is perfection. This is another book that I wish I had read when I was younger but I am so glad I finally read it. I had so many feelings while reading it. Check out my full review here.

9 – The Silent Patient

Genre – Mystery/Thriller

Short Synopsis – The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

My Thoughts – Wow! This is making my list of favorite thrillers ever. It was “unputdownable” and it helped get out of a reading slump. The hype is real! The writing is so good and I’m glad I finally read it. This book has everything I like in a thriller: short fast paced chapters, a creepy vibe, and an unexpected ending. Check out my full review here.

8 – Dear Martin

Genre – Young Adult

Short Synopsis – Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

My Thoughts – I LOVED this book! It is described on Goodreads as raw, captivating, and undeniably real and I completely agree. While in the past I probably wouldn’t have picked it up because it is categorized as Young Adult, I am glad I did because I devoured this book. It is short and you can probably read it in a day. Some other words I’d use to describe this book is powerful and emotional. Check out my full review here.

7 – With the Fire on High

Genre – Young Adult

Short Synopsis – This is the story of Emoni, a high school girl living in New York with her abuela. She is a teenage mom that is passionate about cooking but can she truly pursue her passion while still living by the rules she set for herself?

My Thoughts – I loved this book! I loved the writing, the characters, the food talk, everything. This book has everything I like in the structure of a book: short chapters, chapter titles, a plot and amazing character development. This is a story that is easy to connect and you find yourself rooting for the main character Emoni. Overall this book is about family, generational trauma, the love of a mother and love for food! Check out my full review here.

6 – The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living

Genre – Romance

Short Synopsis – A full-hearted novel about a big-city baker who discovers the true meaning of home and that sometimes the best things are found when you didn’t even know you were looking

My Thoughts – This is the perfect holiday book in my opinion. I hadn’t been able to finish a physical book in over a month and this book got me out of that funk! If I had to describe this book with a few words it would be delightful and cozy. I think I read this book at the right time for me and that is why I loved it so much. Check out my full review here.

5 – The Nightingale

Genre – Historical Fiction

Short Synopsis – The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.

My Thoughts – I loved the writing, it sucked me right in and I loved the alternating POV to 1995. You can’t tell who the narrator is for that POV and it kept me guessing. This is a story of sisterhood. There are love stories included but that’s not what the book is about. It’s about two very different sisters, how they react to the war and about survival. I loved reading about women’s involvement in WWII. Check out my full review here.

4 – The Mothers

Genre – Literary Fiction

Short Synopsis – Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Brit Bennett’s mesmerizing first novel is an emotionally perceptive story about community, love, and ambition. It begins with a secret.

My Thoughts – One of the main topics of the book is how events and choices impact our lives. This book will make you feel all the feelings and reflect on the choices the characters make and how it impacted their lives. The book also covers religion, love, family and death. Check out my full review here.

3 – Know My Name

Genre – Non-Fiction

Short Synopsis – She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford’s campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral–viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words.

My Thoughts – I am so glad I finally read this book. I had heard about Chanel’s story but I didn’t know the details and everything she went through. This is a heartbreaking story and one I won’t forget any time soon. This book made me angry, heartbroken, sad, and at the same time hopeful and inspired.  Check out my full review here.

2 – Beartown

Genre – Contemporary Fiction

Short Synopsis – Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. This is a profound novel about a small town with a big dream and the price required to make it come true.

My Thoughts – I loved this book and I want to read all of Fredrik Backman’s books. There is a sequel to this book and I need to get it ASAP. What is so special about this book you may ask? The beautiful writing, the well developed characters, the topics addressed and I cried at the end (to me that’s a sign of a good book!). Check out my full review here.

1 – If You Want to Make God Laugh

Genre – Historical Fiction

Short Synopsis – This is arich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

My Thoughts – It didn’t take long for me to get swept into this story. I was captivated by the characters from the beginning. My favorite character was Ruth, what a great character! Bianca has the ability to write about very heavy topics with grace and the book left me feeling so much hope. The attention to details was masterful. This was one of my book club picks this year and we had a great discussion as a group and with the author! Check out my full review here.

Are you surprised by the number 1 pick? Let me know in the comments what your favorite backlist book you read this year!