Top Ten Tuesday: Best Reads of 2020

I love Tuesdays! And this weeks theme is extra special because it allowed to spend the day daydreaming about the books I’ve read, which is pretty much the next best thing after reading.

Let’s begin then, shall we?

TOP TEN TUESDSDAY

Top Ten Tuesday – a tag born out of love for lists and books – was created  by The Broke and the Bookish is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl .

Theme for December 29:  Best Reads of 2020

I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: THANK GOD FOR BOOKS! It’s been a challenging year for every one and honestly, I don’t know what or where I’d be without the constant support and company of my literary friends. I’ve read so many great books this year, it was really hard to choose the top ten. But it’s still a win-win for me because this challenge allowed me reminisce some of the best days I’ve had in an otherwise difficult year.

Here’s my favorite reads for this year:

Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

THE. BEST. BOOK. EVER! And boy, do I mean ever. Every time I read Talia Hibbert, I keep wishing I could read her all year along and Take A Hint Dani Brown was no different. I’ll confess, one of the major reasons I adored this story is its excellent badass heroine and cinnamon roll Muslim hero. As a Muslim myself, it was beyond comforting to read a male character who looked/sounded like me. Zaf’s interaction with his family reminded me so much of my own conversations with my family. And I really I love this book so much, I could shout about it from rooftops. You can read my full review on Goodreads or Instagram.

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Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

I have already raved about this book on my blog so all I’ll say is you’re severely missing out if you haven’t picked this up yet. You can read my full review here.

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The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

I’m sort of cheating here because this was a reread but I can’t help. It’s THE. BEST. NOVELLA. I HAVE. EVER. READ. IN MY LIFE! My only complain is I wish this was longer! Serena and Hugo give me life. The dialogue, the narrative, the CONSENT! I’ll never stop raving about this little gem. It’s been a part of my annual-reads pile since I read it first in 2019. A fantastic start to an amazing series. 

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Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

This book was such a delightful surprise. I read it after it was recommended by a bookstagram friend and I’ll be thanking them for life. What happens when a desperate matching-making Dowager Duchess kidnaps her broody secretive son and heir and forces him to choose a would-be-Duchess from a room full of strange, never-before-seen women? Why, he chooses the barmaid of course. Cue laugh-out-loud hilarity, fun filled adventure banter and lessons in propriety. This book was super fun to read with banter that makes you both, swoon and sigh, and shriek with laughter. However, about half-way through, it takes an unexpected tragic turn that made me cry so, keep your tissues ready. The angst is very well done, the heat even more so and oh, boy, was I glad to have found this treasure.

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Sin & Ink by Naima Simone

Anybody who knows me knows I have a thing for forbidden romance trope. I love the angst, the emotion, the challenge, the smoldering will-they-won’t-they heat and then of course the drama that follows when inevitably the characters give in and jump each other’s bones! Sin & Ink does this remarkably. You can read my full review here.

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The Redemption by Nikki Sloane

The only reason book is here is because it was probably the most surprising read of the year for me. I loved to hate the hero Macalister in the first three books but by the end was intrigued enough to read more of him only. I was really happy the writer granted us that wish and I just knew I was going to like this one more than the previous ones. I was wrong. To my everlasting gobsmacked surprise, I fell head over ass for the hero by page freaking five and it was so bad, that I had a two weeks book handover where I just kept reading it over and over again. You can read my full review on Goodreads.

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All The King Men Duet by Kennedy Ryan

This romance single handedly broke through my reading slump. For me, these books have now set the platinum-diamond standard for contemporary romance that revolves around politics and its often murky ground. Undoubtedly a romance novel for all ages to come! You can read my full review here.

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Cruel Paradise by J.T. Geissinger

This book was responsible for getting me out of a really depressing snooze fist later this year. A laughter fest from start to finish! I loved the characters and their banter. Adored the side characters and want them for my own.
If you haven’t read it yet then please pick it up. I’d suggest reading it in chronological order, though. While the book reads as a standalone, the plot of book 1, Beautifully Cruel, has major effect on the life of the hero.

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Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Scwab

No reading list of mine can be complete without this little treasure here. I’m only seventy percent through and reading it slow to savor it, but my God, am I glad I was able to get my hands on this book. Quiet simply the most strangest story ever with the loveliest, most mesmerizing of prose.

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The Legend of Himal and Nagrai by Onaiza Drabu

This book is really close to my heart and not just because I’m South Asian and the issue of Kashmir is a sensitive one. I also adore this collection for the sheer work that it does. Many Kashmiri words have some intangible connection (sound/spelling/root) to Urdu and Persian among others. And it was amazing to read stories scattered with words that are a part of many of my own spoken/literary languages. Reading this collection of folk tales was like travelling back to my childhood and the warmth of my grandmother’s courtyard. It’s a book I know I’ll be passing on to many of my cousins and friends. I am extremely thank full to the writer for making this happen!

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And that’s it from me today! Have you read any of these books before? Are they on your TBR? Let’s chat in the comments. And don’t forget to leave your links so I can check out your posts later. Have a great week!

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