🍾 My Best of 2020

January 1, 2021 J.T. Ellison

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

I didn’t read as many books as I wanted this year, but so many of the ones I did were so good I had a hard time singling out a top ten. I watched a lot of TV, and listened to many, many podcasts. So here are my favorites of 2020 — the books, movies, TV, and podcasts that got me through our difficult year.

Favorite Fantasy:

*THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab

This book. This glorious, amazing book. I read the first chapter, set the book gentle in my lap, and tried to wrap my head around the perfection of it. Then I texted a friend who was also reading it and said I might as well quit writing. It's one of THOSE...Many congratulations to my friend V.E. Schwab on the triumph that is Addie LaRue. Brava, lady.

LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn

What a magnificent book. I've been recommending LEGENDBORN to everyone I know. It's got everything: a complex new magical system, grounded in Arthurian legend; a sassy protagonist who is destined to become an iconic hero in her own right; important, thought-provoking themes; and a burgeoning love triangle that feels inevitable but right. Seriously, y'all, this book is a blast! Tracy Deonn is now on my always pre-order list.

THE QUEEN OF NOTHING (The Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black

Favorite Crime Fiction:

*PRETTY THINGS by Janelle Brown

A con artist gets in over her head when she tries to pull a fast one on a wealthy Instagram influencer – but it’s so much more: a perfectly paced gothic mystery, a searing social commentary, a case study in how to write rich, deep characters. This one’s a winner. I can’t wait to see it on the screen, it’s one of Nicole Kidman’s next projects.

CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 by Lisa Unger

I've been a fan of Lisa for years, because she just keeps getting better and better at her craft. Last year's awesome THE STRANGER INSIDE blew me away, and this new one, CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45, didn't disappoint either. Fans of the long con will love this book, and those of you who think everything is okay at home will rethink every interaction you have. A wonderful, twisty, engaging read. (Watch our conversation on A WORD ON WORDS.)

THE OTHER MRS. by Mary Kubica

I've been a big fan of Mary Kubica for ages, and I feel like The Other Mrs. is a leap forward for her, both in style and structure. This is a remarkable book, insidious and dark and elegantly plotted, with a wonderful ending that I just didn't see coming. This one's going to be brilliant on the screen. (Watch our conversation on A WORD ON WORDS.)

THIS IS HOW I LIED by Heather Gudenkauf

Utterly chilling, THE IS HOW I LIED is a deep, twisting mystery from a writer hitting her stride. You won't see it coming, and you won't be able to turn away. Heather is such a multi-faceted author, always taking chances and elevating her craft. I admit I was deeply disturbed by certain aspects of this book, (hence... utterly chilling) but I loved the structure and the deviousness of the characters. A great read.

THE THIRD TO DIE by Allison Brennan

Riveting, terrifying, and simply fantastic. Brennan ratchets up the tension to the breaking point with her new FBI MRT team chasing a devious killer. This is classic crime fiction at its best. With deep characterizations and a truly scary villain driving the twisted plot, this is the start of a brilliant new series from the queen of the thriller.

THE FIRST TO LIE by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Intricate, complex, and devilishly clever, THE FIRST TO LIE is like reading a burning stick of dynamite. Once the fuse is lit you will not be able to look away until the explosive end. Hank is the modern queen of the cat and mouse tale, and this is another brilliant work from a master storyteller that will keep you guessing right to the last page.

WHEN YOU SEE ME (Detective D.D. Warren #11) by Lisa Gardner

When I was writing HER DARK LIES, I was having an issue with POV. So I turned to one of the greatest masters of suspense to sort myself out. It took exactly two pages before I realized where my problems were coming from. If you haven't read ALL of Lisa Gardner’s books, you need to get on it, because this one brings together her finest series characters to chase a sinister killer from the past - and the present. Utterly superb!

Favorite Non-Fiction:

*THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson

A remarkable, exceptional book. I haven’t read a lot of history books since college because they’re often so dry, but even the title of this screamed new and different to me. And I was rewarded. Erik Larson has a true talent for narrative nonfiction. He brings Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister to life by bringing us inside the family and aides who knew Churchill best, and by letting us experience the fear and resilience of the British during the Blitz. I loved this one. (Watch our conversation on A WORD ON WORDS.)

WORLD OF WONDERS by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

What a wonderful, lyrical, fresh breath of air book! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this. I read it in one sitting, curled in my office chair, a sleeping kitten on my hip, soaking myself in Aimee’s glorious prose like I was sitting in a gentle spring rain shower. It was so refreshing to hear about parts of our world I wasn’t aware of, parts I knew of but didn’t know enough, and hints of the love and care we can have for one another if we spend more time being present in our world.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb

I believe books find us at the exactly right time in our lives to benefit/enjoy them. This one is no exception. I’d been resistant to the idea of reading about a therapist going to therapy, but late one night when I couldn’t sleep, I downloaded a sample and tore through the opening pages, highlighting starting on page two. This is a smart, witty, touching memoir that reads more like a mystery novel, with excellent pacing and an intriguing cast of characters. Life-changing.

I'D RATHER BE READING by Anne Bogel

Favorite Literary Fiction:

*THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett

When a friend asked for an audio recommendation. I had to throw in Tom Hanks reading THE DUTCH HOUSE. Oh. My. I'm telling you - there is something about his frank narration - and it is frank - that just worked for me. I adore acting in an audiobook read, truly appreciate when the narrator can take on the characters with different voices and inflections (Julia Whelan is one of the best at this, BTW. I will listen to anything she reads.) But Hanks just goes straight at this, and I felt like I was being told a story by a friend sitting across from me at a restaurant table. Seriously brilliant stuff.

THE GLASS HOTEL by Emily St. John Mandel

Quarantine is an interesting reading time. I either want to read something so light and fluffy I can’t help but feel good, or, I want to read darkly human, philosophically compelling works that resonate deeply and make me think about how life can be better lived or more impactfully. THE GLASS HOTEL falls into the latter category. A brilliantly structured book, it's a bit quieter than STATION ELEVEN, but it's beautifully written, wonderfully realized, and a thoughtful work of art. And I got to interview Emily for A WORD ON WORDS, which was incredible! A favorite author for me.

Favorite Historical:

*CODE NAME HELENE by Ariel Lawhon

You are going to LOVE this book. Nancy Wake, Aussie expat turned spy in World War II, is one of the most engaging heroines I've ever come across. She is smart, she is sassy, she is bravery personified, and she is utterly brought to life by Ariel Lawhon's incredible writing and exhaustive research. That the White Mouse is a real person makes this story all the better. If you want to experience genuine courage in the face of true evil, and a compelling love story to boot, trust me, this is the book you want to read this week. I know you'll love it just as much as I did.

Favorite Romance:

*BEACH READ by Emily Henry

I'd been doing a lot of deep, important reading, and wanted to lighten things up. BEACH READ was the most perfect book for this. I couldn't stop reading, and I had to keep putting it down because I didn't want it to end. Emily Henry has a wicked sense of humor and knows exactly which rom-com tropes to touch upon and which ones to fling out the window to allow for a deeply satisfying story. Plus - writers writing about writers writing is my FAVORITE theme. A perfect summer read.