Top 5 of 2020

    Hello my wonderful book friends! It has been a WHILE since I posted and I am so glad to be back! A lot has happened since I last posted, so I will fill you in quickly! My husband and I recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Leaving Hawaii was a big change, but we love it here in Florida! Now that we are settled in our new home and jobs I am ready to get back to what I love most, talking with you all about books! 

    

    We are now one month into 2021and I am loving it! While I am SOO glad to leave 2020 in my dust, I must admit that it was a good year for me *book-wise*. I was able to complete my goal of reading 150 books in 2020 and now I am here to share with you some of my favorites! Let's get started! This is my top 5 books that I read in 2020!

   

     Now, before we get started I want to tell you that this is NOT a comprehensive list! I tried to include books that I have not previously covered on my blog, which means that some of my FAV books are not on this list, because I don't want to repeat content for you guys. If you want more suggestions I suggest checking out the Author highlights that I posted in 2020, OR leave me a comment with what you're looking for in a book and I will respond with some ideas! 

    We are FINALLY ready to get started! HERE WE GO!! (In no particular order)

1. Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

    For centuries, the princes of Ilara have chosen their brides from the ocean village of Varenia. A village known for producing the most beautiful girls. Nor has always dreamed of being chosen by the crown prince and finally getting her chance to set foot on land, but when a childhood injury leaves her with a permanent scar, she knows that her dreams are impossible. Nor's twin, Zadie, is chosen, but when she is left gravely injured and scarred, Nor must take her place in secret in order to not anger the crown prince of Ilara. Nor finally gets her chance to explore the wonders of land and all that it has to offer, but will the secrets and politics of royal life prove too much for her? 

    

    This book was incredible! I bought it off Amazon purely because the cover art was gorgeous, and I was rewarded with a breathtaking story. I started this book around 10 a.m. and had it finished and was browsing Amazon for the sequel within 12 hours. This book was extremely well-written and immersed me in a beautiful world that I wish I could visit in reality. This book is great for lovers of fiction and fairy tales. 

2. A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

    Set in early 1900's New York, the deadly Spanish Influenza settles over the city. People are getting sick left and right, but with so many deaths within her close social circle, Allene wonders if the flu is really to blame. With the help of childhood friends Jasper and Birdie, Allene searches for the truth; and finds a tangled web of lies and murder along the way. 

    

    This book was an incredible read that sucked me in quickly and kept me entertained until the very end. It is perfect for lovers of mysteries or historical fiction.

3. Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull

    This is TECHNICALLY a series, but I had to include it. Dragonwatch Vol 4: Champion of the Titan Games was released this year and it is an incredible installment into an already incredible series. Dragonwatch follows Kendra and Seth, teenage siblings who are introduced into a world of magical creatures by their grandparents. Dragonwatch is actually a continuation of a previous series: Fablehaven. This series is perfect for the young, young at heart, or anyone and everyone! It's especially good if you are looking for a read that will take you a while to finish. I suggest starting with Fablehaven, which is a series of five books, before you continue the story in Dragonwatch. Reading all the way through Fablehaven and to the current point in Dragonwatch gives you nine (yes, NINE!!) books to devour. These series are perfectly appropriate for young readers and great for lovers of fiction and people looking for light, easy to read books. 

4. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

    Princess Lira is siren royalty and is the most deadly siren to ever live. Lira has a habit of collecting hearts to celebrate her birthdays, specifically the hearts of princes. When Lira oversteps her bounds and kills a mermaid who gets in her way, her mother transforms her into her very worst fear: a human. Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver the heart of a notorious siren-hunting prince to her mother or she will remain a human forever. 

    If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed a trend here. I LOVE fairy-tale fiction and above all else, I LOVE MERMAIDS. If a book is set under the sea, or near the sea, or mentions the sea, I am instantly obsessed. Same with mermaids. This book checks all of those categories and then soars beyond! It is a twisting romance that will capture your attention from the start keep you captivated til the very last page. This book is great for lovers of fiction, fairy tales, and of course; mermaids. 

5. They Both Die at the End

    A little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo and Rufus to give them some bad news. Today is their last day alive. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but thanks to a social media site made for connecting dying people to a final friend, they are about to meet up and live a lifetime in a single day. 

    It's not often that we find a book that broadcasts it's own twist right on the front cover, but here we are. You would think that a book that tells it's own ending would be boring, but that cannot be said here. It devastated me in so many ways that I actually had to sit and take a couple breaths to ground myself after finishing it. Also, for a book that broadcasts it's own ending, it somehow STILL managed to surprise me. I would like to issue a little warning, this book is sad. Very sad. If you enjoy light books that take you to a fun world and let you live a little adventure, this is not it. This book is heartbreaking and beautiful in so many ways, but if you're like me, it can make you feel some pretty powerful emotions. Make sure you're in the right headspace for that, okay friends? I don't want to scare anyone away from it, but it is as powerful book that can definitely affect you emotionally. This book is great for lovers of fiction and romance. It's also great for people looking for some LGBT+ representation. 

    All right friends, we have reached the end! As always, I wish you happy reading and even happier lives. I would love to hear from you guys, so let me know if you read or have read a book on this list! Also feel free to comment your thoughts, genre recommendations you would like to see, or any questions you have! Good night!