Mile Long TBR

Welcome!

     milelongtbr      1 Comment

Hello and welcome!

I’m Danielle, a Florida-based bibliophile with a mile long TBR.

It includes everything from classics to thrillers, self-help books to true crime, modern fiction, romance, and genres in between. 


I’m an animal-loving, wine-drinking travel enthusiast and lover of books in all formats. Paperbacks, audiobooks, hardcovers, ebooks… I’ll take them all!

I’ve never been much of a social media user, but last January I finally started a Bookstagram account and it’s been a fun ride! For months I’ve been toying around with the idea of creating a book blog to compliment the Instagram page, but there was always one reason or another why it wasn’t the right time.


Cut to now. March 2020. I’m locked up at home with my books and nothing but time on my hands as I try to ride out this pandemic. So what better time to talk about books? I for one need an outlet and I can’t be the only one. 


Hopefully, this space will be a place to get ideas for your next great read, read reviews of upcoming books to add to your own TBR,  and an outlet to discuss bookish things with people who can relate. However you’ve found me here, I invite you to stay awhile and share your love of reading with the amazing community here and on Instagram. 

Six Degrees of Separation: From Anne Tyler to Jojo Moyes in Six Books

     milelongtbr      4 Comments

Hi, Friends!

In January I was introduced to the concept of a bookish game of six degrees of separation by Carla @happiestwhenreading .

The concept is simple- make a chain associating the month’s title chosen by Kate at booksaremyfavouriteandbest, and see where you end up by linking it to six other titles.

This month’s title is Anne Tyler’s latest novel, Redhead By the Side of the Road. This month includes a lot of romance- it was mostly unintentional, but by the end I really leaned in to it since it is the month for romance.

It’s a book I haven’t read and know little about, but the synopsis calls it “an intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who finds those around him just out of reach, and a funny, joyful, deeply compassionate story about seeing the world through new eyes.”

That immediately brought to mind another book with a man in similar circumstances, so let’s jump in.

First Degree 

The first book that popped into my head is The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, an absolutely charming read about a grieving widower who owns a struggling bookstore.

Like the blurb for The Redhead at the Side of the Road suggests, A.J. goes through a similar arc and ends up getting a new lease on life when something unexpected brings him more than he could have ever imagined. This is a book that I hold close to my heart and recommend that anyone give it a chance.

Second Degree 

Nina Hill is a kindred spirit and this is another book that instantly became one that I loved.

Not only does the title have the protagonist’s name in it like the above title, but it’s also set in a book shop and the character goes through a major transformation when her family and horizons expand.

Third Degree

Yes, we have more names in the title here, but the main thing that makes me choose Josh + Hazel as the next link is that both books include a scene set at “trivia night” that is one of my favorite parts of each book.

Josh + Hazel is one of my absolute favorite romance novels – I love the quirky Hazel and more reserved Josh and their efforts to find love- with other people.

He’s Korean-American and I love the way the authors incorporated his culture, family, and Korean cooking into the story.

Fourth Degree 

When I think about books that make you hungry with food descriptions Jasmine Guillory is always top of the list. Add in dating with different cultures and a gang of friends and we’re at The Proposal.

I’d still love to get Carlo’s family recipe for enchiladas to try someday!

Fifth Degree

One look at the cover tells you The Proposal deals with romance and baseball and The Bromance Book Club nails both of those topics!

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this one after seeing everyone rave about it!

This is book number one in the series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next books!

Sixth Degree

Thinking about books where I’ve only read the first in the series Me Before You is the obvious choice.

In this case it’s not because I only just discovered the books or because I didn’t love book one.

It’s because I’ve never cried so hard reading a book as I did in Me Before You and it has me a little hesitant to give the next one a go. I definitely will one day, but have to be in the right headspace for such emotional reads!

Well, there you have it! From The Redhead at the Side of the Road to Me Before You in 6 steps! 

If you joined in this challenge please do comment below so I can go see where this title took you!


Next month (March 6, 2021), the challenge starts with Phosphorescence by Julia Baird. I hope you’ll play along and check back to see where the journey takes us.

Ultimate Galentine Gift Guide

     milelongtbr      5 Comments

Galentine Gift Guide

February is the month for celebrating love, so don’t forget to celebrate the girlfriends in your life on February 13th.

Fans of Parks & Rec will know this is not a holiday to skip. Even if the traditional brunch may have to wait until better times, it’s still good to celebrate your female friends and send a little treat their way.

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This Galentine Gift Guide will help you find the perfect bookish gift for everyone in your crew no matter what their interests or relationship status is.

Take a look at this gift guide to find the perfect bookish Galentine present for your girls – and maybe even for yourself! Here we go!

1. For the newly single friend

F*ck You Haiku by Kristina Grish

This is an emotionally-charged collection of haikus that capture the unraveling of a relationship. I love the simplicity and how well the short poems portray the aftermath of breakups.

If you have a bestie who’s going through a breakup this would make the perfect Galentine’s gift.

Many thanks to Tiller Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

2. For the friend who is putting herself first

Self-Love by Devi B. Dillard-Wright

This is a lovely little book to help readers improve their relationships with themselves. It would be great as a daily devotional or to pick up when in need of a boost. There is inspiration from a number of different places, making this a great book for anyone to pick up. Many thanks to Adams Media and NetGalley for the advance copy.

3. For the friend who uses dating apps

Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel

This book is filled with hilariously honest cartoons of conversation hearts for our modern age. They perfectly convey the awkward things we think but would rather leave unsaid with our partners- whether it’s in dating or more serious relationships.

Your Galentine on the dating scene will definitely get a laugh out of Candy Hearts. Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance copy.

4. For the artistic friend

What Would Frida Do? by Arianna Davis

Frida Kahlo lived a life that was all at once fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

Part biography and part memoir, this book uses the artist’s story to give advice on living bolding and embracing yourself, just as she did. I loved the information and research, though found many parts of the book repetitive. For those skimming through I can see it not being noticed, but in listening through I would have preferred new information or for it to only be stated once. The audiobook is narrated by Marisa Blake, who does a great job telling the story of Frida’s life and is clear and engaging to listen to.

Your creative bestie will be inspired by Khalo’s story and the call to live boldly.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.

5. For the friend who is too hard on herself

I Am Definitely, Probably Enough (I Think): Revelations on the Journey to Self-Love by Tori Press

This is a sweet and inspiring book with great pictures perfect for those who already love the author’s @revelatori Instagram account and those just discovering it. I especially love the positive light on mental health, therapy and personal growth .

This book will help you feel heard, accepted, and validated- and that you are enough- perfect for a friend who is struggling with self-doubt or being too tough on herself.

Many thanks to Adams Media and NetGalley for the advance copy .

6. For the friend whose cat is her Valentine

Behind Every Great Woman Is a Great Cat by Lula Mayo

I mean, excuse me… isn’t this cover just the cutest!?

This book celebrates fabulous females and their feline friends with beautiful art, quotes and more.

Included are over 30 women including the Bronte sisters, Betty White, Taylor Swift and  Jacinda Ardern.

Your cat loving Galentine will love this gift, I promise!

7. For the friend who is healing

shine your icy crown by Amanda Lovelace

Another amazing collection from Amanda Lovelace! I’m a long-time fan of her poetry and this latest installment in the You Are Your Own Fairytale series did not disappoint!

The sisterly advice in the poems is beautiful and raw, and it’s the advice we should be giving to ourselves. The poems are in Lovelace’s signature style and the book is filled with beautiful pictures.

I especially love the inclusion of trigger warnings and reminders for self-care to go along with some of the heavier themes in the book. It is definitely one of the top poetry collections of the year – perfect for those new to the author and longtime fans.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance copy.

8. For the friend who is happily in love

In Love & Pajamas by Catana Chetwynd

This book is filled with cute comics that show relatable glimpses into everyday domestic bliss. Your paired up friends will love it for being honest, adorable, and not too sappy.

Many thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

9. For the friend who likes to journal

Made Out of Stars by Meera Lee Patel

Any of Meera Lee Patel’s book are perfect for those interested in self-discovery

10. For the friend who is so over dating

Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni

Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni is a great blend of classic art, humor, and social commentary. The captions in this book are spot on and the body language on these ladies show how woman have been sick of men’s bull for centuries and that there were Chads even back in the Renaissance.

I love the juxtaposition of the art and captions as the men weigh in on things such as PMS, how a woman should dress, and why their jokes are funny and not effective. I This fantastic book separates the men into five different categories including “the mansplainer” and “the comedian.”

Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

There you have it, friends! This Gift Guide is sure to have presents for all the Galentines in your squad.

Whether your besties are single, hopeful, bitter, or booed up – there’s a book on this gift guide that would bring a smile to anyone’s face on Galantines day.

Let me know if one of these books seems like a perfect gift for one of your friends – or if there’s one you’d love to get for a Galentine’s gift.

Be sure to check out my bookshop.org shop that has all the titles and 8 other gift ideas including more books, puzzles, and journals.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel

     milelongtbr      5 Comments

 The Knockout by Sajni Patel is out today and I couldn’t be more excited to share this book with you guys!

I was so thrilled to read this book for multiple reasons (that cover, for starters) after rediscovering my love for YA novels last year. 

I’ve never tried my hand at Muay Thai personally, though I was lucky enough to be a spectator in a few fights while in Thailand and have a lot of respect for the sport. I also have a heavy bag for home workouts and my own pink gloves. 

The Knockout by Sajni Patel reminds me of going to Muay Thai tournaments in Thailand! Such an exciting sport!

I went into this book with high hopes and the

Synopsis:

The Knockout is about Kareena, an Indian-American Muay Thai fighter and high school student. 

She’s tough, but she has a lot on her plate between balancing school, her sport, and helping at home with her chronically ill father and hardworking mother. And trying to fit in when she doesn’t feel a part of either the local Indian community or cliques at her American High School.

She doesn’t even have time to think about boys- but then she starts tutoring Amit Patel- a “ perfect Indian boy” and her crush. 

Then she gets an opportunity to go to the US Muay Thai Open – and possibly a chance at the Olympics. 

Getting there won’t be easy. There is money to raise and she has to keep her head down to avoid distractions to focus on her training. But maybe getting there and growing up mean opening up and taking risks- things Kareena is not used to doing.  

Analysis:

One of the first things that stand out is that Kareena Thakkar is such a relatable and loveable heroine. She’s honest and funny, and though she fights hard there’s a lot of insecurity and uncertainty going on internally.

She worries about what others think and about living up to expectations. She has a small circle and is afraid to let others in- keeping the two biggest things in her life a secret to almost everyone.

Though she’s one of the top Muai Thai fighers in the country she’s afraid to be known as a fighter. It’s not feminine enough and not Indian enough for anyone to understand.

Kareena is lucky to have supportive parents, but things at home are far from perfect. Her father has serious ongoing health problems and her mother works two jobs to help pay the medical bills. No one but her closest friend knows to offer support.

Then Amit Patel, a boy in her class who Kareena has definitely noticed, but never interacted with enters the picture. It’s not quite insta-love – but the two definitely enjoy getting to know each other as they spend time together while she tutors him.

As it becomes clear they like each other as more than friends Amit tries to get Kareena to let her guard down. She eventually lets him in, and though things are far from perfect between them it ends up being another important part of a solid support system for Kareena.

The pair really support each other’s ambitions and help each other, they’re definitely a couple you’ll root for. Unfortunately, Amit’s parents need some convincing. When she reveals her ambitions as Muay Thai fighter, they don’t approve and think she’ll be a bad influence on their son.

This really leaves the door open for a conversation about gender roles in sports and in Indian culture. Author Sajni Patel wove these important topics into the story very well. Readers will also learn a lot about both Indian culture and Muai Thai- it’s clear the author did her research into the sport.

The pacing in the novel is one of my few criticisms, as well as things possibly being tied up too neatly. That doesn’t take away at all from this being an enjoyable read.

Takeaway: 

This is such a delightful read!

Whether you’re into sports, coming of age stories, strong female leads, or YA love stories you’re sure to find lots to love in The Knockout! I give this great Own Voice coming of age story four stars!

Read it because it’s cute and fun. Read it because it takes a jab at important issues.

Just read it!

Many thanks to Flux Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy! 

Black Buck Book Review

     milelongtbr      11 Comments

What to say about Black Buck?

I read this book a few weeks ago and I’ve been sitting on my thoughts before writing a review. 

It was obvious immediately that I LOVED the book, but there is simply so much to unpack with this book amidst a cast of rich characters and a rollercoaster of a plot. 

Summary:

At 22 years old Darren is working at an NYC Starbucks. Formerly the Valedictorian of his prestigious high school he’s now lacking ambition and direction and is happy hanging with his girlfriend in the upstairs apartment of his mother’s home.

After impressing a CEO customer by selling him a coffee other than his usual order, he gives Darren an opportunity to join the sales team at his startup. Darren hesitantly accepts – and takes us along on his journey of being hazed at the company for his first week’s initiation, his experience of being the only Black salesperson in the company, and all the ways making this jump impact his life. 

It’s a wild ride, to say the least as Darren, or “Buck,” goes from barista to salesman to advocate for other people of color wanting to get ahead in business. But what is the cost of his advancement? Will he lose sight of the values he held and the people he loves?

In Black Buck, readers who get something out of this book are urged to buy a copy for a friend.


Is debut author Mateo Askaripour having his salesman narrator tell us this as a clever ploy to sell more books?

Maybe, but it’s worth the read so I want to give you the chance to read and see for yourself exactly what the story is about.

Keep reading for details on how to get your own copy of Black Buck!

Analysis:

If there’s one thing I love in a book it’s juxtapositions, and Black Buck hit the nail on the head in this regard.

The book is largely about everyday life and yet takes us on a number of twists and turns of fate that are anything but mundane.

There are moments that will make you laugh out loud and ones that feel like a punch of the gut- bringing you through every range of emotion. I love books that do this and do it well, and the scope of this story certainly makes this possible,

There’s satire on corporate America alongside social commentary about gentrification, class, and privilege.

Additionally, all the characters in this book are so vibrant. From Darrens’ girlfriend Soraya to his mother and coworkers everyone is well-developed and could easily have a book of their own.

“Buck” especially is complex, honest, and raw and I love the way Askaripour used the narration style- and even the occasional breaking of the fifth wall. While risky, it absolutely works in this case and I’m glad he made this choice in style.

The writing was excellent and the story was extremely fast-paced, making this a compelling read.

Audio Review:

I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook of Black Buck.

The narrator, Zeno Robinson, did a fantastic job bringing the character of Darren to life. He brought such great energy and rawness to the story, and I highly recommend purchasing the audiobook of Black Buck.

Many thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

Final Thoughts:

This is definitely a book to send to the top of your TBR!

Whether you enjoy satire, literary fiction, or are looking for Own Voice stories and books with important and timely themes, Black Buck is the book for you.

Black Buck is easily a five-star read and I recommend it for everyone!

If you want a copy of your own, read the following instructions and let me know the last book you gifted or leant to a friend in the comments!

I’ll pick a winner on 31 January 2020 and contact you at the email provided in your comment.

December Reading Wrap Up

     milelongtbr      8 Comments

Hi, friends!

I’m a little bit late getting my monthly wrap-up posted for December, largely because I read 14 books making it one of my biggest reading months ever.

These were all enjoyable reads, but for this post, I’m breaking them down into books I loved and books I liked. Let’s get started!

Books I Loved

1. Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

First, we have this Queer YA romance. I’m so glad  I read this book in the final days of 2020- it immediately slid in to take a spot as one of my 5 Favorite YA reads of the year. 

This book is an absolutely delightful YA read. I love the characters Raffy and Luca and their journey as they navigate first loves and coming out, as well as how to really show up for each other.

The premise of the Cosplay competition a’ la Project Runway was so much fun, and I absolutely loved it even though I’ve never been to a Comic-Con. 

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy.

2. Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

Next up is this multigenerational family drama. Little Cruelties is a completely engrossing read. I couldn’t put the book down as I tried to find out what would happen next to the Drumm brothers.

This book is dark and twisted, the Drumms are anything but a happy family, and their continual betrayals and cruelties to each other are awful yet in families things are often more complex than they appear.

Read this if you like reading about dysfunctional families or enjoyed Ask Again, Yes.

Many thanks to Scout Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

3. The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard

The Rib King is a riveting work of literary historical fiction centering around black employees in a white household struggling to maintain their affluent lifestyle. The characters in this book are so complex and fascinating- they are ones that will stay with you long after finishing the book.

The author has seamlessly woven the history of the time and commentary on a number of social issues such as race and class disparities into a fascinating narrative. Despite the story being set 100 years ago, the issues raised are still relevant today, making this an especially important read.

Many thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for the advance copy.

4. The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris

Hearing the story of our soon-to-be Madame Vice President in her own words was nothing short of inspiring, and reading this book left me confident in her leadership.

This book tells Harris’ story of being raised by a single mother who challenged her and taught her to believe in herself in her abilities. It goes on to talk about her early career in politics and the policies she believes in the most.

So much of Kamala’s appeal is in her relatability and insistence that government must work for everyone- even those in the most marginalized groups, and this book shows both her heart and struggle which is why she is a fantastic leader.

5. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

I’ve seen a lot of buzz about these books and finially decided to see what the hype is about. Well, it lived up to it, guys!

With his marriage on the line Minor League Baseball player Gavin joins the Bromance Book Club – a gathering of guys who read romance novels in an attempt to keep the ladies in their lives happy.

This book is funny, sweet, and steamy and easily became one of my favorite romances of the year. Now I just need to get a hold of the rest of the series!

6. After All I’ve Done by Mina Hardy

“She’s lost her best friend, her husband–and possibly, her mind.”

After All I’ve Done a delightfully twisted domestic suspense/thriller with multiple POVs, and the ultimate unreliable narrator- one dealing with memory loss. I did figure out a couple of the surprises relatively early on in the book, but there were a lot that I didn’t guess, some that were absolutely shocking.

This was an enjoyable psychological thriller and I look forward to reading more from the author.

I loved the multiple narrators for the alternating points of view and thought they each brought something unique and exciting to the story. Highly recommend the audio.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy.

7. The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

I’ve been an Agatha Christie fan for about 20 years- I couldn’t have been more than ten years old when my mother first gave me a copy of And Then There Were None. In the years since then I’ve reread that favorite many times and regularly read other titles by the author.

This book imagines what may have happened surrounding the author’s mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926. There are a number of details about Christie’s life as well as a book within a book, making this the perfect read for fans of her work.

8. Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

Hausmann has given us a complex and well written psychological thriller. There are so many twists, yet the story is never hard to follow.

This is an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from the author, though I did feel the ending was a little rushed, especially in comparison to the depth earlier in the book. Still an enjoyable standout thriller.


Many thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Books I Enjoyed

9. Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

Dear Emmie Blue is such a charming and heartfelt read! It has such a lightness, just like Emmie’s balloon and there are so many good and kind characters that it warms my heart.

Much more than a romance novel, this is a story of unexpected things giving us far more than the plans we have in mind.

Many thanks to Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

10. The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous

After enjoying Rous’s debut novel The Au Pair I was eager to read more from her.

The Perfect Guests is a gothic thriller full of suspense, family drama, and multiple timelines. I love the “Clue” and Agatha Christie vibes, as the guests are summoned to a dinner party at Raven Hall, a long abanonded mansion, for a game.

Sadie is desperate, so she accepts the job acting as a guest in a murder mystery . But could it be too good to be true? She soon learns of a tragedy that occured there years ago, when the previous owners lived there. But is something sinister still inhabiting Raven Hall?

I had some suspicions that ended up being correct, but there were so many twists that therer were still a ton of surprises in store. I love how everything connected, albiet in a very tangled way.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy.

11. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

The Wife Upstairs is Jane Eyre reimagined as a modern gothic thriller set in Alabama, where Jane meets recently widowed Eddie Rochester.

Jane sets her sights on him, but she may be in for more than she’d realize as it becomes clear he’s not just mysterious- he’s hiding something. I loved all the twists and how Hawkings pays homage to the Bronte classic throughout the novel while giving readers a new book.

It’s a suspenseful and twisted book full of surprises, and I think Jane Eyre fans will appreciate it and thriller and domestic suspense readers will love the book as well.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

12. Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump

This book by Mary L. Trump, the President’s niece reveals Trump family history that lead to him becoming the man he is. There are also a number of details of the questionable choices and actions he’s made over the decades.

The author is a psychologist, so this adds another level of insight to her revelations. Many parts of the books are hard to read. Still, Mary L. Trump’s insight is something that is worth being shared and I’m glad I read this book for deeper understanding.

13. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

This cute Christmas romance was a fun read for the holidays!

Mae gets stuck reliving her Christmas holiday after an accident sends her back to the past. The Groundhog Day vibes were fun, though I was honestly expecting more of an emotional punch with this one.

Still, it’s a fun ride as Mae realizes that this may just be an opportunity for her to save her annual holiday spot and reveal her feelings for her longtime crush.

14. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

Finally, we have this chilling wintery thriller by Lucy Foley. A group of friends goes away to celebrate the new year, but one of them doesn’t make it home.

With close quarters, no outside access to their remote location, and enough tension that anyone could have a motive it’s clear that one in the group is a killer.

This book had a lot of tension and I loved the atmosphere and messy character relationships, though the book wasn’t quite as shocking as I’d hoped. Still, it’s a fast and readable thriller- perfect for snowy days!

There you have it, friends!

One of my best reading months ever to wrap up the wild year that was 2020.

Have you read any of these titles? If not, I hope you’ve at least found one to add to your own TBR!

Tell me one of your favorite December 2020 reads in the comments!

2020 Reading Statistics

     milelongtbr      4 Comments

Hi, readers!

2020 is now thankfully behind us, and while it wasn’t the greatest year for most of us, I’m happy to say that at least for me it brought one of my best reading years to date.

I’ve broken down my statistics into ten categories- because I’m a nerd like that- to take a closer look at exactly what I’m reading. I really love taking stock and it makes it much easier to frame my 2021 reading goals around the results when the numbers do the talking.

Let’s dive in!

1. Total Books Read

The number books read in a year seems to be the metric everyone’s talking about- especially with so many bookstagrammers setting GoodReads goals.

In all honesty I don’t track my reading perfectly on GoodReads, but managed to count 116 books toward my initial goal of 75.

This is absolutely bananas. I’ve never read over 100 books in a year, but despite a slow start all that time at home reading really added up in 2020.

I know I missed a few, so the number is actually higher. Also, I don’t count cookbooks, nonfiction I skim, kids’ books, DNFs, or poetry collections toward my total count.

I’m glad I got to read so many great books, but for me a good reading year is far more in the quality of what I’m reading than the quantity.

2. Monthly Breakdown

This chart breaks down the number of books I read each month.

I started off reading a modest 6 books in January, then nearly doubled that number in February.

March started off strong, but as the pandemic hit my area my reading slowed for a few months.

By summertime the anxiety was mostly under control and the extra time at home reading lead to high numbers that continued to the end of the year.

My best reading months were October and December in terms of quantity- and I read lots of good books then too!

3. Looking at Genre

I enjoy reading from a number of genres and definitely wanted to make a point to branch out in 2020.

I read a few new to me formats- graphic novels and novels in verse- rekindled my love for the YA Genre and pushed myself to try some horror.

Thrillers were my most read genre of the year. About a quarter of the books I read were thrillers- partly for the escapism and partly because I got the idea to write one of my own. Go check out my favorite thrillers of the year for some recommendations!

If you combine Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Classics together for a “General Fiction” genre those would add up to equal the number of thrillers I read. Many of my favorite titles of the years were from these categories.

Overall I’m pleased with the genre diversity of my 2020 reads, though this does give me a starting point for my goals in the new year.

4. Author by Gender

Reading women is important!

I love that nearly 75% of my 2020 reads were written by people who identify as women. I would, however like to read more from nonbinary voices in 2021 as some of my 2020 standouts fell into this category.

5. Author Diversity

2020 brought many long-overdue calls for equality and diversity.

This is another thing I love about charts and numbers – It really puts things into perspective and you can’t argue facts. The publishing is predominantly white- everything from editors to publicists to authors. The statistics were eye-opening and definitely left me seeking out more diverse Own Voice stories, specifically in the second half of the year.

In 2019 13% of the books I read were by BIPOC authors, and it was a number that needed improvement.

This year I increased that stat to 33% and while there’s always room to go I’m glad to have read more than twice as many books from diverse authors.

6. Queer Representation

Just under 15% of the books I read had strong and positive queer representation, the vast majority of those books being written by Own Voice authors.

This is just another example of where representation matters, and I plan to improve this number in 2021.

7. Book Setting by Country

Of all my 2020 reading stats this is the one that means the most to me. 

The countries in orange are the ones my books took me to last year, all while being stuck at home. 

Books were the escape I needed during the lockdowns and anxiety of 2020 and I loved being able to lose myself in the pages and travel half a world away with the characters of the story. 

Whether it was exploring the streets of Jaipur, India with Lakshmi in the Henna Artist, taking a walk with Vivek Oji in Nigeria, staying in Emily St John Mandel’s Glass Hotel in Vancouver, Canada or riding the Orient Express across Europe with Hercule Poirot, 2020 was filled with many bookish adventures and I loved each of them.  

In total,I had 23 stamps in my literary passport in a year full of travel bans and canceled flights. 

I know 2020 will be filled with many booksih adventures across the world as well, and look forward to seeking out new countries to “visit” by own voice authors. 

8. Format Read

Clearly my best reading year ever in 2020 was brought to me by audiobooks.

Over 60% of my reads were on audio and I have no shame over that. I discovered some great narrators who I’m eager to hear more of and discovered Libro.fm– a great site that supports local bookstores!

Audiobooks let me multitask- I love listening while I’m making dinner, drawing, or working on a puzzle. They were also great for when this year made it hard to focus while stuck at home- and for commuting when I returned to work.

I do sometimes long for a physical book to hold, so I won’t be going purely digital any time soon!

9. How I Got the Books

As you can see, I was lucky enough to receive over 50 ARCs in 2020! I love being able to snag an early copy of a much-anticipate book and am very thankful for all of the opportunities.

The rest of my reads were split fairly evenly between books I purchased myself and books I borrowed. I have borrowed from the library, from Kindle Unlimited over the course of the year. Sadly, none of the books I borrowed were from friends because of social distancing. Thanks, 2020!

10. Backlist vs. New Releases

With reading so many ARCs it comes as no surprise that the majority of my 2020 reads were new releases.

Still, over 25% of my books were from the backlist. It’s a number that I plan on growing in 2020. I also reread 4 books in 2020- and the titles should come as a surprise to those who have been following for long. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Furiously Happy, The Little Prince, and Matilda. I pretty much reread each of those books annually.

Alright, friends! There you have it!

2020 is in the books and this is how my reading year breaks down!

Overall I’m very pleased- both with the quality of the reading year overall and the individual numbers.

Remember, reading isn’t a competition.

Reading is about joy, escape, growth, and learning- and these statistics and charts perfectly show how much of those things the wild ride of 2020 held for me.

Which of these categories was your reading especially strong in last year?

Are there any areas you’re looking to improve upon in 2021? Let me know in the comments, and as always happy reading!

milelongtbr