2020 Favourites

Five stars all round! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After the hellish year 2020 has turned out to be, I am exceedingly happy to be ending with some positives; my favourite books of the year! Coincidentally the majority of these I read and reviewed after starting 'Should Have Booked', but there is one outlier in their midst, keep an eye out for it! So without further ado, here are my best books of 2020:

1) The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman

'Instagram made me do it!' and I am very glad it did. This was right up my street as a crime fiction fan, and it offers everything I love about the genre. Osman's debut novel is clever and highly entertaining. His detectives are funny, cunning and unapologetic (as the elderly so often are), and his ending is definitely unexpected. Bring on the sequel!

2) City of Girls - Elizabeth Gilbert

This one came out of left-field for me. It is not something that I would usually go for, but I enjoyed it immensely (so thank you to my friend for this excellent birthday present!). Gilbert's novel is all about unabashed hedonism, personal growth, and consequences in 1940's New York. It is a lesson in self-love and self-truth. Her characters are so well written and have you invested in their stories from the offset. Can't wait to get my hands on another of Gilbert's novel.

3) So Lucky - Dawn O'Porter

I loved this book because it champions female authenticity. I have read O'Porter's 'Cows' before now and I really liked her writing style and subject matter. She writes about real women, and real women's issues in a funny and unashamed way, fighting the stigma surrounding things like mental health and PCOS. 'So Lucky' follows three women's journey to self-acceptance and friendship, and I would highly recommend this book to all women!

4) The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead

This is one of the most harrowing and uncomfortable books I read this year. Based on a real life Floridian establishment, the Nickel Academy is supposed to be a reform school for young black boys in Jim Crow America, but is in reality a place of abuse, torture and murder. Whitehead's novel is a heart-wrenching story of self-respect and dignity, and his writing is painfully sharp and raw. It is a must read for its relevance in today's society.

5) Murder at the Manchester Museum - Jim Eldridge

I'll be honest, I went into reading this with low expectations. I thought it would be a quick palate cleanser read, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Eldridge has a knack for writing captivating crime fiction. In this novel he keeps you on your toes throughout by offering an array of potential suspects and motives and his characters are varied and vivid. If you're into historical crime fiction this is definitely one for you!

6) Murmuring Judges - David Hare

This is the wildcard in the list for two reasons; firstly I read it before I started this blog so I haven't reviewed it for you, and secondly because it is actually a play. Murmuring Judges is a razor-sharp attack on the British justice system of the 80's and 90's from four perspectives; the police, lawyers, judges and from within the prisons. Hare scathingly but brilliantly highlights the entrenched problems in the system. It is as pertinent now as it was then and I would implore you to read it.

7) Before the coffee gets cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This is the book that I have to thank for kickstarting the idea of Should Have Booked in my head! Once again it is another book outside of my comfort zone but possibly my absolute favourite of the year. Kawaguchi's four interconnected stories, set in a back alley café in Tokyo where time travel is possible, are not only beautifully written but heart-breaking. He has created a masterpiece on the complexity of human relationships. I'll be adding the second instalment to my TBR pile for 2021.

We're all relieved to see the back of 2020 and welcome in the New Year! Fingers crossed 2021 uncovers even more amazing books!

H x