My Top Ten Books of 2020!!
‘I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.’
Oh JK Rowling, I just couldn’t agree more!!!!!!!
So as you lot already know…Ive always totally and utterly ADORED books!!!!!
Since the age of four I was the Essex version of Matilda…. just without the magic powers.
Some of my very favourite childhood memories are from running to the library and stacking up as many books as I could possibly hold.. then rushing home to read page after page. And my love for books grew stronger by the year.
From Sweet Valley High, The Babysitters Club, Animal Ark, Goosebumps, every Jaqueline Wilson and Judy Blume book under the sun, Roald Dahl collection, The Sleepover Club, The Saddle Club (oh I luuuurved a club) Harry Potter to Malory Towers, there was not a PAGE that hadn’t been creased, loved, adored and devoured until the early hours of the night under my crumpled duvet. I know for a fact that my total love for reading fuelled my creativity and imagination, which ultimately led me to working as a Telly Producer making things come to life on TV.
(I am 99% certain I have stuffed all my old childhood books into a box up in my mum and dads loft so a visit will be due imminently).
Every year my mum asks me what I want for Christmas and I just shove a book list in her face. Since I was about 15 getting a pile of new books has been my ultimate favourite present to receive. It sets me up for the whole year and by the time I have got to December and my pile is running on empty it is nearly time to get a whole new stash of books to eat my heart out with. Yippee. Who needs Gucci and Jo Malone when you can get Richard And Judy’s bookclub bestsellers.
I wanted to show you what my ten favourite books have been this year and do a short mini review for you, incase you are looking for some inspiration. Theres a whole range of utterly romantic, creepy WTF is going on type books, damn right scary don’t turn out the lights book and some proper belly laughing LOL stories. A perfect mix I think.
Oh and it would be rude not to show you what’s also on my wish list for 2021, I have written to Santa and will be patiently waiting to see if they are under my tree in a few weeks.
I hope you enjoy this blog and please do let me know your favourite stories to add to my ever growing pile.
Happy reading!
Love you all,
Sammy xxxx
MY TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2020!!!!
THE HUNTING PARTY by Lucy Foley.
I kicked off 2020 with a bang by diving straight into the gripping and thrilling book, ‘The Hunting Party’, which is set over the New Years Eve weekend in the freezing cold, spooky, derelict but beautiful Scottish Highlands during a gigantic snow storm. This story is essentially a murder mystery, which I always loved because it constantly keeps you guessing until the very end. What I adored about the book is that it is told in the perspective of most of the main characters, and these characters are complex to say the least. Think the cast of Made in Chelsea and Gossip Girl combined. Egotistical, confident, attention seeking, rich and full of secrets. Just the perfect mix to keep things interesting! This book was so much fun, exciting and full of twists and turns and if this does not get made into a Hollywood movie or mega bucks Netflix series soon then I will personally produce it myself haha!
Click here to buy The Hunting Party.
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton.
Okay okay. I know I’m like ten years too late to the party, but I finally finished this book a few days ago and oh wow it was PERFECT. Rather than being annoyed at myself that I didn’t discover this story earlier I actually think I read it at the perfect timing. This book is all about the wonderful power of friendship and all the silly shenanigans Dolly got up to in her twenties. This year I have been missing my friends and our fun times A LOT so reading this actually felt really comforting and reminded me of how much I love my life (and my friends) and how utterly FUN it is going to be to go back to normal in the future. It was just the book I needed to read in this depressing winter and I genuinely think that every girl in the UK can relate to Dolly. So if you haven’t been living under a rock like yours truly then this book is the perfect addition to your shelf and life.
Click here to buy Everything I Know About Love.
I mean. WOW. This was one of the best books of the year and I will be first in the queue for when this hits the big screen. This book had EVERYTHING. Raunchy affairs, a murder, intense love, terrible family feuds and twist after twist. The characters are all so believable, the plot is so fast paced you just cant quite keep up and just when you think you have finally worked something out. BAM!!!.. There’s another shocker. I adored this story, adored the Fleet Street setting and was genuinely gutted when it ended.
Click here to buy Blood Orange.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
I still remember picking this book up, looking at the cover and thinking ‘don’t think I’m gonna like this but I’ll give it a go anyway’. I wasn’t quite sure what it was about but knew that it probably wasn’t for me because I’m usually more of a thriller/crime girl. WELL. Eat my words I did because this was the BEST book I read last year. (Yes I know this was last year but I still cant get over how much I loved it so I’m including it okayyyyy) I don’t want to ruin it for you or tell you anything about the plot because I know first hand how much I loved entering Eleanors world, not knowing anything about what her story was about and just falling IN LOVE straight away. I read this story in Dubai and literally could not put it down. I think I finished it in 24 hours. From the very first chapter I was fully immersed and head over heels in love with the simplicity and beauty of the story.
Click here to buy Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
TRULY MADLY GUILTY by Liane Moriarty.
Liane Moriarty and I have a very up and down relationship. Whilst I was totally and utterly in love with ‘Big Little Lies’, I was sadly very unimpressed with ‘Nine Strangers’ meaning I went into this book with no expectations at all. But guess what? I was BLOWN AWAY. Without ruining the plot for you the premise of the entire story is based on a huge incident that happens and is constantly referred to throughout the whole book from different characters perspectives. But this incident remains a total and utter mystery for at least two hundred pages, meaning that by the time you really do find out the truth you are DESPERATE and totally bursting at the seems to know what went down. A million different scenarios went through my head, but what actually happened was not what I expected at all. The shock took my breath away and there were many nights I would be up reading past 1/2am because I couldn’t put it down. (Which in hindsight was not my most fabulous idea because The Tedster would then wake up 20 minutes later yay!!) Amazing, amazing, amazing book!!!
Click here to buy TRULY MADLY GUILTY.
A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult.
Jodi Picout is without a doubt my favourite author in the world. Every single book she writes is so interesting, deep and compelling and every story remains in my mind for weeks after I have put the book down. A Spark of Light, which is based in the setting of an abortion clinic was one of the most powerful and traumatising books I have read this year. What makes this book so unique is that is told chronologically backwards, therefore the start of the book was the end of the story. Now, I personally have never read a book this way before and it was certainly an experience. It was sliiiigtly trickier to keep track of what was happening and I did find myself having to go back a few chapters each night to remind myself of what had happened so as not to get confused, but this was most likely my pregnancy brain (read in the peak of third trimester). The story and topic itself is so harrowing and interesting and I would really recommend for you to read this book.
Click here to buy SPARK OF LIGHT.
THE FLATSHARE by Beth O’ Leary. 
Oh the Flat Share. What a perfect perfect escapism for 2020. Based on the tale of two total strangers renting the same room and sharing a bed, this silly, fun and heartwarming story is just everything we need to read right now whilst the world is so scary and unknown. Any yes, whilst this book is totally predictable just by looking at the front cover it actually doesn’t matter one bit, in fact your routing for the two characters from the very get go. I can imagine this making such a fun and happy film with Bridget Jones and Notting Hill vibes.
Click here to buy THE FLATSHARE.
Oh ma gadddddd, you know you are in for a terrifying ride when the pages of your book have a hanging man picture all over them. Gulp. So. The Chalk Man. How to describe in six words? Creepy as f*** and utterly terrifying?!?!?! This was hands down the scariest book I read all year, but also the book I found hardest to put down. (Not sure what that says about me as a person hmmm) I always am a sucker for a horror book because I’m too much of a wimp to watch scary films on TV but this book genuinely gave me nightmares. It’s based on a group of friends who keep finding creepy drawings of chalk men around their area. Do you have goosebumps yet?This book also flicks between two time periods which kept it really exciting. I don’t want to spoil it for you anymore so I will leave this here; but please just read this and then get back to me on your thoughts okayyyy? Happy reading and sweet dreams HA.
Click here to buy THE CHALKMAN.
THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by Lisa Jewell. 
You know when you look at a cover, read a blurb and think you can predict everything a book is about? Well I pre-judged this book, thinking it would be a bit predictable and then BAM, two chapters in I had to eat every single word. The Family Upstairs was totally strange, weird, creepy and everything I didn’t think it would be. It was FABULOUS. It is based on two families who live together in a big eery mansion in Chelsea and all the crazy things that happen between the four walls. And wow, this book was the gift that kept on giving. Plot twist after plot twist, guessing game after guessing game and some real WOAH moments. Lisa Jewell… you crazzzzzzy.
Click here to buy THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS.
LET ME LIE by Clare Mackintosh. 
Clare Mackintosh is a total genius and Let Me Lie is up there with some of the most fun and crazy crime thrillers I’ve ever read. There is a moment in the early stages of this book you I genuinely screamed out loud to yourself and was like OMGGGGGG I did NOT see that coming!!!! The premise of the book is based on a girl whose mum and dad BOTH committed suicide. I know. What an eery plot. But is all that it seems? Well you better hurry up and find out for yourselves…..
Click here to buy LET ME LIE.
And now here is what on my Christmas Wishlist to set me up nicely for 2021. You taking note Santa???
(Disclaimer- There are a few products with affiliate links, that will earn me a tiny bit of commission if you choose to purchase them. (It doesn’t cost you anything extra). All of the items on this page are books I have loved and adored reading and as always, I will 100% tell the truth on everything!!)
Ohhh I was just looking for book inspo and remembered you were a book worm like me! I have read a lot of the same books as you this year! Although Chalk Man and Let Me Lie are new ones to me. Sound right up my street! I love a creepy book too. Added to my list xx