2020 End of Year Book Survey

Holidays are over, and it’s time for me to recap my reading year. I always use Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Survey. At this point, I have read 61 books in 2020. I have blown past my original reading goal of 50. This is the highest recorded reading year ever since I started using Goodreads. Being in Quarantine, I found myself ordering more books, comics, graphic novels, and manga to read. I wanted to support my local businesses to ensure they remained open. Here are my answers:

**2020 Reading Stats**

Number of Books Read: 61

Number of Re-Reads: 2. To improve on my re-reads for 2021, I pulled specific books off my shelf and created a separate pile of books I want to re-read. Last year, I re-read the Harry Potter series, so my number for this was higher.

Genre You Read the Most From: Comics / Graphic Novels. I read more single issues this year than last year. I also read more romance this year.

1. Best Book in 2020

Final Girls by Riley Sager is the best book I read in 2020. This book took me on a trip. I didn’t know what was happening until the last few pages. Everything about the premise of this book is built on a plot twist. Reading Final Girls is similar to watching a slasher film. I’m a big fan of Halloween and Scream. Final Girls feels like an ode to these movies. I want to re-read this in 2021 to see if I can pick up any foreshadowing I missed during my initial first reading.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren had potential. It was a romance story taking place at a log cabin in Utah. However, I didn’t end up buying into the romance. I felt the romance between the two main characters wasn’t developed enough. By the end of the book, I wasn’t rooting for them as a couple. I felt certain characters weren’t written well which is a shame. I wish I would have liked this more. If you’re into cheesy, Hallmark movies, I bet you would have liked this more than me.

3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

I picked War of the Spark Ravnica by Greg Weisman. I have never read a Magic: The Gathering book coinciding with the release of a set. However, I’m a fan of Greg Weisman especially with his work on Young Justice. I wasn’t expecting anything while reading this book. I don’t know a whole lot revolving around the planes of Magic. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It’s not rated high on Goodreads, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

4. Best Series You Started in 2020?

The Athena Protocol is a sapphic, young adult, super-agent series. It’s the female version of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. I used to read the Alex Rider books in middle school. I have the sequel, The Shadow Mission on my 2021 to-be-read pile and I can’t wait to start it.

5. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read?

Berserk Volume #1 by Kentaro Miura. I’m struggling to find Manga I’m genuinely interested in. So far, I have read Sailor Moon, Ghost in the Shell, and My Hero Academia. I tried to get into Attack on Titan, unfortunately, I only got through the first volume. I’m discovering I like grittier manga versus the light-hearted, bubblegum manga. My Hero Academia and Sailor Moon are the exceptions to this. My brother let me borrow Berserk. This series is gory, violent, and bonkers. I’m into it. My brother loaned me volumes 2 – 4. I’m curious where the series will go.

6. Book You Read in 2020 That You Would Be Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

Final Girls. I alluded to this earlier. I want to see if there’s any foreshadowing for the plot twists that I missed from my first reading.

7. Most Memorable Character of 2020?

Delia from Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee was my favorite book character of 2020. I wanted to go into the book and hug her. Delia reminds me of me when I was her age. She’s snarky, insecure, and afraid of the future. There’s a scene where Delia is meets her dad who left her at a young age. I couldn’t stop crying while reading. It’s heartbreaking. This book is a mess at times, but Delia was one of the highlights of this book.

8. Most Thought-Provoking / Life-Changing Book of 2020?

Reading Body Positive Power, I’m trying to be kinder to my body. Megan Jayne Crabbe breaks down various fad diets, how our culture impacts beauty, and how being fat in our society is demonized. I wouldn’t say I agreed with everything Megan stated in this book, but it’s a book I would recommend anyone with a previous history of body dysmorphia to read.

9. OTP Of the Year (One True Pairing)

Stella and Michael are my everything. Michael sees Stella as being the independent woman she is. Stella likes how Michael doesn’t control her and lets her be. These two are so cute together.

10. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year?

Wes and Sadie from Finger Guns have such a wonderful friendship. There isn’t anything romantic about their relationship and while they come from different family backgrounds, they want to support each other whenever they can.

11. Book That Made You Cry in 2020?

Waves is such a touching graphic novel. This details the story of a young, lesbian couple trying to have a baby. Unfortunately, they do suffer from a miscarriage. This novel highlights the pain the couple goes through as they try to move on from this tragic event. I couldn’t stop crying. I plan on re-reading this when I’m older especially if I reach a point in my life where I’m trying for a baby.

1. New Favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube Channel

Riley Marie is a booktuber I started watching in 2020. She picks her to-be-read books for the month by pulling out a prompt from her Stormtrooper mug. Riley is fun, engaging, and her book interests align with mine. She posts videos at least twice a week, so there’s always book content for me to watch. I highly recommend her channel.

2. Favorite Post of 2020

My favorite book post I wrote this year was Pumpkinheads and the ABC’s of Fall. I read Pumpkinheads by Faith Erin Hicks and Rainbow Rowell. Even though I read this graphic novel in February, I was still hyped for Fall. I wrote an ABC’s of my favorite words coordinating with Fall. I like how the post came together.

3. Favorite Bookish Photo of 2020

My fiance took this photo of me while visiting Traverse City, Michigan. There were so many bookstores! I spent $90 on books because why not???? Before taking this photo, I dropped my bag of books because it was heavy.

4. Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals That You Had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of the Year?

I surpassed my original goal of 50 books to 61. I’m impressed with myself!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2020 But Will Be Your Number #1 Priority in 2021?

I’m reading It by Stephen King. I was planning on finishing this book by the end of the year, but it didn’t happen. I’m going to ensure that I finish this book in 2021.

2. Series Ending / A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?

I’m anticipating two sequels. The first is The Shadow Mission by Shamim Sarif. This is the sequel to The Athena Protocol. The second sequel is A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty. This is a mystery series set in Savannah, GA. Harper McClain is a crime reporter who’s called to a murder scene that strangely resembles the murder of her mother when she’s young. The first book didn’t answer what happened to Harper’s mom much to my shock. I’m hoping the sequel will give me some answers.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading / Blogging Life in 2021?

I’m not setting high expectations. I started a comics pull list for the first time, so I’m excited to read comics this way. I received a book gift card from my fiance for the Holidays, so I’m curious what I will spend it on. Finally, I want to re-read a couple of books I pulled off my shelf. I’m hoping life will get back to normal in 2021.

This post turned out to be a lot longer than I thought it was going to be. I guess that’s what happens when I read more in 2020. I did link the Perpetual Page Turner book prompt in the first paragraph, so feel free to write your own post. If you do, make sure to give Perpetual Page Turner credit along with posting your link in my comments section!

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