The 10 Best Books of 2020

Looking for something to read this year? From bestsellers to literary novels, there's a book for everyone in this list of the 10 best books of 2020.

The Mirror & the Light - Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror & the Light is an intricate exploration of Tudor England, and a fitting conclusion to her Booker Prize-winning novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. Following Thomas Cromwell from his humble beginnings as a printer’s apprentice through to his all-powerful status as close advisor and enforcer of Henry VIII, this novel brings richness and depth to the story of one of Britain’s most feared statesmen. Exhaustively researched and featuring imposingly dense prose, Mantel layers detail after detail onto her vivid tapestry, making this an unforgettable finish to one of contemporary literature's true landmarks.

Interior Chinatown - Charles Yu

Charles Yu's Interior Chinatown is a groundbreaking, genre-defying novel about the search for identity and belonging in America. The New York Times describes it as a “literary horror story set within an immigration narrative ... buzzes with sharp humor.” Narrator Willis Wu is a cipher, stuck in the Land of Functionaries playing out his eternal loop of being mistaken for an extra in Kung Fu scenes on the Silver Screen—but this doesn’t mean he can’t aspire higher. Yu’s unique structure demands to be experienced firsthand - beautifully capturing Willis' plight as he discovers what it means to exist among faceless masses in a country striving for something greater.

Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy - Nicholas Reynolds

In Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy, author Nicholas Reynolds delivers an enthralling account of the life and times of espionage legend Ian Fleming. Drawing upon declassified documents and personal accounts, Reynolds combines archival material with original research to paint a vivid picture of a man driven to make a difference - through the creative pen and during wartime secrets missions for the British government. With dynamic storytelling that mirrors Fleming’s work in its imaginative detail and breathless pacing, this book is sure to become one of 2020's most talked-about titles.

What Are You Going Through - Sigrid Nunez

The latest novel from National Book Award Winning author Sigrid Nunez is one of the best books of 2020. This masterfully-crafted story follows a woman as she seeks solace during her friend's last days. With poignancy and insight, What Are You Going Through looks at life and death with a hopeful eye, exploring the relationships forged between people, be them strangers or blood relatives. An optimistic look at mortality, this book has caused ripples throughout the literary world and beyond with its thoughtful portrayal of life in all of its stages.

Smoke Bitten - Patricia Briggs

Fans of Patricia Bright's best-selling supernatural thrillers rejoice! Her latest novel, Smoke Bitten, is another exciting installment in her popular Mercy Thompson series. Following characters Mercy, Adam, and Samuel as they battle the mysterious foe that threatens their world, Smoke Bitten is a captivating must-read for fans of fantasy fiction. With an entertaining storyline and well-developed characters, this thrilling read has earned its spot among the best books of 2020

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Vanishing Half is a captivating family saga written by Brit Bennett, exploring the racial injustice and social divisions in American society. The story follows two black identical twins as they flee their small town in Louisiana and go on drastically different paths: one trying to pass as white in Los Angeles to create a new life for herself, and the other staying back at home with her family and raising her daughter. Through powerful storytelling, Bennett touches on themes of identity, duality and secrets kept from those we love most.

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain is an astonishing debut novel by Douglas Stuart that tells the story of a young boy growing up with his alcoholic mother during 1980s Glasgow. A brutally honest tale of hardship, classism and poverty, Shuggie Bain captures the remarkable strength of familial love within its pages as it outlines how our past experiences shape our present lives.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Leave The World Behind is an energetic post-apocalyptic thriller written Rumaan Alam that follows two families - one black and one white - who suddenly find themselves thrown together in an eerie rural vacation home with no explanation from the outside world. Filled with questions about race, privilege, survival and morality this tense page-turner will leave readers searching for answers among its startling revelations about human behavior.

No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

No One Is Talking About This is a brilliant exploration of our relationship to technology from acclaimed poet Patricia Lockwood. A daring blend of metaphysical fiction and memoir, this book deconstructs just how much we have allowed ourselves to become entangled in digital lives marked by anxiety-inducing notifications, feelings of loneliness caused by comparison culture on social media platforms, as well as virtual avatars imprisoning us in illusions of popularity or success yet leaving us empty inside.

How Much Of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang

How Much Of These Hills Is Gold is a stunningly written western set during California’s gold rush era that follows two Chinese American siblings struggling to survive after losing their father amidst racism and violence rampant at that time period. Written through lyrical prose that often blurs fantasy into reality this heartbreaking story examines issues such as displacement, identity conflict between cultures and immigration while also celebrating resilience brought forth through unlikely friendships forged on unlikely territory during hard times