These are the books I enjoyed the most throughout this horrendous year. Not in any order.

Was the perfect read during the pandemic. Totally took me away to Nantucket Island.
ON OCEAN BOULEVARD by Mary Alice Monroe is her best novel to date.
This debut novel, THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE, knocked my socks off!
Therese Ann Fowler blew me away early in the year with A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
And along came Rick Bragg with his new book of outrageously funny stories of life as he knows it. I was in a low place during the pandemic and this book totally got me out of my own way. LOL.
Hamnet is up for several big awards as well it should be. O’Farrell has hit the jackpot once again. Bound for glory.
We finally get to read THE STAR-CROSSED SISTERS OF TUSCANY after Berkley pushed it back one year because of the pandemic. Absolutely worth the wait. You simply must read this book!
What a unique and edgy novel that took my breath away. Don’t miss FIFTY WORDS FOR RAIN.
PALE MORNING LIGHT WITH VIOLET SWAN is an amazing story of one artist and her violent past that she secrets away even from her family.
Kristin Harmel wows us with a novel of family and strength during the Holocaust.
THE KEY LIME CRIME will have you in stitches and will also have you in Key West, Florida over the holidays. A welcome retreat during challenging times.
CALL YOUR DAUGHTER HOME crept up on me. It was simply wonderful.
And for your comic relief I bring you Carl Hiaasen’s newest caper: SQUEEZE ME.
I must say that for such a challenging year there sure were a lot of great books. My hat goes out to the authors and publishers who had to deal with publishing books in the middle of this mess. But now we have added yet another way to connect with readers: zoom and virtual events; ways to meet people you may never have had the opportunity to do before. It’s far from perfect. But it’s a means to an end and will forever change the normal. And good news: I’m reading far into the New Year and encountering many, many wonderful new books. You are in for such a treat.
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Thanks for giving us such varied and wonderful choices! I have to admit that I am far more likely to read a book that has captivated others and your suggestions are right on the mark!
Thanks Wilma. Happy New Year.
A Good Neighborhood is on my list too. Also happened to be my first book of 2020.