Reading my Backlist in 2020

Hello readers! I hope that you are having a good holiday season, I know that I am! I have been watching so many booktube videos about 2019 and I am feeling really inspired to do the same! Before I begin those blogs though, I have so many books that I didn't get to this year, and I can't seem to get them out of my head. So, going with the theme of 2020, here are the top 20 books that I have to get to in the year 2020 from my backlist! Let me know if any of these books are on your list as well!

In no particular order,

1. Vicious by V. E. Schwab

I have only read one V.E Schwab book, but somehow I own like 5, lol! I can't help myself when I see a book for $4 in a bookstore! Anyway, this book has been on my TBR shelf on goodreads for awhile, and I finally got a copy of it in 2019, and I didn't get around to reading it. I know this book is about 2 college roommates that want to get superpowers, and I think one of them turns evil.... I guess I will figure it out in 2020 when I finally get around to reading it!

2. The Toll by Neal Shusterman

This is the third book in the Scythe series. I have been a dedicated fan since I read the first book, and I immediately went to Target to purchase this book when it came out! I don't know a ton about this particular book, but the series as a whole is about a Utopian world where death has basically been conquered, they have found a cure to every illness out there, and now life is good, except that population control is a real thing, and they have to find a way to control it. In the first book, Scythe, we are following two Scythe apprentices as they learn the way of the Scythedom. At the end of their apprenticeship, only one will become a Scythe, and the other will become the Scythes first victim. I don't typically like dystopia/utopia books, but I really like this series, and I am so excited to read this book in 2020!!

3. And I Darken by Kiersten White

This book has been on my list since 2016!! I can't believe that I haven't read it yet! This book is a retelling of Vlad the Impaler, with Vlad being a woman. That synopsis alone had me recommending it to my friends and family, and I still haven't read it! I can't believe it, but I know that I will get to it in 2020, and I hope to continue the series, because all 3 books are out, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself... hahha!!

4. The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

This book I've had for a couple months, I saw it in a used book store for like $6, and I've heard really good things about it. Lala from BooksandLaLa on youtube said it was really good, and I love her recommendations. All I know about this book is that it is about a group of friends at summer camp, one of them dies or goes missing, and then years later they are trying to figure out what happened. I haven't read a lot of book set at a summer camp, but LaLa loves those kinds of books, so I figure why not! I hope I love it, not only because I bought it and I want to read books that I love, but also because I have another book by him and I hope that I didn't waste my money!

5. Windwitch by Susan Dennard

Once again, I have had this book for a while! I read the first book back in 2017, so I hope I remember enough to know what is going on in this book. I know that I enjoyed Windwitch pretty well, at least enough to buy the next book. What I do remember about the first book is how crazy everyone went over the female friendship. I felt like that was the buzzword at the time. Every one just loved female friendships. After reading my review on goodreads, apparently i appreciated it back in 2017 as well! I also remember the magic system being super cool! So, overall, I have no hesitations, that this will be a good read! 2020, here I come!

6. The Knife of Never Letting Go

Patrick Ness has been sold to me as a really great fantasy writer. I read A Monster Calls over the summer and really didn't care for it. It wasn't awful, and maybe it was just the type of story that put me off, but it wasn't a great first experience. On the other hand Regan, from PeruseProject really enjoys this series, so once again, saw it cheap in a bookstore and got it! What I know about this book is it takes place in a world without girls, at least the main characters think that. The world also allows them to hear each others thoughts. I don't remember much else about what she says, but that is a really cool premise. This is a gigantic book, so I will not only feel accomplished because I finally read it, but also finishing big books just feels great!!

7. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

I have heard really mixed reviews about Christina Lauren books. I know they have some really great books that people love, and then some so/so books. I really like romance, and I am hoping to read more romance this upcoming year, and I am hoping that this one will be good. All that I know about this book is that it is a hate to lovers trope. I believe the couple that is getting married gets really sick and they need people to go on their honeymoon, so they ask the two main characters in this book to go for them. I'm super excited about this book, I'm thinking a spring or summer read, because the cover gives me those kind of vibes!

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I originally added this to my list because of Six of Crows by her. I have heard absolutely raving reviews about that series, but I also know that it is a spin off of this series. I haven't heard as great of reviews about this series, but I like to be in the know about things, so this book is on my list. I love the cover change this series had, and I also love that all of the books got one, not just the last one (we all know how annoying that is). I don't know a lot about this series, except it is a fantasy, and their is an evil character that a lot of people love. I don't know if it is a Snape situation, or what, but hopefully I will find out in 2020!

9. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

I actually started this book on Audio earlier this year. I was enjoying it, but it was not the right time to be reading it. I'm hoping that a new year, and less pressure to finish the book so fast will provide the right time. This book has a fascinating premise. The story starts after a murder, and someone is trying to find out who the murder is ( kind of like clue), but the twist is the person only has one day. After the day is up the person switches to a new body. I don't know all of the limitations of the switching of bodies, but I think it will be good. The last time I read a book with this type of plot, by the end of the book i was tired of the same day, but I think the added mystery, as well as the different bodies, will keep this book interesting!

10. The Poppy Wars by R. F. Kuang

I bought this book 2 years ago, so excited to read it, and I still have not finished it! This is one of those epic fantasy, that follows a girl in an assassins school. I have heard that this book has a lot of triggers for violence and rape. I haven't read too many epic fantasies this year, not like I have in the past, so I am excited to be in a new world!

11. Blameless by Gail Carriger

I have been reading this series, off and on, for a while now. I absolutely love the narration of this series, I find Lady Maccon to be so funny. I love the world, the time period, the characters, basically everything about it. They do seem a little long, when I'm reading them, I don't know if it's because I can only find them in mass market paperback or what. I found this book recently, so I really hope that I can get to it next year, and be back in this world.

12. The Fountain of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

I am so excited for this book! I got this in my Book of the Month box, and I am so excited to read this. I have loved every Ruta Sepetys book I have read, and I don't think this will be any different. I don't know much about this book except that it is a historical fiction, it takes place in Spain (which I have never read about). I know that her books revolve around historical events in history that you don't typically hear about. They are usually devastating, and heart breaking. She is so good at world building, and character exploration. This cover alone has me intrigued, so I am ready to start this book soon. It feels like a winter read for some reason, so maybe in January or February.

13. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Percy Jackson series has been apart of my life for a few years now, and I am still in love. I don't know why I haven't finished this last book. It's not like their aren't any more books, he's written like 3 spin off series, but for some reason I haven't picked this book up. This is the last book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It follows Percy and his friends in their teenage years, as they explore more of the world and the gods. This particular series actually follows characters at a different camp. I don't want to spoil anything of the series, I honestly can't remember when they introduce the second camp and all of the things that come with it, so I'll just leave it at that! I am making a point to finish this series in 2020!

14. Voyager by Dianna Gabaldon

This is the third book in the Outlander series. This is a historical fiction series that follows a couple that meet in the 15th century, I think, with the help of a little time travel. With this being the third book, I don't want to say much, except that I really like this series, I think it is well written, has a lot of great characters, and I really like the time period. I have discovered that I do like historical fiction books, over the years, and this series is a huge part of that. I don't have a specific time period that speaks to me, but I do like exploring other time periods. This book is massive, it is not for the weak of heart. It usually takes me about a year to read one of these books, and this book is no exception. I have already started this book, I'm not quite halfway through, but I do really like it, and I believe it is worth the investment!

15. A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson

This is a thriller that came out in 2019. This book appeals to me because it is a sort of courtroom thriller, I believe. I have not read a thriller like that yet, and I think it will be interesting. It follows a very well liked, well respected family. The daughter in the family is accused of murder, but no one really thinks she could have done that because of the type of family that she comes from. I'm really excited to read this book this upcoming year, to see what happens.

16. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tabhir

This is the sequel to An Ember in the Ashes. I read this book quite a while ago, and I really enjoyed it. This is a YA Fantasy series that I believe is completed. The first book follows two characters, Laia who is a slave, and Elias, who is a soldier in training. Through a series of events, they end up at the same school ( military academy), and they work together with a group of rebels. For some reason, I got really great Goblet of Fire vibes when I read the first book, and that just added to my enjoyment. I am excited to continue in the series, and see what happens after the events in the first book. It didn't exactly end on a cliff hanger, but it ended in a way that made me excited to see what will happen next!

17. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is one of the most hyped books on my list. I have heard so many great things about this book, and because of that I just have to read it and form my own opinion. To be honest, if no one was talking about this book, I probably wouldn't pick it up. The synopsis just doesn't sound that great. I don't typically read books like this, but I do want to see what everyone is excited about. This book follows an interviewer who is interviewing a Hollywood starlet. She is telling her life story, and about her different relationships, stuff like that. We'll see how it goes!

18. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This book has been on my TBR shelf on goodreads the longest! Which is why this next statement will be a little shocking. I have no idea what this book is about. What I do know is that a lot of people like Laini Taylor's writing. I've heard great things about this book, which is probably why I added it to my list ALL THOSE YEARS AGO! For whatever reason over the years I just have not read it, but it has been on my radar. This is a little dated, so I'm wondering if that will play a factor in my enjoyment of the story. That cover is not doing it any favors. For some reason, I feel like this book is going to be super weird, so I'm excited...!?!

19. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvator

This is the second book in the Raven Cycle series. Again, I read the first book a couple years ago. In my defense of not reading the second book, I really wanted to find the hardback edition for cheap, and I finally did. I actually found the entire rest of the series for $3 dollars each IN HARDBACK!! So, really I'm hoping to finish this entire series in 2020, but I'm going to be a little realistic and just put this book on the list. The first book follows a girl who lives in this small town. She stays with her mom and a bunch of other women who call themselves fortune tellers. They have told her her entire life that she will be the reason her true love dies. Of course, because why not, in the first book, she finds a guy that she likes along with his group of friends. The first book, I thought,was really good! I've read Maggie's other series Shiver when I was young, and the atmosphere of that book is very similar to this series. I think that is something really special about her writing!

20. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

The last book on this list, and probably the biggest and scariest (next to Voyager), is Warbreaker. This is a standalone adult high fantasy by the great Brandon Sanderson. I've read one of his books, and I did really enjoy it. He does a great job inventing magic systems, creating fleshed out characters, as well as governments. I have heard great things about this book, especially if you are not a typical adult high fantasy reader (like me) this is a very approachable book. Obviously, not in size because this book is ginormous (but it feels like all adult fantasy are huge, so know what you are getting yourself into.) All of the scariness aside, I do love fantasy, something about the mix of characters, magic, and political intritgue, really make it worth the investment, so I am excited about this book!

Okay, so those are some of my goals for 2020! I am so excited to finally continue in some of these series, discover new to me authors, and read some really great books! I hope that I actually complete this goal, and really enjoy these books. I feel like they are mix of some really great genres that I already love, so it should be good!

I hope that whatever goals you've picked for yourself are accomplished in this upcoming year, and that you find some really great books that are near and dear to you. Out of all of these books, I am anticipating Fountain of Silence the most! I think that book will be the top one of the year from this list, but who knows, some of these book might surprise me!

Have a great rest of you day, and happy reading!!!