2020 sucked. I know that, you know that. A lot of bad things happened last year (I can’t believe I just got to type ‘last year’). But I got to discover a lot of new things I enjoyed as well!
Normally I just list the books I enjoyed from the previous year, but in my efforts to transition this blog into more than just books, I wanted to list ALL of my favorites!
Books
I honestly did not read a lot in 2020, and I have no idea why. I was out of work from March to October; it’s not like I had plans or anything. I just wasn’t in the mood to read. When I did read though, I really enjoyed what I read! Here’s a few of my faves-
The Deck of Omens by Christine Lynn Herman
The conclusion to the The Devouring Gray duology. A masterpiece.
Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
the phenomenal second book in the Wicked Saints trilogy!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Can Victoria write a bad book? I think the answer is no.
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I’m a few years late to the party, but I think I read this one 4 times last year.
Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
SUCH A GOOD SOUTHERN BELLE MYSTERY
Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
absolutely fascinating, no wonder everyone loved it
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
I read this in between customers at work since this was the B&N Book Of The Year, and I really enjoyed reading it!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
How come no one told me this was so good???
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
A fantastic start to a new series!
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
A lot of fun to read!
The first book in what will no doubt be a brilliant series!
A Good Girls Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
A super fun murder mystery!
Nancy Drew & The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson & Jen St. Onge
A graphic novel of my favorite teen sleuth, featuring The Hardy Boys! An adult take of a classic childhood character. I loved it!
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
SOOO GOOD OMG. The aesthetic was off the charts.
Podcasts
Small Town Murder
Always a favorite, and becoming a patreon member was a fantastic idea because I love the bonus content!
Crime In Sports
Finally finished the entire backlog and I don’t know what to do with myself anymore.
Wine & Crime
Came across The Gals (TM) on a whim while looking for something to listen to while sewing, and I found the Wine & Crime podcast! So. Damn. Funny.
Crime Junkie
A more somber podcast, but still super interesting and enthralling!
Surprisingly Brilliant
I was so sad when I realized I had finished the first season and there wasn’t a second 😦 so captivating!
My Dad Wrote A Porno
I finally started this one after the cover for the newest Twilight book was released and everyone was talking about pomegranates. omg.
13 Minutes To The Moon
I love any and everything to do with the moon and the early Apollo missions, and this podcast was so informative and made me feel nostalgia for something that happened 50+ years before I was born.
The Empathy Factor
My friend Lauren hosts this podcast (Hi, Lauren!) and I love seeing what others my age make of the newest pop culture releases! I think she mostly posts to YouTube these days, but definitely check out what she put out in the world!
Music
Calm by 5 Seconds of Summer
Amazing. Perfect. 5/5, would listen to again. I love Luke Hemmings.
Rare by Selena Gomez
So good! It’s amazing how far she (and I) have come since Selena Gomez & The Scene!
Folklore by Taylor Swift
How is it that any album she puts out, it is somehow in a completely different genre than anything else out there?
Evermore by Taylor Swift
She just gave and gave to us in 2020, thank you Taylor
Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus
Miley singing rock is everything I knew I needed. I deserved this.
I Can Feel You Forgetting Me by Neon Trees
THE COMEBACK ALBUM. SO GOOD. IT’S BEEN SO LONG.
Birds of Prey movie soundtrack
every single track is a bop.
the Billie Eilish singles released in 2020
I just really love Billie’s bass heavy songs okay
The Search by NF
I thought I couldn’t like one of his albums more than Perception, then he released THIS ABSOLUTE BANGER
These Two Windows by Alec Benjamin
how can someone so young write and sing music that sounds like it isn’t even from this time????
Movies
The Old Guard
This is everything I didn’t know I needed. I need to read the graphic novels this movie is based on, STAT.
Enola Holmes
Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Clafflin , Henry Cavill AND Helena Bonham Carter in one movie about a spunky younger sister of Sherlock Holmes????? yes please!
Toy Story 1
not quite how I remembered it when I was younger, but I forgot how much I loved these characters!
Hamilton: The Musical
So beautiful. Watched it like 3 times when it came out. Gonna watch it again after writing this.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
my favorite movie of all time. poetic cinema. a masterpiece. the peak of the Russo Bro’s career (because they really screwed up Endgame)
Documentaries
Knock Down The House
So moving and informative. Very empowering.
Apollo: Missions To The Moon
One of mankind’s greatest achievements was landing on the Moon and watching this made me very emotional. Just imagine the glory you would feel if you had been there in that time period?
Unsolved Mysteries
2020 was the year of me on a crime kick. I mean, listening to crime shows. not commiting crime.
Miss Americana
I love getting a glimpse into the behind the scenes of people I admire’s lives, and especially during the year when Taylor ‘disappeared’.
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
Have I mentioned how much I love Taylor Swift?
Beyonce: Homecoming
The choreography. The meanings. The performances. The ensemble. SO GOOD
Lost Cities with Albert Lin
if it’s ancient, and we know nothing about it, then I’m here for it.
National Geographic Ancient Mysteries series
Read above statement.
Television
NCIS: Los Angeles
I think I watched 8 seasons of this in 2 months last summer. I really love Deeks okay?
Criminal Minds
It’s possible I might be too into bad crime shows. Also I really love Reid okay?
Anne With an E
SUCH a good show, and I’m devastated that it was cancelled. #RenewAnneWithanE
The Umbrella Academy
Season two was SO DAMN GOOD!
Patriot Act with Hasan Minaj
A funny, topical show that managed to even put out episodes during the pandemic, but then the cancelled it, so now every time I think about it, I get mad. #RenewPatriotAct
Avatar: The Last Airbender
I’d wanted to watch this for years, and then they put it on Netflix during quarantine. Thank you, Netflix gods!
Queer Eye: Philly
I have one word for you: Gritty
It was a crazy year, full of ups and downs, but I’m happy with the books and movies and other media I consumed in 2020. What about you? What did you enjoy most last year?
Some Books & Ramblings 
I really enjoyed Enola Holmes, loved how the 4th wall was broken by Enola talking to the audience – very clever. I also loved Hamilton – I cried rivers with Hamilton, that second part + those songs were amazing.
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This is a nice list! There are a few you mentioned that sound interesting enough for me to look into! I noticed the majority of my books read in 2020 were children’s books. Maybe this year I will expand my reading to something more…adult? (Probably not though lol) I also watched a lot of 80s movies I had never seen before including Footloose, Adventures in Babysitting and Dirty Dancing. Looking forward to seeing your 2021 media list!
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