It’s time for the 2020 book club picks from A Novel Sisterhood. I love writing this post every year.
A Novel Sisterhood is the amazing book club I have been a member of since 2001. We get together about every 6 weeks to discuss our book, but most of us read a few more selections in between.
Just like everything else in 2020, our book club meetings looked a little differently this year.
Back in March we had our first Zoom book club. Then 4 more after that.
We added a meeting to watch the movie, I Am Not Your Negro, and discussed systemic racism.
We did what we could to keep our book club active amongst some very strange times. Keeping your connections is important to avoid the loneliness that comes from social distancing.
Reading books is another way to feel connection. 2020 either allowed you to read more or it might have encouraged you to try something different. Either way, the characters, locations, history and inspiration from books can take you away from the craziness of this year.
This list is eclectic. I asked my Novel sisters for recommendations and they came through with some good ones.
I hope you find something to put on your reading list. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The pictures below are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission should you click through to make a purchase.
(The first four selections are from my Librarian friend. Her descriptions are so good!)
2020 Book Club Picks
Best of Me by David Sedaris
David’s particular brand of quirky humor was the perfect fit for this strange and surreal year. I’m a huge fan of his often absurd yet somehow relatable tales, so I had previously read many of the essays in this compilation of over 30 years of his work. I enjoyed them just as much the second time around. Because hearing David tell his stories is even better than reading them, I highly recommend the audio version.
Humans by Brandon Stanton
The perfect book for those of us craving human connection amid the isolation and uncertainty of 2020. As a follower of Brandon’s Humans of New York, I find his touching glimpses into ordinary people’s lives so compelling and moving. In this book, he expands his search across the globe to tell individual stories that celebrate humanity by showing that while our experiences may be unique, life’s mix of struggles, successes, heartaches and joys are universal.
Solutions and Other Problems by Ali Brosch
It’s been a long 7 years since her book Hyperbole and a Half, and Ali is back with her brilliant approach to sharing her personal experiences and observations with her one-of-a-kind mix of words and illustrations. Much like life, it’s a strange mix of heartbreak and humor, and Ali doesn’t shy away from openly and honestly sharing her challenges. She just might be the only author who can bring me to tears and make me howl with laughter all on the same page.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book of this strange year. Fantasy is not my usual fare, but I found that magical creatures have much to teach us about accepting and appreciating the individual qualities that make each of us unique. This heartwarming, delightful novel about finding common ground despite our differences and finding family in unexpected places was an absolute joy to read, and although the distractions of 2020 often challenged my attention span, I found myself unable to put it down.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
A historical novel about two women who met during WW1. One was a spy recruited by the Alice Network and one was an American socialite looking for her cousin. 4 words – FA NOM IN AL!!! Best book I read all year. Loved the characters, the story, how everything was intertwined. Just amazing!
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Also a historical novel about a English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal in America. Great book – almost as good as Alice Network. Another amazing cast of characters and an intriguing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Historical book about the fierce female divers of Jeju Island in Korea. So interesting to hear about this culture I had no idea existed, wrapped in a deep and beautiful friendship. Great book!
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Through a series of unfortunate events, a twin sister gets to go on her sister’s honeymoon in Hawaii with the best man she isn’t fond of. Fun light read. Great beach read. Very entertaining. Made me think of a young Bradley Cooper the whole time. How can that be bad?
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Another lighter read but set with each chapter alternating between 2 possible outcomes. A woman is forced to make a decision about who to go home with at the end of a night out. Either choice creates very different outcomes. What would life be like if you’d just changed 1 decision?
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
The night clerk at the motel feels something isn’t right and is determined to uncover the hidden secrets. Thriller from start to finish. Gave me goosebumps a couple of times. Loved it!
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Mafia boy turned doctor and his old life turns back up. Fast moving, a little crude in spots but a great read if you’re looking for something different. It’s a thriller so original you won’t be able to guess what will happen next.
Radium Girls by Kate Moore
True story of the women who worked with radium in America’s factories during the war. Individual stories of the strength and courage of these women fighting corporate greed and corruption as they fight for their rights and their lives. Fascinating read.
Lady in Waiting-Audible version by Anne Glenconner
A memoir of an extraordinary life. Not only with her work with the Royal Family, but with the tragedies of her own. “Anne Glenconner has been at the center of the royal circle from childhood, when she met and befriended the future Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, the Princess Margaret. Though the firstborn child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, who controlled one of the largest estates in England, as a daughter she was deemed “the greatest disappointment” and unable to inherit. Since then she has needed all her resilience to survive the vipers of court life with her sense of humor intact.” From Goodreads
Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and WWII by Robert Madsen
An account of Audrey Hepburn and her experiences through five years of Nazi Occupation of the Netherlands. A side of Audrey Hepburn you probably didn’t know. She is very well known as a Hollywood icon, but not this part of her life that made her who she was. A great story about one of my favorite actresses. It was fascinating how her life paralleled Anne Frank’s.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
A Huckleberry Finn type tale of an orphan who traveled along the Mississippi River in search of family. Many interesting encounters along the way. The story begins in Minnesota, which is where I am from. After committing a terrible crime at their school, they are forced to flee. I recommend this book to anyone who asks me for recommendations!
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The story of a lonely young blue skinned Appalachian woman who joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky. The women in the project are brave and selfless in their quest to get books to those who otherwise can’t be reached.
Anxious People by Frederick Bachman
A story about a bank robbery gone wrong and the 8 anxious people who get mixed up with it. Thought provoking, whimsical and heartwarming. I read this book in two days. There is some mystery involved and I couldn’t wait to figure it out! Another easy recommendation.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
This book alternates between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life. A granddaughter learns the truth about her grandmother’s life by going back to Poland. She reluctantly leaves behind a hectic life with an autistic child. An amazing story of what happens when the truth is silenced. One of the rare books that our book club collectively gave an A.
The Beauty in Breaking by Michelle Harper
A memoir of a female, African American emergency room physician in a profession that is overwhelmingly male and white. A story of how Harper brought insight and empathy to every patient she encountered and came to understand that each of us is broken physically, emotionally, and psychically. Beautiful stories of self -healing and recovery.
There you go! The 2020 book club picks from A Novel Sisterhood! Click the link below for a PDF of all of the picks.
2020 isn’t over yet, and staying home is still recommended. Now you don’t have any excuse of not having anything to read:) This list contains something for everyone. Take a few hours of self care and dive in.
Share the list with your friends!
Happy Reading!
To learn more about our book club and more great book picks, read these posts.
The Best Books of 2019 from A Novel Sisterhood