Our Best Books of 2020

Some of our writers have shared their individual lists of books they read this year and loved the most, but we asked everyone to vote for their favorite 2020 releases. Among the 16 contributors that voted, we have two clear winners for first and second place, and then the votes cropped up across many books for third place and beyond. Enjoy our list, and let us know what your favorite release of 2020 was in the comments!

first place (7 Votes)

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

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SECOND PLACE (5 Votes)

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

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THIRD PLACE (4 Votes)

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

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The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

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Luster by Raven Leilani

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Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, Translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The contributors on this site had a LOT of thoughts on this book! Check out our roundtable about the book and this essay by Jessica Maria regarding the controversy surrounding it.

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Real Life by Brandon Taylor

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3 votes

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

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The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

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All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

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Running by Natalia Sylvester

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2 Votes

Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould

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Cherry Beach by Laura McPhee-Browne

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Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar

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Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

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1 Vote

These were beloved by one of our contributors,

and maybe you'll find something here to love as well!

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat (US / UK)

The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott (US / UK)

The Undiscovered Country by Andre Bagoo (UK)

On Lighthouses by Jazmina Barrera, Translated from the Spanish by Christina MacSweeney (US)

Tender Is The Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica, Translated from the Spanish by (US / UK)

The Book of Anna by Carmen Boullosa, Translated from the Spanish by Samantha Schnee (US / UK)

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (US / UK)

Children of the Land by Marcelo Castillo Hernandez (US / UK)

Boy Parts by Eliza Clarke (US / UK)

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (US / UK)

Daddy by Emma Cline (US / UK)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (US / UK)

The Belle Creole by Marysé Conde, Translated from the French by Nicole Simek (US / UK)

The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward (US / UK)

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante, Translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein (US / UK)

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin (US)

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (US / UK)

White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad (US / UK)

A Silent Fury by Yuri Herrera, Translated from the Spanish by Lisa Dillman (US / UK)

The Octopus and I by Erin Hortle

Displacement by Kiku Hughes (US / UK)

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby (US / UK)

Writers and Lovers by Lily King (US / UK)

East Coast Girls by Kerry Kletter (US)

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut, Translated from the Spanish by Adrian Nathan West (US / UK)

Belabored by Lyz Lenz (US / UK)

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (US)

Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused by Melissa Maerz (US / UK)

Thresholes by Lara Mimosa Montes (US / UK)

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata (US / UK)

Weather by Jenny Offill (US / UK)

Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo (US / UK)

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong (US / UK)

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (US / UK)

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, Translated from the Arabic by Elisabeth Jaquette (US / UK)

Summer by Ali Smith (US / UK)

Intimations by Zadie Smith (US / UK)

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers (US)

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (US / UK)

Shit, Actually by Lindy West (US)

Here's to more reading in 2021!

Happy New Year!