by Brooke Forry

Pre-pandemic, I made a goal to read 30 books in 2020. While my audiobook consumption has slowed significantly in the last 6 months (please reference: noisy children who ask for snacks every five minutes and generally surround me with noisy noise all day), I still read as part of my evening self-care routine every night and have finished reading 28 books so far this year — way ahead of schedule!

Below is a roundup of my favorite titles of the year (so far) — both non-fiction books that have enlightened and educated me, and fictional stories that delighted me.

NON-FICTION:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle
A stunning memoir of love, truth, messy change, and unapologetically evolving into the person you were always meant to be.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
An often heartbreaking but always incredible memoir from the woman formerly known as Emily Doe in the Stanford rape trial.

Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas
Thomas’s collection of essays is poignant, funny, heartbreaking, and thoughtful all at once. (And the author’s weekly email newsletter is a favorite of mine!)

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
This non-fiction/memoir reads like fiction in many ways, with its deep character development, captivating dialogue, and engrossing stories of people’s lives, including the therapist-author herself.

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
An important read if you’re white and new to the work of anti-racism — I highly recommend following it up with more anti-racism books by Black authors.

FICTION:

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Funny, thought-provoking, and often cringe-inducing (in a good way!), this story of a young Black woman’s awkward relationship with her boss, who fancies herself a white savior, will suck you in from page one.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
A coming of age love story and tale of the interwoven lives of two very different families who stay connected (even when they’re far apart) following the unthinkable.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This young adult read about being Black in America and the ripple effect of police violence against Black men is heartbreaking and of particular relevance today. The movie is excellent, too.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Jasmine Guillory has mastered the art of the modern day rom-com, with relatable characters and fun dialogue. This is book one in a series, and a delightful, light read.

BOOKS I’M CURRENTLY READING:

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings by Dr. Laura Markham

OTHER BOOKS I HOPE TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR:

How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Circe by Madeline Miller

What are you reading these days? What’s next on your to-read list? Join the conversation over on Instagram!