If you're searching for some new titles to add to your summer reading list, you've come to the right place.
Amazon's annual Best Books of the Year (so far) list is here to help steer you in the direction of 2020's must-read novels, memoirs, and more.
Each year, the editors at The Amazon Book Review highlight some of their favorite works that published from January to June. The mid-year list is a great resource for anyone looking for their next read, but when you're shopping for books this summer — be it in-person or online — remember you can also seek out and support your local bookshops or consider buying from one of the many Black-owned bookstores.
Here are 10 of 2020's best books so far, according to Amazon editors.
The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Novel
Abi Daré
"Abi Daré’s debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice, is like a blend of Etaf Rum’s A Woman Is No Man and Tara Westover’s Educated (so buckle up)...The Girl with the Louding Voice is a rousing tale of courage and pluck, and unexpectedly charming. It's also a reminder of the power of books, especially for those of us afforded the luxury of taking reading, and learning, and dreaming for granted." — Erin Kodicek, Amazon Book Review
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)
Suzanne Collins
"If you read The Hunger Games in one sitting, settle in for the long haul once more—because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is nearly impossible to put down... There's so much I want to tell you about this novel, but I really want you to experience it all for yourself, because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is incredibly exciting, thought-provoking, and relevant. — Seira Wilson, Amazon Book Review
James McBride
"James McBride, author of the National Book Award winning The Good Lord Bird and the beloved memoir The Color of Water, has written a propulsive and comic neighborhood epic set in the 1960s with a cast of characters that are beguiling, boozed-filled, and larger than life... Deacon King Kong tells the fictional story of one Brooklyn project, but in so doing tells a broader story of race and religion, getting by and getting out, and how grudges and alliances become embedded in the foundations of our neighborhoods. An incredibly satisfying read." —Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review
Lily King
"Writers & Lovers is Lily King's follow up to her 2014 breakthrough novel Euphoria, which was loosely based on the experiences of Margaret Mead, and one might expect King to tread a similar path in this new book. But this is a different novel altogether. That said, it's a very enjoyable read, a breath of fresh air, with characters that leap off the page. Writers & Lovers is about the uncertainty of dating, and of pursuing the creative life, in a world that values success and stability." — Chris Schluep, Amazon Book Review
Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
Phuc Tran
"Sigh, Gone is a stunning memoir about refugees, racism, displacement, the lifeline of literature, fitting in—and fighting to do so... Read this book; it's an important story of immigration, America, and the disconnect between generations, cultures, and how to find connection. And, if you're like me, you will be in awe of his words, humor, insight, and dedication to sharing his experience in all of its glory and hurt. Plus, even though you might cry, you will definitely laugh out loud." — Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review
Won-Pyung Sohn
"I’m just going to say it: This novel made me laugh, wince, hold my breath with anticipation, and cry. I couldn’t put it down. When Yunjae sees another kid getting beat up in an alley, he just stares. He doesn’t intervene, he doesn’t run away. Pages later, we learn this Korean boy’s inability to express or understand emotion (including anger, which he has plenty reason to feel) is due to a mental disorder... Filled with heart-aching sentences and stunning moments of resilience and care (when you learn why he eats almonds, I defy you not to feel a pang), Won-pyung Sohn’s debut novel examines a world in which connection trumps emotion and loyalty becomes more than a feeling." — Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review
Colum McCann
"In Apeirogon, McCann unfurls the story of two fathers, one Palestinian and one Israeli, who have both lost their daughters to the violence that surrounds them... Apeirogon is a soaring and revelatory reading experience that is at once intimate and vast, heartbreaking and hopeful, and, yes, kaleidoscopic." — Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review
Alexis Schaitkin
"A beautifully written and paced debut novel that spotlights race, class, and privilege... Reminiscent of some of the sharp observations and language that made Gone Girl a success, Saint X will keep you up all night and haunt you for days after." — Sarah Gelman, Amazon Book Review
Margarita Montimore
"The Time Traveler’s Wife meets What Alice Forgot in this charming and cinematic novel that this reviewer devoured in 24 hours... Although this could be a fun romp through the adage 'youth is wasted on the young' (and at times, it is), it's also a deeper look at destiny, love, and family." — Sarah Gelman, Amazon Book Review
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre
Max Brooks
"Mount Rainier erupts, and a small high-tech community nestled deep in the mountains is cut off from civilization and their weekly delivery of groceries. And now winter is coming. Some writers might think that’s enough conflict for a high-stakes adventure novel. Max Brooks, author of the groundbreaking zombie novel World War Z, stretches his imagination even further and gleefully lobs a troop of displaced and hungry Sasquatches into the mix." — Adrian Liang, Amazon Book Review
For even more reading suggestions, be sure to check out all of Amazon's best 2020 book picks. Here's the full "Top 20 List," and you can read additional book reviews here.
