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2020 Book round up – End of Year

January 5, 2021 | by thesundaystories

I’m going to save myself some time and effort, because i’m always keen to make my life easier, and not bother to provide you with a synopsis of each of the novels in the list below. I’m sure it’s the height of laziness but I find it irritating when I start reading a review and they’ve provided three paragraphs from the blurb first.

You might note my reviews get shorter and shorter the further you go down, so much so I’ve given up and just listed the read of my books from 2020 under ‘Can’t be bothered to write about’.

The Flat Share – Beth O’Leary

I’m a sucker for a love story, it’s my automatic go-to genre but you do have to wade through a lot of problematic storylines just to find a little gem. I’ve heard mixed reviews on The Flat Share, a few of my friends weren’t fans but I really enjoyed it from start to finish.

There are some triggering moments throughout, with themes of gaslighting, abuse and trauma but since reading the book a few months ago, my memory seems to have forgotten the minutiae of this and has simply remembered how lovely and supportive Leon is and what a charming and funny storyline O’Leary offers. Read into that what you will.


The Dutch House – Ann Patchett

I listened to this book on Audible purely to hear the dulcet tones of Tom Hanks and I maintain that he is the best thing about the novel. This is a very detail-driven storyline, nothing particularly exciting happens, it’s about the ups and downs of a family and it delves deep into their personalities. I love this still when it’s written by Celeste Ng, but this I would have found somewhat boring if it hadn’t been for Hanks’ melodious voice.


Becoming Michelle Obama


This is the first autobiography i’ve read (listened to) in years, i’m not usually interested in the lives of real people but I noticed Michelle Obama’s audiobook was narrated by herself and it piqued my interest.

I am in awe of her poise and grace, her compassion and intelligence and her candid account of being the wife of a man pursuing presidency.

The Tales of Beadle the Bard

Another audiobook that enticed me thanks to it’s narrators; Warwick Davis, Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright amongst a few. Sweet and magical fairy tales that accompany Harry Potter beautifully. I slept soundly listening to this.

Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

With Armie Hammer and Lily James gracing our Netflix screens this year, I, along with everyone else in the world, decided to pick up the book first. I’d never heard of Rebecca, or Du Maurier but really enjoyed the storyline. It ticks all the boxes for a gothic novel.


We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Throughout the first few parts of this novel I wasn’t sure what to make of it, it felt a bit like poetry but I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if I thought it was pretentious purple prose. Alas, I was wrong and reading the last part blew my mind a little and I thoroughly recommend.


The Magpie Society, Zoe Sugg and Amy McCullough

I read this purely out of curiosity to see what Zoe Sugg’s writing was like. It’s a very easy to read story about the mysterious death of a school girl at all-girls boarding school. I’m sure it’s more suited to an age range almost twenty years younger than me but ignoring that, I enjoyed it enough!


Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

I like to read a classic novel or two every year just for props. I am constantly amazed at the way modern romance fiction romanticizes books like this (and Far from the Madding Crowd, looking at you E. L James). That quote banded everywhere; ‘He’s more myself than I am, whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same’, is not romantic. Catherine Earnshaw is an egotistical lunatic and Heathcliffe’s maddening obsession turns him into an absolute beast. They’re all awful. Madness.


All I want for Christmas & It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Joanna Bolouri

I really enjoyed both of these books! Perhaps my favourite books of the year. They were just what I needed to read over a dull Christmas period and I recommend anyone pick them up if you love a light-hearted, charming and not-to-cringey romance.

Other books I read or listened to that I don’t really have a review for;

Cherringham, a Cosy Crime Series – Matthew Costello (I listened to three books on my Audible and enjoyed them but didn’t listen close enough to provide a review. I enjoyed them though)
Such a Fun Age – Kiley Reid (I spent too long trying to write my thoughts on this book and I couldn’t do it eloquently enough).
Ask Again, Yes, Mary Beth Keane (too boring to bother writing anything)
The Giver of Stars, JoJo Moyes
The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
This Time Next Year, Sophie Cousens
Away with the Penguins, Hazel Prior

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Hey
I’m Apryl
Cultivating a peaceful life living in Hertfordshire and working in London,
Lover of aesthetically pleasing social media, neutral colours, reading, city breaks, beach trips, animals, day trips, nights in and other things that excite people who are nearly 30.

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Two books. Two poorly written reviews. CMBYN is a Two books. Two poorly written reviews.

CMBYN is a beautifully written account of 17 year old Elio falling in love with 24 year old Oliver during a summer in Italy at his (Elio’s) parents villa. I loved everything about this book; the intensity, the vulnerability, the intimacy, even the moments of discomfort. It was the escape I desperately needed from a devastating start to 2021. 

On Earth is a letter from a son to a mother, it moves from stories of his childhood to knowledge of his mother’s past in Vietnam, creating an explanation for the nuances and intricate details of their family’s life. Full disclosure; I probably didn’t appreciate the story as much as I could have, or should have. Perhaps I’d had too much purple prose by this point but it is a beautifully written and terribly sad story. A quote that has stuck with me;

‘The truth is we don’t have to die if we don’t feel like it.

Just kidding.’
What can be said in New Year rhymes, That's not be What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?

The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.

We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.

We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of the year.
-
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “The Year” (1910)
Sorry for the spam today, I haven’t touched this Sorry for the spam today, I haven’t touched this account in a week or so and I had the sudden urge to update it today 🙃.
I rushed to finish An American Marriage today as my last book of the year, tomorrow I plan to write up my end of year round-up of books for my blog (which has been severely neglected for months). I’m really happy with the vast majority of books I’ve read this year and my aim next year is again, not to worry about quantity, but aim for quality.
Behind AAM are the beginning of my TBR pile for 2021, any there that you’ve read?
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#booksandtea #anamericanmarriage #callmebyyourname #silversparrow #onearthwerebrieflygorgeous
Yeah experiencing Christmas with children is proba Yeah experiencing Christmas with children is probably cool and all but have you ever watched a pupper open presents? 
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#christmas #christmasday #christmaspresents #jackrussell #jackrussellterrier #jrt #jackrussellsofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #doggo #christmasdogsofinstagram #pupperdoggo #pupper
Another throwback to 2 days before Christmas and a Another throwback to 2 days before Christmas and an eerily quiet but kind of magical city centre ❤️ everything was shut and it made my mum emotional, but I preferred it.
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#christmasinlondon #christmaslights #christmas #christmas2020 #londonlife #london #londoncity #christmasdecor #festivevibes #festiveseason
Throwback to a quiet Christmas table on Christmas Throwback to a quiet Christmas table on Christmas Eve ❤️🎄
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#christmas #christmaseve #christmas2020 #christmastree #christmastablesetting #christmastable #christmasdecor #quietchristmas #festive #festivevibes #tbt #blogger #cosy #cosyhome #cosystyle

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