Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #valentinesday #lovemonth #romancereader #cartooncoverromance #februarytbr #romcombooks
What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #allthestarsandteeth #piratebooks #mermaidbooks #highseasadventure #fantasybooks #duology
How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #grishaverse #shadowandbone #thedarkling #genyasafin #leighbardugo #perfectespressopour #coffeepour #favoritefictionalcharacter #favoritecharacter #favoritebookcharacter
What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #beachread #emilyhenry #romancebooks #romancereader #contemporaryromance #cartooncoverromance #perfectespressopour #rereading
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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#cozyaesthetic #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstaversary #readersofig #booksta #bookblogger #bookishblogger #cozylifestyle #bookshelves #shelfie #readergirl #girlwhoreads #meetthebookstagrammer #facebehindtheaccount #newprofilepic
Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #bookcharacters #bookboyfriend #bookgirlfriend #bookcharacters #fantasybooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks
What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #thedreamertrilogy #calldownthehawk #theravencycle #theravenboys #fantasybooks #spinoffseries
What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy books? βš”οΈ
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Crazy enough, my very favorite book of all time is a stand-alone fantasy 😱 If you don't listen to a single other book recommendation I have this year, that's fine, but *please* read Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer 🌲 It is absolute perfection! 🀌🏼
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Some of my other favorite stand-alone fantasy books:
🌿 THE NATURE OF WITCHES
✨ THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
πŸ— THE STARLESS SEA (on audiobook)
πŸ’€ THE BONE HOUSES
πŸŒ™ WINTERWOOD
πŸ’” HEARTLESS
πŸ¦‰ WILD IS THE WITCH
πŸ•―οΈ GALLANT
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Have you read any of these books? πŸ“– 
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Lifestyle · January 14, 2021

The Best Books I Read in 2020

a darker shade of magic book with tote bag and coffee mug
echo north book with coffee mug and reed diffuser
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30 Books That Made 2020 Just a Little Better | The Espresso Edition

While 2020 may not have been the best year ever (as we all originally anticipated), it was certainly my best reading year – and that has to count for something!

At the beginning of the year, I set a reading goal for myself. I wanted to read 30 books. That’s how many I got through in 2019, so my thought was that it should be simple enough in 2020. Now, I look back and laugh, friends. I read a grand total of 131 books in the last year. Phew!

I’ll get into just how I managed to read that many books at a later time. Today, we’re dwelling on the best of the best out of that massive stack. I’ve gone through my Goodreads and read over my reviews to determine which ones were truly top tier, and now I’m sharing them with you.

30 Books That Made 2020 Just a Little Better | The Espresso Edition

The 30 Books I Loved Most in 2020

You can find synopses for these books, along with my reviews, scattered throughout my blog and on my Goodreads. I’ve also provided links for each of my monthly wrap-ups on their corresponding month below.

The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
January

Opposite of Always – Justin A. Reynolds

Echo North – Joanna Ruth Meyer

February

Stepsister – Jennifer Donnelly

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
March

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill – Abbi Waxman

The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern

Renegades – Marissa Meyer

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
april

Waiting for Tom Hanks – Kerry Winfrey

All the Stars and Teeth – Adalyn Grace

May

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird – Josie Silver

Talking as Fast as I Can – Lauren Graham

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
June

Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor

The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo

The Falconer – Elizabeth May

You Should See Me in a Crown – Leah Johnson

The Switch by Beth O'Leary
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
July

The Switch – Beth O’Leary

Scythe – Neal Shusterman

A Darker Shade of Magic – V.E. Schwab

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Lovely War by Julie Berry
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
august

Midnight Sun – Stephenie Meyer (review article)

Into the Heartless Wood – Joanna Ruth Meyer (review article | author interview)

September

Lovely War – Julie Berry

Clockwork Prince – Cassandra Clare

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
October

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin – Roseanne A. Brown

Early Departures – Justin A. Reynolds (review article)

Daisy Jones & The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid

How to Find Love in a Bookshop – Veronica Henry

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler
One Way or Another by Kara McDowell
November

The Midnight Library – Matt Haig

A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas

December

Finding Christmas – Karen Schaler (review article)

One Way or Another – Kara McDowell

30 Books That Made 2020 Just a Little Better | The Espresso Edition

What were your favorite books of 2020?


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30 Books That Made 2020 Just a Little Better | The Espresso Edition
30 Books That Made 2020 Just a Little Better | The Espresso Edition

In: Lifestyle · Tagged: 2020 books, best books, best books of 2020, book recommendations, book reviews, top books of 2020, what I read in 2020

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Comments

  1. Katie says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:25 AM

    I LOVED Talking as Fast as I Can! I read it year before last I think, but really loved it! So many other great suggestions here though, thanks for sharing!

    Katie | katieemmabeauty.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:53 AM

      It’s a phenomenal book! Lauren Graham is one of my favorite people in the whole world and learning more about her life and what it was like to film Gilmore Girls (again) was so special. I listened to the audiobook and to this day, it’s one that I regularly pull back up again just to listen to because it’s soothing to hear her talk (she narrates it)!

      Reply
  2. Margot says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:47 AM

    Oh I read 2 books in this list.
    I also read the Midnight library this October and this is probably my favorite book I read this year.
    And I read the bookish life of Nina Hill but I was expecting better. I found it just ok.
    I need to check all theses others books.
    Thanks for sharing πŸ™‚
    xx
    Margot
    https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:54 AM

      The Midnight Library was truly life-changing for me. I have a whole review post coming about it (hopefully next week)! It was phenomenally written. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill felt like it was written about me. I absolutely adore Nina and found it to be one of the funniest books ever as well. Abbi Waxman is such a great author and I’ve loved everything she’s written. I’m sorry you didn’t care for it as much as I did.

      Reply
  3. Reads and Ramblings says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:51 AM

    Wow!131! I’m jealous!

    I read so many amazing books in 2020… my favourite has to be Their Eyes Were Watching God

    I’m so excited to read Midnight Library- it’s next up on my tbr! Xx

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:55 AM

      Ahh! I’m honestly quite proud of myself for reading so many books. When I began the year, I assumed I’d only get to around 30, but then I just began to fly through them (I also read 2 at a time… one physical and one audiobook and I happen to read really quickly as well). It was a special reading year, to be sure. I hope you LOVE The Midnight Library. That one was incredibly special for me. I have a full review article on it coming soon.

      Reply
  4. Sarah Mark says

    January 14, 2021 at 11:45 AM

    I love posts like these because there are a lot of books that I haven’t come across before. I absolutely loved The Switch and Midnight Sun took me back to my teenage years.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:31 PM

      Those were certainly two that I thoroughly enjoyed – for such different reasons haha! I’m hopeful that you’ll get a chance to check out some of the others that made it to the top of my list πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Jennifer Prince says

    January 14, 2021 at 2:44 PM

    That’s so many! More than 2 books a week. Love it!! I forgot about the Tom Hanks book, but I remember you mentioning it a while back. I need to read that one – it sounds like a fun one!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:33 PM

      Yes indeed! I always read two at a time, which makes it easy to get through so many each month. My goal was 10 a month and I definitely surpassed that on several occasions. It was fun to challenge myself – but at a certain point, it wasn’t a challenge anymore. It was just… how I read πŸ™‚ Waiting for Tom Hanks is such a great book. Totally adorable. I certainly recommend it for anyone who loves 90’s romcoms!

      Reply
  6. Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says

    January 14, 2021 at 4:29 PM

    These are all such great books! I definitely found a few I’m adding to my list for the next time I go to B&N! Xx.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:33 PM

      That’s awesome to hear! I also highly recommend purchasing from Bookshop.org or checking out your local bookstores to help support those smaller businesses πŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Neely Moldovan says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:39 PM

    I think my two favorites from the year were in five years and the girl he used to know. I loved both so much!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:34 PM

      In Five Years was an excellent book! That actually made it onto my list of favorite audiobooks. It’s a great story and the magical realism was such a unique touch.

      Reply
  8. Stephani says

    January 14, 2021 at 11:49 PM

    That is so amazing that you read 131 books last year!! Wow! Haha I think the last book I read was a parenting book like 2 years ago!! 😬😬

    Xo, Steph

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:34 PM

      I can’t imagine my life without books. Reading is the ultimate form of self-care for me and it has also expanded my mind! I love curling up with a good story πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Lizzie says

    January 15, 2021 at 1:06 AM

    Yay! Your blog looks amazing! Also, II cannot believe you read that many books!! That’s almost one every 3 days! Incredible!

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:36 PM

      Thanks so much! πŸ™‚ Haha I read two at a time and also happen to be a really fast reader, which helps. I make sure to prioritize reading because it’s what I love – hence the direction my blog has taken, of course!

      Reply
  10. Sarah Lindner says

    January 15, 2021 at 8:11 AM

    At least there was something good about 2020, lol! Looks like you enjoyed some good reads! xoxo, Sarah

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:37 PM

      Actually, while it may seem selfish, 2020 was one of the best years of my life. Personally and career-wise. I know it was a really challenging year overall, but a lot of good came from it as well. I’m thankful for that, since I know so many others who did not have the same experience.

      Reply
  11. Lauren says

    January 15, 2021 at 9:08 AM

    Last year I did not make time for reading. It is something I want to try and do it more this year. Thank you for sharing your list of books.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:37 PM

      I hope you get a chance to! Reading is such a special experience. It helps expand your mind, calm you, and gives you an escape!

      Reply
  12. I'm All Booked Up says

    January 15, 2021 at 9:45 AM

    The Infernal Devices series is our favorite. We also enjoyed Scythe.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:39 PM

      The Infernal Devices is excellent! I was glad I got to read them this past year. I plan to read The Mortal Instruments this year and I’m really looking forward to it!

      Reply
  13. Lizzie says

    January 15, 2021 at 11:17 AM

    Totally saving this so I can go through each of these! I wanted to read more in 2020 but you know haha! Definitely going to male more time this year.

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:39 PM

      That makes me so happy to hear! I hope it gives you some inspiration for what to read in the coming year!

      Reply
  14. Rach says

    January 15, 2021 at 2:15 PM

    I love that you shared your favorite books in 2020! You are giving me ideas to add to my 2021 reading list. For sure already added some of the books you shared to my list. There’s quite a few books I love but the one that stood out is In Five Years by Rebecca Steele.

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:40 PM

      Oh, that makes me so happy to hear! I hope you do get a chance to read some of my favorites here. I know we sometimes have really similar taste when it comes to contemporary novels! In Five Years is a great one. That made it into the category of “favorite audiobooks!”

      Reply
  15. Lindsey says

    January 16, 2021 at 3:52 AM

    131?? That’s incredible, congrats on an amazing reading year! So many of these are on my TBR pile and it’s definitely making me realise I want to shift gears and get my reading really moving, there’s so much I want to read. Great wrap up – and I hope this year is just as good for you!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 17, 2021 at 12:41 PM

      I think I shocked myself with that particular number as well! Considering I originally planned on 30 – it came as a surprise to fly through so many during the year. I hope you get a chance to check out some of the ones that interest you most!

      Reply
  16. Nia says

    January 16, 2021 at 12:49 PM

    This is a great list, Stephanie! So many books I didn’t read last year. This is perfect to build my list for this year πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 17, 2021 at 12:41 PM

      That makes me smile! I definitely want to inspire others with the books I loved most. I hope you get a chance to check some of them out!

      Reply
  17. Gemma Jayne says

    January 17, 2021 at 3:38 AM

    This is a brilliant list and wow to how many books you read in 2020! I struggled last year and this year my goal is to get back into reading! But without being able to go browse a bookshop right now I always struggle to find books online but this is perfect and I have already saved some to my list 😊

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 17, 2021 at 12:42 PM

      Ahh I guess I never really felt a loss there because I’m a library snob. I don’t tend to buy books until I’ve already read them – so bookshops were more of a calming setting or aesthetic thing for me than anything else. I do miss wandering through the library though! However, it’s great that we have so many opportunities to find reading lists and recommendations online!

      Reply
  18. Greta says

    January 17, 2021 at 10:55 PM

    I finally finished Midnight Sun and it was so good! I also loved Lauren Graham’s book!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 18, 2021 at 6:08 PM

      I’m so glad you liked Midnight Sun! It was such a fun throwback and honestly, I liked it even better than Twilight. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.

      Reply
  19. Annie says

    January 17, 2021 at 11:28 PM

    I love your taste in literature! The only one I’ve read on this list was midnight sun and I finished it in two days haha. Thanks for these awesome recommendations, I want to check out more of the books you like, we seem to like a lot of the same books!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 18, 2021 at 6:08 PM

      Aww thank you πŸ™‚ I hope you get a chance to check out some of my other recommendations. It’s awesome to find a kindred spirit when it comes to reading!

      Reply
  20. Jenny in Neverland says

    January 19, 2021 at 6:53 AM

    Oooh I like the way you did this post with monthly favourites as well. There are soooo many books here I want to read so thank you for making my TBR even longer! x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 19, 2021 at 2:38 PM

      Yes! I wanted to narrow it down because I read 131 books last year and honestly…. SO MANY FAVORITES came out of that. Trying to just keep it around 30 top picks was tough, but I did it haha!

      Reply
  21. Tanvi Rastogi says

    January 19, 2021 at 4:41 PM

    We follow each other on Goodreads so get a headsup on what you are reading and what you enjoyed. I will be checking out some of these books that I haven’t read it.

    β₯ tanvii.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 20, 2021 at 9:12 AM

      I’m glad you’re able to see some of my updates there. I’ll admit that I use the platform mostly for my own personal gain, just for tracking the books I read, my reviews, etc. so I don’t see much of what others share. But thanks for paying attention!

      Reply
  22. Caitlin says

    January 20, 2021 at 5:35 AM

    I love how this post is organized with a list and visual of each book! It’s sad, but sometimes I do choose a book by its cover haha. Last year I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked but I enjoyed almost every book that came with my Book of the Month Club membership!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 20, 2021 at 9:12 AM

      Thank you! I began adding covers to my book wrap-up posts for that very reason. I know some people are intrigued by the cover, rather than what the book is about, so I wanted to catch the attention of everyone in that way!

      Reply
  23. Kyla @ Kyla's Library says

    January 21, 2021 at 3:32 PM

    I read Renegades by Marissa Meyer last year too and loved it, it’s such an interesting spin on superheroes and villains!

    Reply
  24. Adaleta Avdic says

    January 22, 2021 at 8:33 PM

    I am saving this post since I’d love to add these to the list. I AM READING THIS YEAR. Out of curiosity, I’d love to know what you do with the books once you’re done with them? Maybe we can exchange books on a consistent basis? I’m just throwing ideas out since I have already spent a lot buying the books so far this year since I joined 2 book clubs!

    Reply
  25. Marlene says

    February 1, 2021 at 11:22 AM

    Bookmarking this. I need some more books for this year and haven’t read these!!

    Reply
  26. Ana Palombini says

    February 8, 2021 at 10:23 AM

    I admire your reading habits so much l I can’t believe you managed to read all theses books in a year, wow! I love reading as well and it is part of my life since I was a kid. My dad used to fall asleep in bookstores when I was young because I spent hours upon hours selecting books to buy. It’s so good to dive into a good story. I just finished Memoirs of a Geisha this week, ave you had a chance to read it? I was so fascinated. Now I need a new book to start so I am glad I found your list. Will definitely look into one of your choices. thanks for such a thoughtful book recommendations list.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      February 8, 2021 at 1:11 PM

      Thank you so much for that! I’ve always adored reading and even when I was little, I would check out as many books as I could from the library and then finish them all in a matter of days. I couldn’t gobble them up quickly enough, according to my mom! I definitely lost my intense desire to read immediately following high school and in my early 20’s, but I’m grateful that I’ve gotten back to my “old ways” in the past couple of years. It’s been wonderful to discover so many books. I haven’t even heard of Memoirs of a Geisha before, but I’ll definitely look into it! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  27. Cristina Rosano says

    March 18, 2021 at 2:07 PM

    I love this kind of posts! There are so many books that don’t come under my radar, so I love when other people share them! I read Talking as fast as I can two years ago and truly loved it! Also, A court of mist and fury was my favourite in ACOTAR and Clockwork prince was a great one too! Will definitely add more to my list for this year! x

    Reply

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Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #valentinesday #lovemonth #romancereader #cartooncoverromance #februarytbr #romcombooks
What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #allthestarsandteeth #piratebooks #mermaidbooks #highseasadventure #fantasybooks #duology
How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #grishaverse #shadowandbone #thedarkling #genyasafin #leighbardugo #perfectespressopour #coffeepour #favoritefictionalcharacter #favoritecharacter #favoritebookcharacter
What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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#cozyaesthetic #bookreel #bookcommunity #cozyreel #cozytime #bookishreel #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #aestheticreel #coffeecoffeecoffee #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #yourstrulybook #abbyjimenez #romancereader #cartooncoverrromance #2023bookrelease #bookreview
What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #beachread #emilyhenry #romancebooks #romancereader #contemporaryromance #cartooncoverromance #perfectespressopour #rereading
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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#cozyaesthetic #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstaversary #readersofig #booksta #bookblogger #bookishblogger #cozylifestyle #bookshelves #shelfie #readergirl #girlwhoreads #meetthebookstagrammer #facebehindtheaccount #newprofilepic
Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy books? βš”οΈ
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Crazy enough, my very favorite book of all time is a stand-alone fantasy 😱 If you don't listen to a single other book recommendation I have this year, that's fine, but *please* read Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer 🌲 It is absolute perfection! 🀌🏼
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Some of my other favorite stand-alone fantasy books:
🌿 THE NATURE OF WITCHES
✨ THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
πŸ— THE STARLESS SEA (on audiobook)
πŸ’€ THE BONE HOUSES
πŸŒ™ WINTERWOOD
πŸ’” HEARTLESS
πŸ¦‰ WILD IS THE WITCH
πŸ•―οΈ GALLANT
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Have you read any of these books? πŸ“– 
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What is your favorite graphic novel? 🎨 It was What is your favorite graphic novel? 🎨

It was only this past year that I really discovered how much I enjoy graphic novels πŸ’₯ I’ve always liked comic books and graphic novels are just an elevated kind of comic book 🀌🏼

Even though I preordered and listened to the audiobook for Demon in the Wood (blame it on my love for Ben Barnes as a narrator), I also got myself a physical copy because it’s just too gorgeous to pass up 😍 Just like the rest of the Grishaverse books, the naked cover is breathtaking with the most perfect silver embossing on deep purple πŸ’œ I could read this one over and over again (and I probably will)! πŸ“–

Have you read Demon in the Wood? πŸŒ‘ 

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