20 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2020

It’s nearly the end of the year and time for this little tradition that I started last year with 19 Books That I’m Looking Forward To In 2019. Here are some of the books that I’m looking forward to in 2020.

1. Loathe At First Sight by Suzanne Park

Enemies to lovers? Sign me up!! Korean-American video game producer, Melody, lands her dream job but has to deal with misogyny in the male-dominated workplace and the handsome but infuriating Nolan who is coincidentally the boss’ nephew 😒. Social media scandals and office romance.

2. Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

A fantasy featuring Asians that the answer describes as “Thematically, Forest of Souls is about fighting to belong against every effort to push you out. It’s about loyalty driven by insecurity and searching for self-worth. It’s about unconditional female friendship. It’s also about a spy-in-training whose chosen path is upended, landing her under the scrutiny of a Spider King.” This is the first line and it’s, “The earth is black with last night’s rain–a perfect morning for shadows.” – the cinematic description is *french kiss*. I love it already.

3. You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson

An own voices rom-com featuring black girl magic. Liz is a black girl living in a small, prom-obsessed town that she can’t wait to get out of. She enters prom queen to win a scholarship when her financial aid falls through but falls for the new girl who’s her competition 🤭

4. This Is All Your Fault by Amina Mae Safi

Three young women are determined to save the indie book store they work at. This book had me at book store. I should really get around to reading Safi’s other books, they’re all on my TBR but I’ve never read them.

5. Clique Bait by Ann Valett

Clique Bait had me at Pretty Little Liars meets Burn for Burn. Pretty Little Liars was a favourite show of mine, I never read the books but I watched all seven seasons religiously. Chloe’s friend’s life was ruined by the popular kids at their high school, so she devises a way to befriend them and ruin them from the inside until she falls for one of them *collective gasp*

6. To Have And To Hoax by Martha Waters

“A hilarious historical rom-com” just the type of historical fiction I’m a huge fan of. Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since.

7. We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia

The only other book I’ve read by Rahul Kanakia is Enter Title Here which I enjoyed immensely. Shri wrote an excellent spoiler-free review for this book which put it on my radar – check it out here.

8. When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk

When You Were Everything promises to be an emotional story about friendships and self-forgiveness told in alternating timelines of Cleo and Layla. It’s a book about what a friendship ending and how you heal and start anew.

9. A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell

Sixteen tales by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic. Authors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Dhonielle Clayton, Charlotte Davis,  Justina Ireland, L.L. McKinney, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karen Strong, Ashley Woodfolk, and Ibi Zoboi.

10. The Night Country by Melissa Albert

The sequel to The Hazel Wood which I absolutely loved. I can’t wait to read this book!!

11. We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding

A story about friendships growing apart. Kat and James were inseparable but over the course of a year, their friendship ends. The story is told in alternating chapters and features an f/f relationship.

12. Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

Ever Wong’s parents send her to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer among over-achieving Asian kids. Unbeknownst to her parents – it’s just a bunch of kids drinking sake and clubbing. This promises to be a wild ride. East-Asian rep.

13. What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

A YA novel featuring a YA book blogger? Where do I sign up? Halle runs a book blog that pairs cupcakes with book reviews under the name Kels. Her online best friend Nash is a graphic novelist but doesn’t know who Kels really is and Kels isn’t about to let him find out even when they’re in the same town.

14. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

First of all, this cover is insanely gorgeous! Cemetery Boys is about Yadriel, a Latinx trans teen boy who wants to prove himself as a brujo to his family by releasing his cousin’s spirit. Unfortunately, he summons the wrong ghost ⚰️, resident bad boy Julian and ends up falling in love with him.

15. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

This is the prettiest black girl cover I have ever seen!! A Song Below Water features black sirens living in Portland. It promises mythology and magic. I’m in. 🧜🏾‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️

16. Buy Yourself The F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster

I’m mostly looking forward to this book because of this description: “a candid, funny, practical guide to growing up and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it’s-so-cheesy way.” Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of self-help books and this one seems worth it.

17. Blood Countess by Lana Popović

I read about Countess Elizabeth Báthory in Lady Killers which is a great book, check it out if you can.

18. Jack In The Box by Ryan Douglass

Kake In The Box is described as “Get Out-inspired horror story about one of the only black kids at an elite suburban Atlanta prep school who is being haunted by the ghost of a school shooter.” I love a good horror. I’ve been following the author, Ryan, for a while on Twitter and I can’t wait for this.

19. Anna K by Jenny Lee

“Welcome to the dizzying heights of New York’s Upper East Side: where privilege, partying and scandal rules.” – obviously, I’m in. This is giving me Gossip Girl vibes. Anna K is a modern reimagination of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina featuring a Korean-American lead.

20. Girls Save The World In This One by Ash Parsons

One word: ZOMBIESSSSSSS 🧟

Thanks for reading 💛 Let me know in the comments what 2020 books you’re looking forward to!