Hello! It’s my first post of 2021 and my first proper post in two or three months! For those of you that are still reading thanks for sticking around! I love Steph’s Six For Sunday prompts so although I missed last week’s bookish resolutions prompt it seemed right to come back with a Six For Sunday prompt!
Six for Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Steph at ALITTLEBUTALOT. You can find a list of prompts for January, February and March here
Bookish Wins of 2020
I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone that 2020 was one mess of a year, to try and put it in polite terms! For me that meant transitioning to homeworking, and as I live alone that meant feeling pretty isolated. Fortunately I have a very good friend who without question said I would be part of her extended household so I still managed to spend time with other people! However to say I ended up in a bit of a reading slump would be an understatement! So on Saturday afternoon I’m sitting down to write this post and wondering what do I count as a bookish win… I’m still not sure, so keep reading and we’ll find out together!
The Isles of Storm and Sorrow trilogy by Bex Hogan
Does discovering this series count as a win? I think so. I absolutely adore this trilogy! Well the first two books, I’m still impatiently awaiting for Vulture’s publication date in April. The world building is incredible, I loved the distinct identities of all 12 islands – and there’s maps! The characters really won me over, I’m so invested in what happens to Marianne and Bronn you wouldn’t believe it! There was one hell of a cliffhanger at the end of the second book too! Bonus win is that Bex is one of the loveliest people anyone would have the privilege of coming across and she puts up with all my Bronn love and attempts to get the smallest of hints about whatever is coming next. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I turn the final page of Vulture, eagerly await whatever she brings out next no doubt!
Read my Viper and Venom reviews
Middle Grade Fantasy
I keep telling myself I’m not really a fan of fantasy, but I think what I’ve gradually discovered over the years is that I’m not much of a fan of adult high fantasy novels… I’m never going to enjoy reading things like The Lord of the Rings but I’ve come to enjoy young adult fantasy and this year I discovered I really quite enjoy middle grade fantasy too. I loved both Nevermoor and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency in 2020 and I’m really looking forward to reading the follow ups to both. I’ve already got Wundersmith sitting on my shelves and the Strangeworlds sequel has been preordered!
Read my Nevermoor and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency reviews
Heartwarming Adult Contemporary
I seem to read a fair amount of contemporary young adult novels but when it comes to adult novels I stick mainly to crime, and quite often it tends to be slightly darker crime. Parts of 2020 called for a different type of read. I’d heard many good things about The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary so I picked it up and this one helped me get out of one of my slumps – unfortunately more slumps followed! However I think as long as these lockdowns continue into 2021 I’m going to make more of an effort to read more adult contemporary, something to hopefully make me smile this year!
Read my The Flatshare review
Middle Grade Mysteries
I adore mystery books as a child and I read a few more middle grade mysteries during 2020. Discovering some more wonderful titles in this category was definitely a 2020 win!
High Rise Mystery was both a fantastic diverse read and an excellent mystery! I think it’s so important that all children get to see themselves represented in books and this certainly didn’t disappoint!
I’d been sitting on The Highland Falcon Thief for quite a few months and I finally picked it up right at the end of the year, it was the book that transitioned me from 2020 to 2021. The sequel is already on my bookcase and I have the third pre ordered. I cannot wait to read more MG mysteries this year!
Read my High Rise Mystery review
Classic (Style) Crime Fiction
I read the third of Sophie Hannah’s Poirot novels during 2020. It’s not a true classic crime novel as it was only published a couple of years ago but it is written in the style of a classic Agatha Christie. While I love the darker, slightly more violent crime I read more regularly it was nice to get stuck into something a little different. I wouldn’t call it cozy crime but this more traditional style filled with red herrings and the round up of suspects for the big reveal in the end.
It was a nice change so I think during 2021 I might try and read some classic crime
My The Mystery Of Three Quarters review
The Bookish Community
My final bookish win of 2020 isn’t a particular book or genre I really appreciated instead it’s all of you! The bookish community helped keen me (relatively) sane and upbeat during most of 2020, whether it’s people liking posts on here, interaction with wonderful authors and fellow bloggers on Twitter and Instagram it really meant a lot in a very isolated year. A special mention has to go to Charlotte for keeping me smiling with her regular messages and DMs. Make sure you go and check out her blog – Charlotte, Somewhere!
They were my #SixforSunday! If you’ve taken part leave a link to your post below and I’ll be sure to check it out!
Sarah Withers Blogs 
Charlotte
😭😭😭 You deserve a special mention for helping keep me sane too.
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Tilly
What a great list! I loved The Flatshare, it was so heartwarming and even though I knew it was a novel it seemed fairly realistic for a contemporary romance style novel.
I have Viper on my shelf but haven’t started it yet! It’s good to know that you enjoyed it lots! ☺️
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