YAY IT’S TIME FOR JOY’S LIST!!! Her comments always bring me joy, and I love that she’s one of my resident book recommenders whenever we’re putting together a “genre” or trope list!! Also, she’s pretty great at answering reader questions too. π
Here are just a few of her 2020 comment highlights:
Insta love books are my jam!
HER CURLY GIRL METHOD: I purchased that book when it was the deal of the day/ Iβve only skimmed through it. I started doing the rice wash that is followed by the Women of the Yao tribe in China. Its been two weeks and Iβve seen a huge change in my hair!!!
Iβm African American and have no chemicals in my hair. I stopped using chemical relaxers, 7 years ago and it was a great decision. Most women of my culture use relaxers because we donβt know how to style our hair in itβs natural texture and a chemical relaxer makes it much easier (so I thought). Now that Iβm a curly girl, Ive learned that managing my own texture is much easier and costs a great deal less than what I spent, going to the hair salon to get it done professionally! Thousands less.
All I use now is a bit of organic shea butter for moisture, Aveda liquid gel and Paul Mitchellβs foaming pomade and I’ve got a head full of well defined curls after finger combing it.Most days, I wear it in a huge afro puff on top of my head because its too thick to let it hang in the heat. Check out the Yao method. Vogue Magazine did an article and video of them interviewing the women about their method.
HER LOVE OF GOOGLING: Hi Maryse! Iβve been looking at the First Reads choices for this month and my interest was piqued when I got to The Empress: A Novel! I love a good historical romance. This one is about Empress Charlotte of Mexico.
Hadnβt heard of her before, so I did what any teenager would do, lol! I Googled her.
Wasnβt Well, she led a fascinating life! Born into privilege, said to be gorgeous and sought after by many and she married for love, not obligation! Her life had mother-in-law and sister-in-law drama, her husbandβs lack of concern for ruling the country, intrigue and gossip. To top it off, the castle that her husband built (Chapultapec Castle) in Mexico City is absolutely stunning! Iβm still on the fence about my choice for this month (Iβm loyal to Alessandra Torre), so I may buy it if I choose a different book.
And now… Joyβs Best Books of 2020:
Hi Maryse,
Iβm super late with my best reads of 2020! This election stuff has me in a funk. I live in the DC area and the violence on the 6th and possible further violence has me on edge. Reading has been my source of comfort during the pandemic!
So, hereβs my list of books that kept me in happy mood! I always read peopleβs best of lists on your site and try to list books that hadnβt been mentioned.
I have 21 mentions, with some being a series of books.
- Alpha Lords Series by Delta James <— Werewolves and Dragons work together to save Britannia!
- Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden Mills
- Without You by Marley ValentineΒ <— M/M
- Famine (The Four Horsemen Book 4) by Laura Thalassa
- Her Elemental Dragons Series by Elizabeth Briggs
- Quarantine Omegas Series by Lizzy Bequin
- Tales From Verania Series by TJ Klune <— I couldnβt stop laughing!
Joy: Just finished TJ Kluneβs Tales From Verania series! OMG, I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS SERIES! Itβs M/M and the cast of characters are BFFβs and were absolutely hilarious.
- Thereβs Sam, the wizard apprentice with a destiny of uniting the Dragons of Verania to help him defeat a dark villain.
- Knight Delicious Face, the commander of the royal army and Samβs cornerstone/soulmate.
- Kevin the Dragon is the Beast from the East, whose favorite statement is, βOnce you go Dragon, all the rest is lagginβ! Kevinβs soulmate is a narcissistic Unicorn, named Gary (they refer to sex as a visit to Garyβs bakery, lol)
- and the adorable, loving, half-giant, named Tiggy!
Thereβs so much familial love and adoration between Sam and his loved ones that I laughed & smiled through all four books!
- Werelock Evolution Series by Hettie Ivers
- Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin <— Best pirate book Iβve read!
- Beautifully Cruel by JT Geissinger
Joy: Hi everyone! Maryse, Iβm reading Beautifully Cruel and am into it soooooo hard! Iβm picturing Stuart Reardon as Liam! Heβs all sorts of yumminess, has loads of tats and I think heβs of Irish descent. I canβt wait to see where this story goes.
Stacy: I read Beautifully Cruel earlier this week and loved it!
- The Slay Quartet by Laurelin Paige
- Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles by Cora Reilly
- The Last Riders MC Series by Jamie Begley
- After The Fall: Fallen Men Book 4 by Giana Darling
- Sworn To The Shadow God by Ruby Dixon
- Wolves of Crimson Hollow Series by M. H. Soars
- Knights Rebels MC Series by River Savage
- On My Knees DuetΒ by Ella James <— M/M
- Swallow It Down by Addison Cain
- Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley
Honourable Mention: The House In The Cerulean Sea. This is such a feel good book. You fall in love with each of these characters! You see how the magical children are raised so lovingly by their caretaker, (Arthur Parnassus) and how they come to love the man that was sent to investigate their home as he grows to love them!
Love Joy’s book taste? Check out more of her favorites:
- Reader Favorites β Joyβs Top Favorite Books List
- Reader Favorites β Joyβs Top Books of 2019 List
βββ Β Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our βUltimate Favorites Listsβ here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? BrowseΒ our favorite βgenre/trope categoriesβ here and our reader favorites lists too.
βββ Do you have your βBest of 2020 listβ for us? Send it to me here. π
OMG, Maryse! This post made my week! Youβre such a sweetheart and I truly adore your blog!
YAY Joy!!!!! π I’m so glad you love it here!!!! β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ