A 2020 Booklist: What I'm Reading this Year

HobbyWellness

Jan 28

Written By Cate

Y'all enjoyed my similar post so much last year, that I decided to make an updated one for what's currently on my 2020 booklist. Seeing as I didn't reach my goal of 24 books last year (and I only had 20 on my list), I decided to keep this list short and sweet with just 10 books. If you were keeping up with my progress on GoodReads, you'll know I finished 18 books (yay!). I still have a problem with starting books and not finishing them, but I am doing better (haha).

Cozy higgle corner with a 2020 booklist and coffee brewed in a rose gold French press with rustic home decor

cat sniffing a pile of books and sitting on top. Cow hide poof with copper French press. — My cat, Fergus, decided to make an appearance in my photoshoot and I rolled with it.

I've written a description for each of the books and included a linked image to where I picked up my copy!

Without further ado, here is my 2020 booklist:

fluffy cat sitting on a wooden bench next to a window with a pile of books and cup of coffee

1. A Walk In The Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh by Joseph Parent and Nancy Parent

I kind of cheated with this book, as I read it between Christmas and New Years, but it was too sweet not to include. A good introduction for those interested in mindfulness and meditation, it would even be great to read with littles. I loved that it wasn't too deep into the mechanics or the spirituality that meditation books often can be.

2. Foxfire Living: Design, Recipes, and Stories from the Magical Inn in the Catskills by Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian

I've been eating this book up during my very hygge January. As it's one of my lifelong ambitions to run a bed & breakfast, this tale about a couple doing that very thing is inspiring. Eliza and Tim follow an alternative living path and open up an inn in the Catskills (a mountain range in upstate NY). Eliza shares decor tips and Tim has the best recipes.

3. The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing House Plants: The art and science to grow your own house plants by Kay Maguire

This beautiful book caught my eye, and although I have yet to crack it, I'm excited to learn more about my house plants. I've got quite the collection, but I have no idea what I'm doing. They all seem happy. Loving London as much as I do, I'd love to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens one day.

4. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Growing up, I read all the classics. The Secret Garden was not one of them. If I had a penny for every time I was told that I have to read this book, well, I wouldn't know what to do with them because we don't have pennies in Canada anymore. This is my year. I will read this book. And I bought the prettiest version, too.

5. Magnolia Table Volume 2 by Joanna Gaines

Some people hate a bit on the Gaines' empire, but I buy into it 1000%. Joanna Gaines is one of my role models and out of all their books, Magnolia Table is my favourite. I've tried many of the recipes and none have been overly difficult and all have turned out amazing. Many are now my household staples. That's why I'm highly anticipating Volume 2 of the collection.

Here are a few of my best tried recipes in Volume 1:

After-school banana bread
Grilled havarti, tomato & basil sandwiches
Roasted cauliflower soup
Tomato basil soup with grilled cheese strips
Autumn butternut squash soup
Shepherd's pie
Broiled honey-thyme peaches with ice cream & aged balsamic

6. Farm + Land's Back to the Land: A Modern Guide to Outdoor Life by Freddie Pikovsky and Nicole Caldwell

I actually picked this one up for my boyfriend for Christmas, as he has been getting into reading lately. He's enjoying it so much that I'll have to read it when he's done. The book shares stories of alternative lifestyles of getting off the grid, back to the land. How-to's are also imbedded within.

7. Fraiche Food, Full Hearts: A Collection of Recipes for Every Day and Casual Celebrations by Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer

Another aesthetic, millennial cookbook? Don't mind if I do. Bachelor star turned HGTV host Jillian Harris and her nutritionist cousin share family recipes from the heart. After thumbing through this book, I immediately fell in love with how they took the time to put together whole dinner menus for specific occasions, everything from a big Christmas feast to a simple brunch.

8. The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 2 by Robert Lacey

I'm obsessed with the Crown on Netflix: that and every single documentary/movie/show on British Royals. These official companions give a great inside look on how the show compares to real life.

9. Cosy: The British Art of Comfort by Laura Weir

I love easy reads like this. Laura Weir has a good sense of straight up British humour (which is my cup of tea), and her book reads like a blog or a letter from a friend. Perfect before bed with a hot beverage or a glass of wine.