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The Most Read Books of the 2020 Reading Challenge
We all want to spend more time lost in the pages of great books. That's the idea behind our annual Goodreads Reading Challenge! It's simple: Every January readers set a goal of how many books they want to read that year, and we help them keep track of it. This year more than 4 million readers have joined the Challenge, pledging to read a total of 237 million books!
Now that we're halfway through the year, we thought it would be fun to see which books have been the most read of the 2020 Challenge. Below you'll find those books listed in order of popularity. So far this year, we're seeing a strong return to the classics and beloved favorites, with the boy wizard taking the lead among the Challenge takers.
By the way: It's not too late to set a reading goal or even edit your current Challenge! Check out the list below and get inspired to read more books this summer.
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What are some of your favorite reads from your 2020 Reading Challenge so far this year? Let us know in the comments!
Comments Showing 51-100 of 154 (154 new)
message 51:
by
Melissa
(new)
Jun 27, 2020 12:01PM
I’ve read some of these books before (18 of the 40), but I haven’t read any of them this year. Would be more interested in seeing the most read 2020 releases to be honest.
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NOOBS I ARE ALL TRASH AND SMELL OF DOO DOO FART DR PLAY ROBLOX IT'S EPIC AND I CAN EARN MONEY AND THEN GET GONE OF BOOKS
I keep looking at Normal People, but 4 people have now told me it’s really boring and life in lockdown is dull enough without a dull book. Is Elena Ferrante as good as everyone says?
Some of my favorites I’ve read this year are Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, The Paris Hours, This Tender Land, and Beach Read. I have been fortunate to not have any books I haven’t liked yet this year. 🙂
Dasha wrote: "I do not participate because last time I tried reading challenge it didn't count some books for the challenge, probably a glitch. But I've read most books from this list anyway."
It always counts them. I don't know why ut didn't for you. It was probably that you just clicked on the READ button instead of adding a date because when you add a date that's in the year, it will count it. It also works if you add it on CURRENTLY READING first so it knows when you are actually reading/ finished reading it.
Audrey wrote: "Will there be a Summer Reading Challenge like the last few years?"Good question, I hope so
Melissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I have read Jodi Picoult. Love her books!"She has a new novel coming out in the fall 2020."
Yeah, her books are great. I have most of them and the new one on order.
I have read 15 of these...but none of them this year. -_-
I've read 17 of these books. What about Harry Potter though? No Re-readers out there?
City of Girls, If it Bleeds, books by Lisa Jewell, My Dark Vanessa, Dutch House, Night. Death. Stars., books by Colleen Hoover, Verity, The Wives
I've read 17 books on this list....I don't believe any of them were in 2020 though.
As dreadful as the last few months have been, it's at least nice to see that a lot of people have gotten around to reading more classics, and re-reading childhood faves. My comfort reads this year have been the Moomin books by Tove Jansson, they're so sweet and nostalgic.
Just glad to see 50 shades isn't there. This is a nice collection of "classics" and some of the most popular books from the last 10-20 years. I've already read many of them, some years ago. But there are others that have been on my "to read" list for years, books I should read to be "culturally literate" or to know "what all the fuss is about".. Not surprising that many of us are finally getting to the "to read" section, with less access to what's new - libraries and bookstores closed. I've been working my way thriough a scratch off poster of "100 essential books", some great, some not so much... Best: 438 Days and The Fireman.
I loved Beach Read, Get a Life Chloe Brown. They were fun, easy reads during a time of uncertainty. A true escape from reality.
I love 1084...I currently read new brave world
I recommend Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Started that series and love it. Great historical fiction/romance/fantasy/
adventure. It’s been around for years but I just gave it a shot this spring. Also try My Dark Vanessa.
Lenni wrote: "I’m surprised Crescent City isn’t up there. My fav read so far this year is probably Alpha Erased or American Royals."I loved American Royals!!
Some of my favorite reads this year: Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel), Horrorstor (Grady O’Brien), The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Stuart Turton), My Lovely Wife (Samantha Downing).
My favourite so far this year has to be a re-read of a book I read some years back when it first came out in paperback - Jasper Fforde's "The Fourth Bear" from his Nursery Crimes series. It was just what I needed - an unlike-anything-else, quirky, fun whodunit with great plays on words and wonderful characters. And I will never look at a gingerbread man the same way again!
Of the 40 books, I've read 11 (almost 12; I should be done with To Kill A Mockingbird in a day or two), though not all of them this year. I also have 12 on my TBR list, many of which I hope to read before the year is over. We'll see about the others - I have so many classics to catch up on that the newer books will just have to wait. Plus they will be easier to get from the library once the hype dies down anyway.Adam wrote: "Does anyone else get the suspicion that perhaps some people are adding to their already finished lists books they have already read, perhaps as early as the 6th grade, despite not bothering rereadi..."
As someone who has added a lot of classics to my "Read" bookshelf in the last couple of years, I can share my perspective. I grew up in Puerto Rico, so my required reading list likely looked a bit different from yours while growing up. I never had the pleasure of reading To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, 1984 or Jane Eyre (and those are just a few examples from this list) until I joined a book club here on Goodreads that reads a lot of classics. I also joined a club locally that reads books that are more recent, but it's only once a month unless I pick something else up - and I'm so far behind on classics that it feels like that's most of what I've been reading!
But again, that's just me :)
Carole Kipp wrote: "Are these books free to download?"The list here is only a list of them, but those on the list that are old enough to be public domain can be accessed for free elsewhere. I'd suggest googling Project Gutenberg to get those. All the others can be read for free using your public library system. Newer titles have long holds or you have to purchase them.
difrinet tastes so good and agree with natalie..good lk with read more in this list
Wonder is an excellent book. I also stayed up way too late reading both The Girl with the Louding Voice and Genesis Begins Again
People appear to be using lockdown to read the "classics" they have never read, hence "The Hobbit", "To kill a mockingbird", Jane Austin & Emily Bronte being on the list. I had to reset my reading challenge, originally had it set at 50, got to end of April & I'd read nearly 40, so changed it to 100. Shall see if I hit that.
I've read 22 of the books but only one of them this year.
My favourite book this year has been American Gods!
So fdar, Cilka's Journey was my favorite read by far for 2020.
There are about a dozen books missing from my challenge numbers. Goodreads should offer the option of letting us add our own books to the list rather than updating automatically. I had a bunch if books missing last year too. 🤷♀️
Adam wrote: "Does anyone else get the suspicion that perhaps some people are adding to their already finished lists books they have already read, perhaps as early as the 6th grade, despite not bothering rereadi..."Adam wrote: "Does anyone else get the suspicion that perhaps some people are adding to their already finished lists books they have already read, perhaps as early as the 6th grade, despite not bothering rereadi..."
Or perhaps many users are teenagers reading high school assigned books?
I read Red White and Royal Blue. I am one who will not read descriptions of books so I can form my own opion of the book. Makes it more fun.
Gemma wrote: "Read 22 (Not this year though) and 8 on my TBR. My favourites this year have been American Dirt, Lilac Girls and The Beekeeper of Allepo 😊"I loved American Dirt also. I’m surprised it’s not on the list.
My favorite so far this year is A Gentleman in Moscow. It was especially relevant during my quarantine days, inspiring me to stop whining and make the best of it.American Dirt was a compelling and important book for me.
I wonder if the covid lockdown resulted in readers taking the time to read or reread the classics.
Of Fire and Lions, Angle of Repose and Book of Friends are my top 3 for 2020. Looking at my reading, I am surprised at how many books I've rated with 2 and 3 stars this year.
My favorite books in 2020:Florence Adler Swims Forever
Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey
Nemesis
The Danish Girl
American Dirt
I have read 29 of these but some were read eons ago while in school. Really surprised there aren’t more recent releases?
Where is American Dirt??? The best book of many I have read this year. I may have to quit following Goodreads if you don't get your best books in good order!!!
My favorite read this year was A Gentleman in Moscow.
Sam wrote: "I keep looking at Normal People, but 4 people have now told me it’s really boring and life in lockdown is dull enough without a dull book. Is Elena Ferrante as good as everyone says?"Elena Ferrante is as good as everyone says.
I thought the list was interesting too- it looks like a high school reading list! You are right- new readers are probably adding books they have read and it skews the results
I have enjoyed a feast of historical novels by Susanna Gregory set in 1340'. Also enjoyed The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. I think a lot of people seem to have raided their book shelves for something to read as the libraries are closed. I am planning to re-read all my David Attenborough and Tolkien books by the end of the year. Thank God for my kindle to download books although I now have rather a lot to get through. Don't you just love reading challenges to get you motivated.
My favorite books so far are Long Bright River and My Dark Vanessa.
My favorite read so far this year is This Tender Land. 20th century Huck Finn tale.
