Happy New Year! For my first post of 2020 I’m sharing the 12 books on my reading list for this year. One of my resolutions is always to read more, but now that I’ve developed an obsession for true crime and history podcasts, I haven’t allowed myself as much reading time. Hopefully, this list can keep me accountable.

I was inspired by Shirinatra’s reading list for 2020. At the start of each year, she makes a list of all the books she wants to read. I think that’s a great practice to adopt. However, I really don’t want these to join the list of books I’ve started and abandoned halfway through (I haven’t forgotten about you, Marie Antoinette: The Journey). So, to be realistic, I’ve selected just one book for each month to get started.

Here are the 12 books I’ll be reading in 2020 (and hopefully more). What’s on your reading list this year? I’d love some recommendations!

My Reading List for 2020

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo (2019)

This is first on the list because I’m currently reading it. It was a Book of the Month pick and I’ve seen it on all sorts of recommended reading lists. Taddeo followed the lives of three women over the course of eight years to learn about how desire and sexuality varies between women. I’m only a few chapters in but so far it’s an eye-opening reminder that we should never judge because we never know all the facts (and even if we do, it still isn’t our job to judge).

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (2019)

I’m a huge fan of Gladwell’s “Revisionist History” podcast, so I can’t wait to read, or listen, to his new book that explores how easily we can misread people we don’t know. In his interview on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, Gladwell suggests the audio book over the physical book because it offers even more insight into the stories and people involved. For example, when there’s a quote, you might get the actual recording of the person speaking it.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018)

This book was one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks. According to the author’s website, it’s been a New York Times bestseller for 58 weeks. My coworkers have talked about it. I saw a woman in the airport reading it once. I just need to read this book already!

Claire Ambler by Booth Tarkington (1928)

I couldn’t make it through this list without including a book from the Roaring ’20s! I ordered a first edition copy of this book from Etsy last year but still haven’t got to it, sadly. Tarkington is one of only three writers to have won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice (William Faulkner and John Updike are the other two). A Goodreads review calls Claire Ambler “a sensational novel of a flapper and her internal conflict with being herself.” Right up my alley!

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (2015)

I’ve heard Rachel Hollis mention this book over and over again on her “Rise” podcast. I don’t ready many self-help books, but this one appeals to me because it focuses on tapping into your creativity.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (2019)

I have two of Gilbert’s books on this list yet I haven’t read anything of hers, but after I saw the phrases “unique love story,” “New York City” and “the 1940s” in the description, how could I resist adding it to the list?

The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth L. Cline (2019)

One reason why I began shopping at thrift stores and vintage stores instead of retail stores is because of the harmful effects of fast fashion on the environment and on the lives of the people creating it. I’m looking forward to learning more about how to be a more conscious consumer through this book.

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum (2019)

Around the time I started shopping for clothing at secondhand shops, I also got more serious about recycling and using less plastic. Before then, I felt like I was always hearing how bad plastic was for the earth, but trying to make such a lifestyle change seemed daunting. I think this book will serve as a helpful reminder about why to make the change and provide practical advice on how to give it up for good.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015)

For Halloween this year, Guapo and I were dressed as the moon and the stars. I was wearing a rhinestone star headband with a long slip dress and a velvet cropped jacket. A woman approached us and asked if I was dressed as the main character from A Court of Thorns and Roses because I looked like her. I hadn’t heard of it. It turns out it’s a series that’s a retelling of popular fairy tales with faerie lore. It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy series so this may be the next one I pick up.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988)

I’ve had this book on my list for years. Originally written in Portuguese, it was translated and became an international bestseller described as a magical tale of self-discovery that reminds us to listen to our heart.

Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele (2010)

This book was also mentioned on the Malcolm Gladwell episode of “Armchair Expert.” Steele, a social psychologist, shares the findings from his first-person research on stereotypes and how they affect us.

Mary’s Household Tips & Tricks by Mary Berry (2019)

The Great British Baking Show never fails to put me in a good mood, partly because Mary Berry is so adorable. This book sounds like a guide I could rely on for nearly everything. It covers basics like how to get stains out of all kinds of fabric and set a formal dining table. Essentially, it’s a modern guide for people like me who struggle with adulting.

Let me know what you’ll be reading this year in the comments below or on Instagram.

FYI: Valentine’s Day is just a month away! Here are 8 vintage-inspired Valentine’s Day gift ideas.