Every December, I write a blog post about my top picks for that year and call it the "best of (insert year here)," but I couldn't bring myself to call this "the best of 2020." Nothing about this year was "the best." Instead, I wish to highlight some of the books that got me through this time. These are the books that kept me focused when my brain was refusing to calm down. These are the books with words so beautiful that I could escape the everyday for just a brief moment or two. These are the books that kept me going, and perhaps they can keep you afloat as well.

The avatars of New York City fight an ancient evil before it can kill the city. This is by far my favorite book of the year, and it is easily one of my favorite books of all time. This book is clever, surprising, diverse, and beautiful. More than once, I found myself scrambling to write down a phrase or yelling when something just worked out well. N.K. Jemisin is a genius, and I will be recommending this book to everyone for quite some time.

This is the classic story of Billy Pilgrim becoming unstuck in time, but in graphic novel form. The illustrations are gorgeous, and they enhance the story in beautiful and unexpected ways. This book takes full advantage of its medium, and it is a joy to read.

Zelda goes to improv camp and is excited to land a spot on the top team, especially since cute guy Ben is her coach. But as the summer goes on, it's clear that Ben is not the nice guy he seems to be. I desperately wish this book was around when I was a teenager. It's such a good example of toxic relationships and the harassment that women can face in male-dominated spaces. 

Loosely based on Hitchcock's Rear Window, this novel follows two teens who struggle to sleep. Soon, they begin working together to discover the dark secrets of their sleepy suburb. This has an incredible atmosphere, and between the romance and the mystery, this story is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Think Hardy Boys meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Pete and Al stumble upon a box filled with mystical secrets, and the boys realize they have a mystery on their hands. From the cast of characters to the premise itself, I am obsessed with this novel. I cannot wait for more adventures with these two brothers to hit the shelves.