10 OF THE NEW TO ME AUTHOR DISCOVERIES I MADE IN 2020
By definition I would have “comfort reader” tagged all over my bookworm personality. This is why I continue to go back to authors like Becky Wade, Katherine Reay or of course, Kasie West. I know what I like and am not embarrassed by that statement. That said, there’s something about a new page, that first discovery of an author that makes things, well, exciting. Add in a new (to me) author, and you have a potential recipe for success. With all that in mind, we are ready to talk about new to me authors of 2020.
LIST | A LOOK AT THE EXCITING 2021 BOOK TO SCREEN ADAPTATIONS
To be honest, aside from two names (which I don’t think count as they’re debut authors), I cannot think of any new-to-me authors I discovered in 2020. That said, I know there probably are a few, and so I’ll have to use my own “book reviews” website tag to browse through the books I reviewed in the last year. It seems the most efficient way, and for now, that’s what I’m looking for. Still, I’m willing to bet I’ll be surprised and find some books by authors who I’m actually excited to read more by. Or that’s the hope for today’s plan anyway.
Time to get our surprise (especially me!) on and discover what these names are.
NEW TO ME AUTHORS OF 2020
1: Karin Beery, Practically Married
Read this one for the INSPYs (2020) and while I’m not sure I quite finished it, I did think it was sweet. It’s a modern marriage of convenience story (which is sometimes not easy to do), and overall, I thought was a solid read. Goodreads
2: Debbie Johnson, Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater
To be honest, I didn’t love this book in the way everyone around me seemed to. That said, it does have its moments and is fun in certain aspects. Goodreads
3: Maureen Johnson, Truly Devious
Finally read book one in Johnson’s much buzzed about trilogy. As I have the sequel, someday I need to make time for it, and all three books are interconnected, too. Goodreads
4: Robin Jones Gunn, Secrets
Read this one because of the Hallmark film adaptation (same as Debbie Johnson’s). It’s a nice, easy read, but nothing that I loved.Goodreads
5: Stacey Kade, The Ghost and the Goth
After years of keeping this book on my shelf (i.e., surviving multiple unhauls), I finally read The Ghost and the Goth. It’s cute but not really something I’m going to remember for a long time to come. Tell me, do you recommend the sequels? Goodreads
6: Emma Lord, Tweet Cute
To be honest, I may have started this book in 2019 (I cannot remember…?) since I had an e-ARC, but the book, Tweet Cute has a 2020 release date. Either way, while I did get somewhat distracted while reading this book (I think it was more life vs the actual story), I do remember thinking the concept darling! Goodreads
7: Sandhya Menon, Of Curses and Kisses
Like most of the books likely to populate this list, Sandhya’s books have bene on my list (at least mentally) for years now. I finally read her YA re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, and while it did take me a while to become fully invested in the story, I did enjoy it. Goodreads
8: Beth Reekles, Going the Distance (Kissing Booth 2)
I know these books (or is it the characters?) aren’t super well liked. However I read The Kissing Booth 2 prior to watching the Netflix adaptation and I have to admit, I think it was fun. It’s just a lighthearted, easy to enjoy book and that’s my favorite kind of read. Goodreads
9: Natalie Walters, Living Lies
Read Living Lies for the 2020 INSPYs season, and thought it was a solid romantic suspense debut. Goodreads
10: Jenna Evans Welch, Love and Olives
After months (years?) of saying I wanted to read a novel by this author, FINALLY I did. I did quite enjoy Love and Olives, and since I own Jenna’s prior two companion novels in this trio, I’ll have to also make time for them. Just because who doesn’t love more fun reading? Goodreads
BONUS! The 2020 Debut Authors I Discovered in 2020
- 1: Marissa Kanter, What I Like About You | Funny, cute and all around sweet.
- 2: Alex Light, The Upside of Falling | Super sweet and swoony! What more could I hope for?
- 3: Suzanne Park, The Perfect Escape | Not as fun as I had hoped, but still, entertaining!
What about you; did you read any of these? What were your “new to me authors of 2020”? Did you find any you have to collect all of their backlist? Or make any other memorable discoveries? Comment all the thoughts below.
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I read “Secrets” by Robin Jones Gunn years ago. I saw that Hallmark had a movie based on the storyline as well as the “Christmas Sweater” movie. Saw the movie but didn’t read the book :(
Thanks for stopping by!
Colletta
Appreciate you stopping by, Colletta; hope if you ever read the ‘Christmas Sweater’ book that you enjoy. :)
Tweet Cute has been on so many lists this week!
My post.
It’s a cute little read! Makes me curious about Emma’s 2021 read. :) Thanks for the visit, Lydia.
I read Emma Lord for the first time in 2020, too. She is a talented writer.
“Tweet Cute” is just fun and certainly makes me wonder if I’d like her 2021 release; it sounds different, but I’m still curious. Thanks for the visit, Deanna.
I haven’t read ANY of these! You’ve given me some books to add to my TBR pile.
Hope that’s a good thing… ;) Thanks for the visit, Brittaney.
I really liked Living Lies. Seeing it here reminds me that I need to read the rest of the series. :)
I haven’t read the rest of the books either, Ashley! Hope we both enjoy once we do. :) Thanks for the visit!!
I remember having The Ghost and the Goth on one of my weird book cover TTTs ages back. It still amuses me.
The story is cute, but I’m not sure I’ll bother reading the rest of the books. :) Thanks for the visit, Savannah!!
I read Sandhya Menon for the first time in 2020, and I’m hoping to have better luck with her book for adults!
Let me know if you enjoy Sandhya’s adult fiction; some of them sound fun. :) Thanks for the visit.
There is something special about discovering a new author, for sure! I liked Truly Devious a lot- I need to make time for the next one as well. and I like the first Welch book- as usual, I’m behind! :)
Thanks, Greg; hope we both enjoy Maureen’s follow up mystery. Appreciate your visit! :)
Happy to see you enjoyed Love & Olives! I can’t wait to pick that one up. :)
I did enjoy it, Dedra! :) Hope you also do. Appreciate your visit.
Oh, What I Like About You and The Upside of Falling are both still on my TBR, so glad to hear you enjoyed it! I also really want to try the Jenna Evans Welch books!
I definitely did, Lindsey; let me know what you think if you have the chance to read them. :)
Oh hey, Stacey Kade! What a fun name to see. I read 738 Days and enjoyed it (would have done so more if there’d been a little less emphasis on the Adult scenes part of New Adult, but I think that’s just how the genre is), and I’m still looking forward to Finding Felicity because her actual writing style was great.
Good to know! I’m not into authors that add things “just because” but I also expect it anytime I pick up secular fiction. I’ve heard great things about “Finding Felicity,” but haven’t read much about it on GR, etc. I’ll have to remedy this soon. Thanks for the visit.