> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thesignaturejess.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Books That Carried Me Through 2020 - URL: https://www.thesignaturejess.com/my-book-picks-2020/ - Published: 2020-12-31T00:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-09T17:14:21.000Z - Description: In 2020, I mostly stayed home working in the midst of the pandemic and its incertitude. I took most of my off-screen time to read. Here are my picks: - Author: Jess - Tags: Books & Audiobooks ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-zikora.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/sue-townsend-adrian-mole-growing-pains.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/sue-townsend-adrian-mole-secret-diary.jpg) #### ***Zikora** ****– Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie** (2020) - Set in the USA and rooted in Nigerian culture - It’s a short story – unfortunately because I wanted more! - Gladly, you can now know more about Zikora in [***Dream Count**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jesss-books-of-2025/), published in 2025 - Deals with shame and societal expectations upon women #### ***The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole** **(Adrian Mole #2) – Sue Townsend** - Second book from the saga, out of 8 - Deals with the awkwardness of growing up in the midst of family drama - It’s so nice to see and follow Adrian as he is growing up #### ***The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾** **(Adrian Mole #1) – Sue Townsend** - Set in England in the 1980s, in the Margaret Thatcher years - A coming of age diary style, great for teenagers - Delivers great British culture classics such as the first one ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/caroline-hirons-skin-care.jpg) #### ***Skincare: the Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide** **– Caroline Hirons** - Discovered Caroline Hirons on social media whilst an independent workers advocate during the pandemic, didn't know her prior to that and the legend that she was - Tackles skincare with experience based storytelling - Caroline has a very witty and sharp way of writing and talking ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/jasmine-guillory-party-of-two.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/jasmine-guillory-royal-holiday.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/jasmine-guillory-the-wedding-party.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/jasmine-guillory-the-proposal-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/jasmine-guillory-the-wedding-date-1.jpg) #### ***Party of Two** **(The Wedding Date #5) – Jasmine Guillory** - Olivia (Alexa’s sister, from book #1) gets involved with Max, a US senator - They have to hide their relationship from the spotlight - Deals with politics and interracial relationships - I gather this was my favourite book from the series #### ***Royal Holiday** **(The Wedding Date #4) – Jasmine Guillory** - A more mature love story, involving Maddie’s mom Vivian (from book #3) - Set in the United Kingdom mostly, as Maddie is styling an American duchess ([who might it be](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/tv-with-love-meghan-netflix-review/)?!) - Set in a cosy and festive Christmas setting - If you want another book set in the UK during Christmas time, I have read [***The Wake Up Call**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jesss-books-of-2025/) in 2025 #### ***The Wedding Party** **(The Wedding Date #3) – Jasmine Guillory** - Here we have a romance brewing between Maddie (Alexa's best friend from book #1) and Theo - It’s a “enemies to lovers” kind of story – this trope is usually not a favourite of mine - Deals with a fashion environment as the main character is a stylist #### ***The Proposal** **(The Wedding Date #2) – Jasmine Guillory** - A [****Reese’s Book Club pick**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/influenced-by-reese-witherspoon/) - Here we meet Carlos, Drew’s best friend from the first book of the series - Deals with independence, growth, lots of food too and the importance of female friendships - Honestly, it is the book I liked the least in the saga but it did not demote me in reading the following publications [What I Loved from Reese Witherspoon’s Bookclub & ProductionsReese’s Book Club has become my go-to for powerful, female-led stories. From Such a Fun Age to Little Fires Everywhere, these 7 picks stood out for their sharp writing, unforgettable characters, and screen-worthy plots. Here’s what I loved about each book so far![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-405.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/Reese-Witherspoon-gigapixel-standard-v2-2x-medium-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/influenced-by-reese-witherspoon/) #### ***The Wedding Date** **(The Wedding Date #1) – Jasmine Guillory** - First of a 6-book series - Set in the United States - Very sexy and flirty romance between Alexa & Drew, with lots of food - Deals with an interracial relationship ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/celeste-ng-everything-i-never-told-you.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/liane-moriarty-nine-perfect-strangers.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/isabel-allende-house-of-spirits.jpg) #### **Everything I Never Told You* – Celeste Ng (2014) - From the author of Little Fires Everywhere which I read in 2019 - Set in Ohio, United States in the 1970s - Deals with family loss, death, immigrant families and parental expections upon their children - A stunning book. I like anything written from this woman #### **Nine Perfect Strangers* \- Liane Moriarty (2018) - Even though this book was not picked by Reese's book club, the author has written two books which were, such as Big Little Lies - Set in a wellness retreat in Australia - Around Masha, a Russian former executive that creates the retreat - Deals with brainwashing loss, trauma and family relationships - Was adapted into a [***miniseries**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/tv-shows-we-loved-that-are-not-netflix/) I have already reviewed [Tired of Netflix? Try These 10 Underrated TV Shows InsteadTired of everyone recommending the same Netflix series? Discover 10 brilliant shows from other platforms like Prime Video, Hulu, Max and Apple TV, curated for hidden gem lovers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-389.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1560169897-fc0cdbdfa4d5-8)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/tv-shows-we-loved-that-are-not-netflix/) #### **The House of the Spirits (La Casa de los Espíritus)* – Isabel Allende - Set in Chile - Follows a family for three generations under intense economical and political turmoils - Has magical realism, usual in Allende's books - I was obsessed about this story ever since watching the movie adaptation with Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Wynona Ryder and Antonio Banderas as a child in the 1990s ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/sally-hepworth-mother-in-law.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/helena-magalhaes-raparigas-como-nos.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/chandler-baker-whisper-network.jpg) #### ***The Mother-in-Law** **– Sally Hepworth** (2019) - Set in Australia - Great thriller with family drama - Dual POV in different timelines #### **Raparigas como Nós* \- Helena Magalhães (2019) - Takes place in Portugal (and a few bits in Spain) - Read this one in Portuguese, doesn't have an English version yet - Bought the book twice to offer it to a family member #### ***Whisper Network** **– Chandler Baker (2019)** - A [****Reese’s Book Club pick**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/influenced-by-reese-witherspoon/) - Set in the corporate world in Dallas, United States - Multiple POV - which is delicious, to have all the different perspectives - Deals with a toxic environment at work, (lack of) consent and the MeToo movement ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/kevin-kwan-rich-people-problems-crazy-rich-asians.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/kevin-kwan-china-rich-girlfriend-crazy-rich-asians-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/tayari-jones-silver-sparrow.jpg) #### ***Rich People Problems** ****(Crazy Rich Asians #3) – Kevin Kwan** - I read this book really sad about it being the last in the series - It brings the whole clan back to set deep seethed feuds - As you are just in love with the character, you can’t get enough about their obsessions and sharpness #### ***China Rich Girlfriend** **(Crazy Rich Asians #2) – Kevin Kwan** - Second book of the ***Crazy Rich Asians** saga, which I started reading in 2019 - Explores the rise of the mainland China elite - Deals with glamourous Asian families (and it reminded me of rich Angolan families drama and expectations. Same same!) - I just love Kevin Kwan’s smart and witty writing #### ***Silver Sparrow** **– Tayari Jones** - Same author as ***An American Marriage**, a book I read in 2019 and loved - Set in Atlanta, United States - Deals with bigamy, shame and family loyalty beyond all ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/kelly-harms-the-overdue-life-of-amy-byler.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/becoming-michelle-obama.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/the-cactus-sarah-haywood.jpg) #### ***The Overdue Life of Amy Byler** **– Kelly Harms** - "Mom had enough" kind of storyline - A journey of self discovery - Deals with the bookish world, with several literature references - If you liked this one, read [***The Bookish Life of Nina Hill**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jesss-books-of-2025/) which I read in 2025 #### ***Becoming** ****– Michelle Obama** - Great memoir and storytelling - Deals with US politics, family and overcoming structural prejudice - If you liked this one for the US politics backstage, I recommend [***Both/And**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jessica-books-of-2024/) that I read in 2024 #### **The Cactus* – Sarah Haywood (2018) - A [****Reese’s Book Club pick**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/influenced-by-reese-witherspoon/) - Set in the United Kingdom - Deals with Susan, a quirky woman with a strict routine who has to question it all - Has some similarities with ***Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine**, also read prior in 2020 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/the-flatshare-beth-oleary.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine-gail-honeyman.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/2025/08/ali-wong-dear-girls.jpg) #### ***The Flatshare** **– Beth O’Leary** - Set in England - From strangers to flatmates type of story - One of my favourite books ever - Was adapted into a cute [***miniseries**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/must-watch-british-miniseries/) on Paramount+ [British Miniseries worth your timeLove a short, sharp mystery with secrets, drama, and dark British vibes? Or just a countryside love story? Here are more than 20 binge-worthy British miniseries you shouldn’t miss.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-388.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1462293781490-9637490a111d-1)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/must-watch-british-miniseries/) #### **Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine* \- Gail Honeyman - One of my favourite books in 2020 - The first [****Reese's Book Club pick**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/influenced-by-reese-witherspoon/) ever - I have been waiting for it to become a movie or a miniseries ever since - Female centered - Set in Scotland #### ***Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for living your Best Life** **– Ali Wong (2019)** - Great storytelling - Sharp witty humour - Deals with acceptance, prejudice and societal expectations ## Check what I read next: [Jess’s Books of 2024I am book lover who is into romance, memoirs and is dipping her toes into thrillers as well. Here are the books I have read in 2024.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-386.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/books-of-2024-6.png)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jessica-books-of-2024/) [Jess’s Books of 2025I am a book lover who is into romance, memoirs and is dipping her toes into thrillers as well. Here are the books I have read so far in 2025.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-387.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1513475382585-d06e58bcb0e0)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/jesss-books-of-2025/) > *Like this content? 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