Inspire Great Reading for Winter 2020

Last week, I shared I started reading Annie F. Downs' daily devotional book, 100 Days to Brave. I'm enjoying the reading, but it's not the only book I'm reading this winter season. No, the winter season is meant for snuggling up with your favorite blanket, sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate, and reading a fun book on a chilly winter evening.

Just like I do with every season, I like to feature new reading recommendations on the blog for you to consider adding to your "to-be-read" list this season. There are many options available this season, so enjoy these five suggestions. They're so worth it.

1. "Tweet Cute" - Emma Lord 

Emma Lord's Tweet Cute (photo/Amazon.com).

Fans of the 1990's romantic comedy You've Got Mail will most likely be fans of Emma Lord's debut novel, Tweet Cute. Set in high school, Pepper is the all-around perfectionist, chronic overachiever, and captain of the swim team. Her family is falling apart, but their fast-food restaurant is booming, thanks to Pepper who secretly runs Big League Burger's Twitter account.

Jack, on the other hand, is the class clown and he's constantly annoying Pepper at school. He helps his family's deli, but everything comes to a halt when Big Leauge Burger steals his grandma's famous grilled cheese recipe. Furious at this, he does whatever it takes to take down the business...on Twitter, of course.

Pepper and Jack engage in a viral Twitter war. They're duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, but it doesn't take long for them to fall in love on the anonymous chat app Jack built. As their online shenanigans escalate, the two seemingly rivals have no idea they're talking to each other and falling in love. This results in an unexpected, awkward (in a cute way), all-the-feels romance you won't be able to put down. Fall in love with Pepper and Jack in Tweet Cute, available on January 21.

2. "Such a Fun Age" - Kiley Reid

Kiley Reid's Such a Fun Age (photo/Amazon.com).

In one of the most highly anticipated novels of the year, Kiley Reid delivers an exhilarating new voice with her debut novel, Such a Fun Age. The story focuses on race and privilege as a young African-American babysitter, Emira Tucker, takes a job for a white confidence-driven woman, Alix Chamberlain.

Tensions rise late one night when Emira is at a grocery store and a security guard accuses her of kidnapping Alix's two-year-old child. Alix promises to help, but because of racial differences and her cultural background, Emira is hesitant to trust her. Both women find themselves on a crash course that will certainly upend everything they think they know about themselves, race, and culture. Explore the complicated reality of race in Such a Fun Age, out now.

3. "In the Land of Men: A Memoir" - Adrienne Miller 

Adrienne Miller's In the Land of Men (photo/Amazon.com).

In the riveting memoir, In the Land of Men, Adrienne Miller recalls her experience as the first female literary editor of Esquire. At just 25 years old, she's working in a male-dominated world. Miller's recollection explores her complicated friendship with David Foster Wallace. In addition, she enlightens the power and dark truth often found in the literary publication business.

This memoir ultimately asks the question: "How does a young woman fit into this male culture and at what cost?" With great wit and deep intelligence, Miller presents an inspirational memoir of a young woman's identity in "the land of men." Don't miss In the Land of Men, available on February 11.

4. "American Dirt" - Jeanine Cummins 

Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt (photo/Amazon.com).

Another highly anticipated novel of the year, Jeanine Cummins' novel, American Dirt, is being hailed as "the Grapes of Wrath of our times" and a "new American classic." The story focuses on Lydia Quixano Perez, a Mexican bookseller who must flee to America with her eight-year-old son to evade the long arm of a violent drug cartel. As Lydia and her son find themselves miles away from their comfortable lifestyle (and her husband), they have to make sacrifices to seek a better life. They meet countless people along the way and Lydia soon realizes everyone is running away from something. But where are they all running to?

A thrilling, epic and unforgettable story of human hope, Cummins' American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people who are willing to sacrifice everything for one small glimmer of hope. Look for this novel in bookstores on January 21.

5. "The Two Lives of Lydia Bird" - Josie Silver

Josie Silver's The Two Lives of Lydia Bird (photo/Goodreads).

In Josie Silver's newest novel, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, readers learn about Lydia and Freddie. They have been a couple for almost a decade and everything seems perfect. But on Lydia's 27th birthday, Freddie dies in a tragic car accident.

Now it's just Lydia. For the past 10 years, her life has always been intersected with Freddie's. Now he's gone, so she hides indoors and sobs. She lost her best friend and her soulmate. How can she go on living without him? Eventually, she enlists the help of Freddie's best friend and her sister to try to start a new life--one without Freddie.

But then something unbelievable happens and Lydia gets another chance at her old life with Freddie. But what happens when someone in her new life doesn't want her to leave? In this heartbreaking, uplifting romantic tale, Silver will make you laugh, cry and remind you of the wonderful gift it is to love and be loved. Look for The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, available on January 30.

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These are only five reading recommendations to consider this winter 2020 season. There are so many talented writers emerging (or returning) to the literary scene this year, and I couldn't be more excited to read their work. All five of these recommendations are captivating, powerful stories about "real-life" emotions: love, family, race, society, and more. You won't want to miss these books--because everyone will be talking about them. You don't want to be left out of the loop, do you?

No, I didn't think so.

Read on.

-KJL-