The Roxy Letters was just what I needed right now, as coronavirus upends the world: a funny, joyful, lighthearted book about a character you can’t help but love.

Fugitive Pieces is a gorgeously written story about the lingering trauma of the Holocaust. It’s a book you read not necessarily for its plot, but for its poetic style and the emotions it brings forth.

House of Earth and Blood was just SO good. It features a well-plotted mystery, characters to die for, heartbreaking revelations, and a fantastic ending.

A Spell of Winter is an eerie gothic novel set in the lead-up to WWI. It has a pretty good plot line but absolutely excellent prose.

Under the Rainbow is about a task force of queer people who get sent to live in Kansas, in “the most homophobic town in America.” It’s part pain, part hope, and very, very good.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is a great sequel. I was impressed by how Tomi Adeyemi built such a tangled, complex political conflict with no clear winners or losers — hate destroys everyone.

Ordinary People is poetic yet scathing, showing us the messy sides of love, parenthood, partnership, and self.

Frankissstein — a modern-day retelling of Frankenstein mixed with some historical ficion — is absolutely fantastic. Jeanette Winterson is a literary legend for a reason.

The Catalyst is a helpful, well-researched book about lowering the barriers of resistance in people’s minds. There were some really good nuggets in there that I will probably use quite often.

How to Be An Artist is a slim book containing just over 60 short “lessons.” I think it’s most useful for people pursuing visual art like drawing or painting, but it was a fun little read.

I appreciated Milkman more than I enjoyed it (it’s dense), but its impressiveness as a work of literary fiction can’t be denied.

Abhorsen is the conclusion of the epic story started in Sabriel. It was one of the best endings I’ve read in a while, resonating with all the things people love about with classic fantasy.

THIS BOOK IS WILD. Ronan Farrow brings the drama this story deserves, as he tells us how he had to fight against literal evil forces to tell the world about Harvey Weinstein’s crimes.

Real Life is an aching, bruising story about a young Black gay man struggling to wade through his circumstances that will leave you gutted. And the way Brandon Taylor uses words is incredible.

Amnesty is an in-depth look at the world from an illegal immigrant’s perspective that leaves a ringing, lasting impression.

This is a small but hard-hitting poetry collection about three stages of life: youth, cyclical aging, and both death and birth. Hannah Sullivan is a master with words.

This is a fast-paced, easy to read, exciting YA fantasy novel. I liked it!

Girl, Woman, Other is a beautifully written, raw, and real look at women from all walks of life, today and in days past. I devoured every word.