Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
This week’s Top Ten is: New to Me Authors I Read and Loved in 2020.
I am a day late with this post because it took me awhile to go through my 2020 books, select the new authors from books with 4 or 5 stars. Then I had to figure out which ones would I actively seek out their other books, and recommend to others. I read so many wonderful books, but many were not from new authors. I was not able to condense this to just ten. I categorized the authors by the genre.
Literary Fiction/Drama
William Kent Krueger
Viola Shipman (Could also be considered Hist-Fic)
Romance/Chick-Lit
Jessica Redland (I read 8 books this year)
Michelle Major
T.A. Williams
Historical Fiction
Hazel Gaynor
Police Procedural/Crime
Charlie Donlea (also writes thriller/suspense)
Chris Merritt
Ragnar Jónasson (Icelandic Noir)
Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
Jess Ryder
Cozy Mystery
Judi Lynn (Binged the first 4 Jazzi Zanders books)
Vivien Chien
Humour/Women’s Fiction/Mature Characters
Judy Leigh
YA Own Voices
Nic Stone
So, there you have it. Fourteen Authors that were new to me this year and that I loved. I recommend any and all of these. I had others on my list, but with more investigation, realized that I had read other books by them previous to 2020, which actually helped to condense this down to just fourteen.
So, what authors were on your list?
January 31, 2021 at 7:46 am
I read a quite a few new to me authors in 2020 too. I think 2020 was a good reading year to many of us!
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January 31, 2021 at 8:13 am
I agree, lots of time to read during isolation and lockdown.
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January 30, 2021 at 9:18 am
I discovered William Kent Krueger, Judy Leigh, and Nic Stone this year, too!
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January 30, 2021 at 10:10 am
Glad you also found some new authors to you.
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January 30, 2021 at 12:51 am
Love this post. I’ve read a couple by Judy Leigh too. As I get older myself I’m enjoying books with mature characters.
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January 30, 2021 at 7:38 am
I am the same way. I still enjoy books with younger characters, but it is nice to find some with characters that look have experienced more in life.
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January 29, 2021 at 11:32 pm
“Death By Dumpling” oh my goodness of course I love that title and the others by Vivien Chien! Thank you for sharing these and the others.
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January 29, 2021 at 11:32 pm
I really like her series.
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January 29, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Well I will have to check them out. Thanks again!
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January 29, 2021 at 11:45 pm
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do Diane.
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January 30, 2021 at 12:36 am
Thanks!
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January 29, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Carla, you’ve reminded me that I really want to read “The Heirloom Garden”. I must go see where it is in my queue…
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January 29, 2021 at 4:21 pm
It was one of my favourites in 2020.
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January 29, 2021 at 1:15 am
I have enjoyed previous titles by Jess Ryder and Charlie Donlea. I really need to grab one of those Nic Stone books soon. Great post, Carla.
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January 29, 2021 at 9:49 am
Thanks Diana. I was very lucky to be introduced to so many new and wonderful authors this year.
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January 28, 2021 at 10:02 pm
All of these are new to me, but Redland’s books look super cute! I’ll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing! ❤
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January 29, 2021 at 8:51 am
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did, Dedra.
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January 29, 2021 at 8:55 am
Thank you so much Dedra. If you’re on NetGalley, there’s one available there at the moment – All You Need Is Love – and there are a couple of others on offer. They’re all on Kindle Unlimited. Hope you enjoy them if you do decide to explore Hedgehog Hollow or Whitsborough Bay (where all my non-Hedgehog Hollow books are set) x
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January 28, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Ragnar Jónasson is an author I’ve been curious about, especially for Snowblind! Great list! 😀
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January 28, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Thanks, I have only read the one so far, but am ready to read more.
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January 28, 2021 at 6:35 am
I’ve heard about none of these authors, so I’ll be checking out a lot of these books! 😍
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January 28, 2021 at 12:34 pm
I hope you find one or two you want to try.
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January 27, 2021 at 11:41 pm
I’m trying to not start on new series, but look at what you would have missed if you hadn’t read some new (to you) authors. I have met Jessica Redland. Charlie Donlea is not new to me, but I can’t pass this author by without a tip of the hat!
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January 28, 2021 at 12:41 pm
I always say i am not reading new authors, but you are right. I can’t imagine not reading some of them. Where did you meet Jessica Redland?
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January 28, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Figure of speech–I “met” Jessica Redland meant I have been introduced to her as an author.😆 Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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January 28, 2021 at 5:10 pm
So now I don’t have to be jealous. 😁
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January 27, 2021 at 9:55 pm
So many new authors for me to try Carla! Judy Leigh is going to the top of my list though! ❤📚
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January 28, 2021 at 12:29 pm
I love her books, they are so funny, but relatable. They are full of mature characters too. 😄
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January 27, 2021 at 5:33 pm
William Kent Krueger is one of my most favorite! And I’m a big fan of Donlea. Congrats on finding so many new writers to love💜
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January 27, 2021 at 7:32 pm
I listened to Tender is the Land and immediately bought Ordinary Grace. Did you read or listen to the Cork O’Connor series, Jo? I have read three of Charlie Donlea’s books now and love them. It is so great to find a new author to love.
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January 27, 2021 at 3:49 pm
You found a ton of new authors to enjoy! That’s so awesome! I hope the streak continues this year!
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January 27, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Thanks Deanna. I know there will be more in 2021.
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January 27, 2021 at 2:22 pm
I’m happy you’ve discovered Hazel Gaynor!
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January 27, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Yes, and I have several to savour now.
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January 27, 2021 at 1:40 pm
I love Judi Lynn mysteries!
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January 27, 2021 at 1:43 pm
I am a big fan now.
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January 27, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Lovely list Carla!
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January 27, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Thanks Nicki.
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January 27, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Chris Merritt and Nic Stone were new for me last year as well! And I love Ragnar Jonasson’s writing. Great list!
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January 27, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Yvo. So many great authors that I haven’t read yet. I hope to have even more next year.
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January 27, 2021 at 12:29 pm
I LOVED This Tender Land! I found him last year. I just reviewed Hazel Gaynor’s new novel today, FYI, it was wonderful!
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January 27, 2021 at 12:35 pm
I am looking forward to reading more of Hazel Gaynor;s books.
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January 27, 2021 at 11:14 am
What a great list, Carla. I’ll have to see about adding some of them to my never-ending TBR.
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January 27, 2021 at 11:21 am
Isn’t it great that we can enable each other. 😊
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January 27, 2021 at 10:28 am
Excellent choices Carla! I agree with many of them as I’ve discovered them last year as well. I’m off to check out the ones I haven’t read yet!📚☕💜
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January 27, 2021 at 10:37 am
Thanks Susan. Reading your review of The Charm Bracelet last week reminded me of Viola Shipman. I found an audiobook of Charm bracelet so will listen to it soon. I hope I have introduced you to at least one new author. Enjoy! 💜📚
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January 27, 2021 at 9:35 am
How lovely to have discovered so many new authors last year. I’m absolutely thrilled to be included in this list and that you read/listened to so many of my books. Thank you so very, very much x
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January 27, 2021 at 9:50 am
I enjoyed going through my list of books I read and figuring out which ones were new this year. I can’t believe I only discovered your books this year, Jessica. I will be able to keep up to date now.
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