Did you participate in the 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge? I give a recap of this fun reading challenge and review my book selections from the year.
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2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge Review
Wow! We’ve turned the page on 2020 and that means the 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge has come to an end.
How did you do?
This year the goal was to read one romance book a month.
Each month had a new romance sub-genre or romance book trope to choose from to keep our reading fresh and to explore all that the romance genre has to offer.
I’m happy to say that I completed the challenge!
For several months I chose to also explore a new author to me with my book selections. Some months were definite hits while some had some misses.
Here’s a recap of the books I read for the 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge.
Take a look and then join me for the 2021 Romance Book Reading Challenge!
It’s never too late to jump in and participate.
2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge Recap
January: Contemporary Romance
Heartland
by Sarina Bowen
Heartland was one of my most anticipated romance books for 2020 so I was excited to dive right into this romance book by one of my most favorite authors as my contemporary romance book selection.
Book 7 of the True North series, Heartland brings us Dylan’s story, which is a friends-to-lovers romance.
Not just any friends-to-lovers romance, but one of my favorites – the relationship coach romance!
Dylan is propositioned at college by his socially awkward best friend to tutor her outside the classroom. I enjoyed this one.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2020, Friends to Lovers Romance, Relationship Coach Romance Books
The Flatshare
by Beth O’Leary
I was eager to start off the 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge with a bang so I made a second selection for the month.
The Flatshare was one of the 2019’s Goodreads Choice Awards Romance Book Nominees, so it was added to my list.
Plus, I’d never read a book by Beth O’Leary so this selection tackled two of the monthly challenges!
I loved the set up of this book. Neither the hero or heroine have ever met and yet they share a flat with one using it during the day and one using it during the night.
Their friendship starts to develop once they start writing notes back and forth to one another (swoon!).
This was added to the best romance novels of all time list, I loved it so much.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominees, Best Romance Novels
February: Erotic Romance
Backstage Pass
by Olivia Cunning
I have a weakness for rock star romance series so Backstage Pass made it to the top of my must-read erotic romance list.
Plus, I had yet to read a book by Olivia Cunning and I love checking out new authors (so I can devour their entire book catalogue if I like them!)
When the book blurb for this erotic romance starts off with “Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance…” you know it has to be good!
I definitely enjoyed this book and can’t wait to check out the rest of the series.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best Erotic Romance Books, Best Rock Star Romance Books, Best Rock Star Romance Book Series
March: Rock Star Romance
We Own Tonight
by Corinne Michaels
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to hook up with your rock star crush?
What if it came true one night at a concert?!
That is the premise of this romance when Heather is relentlessly pursued by her one-night stand, rocker Eli.
Unfortunately, the insta-love just wasn’t believable for me so I just couldn’t get into the rest of the story which actually took a different turn that didn’t grab me either.
Related: Best Rock Star Romance Books, Best Rock Star Romance Book Series
April: Historical Romance
Romancing the Duke
by Tessa Dare
For this month’s challenge I wanted to pick a historical romance book from an author I hadn’t read before.
Tessa Dare’s books have been on my radar so it was the perfect time to pick one up.
I love that this heroine loves fairy tales and is holding out hope for her own happily ever after.
This book easily became one of my most favorite historical romance novels and one of my most favorite romance books of all time. A big win with this reading challenge selection!
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best Historical Romance Novels
May: Office Romance
A Reclusive Heart
by R.L. Mathewson
I originally picked a different book for this month’s selection but a few chapters in I had to stop.
I have loved R.L. Mathewson’s books but unfortunately this one became a DNF as well. Bummer!
For an office romance book, stick with picking one from my list of best office romance books.
Related: Best Office Romance Books
June: Sports Romance
The Change Up
by Meghan Quinn
It sort of goes without saying that I was going to read Meghan Quinn’s newest baseball romance for this month’s challenge since I’m obsessed with her baseball boys.
Maddox’s story was worth the wait as I loved his friends to lovers story.
He’s known as the bad boy of baseball but he’s brought to his knees by his childhood friend when she moves in with him. A must read!
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best Sports Romance Books, Best Baseball Romance Books
The Player
by K. Bromberg
Since The Change Up was an absolute given for this month, I wanted to check out another book for this challenge.
I really enjoyed The Player as well as The Catch which was the second book in this duet series. Both books made my list of best baseball romance books.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best Sports Romance Books, Best Baseball Romance Books
July: Enemies to Lovers Romance
The Simple Wild
by K.A. Tucker
I couldn’t believe that I’d never read a K.A. Tucker book before, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pop that cherry with The Simple Wild for the July Romance Book Reading Challenge.
I loved how this enemies to lovers book includes an opposites attract love story between a city girl and an outdoorsman when she returns to her roots.
I’ve been to Alaska and was blown away by its beauty and Tucker makes you feel like you are there in the wild with them.
My expectations were really high for this book given all the ratings and reviews it’s received, and it did not disappoint. It instantly earned a spot on my best enemies to lovers books list.
I also had to follow it up with the next book in the series, Wild at Heart which was equally as good.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best Enemies to Lovers Books
August: Fake Relationship Romance
A Prince on Paper
by Alyssa Cole
I was really excited to read this book and to check out Alyssa Cole’s writing, especially since it was a royal romance.
In this case, the fake relationship is between a member of a royal family and the girl who doesn’t believe Prince Charming exists in real life.
While I liked both characters, I just couldn’t get into the story so this one ended up being a DNF for me.
Related: Best Fake Relationship Romance Books
September: New Adult/College Romance
Finding Dandelion
by Lex Martin
This was another romance book reading challenge selection from an author I had never read before!
Dani is a college student who decides to be carefree for a night and hooks up with a player. She shouldn’t be surprised when they run into each other again and he doesn’t recognize her.
I loved the start to this romance, but the over the top drama surrounding their relationship kept me from loving this book. It was just a good, quick read for me.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Best College Romance Books
October: Romantic Suspense
Hot Seal Lover
by Lynn Raye Harris
Originally my first pick for the October romance book reading challenge was Naked in Death by J.D. Robb but I didn’t realize the subject matter of that book and had to DNF it for now.
Instead, I chose Hot Seal Lover and another new author for me to check out.
This book was decent but it was a bit repetitive preventing me from giving it a higher rating.
I liked the rescue aspect which gave the book a unique twist, but the repetition of Christina’s hang ups and Remy’s regret weighed this down for me.
November: Second Chance Romance
The First Time We Met
by Jo Lovett
My book selection for this month’s challenge was a bit of a different take on the second chance love story theme.
The two characters in this book never had a first chance at a relationship but it was love at first sight.
While I loved the idea of this book, I just didn’t enjoy it. Part one was fantastic but the rest of the book was way too repetitive with Izzy waffling in her choices and Sam never stepping up for his children or with Izzy.
I wouldn’t even call this a slow burn because the burn wasn’t really there and despite the long wait for the happy ending, I found it underwhelming.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
December: Holiday Romance
Holiday With You
by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire
My book selection for December to round out the end of this year’s romance book reading challenge was a book from an author duo new to me.
There’s something about small town romance that just adds to the feels in a holiday romance so I was looking forward to snuggling up with this book selection!
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a favorite. It read FAST and therefore seemed more like a novella.
While it was a sweet holiday romance, I might have loved it if it had more character development.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Related: Christmas Romance Books
So that’s a wrap on the 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge!
Share your highs and lows of your book selections from the challenge in the comments below.
Don’t forget to check out the 2021 Romance Book Reading Challenge and sign up for the free printable to track your progress.
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