2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge Update

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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Romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books gives a recap of this year’s romance book reading challenge and reviews her book selections from the year.

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 is a lovely friends to lovers, new adult romance that continues the beloved True North Series. Read the full book review by popular romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books.

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 book cover.

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 is an erotic romance featuring rock star, Brian Sinclair of the rock band, Sinners. He meets his muse, a sexuality professor, and it gets hot! Check out the book review by romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books.

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 is She Reads Romance Books blogger’s choice of rock star romance for the March 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge.

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. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Related: Best Rock Star Romance Books, Best Rock Star Romance Book Series

April: Historical Romance

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare was the historical romance book pick for the April 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge sponsored by She Reads Romance Books. Read her review.

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 is romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books’ choice of office romance for the May 2020 Romance Book Reading Challenge.


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.

Amazon | Goodreads

Related: Best Office Romance Books

June: Sports Romance

The Change Up is the latest contemporary sports romance book by Meghan Quinn that released in June 2020. If you love friends to lovers romance books, then you’ll love this must read book. Book review by She Reads Romance Books

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 Bromber is book one of The Player duet. It is a contemporary, baseball sports romance that also weaves in a bit of office romance and romantic suspense. Read the full book review by popular romance book blogger, She Reads 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 is a beautiful contemporary romance book that will leave you breathless while a few tears are shed. If you love enemies to lovers romance books, or opposites attract love stories then you’ll love this must read book. Book review by She Reads Romance Books

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.

Amazon | Goodreads

Related: Best Fake Relationship Romance Books

September: New Adult/College Romance

Finding Dandelion book cover

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 book cover.


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.

Amazon | Goodreads

November: Second Chance Romance

The First Time We Met , is the debut release and contemporary romance book by Jo Lovett. Check out the book review from romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books.

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 is one of 2020’s Christmas romance books this season. This is a contemporary romance worth reading if you love small town romance books. Check out the book review from romance book blogger, She Reads Romance Books.

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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