Best of 2020
I can already hear what you’re saying. Was there a best of anything in 2020? Of course! Yes, the pandemic has been a living horror and we all have much to mourn. But I believe that’s even more reason to identify anything that brought a moment of escape, possibly a smile to our faces, during a time of great despair.
For myself, I was fortunate enough to make my publishing debut in March 2020 with Demon In Me. Later during the fall, I also published The Night She Fell—the first book in a new series. Was this the ideal time for publishing? Probably not. Yet that makes me extra grateful for the readers and reviewers who accepted my books and (so far) seem to be enjoying both. Thank you so much for taking a chance on a new author.
I would also like to thank all the artists who also fought to release their works in 2020. You’re all brilliant and enrich the world with the magic you create. Most of my lists are a Top 10, split into 2 categories—2020 works, and works I discovered in 2020 (sorry, I can’t always keep up lol!). And of course, I enjoyed several other works even if they’re not listed.
* My picks are listed in no particular order. Naturally, I have not seen/read/heard every release in 2020 (in fact, I’m quite behind so bear with me!). If I miss something awesome, feel free to let me know in the comments so I can check it out!
Movies (2020)
His House
Host
Antebellum
An Irish Story: This Is My Home
We Summon The Darkness
Bonus (first watched in 2020)
Train to Busan (2016)
Spring (2014)
We Are What We Are (2013)
The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)
Session 9 (2001)
TV Shows/Miniseries (2020)
The Haunting of Bly Manor
I Know This Much Is True
Outlander (season 5)
Dark (season 3)
Schitt’s Creek (season 6)
Bonus (first watched in 2020)
Succession (2018-)
Ozark (2017-)
Fleabag (2016-)
The Good Place (2016-)
Barry (2018-)
Music (2020)
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
Pearl Jam – “Dance of the Clairvoyants”
Fiona Apple – “I Want You To Love Me”
Puscifer – “The Underwhelming”
Phoebe Bridgers – “Graceland Too”
Novels (2020)
Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Only Good Indians – Stephen Graham Jones
The Boatman’s Daughter – Andy Davidson
Devil’s Creek – Todd Keisling
Midwives – Duncan Ralston
Bonus (first read in 2020)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson (1962)
Providence – Caroline Kepnes (2018)
Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo (2019)
The Hunger – Alma Katsu (2018)
Body of Christ – Mark Matthews (2018)
Short Stories (2020)
“Baby Teeth” by Azzurra Nox (Midnight in the Pentagram)
“Legion Cast Forth” by Robert Ford (Midnight in the Pentagram)
“What I Wouldn’t Give” by Chad Lutzke (Midnight in the Pentagram)
“The Black Wallpaper” by Cynthia Pelayo (We Are Wolves)
“Though Your Heart Is Breaking” by Laurel Hightower (We Are Wolves)
“The Curse of She, Part 6: The Final Girlfriend” by Hailey Piper (We Are Wolves)
“Love You to Death” by Yolanda Sfetsos (Graveyard Smash: Women of Horror Anthology, Vol. 2)
“Until There’s Nothing Left” by J.A.W. McCarthy (Graveyard Smash: Women of Horror Anthology, Vol. 2)
“Ghosts” by TJ Tranchell (The Private Lives of Nightmares)
“Monsters” by Caroline Kepnes (Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror)
*Note – While I had my favorites from each of these anthologies, all the stories in them were winners. I highly recommend purchasing each one!