This year, my happy place was cooking while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I typically prefer nonfiction audiobooks that are read by the author. Here are my top five audiobooks for 2020:

Know My Name, Chanel Miller: I spent much of this so angry I was in tears, but she’s such a beautiful, eloquent writer. I’m sure this a fantastic read, but I’m glad I got to hear her share her story in her own actual voice.
Nobody Will Tell You This but Me, Bess Kalb: LOVED this. Kleenex is a must if you read or listen.
Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz: I returned Mathew McConaughey’s book Greenlights after two chapters because I hated it so much and got this instead. I really loved this - his childhood was so interesting and I loved hearing about his grandparents. The music was a bonus.
The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander: Absolutely beautiful and I loved hearing her read it.
Good Morning Monster, Catherine Gildiner: Loved this book about some of a therapists more challenging, yet resilient patients even though it was not narrated by the author.

Here’s the full list with any notes I made while reading or after the fact:

Book, Author	Notes
Say My Name, Chanel Miller	I spent much of this so angry I was in tears, but she’s such a beautiful, eloquent writer. I’m sure this a fantastic read, but I’m glad I got to hear her share her story in her own actual voice.
Me, Elton John	I thoroughly enjoyed this as read by Taron Edgerton, who played him in Rocketman.
Horror Stories, Liz Phair	Keenly observed and beautifully written
Why We Can Sleep, Ada Calhoun	Speaks to gen exers in so many ways, but I still can’t sleep.
On Being Human, Jennifer Pastiloff	She’s a survivor.
The Naked Truth, Leslie Morgan	I liked the premise of this. 40-something woman fresh out of a loveless, passionless marriage decides to have some much- needed fun. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like it was much fun. It seemed like an exercise in revisiting all of the insecurities that many women outgrow as they get into their 30s and 40s. I will give her props for putting it all out there, though.
Breakshot, James Taylor	Loved this but it was over too soon.
Tightrope, Nicholas Kristof and a Cheryl WuDunn	More proof that we’re doing it wrong
Smacked, Eilene Zimmerman	Invented a host of chores to do so I could keep listening to this. Fascinating and harrowing.
The Witches are Coming	Yep
A Song for You, Robyn Crawford	Could not stop listening
Hill Women, Cassie Chambers	Would love to meet these women
Untamed, Glennon Doyle	A good portion of this spoke to me
If You Tell, Gregg Olson	This is a really messed up (true) story
Nobody Will Tell You This but Me, Bess Kalb	LOVED this. Kleenex is a must if you read or listen.
I Want You to Know We’re Still Here, Esther Safran Foer	Thought this was pretty good
Sigh, Gone, Phuc Tran	I enjoyed this
The Chiffon Trenches, Andre-Leon Talley	I enjoyed this
Craigslist Confessional, Helen Dea Bala	This was an interesting listen but quote voyeuristic
Empty, Susan Burton	Very good
The Fixed Stars, Molly Wizenberg	Might have liked this better if the author read it
Memorial Drive, Natasha Trethewey	Heartbreaking and beautiful
Eat a Peach, David Chang,	Enjoyable
Words + Music, Cheryl Crow	I enjoyed this
The Beauty in Breaking, Michele Harper	I wish the author would have read this
Three Little Words, Ashley Rhodes-Courter	Harrowing and very good
Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz	Loved
Carry, Toni Jensen	Really good
Good Morning Monster, Catherine Gildiner	Loved this even though it was not narrated by the author
Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger, Lisa Donovan	Really enjoyed this
This Particular Happiness, Jacki Shannon Hollis	Liked this
Group, Christie Tate	Cringeworthy
No Time Like the Future, Michael J. Fox	Worth listening too
She Come By it Natural, Sarah Smarsh	Sara Smarsh writing about Dolly – need I say more?
A Promised Land, Barack Obama	A treat to hear him read this
The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander	Absolutely beautiful and I loved hearing her read it.

You can read my 2020 book reviews, here.

2020 Audiobooks

2019 Audiobooks