Well, we’re half-way through 2020 and this year has really sucked. Tyler and I are struggling with not having big things to look forward to, the very slow introduction of our new cat Titus to our current cat Tara, and the weight of disappointment. 

We’re only a handful of people who are wearing masks when in public, despite huge jumps in confirmed cases. Protests are being swept under the rug and are still being met with brutality. The president rewarded Russia for putting bounties on US soldiers, and yet he’s still president. Even last week’s waffles turned out pretty badly. We miss our families, especially mine, who we haven’t seen since February. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, we’re anticipating more likely disappointment. Between the election, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and flu season, November will be especially rough.

One thing that’s been going well for me personally so far this year is my goal to read at least as many books by authors who are diverse in some way as those who are not. I’ve read 66 books so far, and 33 have been by diverse authors.  

Here are some of my favorite books from the first half of 2020.

• With the Fire On High
• Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
• Stamped
• Whiteout
• The Bashful Bride
• The Duke & I
• Girl Gone Viral
• A Perfect Mistake
• Indigo
• The Wallflower Wager
• The Oracle Code
• Love Lettering
• The Worst Best Man
• The Honey-Don’t List
• Forbidden
• Island Affair

Here are some books I’m looking forward to reading in the rest of 2020.

• The Boyfriend Project
• So You Want to Talk about Race
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation
• Party of Two
• A Duke by Default
• Lightbringer
• A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby
• Recommended for You
• In a Holidaze