• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Melbourne Mamma - Fashion | Food | Family | Fun | Shopping

Your local guide to the best fashion, food, family fun and shopping in Melbourne

  • Home
  • Shop Local
    • City & Surrounds
    • North
    • East
    • South East
    • West
    • Regional
    • Online
    • Handmade
    • Decor, Toys & More
    • Party Time
    • Food
    • Just for Mammas
    • Photographers
    • Essential Services
  • Must Haves
  • Sales
  • Melbourne Mamma’s Market
  • Giveaways
  • About
  • Contact

10 Books I Cannot Wait To Read in 2020

February 21 2020 By melbournemamma Leave a Comment

10 books i want to read in 2020

I’ve got a pile of books next to my bed that never seems to get any smaller AND a list of books a mile long on Goodreads that I’ve been meaning to read for a long time. I figure that if I make a commitment here to read some of these books, then I will do it. So, here are 10 books I cannot wait to read in 2020.

I’m hoping some of these books will count towards my 2020 Reading Challenge that I published last month. PS. It’s not too late to join the challenge, so check it out.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

A young girl loses both her parents in a tragic event, and is taken to live with her grandmother on a flower farm. Growing up, Alice learns the language of Australian native flowers as a way to say the things that are too hard to speak. But she also learns that there are secrets within secrets about her past. An unexpected betrayal leaves her reeling, and she escapes to try to make her own – sometimes painful – way through the world, and to find her story.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a story about stories: those we inherit, those we select to define us, and those we decide to hide. It is a novel about the secrets we keep and how they haunt us, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.

Spanning twenty years, and set between sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm and a celestial crater in the central desert, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart follows the life of Alice as she discovers that the most powerful story she will ever possess is her own.

Available now from Amazon

The Light Between Oceans

the light between oceans book cover

A boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keeper’s island.
It holds a dead man – and a crying baby.
The only two islanders, Tom and his wife Izzy, are about to make a devastating decision.
They break the rules and follow their hearts.
What happens next will break yours.

Available now from Catch

I Am Pilgrim

i am pilgrim book cover

The astonishing story of one man’s breakneck race against time to save America from oblivion.

A YOUNG WOMAN MURDERED. All of her identifying characteristics dissolved by acid.

A FATHER PUBLICLY BEHEADED. Killed in the blistering heat of a Saudi Arabian public square.

A SYRIAN BIOTECH EXPERT FOUND EYELESS. Dumped in a Damascus junkyard.

SMOULDERING HUMAN REMAINS. Abandoned on a remote mountainside in Afghanistan.

PILGRIM. The codename for a man who doesn’t exist. A man who must return from obscurity. The only man who can uncover a flawless plot to commit an appalling crime against humanity.

Available now from Amazon

Burial Rites

burial rites book cover

In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men. Agnes is sent to wait out the time leading to her execution on the farm of District Officer Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderess in their midst, the family avoids speaking with Agnes.

Only Tóti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agnes’s spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her, as he attempts to salvage her soul.

As the summer months fall away to winter and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes’s ill-fated tale of longing and betrayal begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didn’t she?

Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a deeply moving novel about personal freedom: who we are seen to be versus who we believe ourselves to be, and the ways in which we will risk everything for love.

Available now from Amazon

The Kite Runner

the kite runner book cover

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction.

A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons–their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

Available now from Dymocks

Little Fires Everywhere

little fires everywhere book cover

Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother- who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town – and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at an unexpected and devastating cost…

Available now from Amazon.

The Secret Life of Bees

the secret life of bees book cover

Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father’s account of the event. Now fourteen, she yearns for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act.

Fugitives from justice and from Lily’s harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother.

Available now from Dymocks.

Lenny’s Book of Everything

lennys book of everything book cover

Lenny, small and sharp, has a younger brother Davey who won’t stop growing – and at seven is as tall as a man. Raised by their mother, they have food and a roof over their heads, but not much else.

The bright spot every week is the arrival of the latest issue of the Burrell’s Build-It-at-Home Encyclopedia. Through the encyclopedia, Lenny and Davey experience the wonders of the world – beetles, birds, quasars, quartz – and dream about a life of freedom and adventure. But as Davey’s health deteriorates, Lenny realises that some wonders can’t be named.

A big-hearted novel about loving and letting go by an award-winning author.

Available now from Amazon

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

the travelling cat chronicles book cover

It’s not the journey that counts, but who’s at your side.

Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van. Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn’t know why and Satoru won’t say.

Set against the backdrop of Japan’s changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana’s story explores the wonder and thrill of life’s unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take. TRAVELLING CAT has already demonstrated its power to move thousands of readers with a message of kindness and truth. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives.

Available now from Dymocks

You Are A Badass

you are a badass book cover

YOU ARE A BADASS IS THE self-help BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BUT DON’T WANT TO GET BUSTED DOING IT.

In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviours that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.

By the end of You Are a Badass , you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.

Available now from Amazon.

Let me know if you’ve read any of these (*NO* spoilers please) or what’s on your 2020 #tbr pile/list.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that if you decide to buy that item, I will earn a small commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.

Filed Under: Books, Shopping Tagged With: books, reading, shopping

« Top 10 Crossbody Bags
10 Great Books for Tweens »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

SUBSCRIBE

Categories

  • Books
  • Food & Drink
  • Giveaways
  • Kid Stuff
  • Lifestyle
  • Markets
  • Me
  • Meet the Designer
  • Meet the Owner
  • Meet the Retailer
  • Migraines
  • Out and About
  • Reviews
  • Shopping
  • Top 10
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Tags

back to school birthdays books botox boys fashion christmas decor designers diy easter family fun fashion father's day favourite books flash sale for babies for boys for girls for home for kids for mammas gift ideas girls fashion giveaways jewellery kids activities kids fashion love this look melbourne mamma melbourne mammas market melbourne to do migraines mini style mothers day out and about reading reviews sales school holiday fun shoes shop local shopping summer toys yummy

Footer

Instagram Feed

melbournemamma

Tracey  {Melbourne Mamma}
Influenza A 🤒 I do NOT recommend it! 0/5 ⭐ Influenza A 🤒

I do NOT recommend it! 0/5 ⭐

So, I've been in bed since last Sunday and finally got confirmation from the Dr that I have the flu 😫

What a 🤬 nightmare of a week it has been. 

My son and I both woke up feeling like 💩 on Mother’s Day and it was all downhill from there.

Thankfully, he only had a sore throat and a cough (negative for COVID) and was well enough to return to school on Thursday.

I, on the other hand, have been barely able to get out of bed all week and have a continuous cough, chills, sore chest, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, aches and pains - even my eyeballs hurt 👀🤷🏻‍♀️

I have not been this sick for a very long time. 

Still not sure how I've avoided getting COVID for two years but as soon as the flu is about - WHAM!!! I've got it 💥

Considering that I still wear a mask at the shops and hadn’t really gone out much in the week prior, I assume my son picked it up at school 🦠

As soon as I'm well enough l’ll be getting my flu 💉

Anyone else feel like this is going to be a looooooong Winter? 😷🤧😬

#flu #InfluenzaA #mumlife #melbournelife #melbournemum #winteriscoming #melbournewinter 
#wakemewhenitsover
Grand Final winners 🏀🏆 Undefeated all seaso Grand Final winners 🏀🏆

Undefeated all season and another fantastic win today. So proud of how well my son and his team have played this season, after two years of chaos. 

Go Bears! 🐻

#basketballlife #champions #grandfinal #melbourne #winners #gameday #basketball
May the 4th be with you 💫 Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th be with you 💫

Happy Star Wars Day! Celebrate you must 🖤

#maythe4thbewithyou #starwars #maythefourthbewithyou #theforceisstrong #starwarsday #maytheforcebewithyou #squadgoals #popvinyl #popvinyls #popculture
You know who you are 🙋🏻‍♀️ #schoolrep You know who you are 🙋🏻‍♀️

#schoolreport #igotyou #schooldays #schoollife #melbournemamma
Best Anzac Biscuits ever!!! 😍 ⁣ I've tried a Best Anzac Biscuits ever!!! 😍
⁣
I've tried a few different recipes over the years and this one is by far our favourite.⁣
⁣
It's a super easy recipe and my daughter has been making them by herself for a few years now 👧🏻⁣
⁣
Let me know what you think once you've made them.⁣
⁣
Anzac Biscuits⁣
⁣
1 C rolled oats⁣
1 C raw sugar⁣
¾ C dessicated coconut⁣
1 C plain flour, sifted⁣
125 g butter, melted⁣
2 tbs Golden Syrup⁣
½ tsp bicarb soda⁣
3 tbs boiling water⁣
⁣
Method⁣
⁣
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, no fan. (If your oven is fan forced, drop it down to 160 degrees)⁣
⁣
Line a baking tray with baking paper.⁣
⁣
Place the oats, coconut, flour and sugar in a bowl, stir with a wooden spoon to combine. ⁣
⁣
Melt the butter and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat. ⁣
⁣
In a separate bowl,  combine the bicarb and boiling water, then add this to the butter/syrup mixture.  It should foam up and increase in size. ⁣
⁣
Pour this into your dry mix and stir.⁣
⁣
Once combined, roll into golfball sized balls and place onto baking tray(s), spacing them about 6 cm apart.⁣
⁣
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  For an even bake, you can rotate the tray by 180 degrees halfway through baking.⁣
⁣
Cool on tray or transfer to wire racks. ⁣
⁣
#AnzacBiscuits #Biscuits #BiscuitRecipe #AnzacDay #MelbourneMamma #KidsInTheKitchen #MelbourneLife⁣
Find someone who looks at you, the way I’m looki Find someone who looks at you, the way I’m looking at this burger 😍

Falafel burger and fries for the win 🍔🍟💚

#fryday #veggieburger #vegetarian #melbournelife #melbourneeats #melbournevegetarian
What a fabulous tale! This one had me hooked fro What a fabulous tale! 

This one had me hooked from the start and I didn’t want Mercy and Wasabi’s adventure to end. 

I “may” have also wanted to rush out and buy a van and a puppy, and head off on a road trip across Australia 🚐🐶🗺

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Meet Mercy Blain, whose house has just burnt down. Unfortunately for Mercy, this goes beyond the disaster it would be for most people: she hasn't been outside that house for two years now. 

Flung out into the world she's been studiously ignoring, Mercy goes to the only place she can. Her not-quite-ex-husband Eugene's house. But it turns out she can't stay there, either. 

And so begins Mercy's unwilling journey. After the chance purchase of a cult classic campervan (read tiny, old and smelly), with the company of her sausage dog, Wasabi, and a mysterious box of cremated remains, Mercy heads north from Adelaide to Darwin. 

On the road, through badly timed breakdowns, gregarious troupes of grey nomads, and run-ins with a rogue adversary, Mercy's carefully constructed walls start crumbling. But what was Mercy hiding from in her house? And why is Eugene desperate to have her back in the city? They say you can't run forever...”
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
💥💥💥 Join my 2022 Reading Challenge via the link in my bio 💥💥💥
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#theothersideofbeautiful #aussiefiction #melbournemammabooklove #mmreadingchallenge2022 ⁣#melbournemamma
I don't mind that he inherited my love of sneakers I don't mind that he inherited my love of sneakers because now that we are the same size, these will be mine when he grows out of them (which will most likely be in a few months 😉) #growinglikeaweed 👟

#sneakerlove #giannisimmortality #giannisantetokounmpo #nike #basketball #mumlife #sharingiscaring
Make sure you head down to @hunkydoryfish and get Make sure you head down to @hunkydoryfish and get your potato cake fix, because until Friday, HD will donate $1 from every potato cake sold to the @rchmelbourne @goodfridayappeal 🏨🥔💙

Check your local HD for Good Friday trading hours too 🍽

#potatocakes #melbourne #melbournelife #potatocake #hunkydory #goodfridayappeal #rch #royalchildrenshospitalmelbourne #invited
Follow me on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · melbourne mamma