Last year I did my own Book Awards after seeing a meme saying there should be an award show for books, and I wholeheartedly agreed. There should be. However, since there isn’t I’ve made it a point to do my own book awards each year. My awards for 2020 area little late, but better late than never, right?

So without further ado… here are the 2020 Genie in a Novel Book Awards!

Book Awards

Best male character: Theo from Love & Olives

This guy made me smile so much. I’ve known guys like Theo and they just always know how to bring you out of a bad mood! He was very sweet with Liv right from the start and I love how he wanted Liv and her dad to patch things up. Overall, he was a caring guy that you’d love to have in your life.

Best female character: Chloe from Not Like the Movies

I related so much to Chloe’s personality that she was definitely one of my favorite female characters ever. She had the best banter with Nick while also being in denial that anything was going on between them. Most of all, she was very caring toward her family and friends which you especially see with her dad who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Best protagonist: Adalyn from The Paper Girl of Paris

Adalyn was a revolutionary girl who wanted to do her part in fighting for what was right in WWII despite what her family thought. She defies her parents by joining a ragtag group of teens that rebel in their own way against Nazi occupation of France. It strains her relationship with her sister as well, but she gives her all into the group and is willing to risk her life to do what is right.

Best antagonist: Mental Health in multiple books

Honestly, nothing is more of an antagonist than your own mind working against you. There were quite a few different books this year that I read where characters dealt with bipolar, depression, anxiety, or a combination of them. You can see how it affects not only the characters, but those around them as well.

Cutest romance: Chloe and Nick from Not Like the Movies

There are so many sweet moments between these two, as well as ones with the best banter I’ve read in a while (and similar to Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls). I was rooting for them the entire time with no second thoughts! I want a Nick of my own!

Would reread: The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor

I just really enjoyed this one, which is saying a lot because I’m normally not into historical fiction, even if only half the book is considered to be that.

Best plot twist: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

There was one part in this book that had me feeling like I should’ve figured it out, but at the time was definitely a surprise.

Kept me up all night: The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks

I could not put this book down. It just kept me wanting to read it and so I did. It was one that I finished in one night because I literally could not stop reading.

Prettiest cover: Chemistry Lessons by Meredith Goldstein

While the book itself wasn’t my favorite of the year, the cover is soooo pretty!!

Made me cry the most: Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch(near the end)

I didn’t really cry hard at any books this year, but this one made me tear up a little because of some of the family reconciliation and thinking about my own family during this weird world we live in.

Quickest read: Love in Focus (manga)

Only three volumes, which makes it a short manga set in the first place, but also it was just an easy read and cute at the same time!

Longest read: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

No contest with this one.

Most disappointing: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

I had such high hopes for this one based on the premise, but it fell very short.

Book I threw across the room the hardest: none

I didn’t throw any books again this year, but if I could, it would’ve been Gone With the Wind just because Scarlett is an idiot. A big selfish, idiot.

What would be your winners for these categories?