What a stranger year, friends…
First things first, I hope you and your family are all in good health! 🙏🏼
But seriously, I hope you all are managing through this crazy year more than ‘tolerably’ well. I love hearing from each of you. Being able to connect to you here and through other places in the Jane Austen community have definitely made this year more bearable. 😊
And hopefully I am not the only one who has found solace and comfort in reading, Regency England, and online friends this year. 🥰
Even though it was a crazy year, let’s take a look back and see a summary, shall we?
~ Posts ~
- Total # of Blog Posts for 2020 – 194 (17 more than last year! Lol thank you, pandemic!) 👍🏼
- Total # of Reviews Posted in 2020 – 69 (13 more than last year! Woot woot) 💯
- Total # of Different Authors Read in 2020 – 70 (25 for the first time! Hello new authors!) 😮
- Total # of Author Features in 2020 – 69 (9 more than last year!) 🤗
- Interviews – 8
- Guest Posts – 14
- Excerpts – 30
- Cover Reveals – 17
Yay! One benefit of them pandemic – I accomplished more reading and blogging in 2020. (Pretty sure my TBR still grew though, lol!)
And I really like that more than a third of my reads were new-to-me authors!
~~~
~ Reading ~
A very descent amount of non-Austenesque (for me), I think that comes from reading 10 Regency romances this year.
I hope to continue this trend for next year – there are so many stellar Regency romance authors and books to discover!
Lots of variation, almost half of all the Austenesque I read are variations
But wow, 3x more modern adaptations than sequels – this probably was helped by the two fabulous trilogies I read this year L.L. Diamond’s The Wedding Planners and Cat Andrews‘ Sanctuary.
P&P dominates my Austenesque reading, that isn’t really a surprise.
Sadly, it looks like I didn’t get in a book about each Jane Austen novel.
I am glad Sanditon was well represented though!
Very few below 4 star ratings! With so many books being released – I continue to be more selective.
And almost a fully even distribution of 5, 4.5, and 4 stars!
Looks like I worked hard to stay current with the 2020 reads! Lol!
Less than 15% of my reads came from 2018 and earlier!
My averages are mostly close together (except for Retellings, Continuations, Alternate POVs, and Nonfiction Reference – where I read one book of each.)
My Non-Austenesque average increased a good bit from last year.
My Variations average is exactly the same!
~~~
Meredith, I am always impressed with the quality and number of your posts but 69 reviews!!!!!!!! That’s outstanding. The austenesque world has a treasure in you. Thank you for your quality posts and dedication.
I edited a lot this year but also read a lot…. I like to think I read mostly JAFF but this year my goodreads showEd I read more historical fiction, romance, and chicklit. My goodreads challenge of 65 books was satisfied in August. Now, it says I’m at 79 reads, but it looks like only 27 are JAFF. I did find myself choosing to read nonJAFF more often when I was in the middle of JAFF edits—I think to keep my Darcy/Elizabeth stories straight. My own stats…since 2013, I’ve worked with over thirty authors, self-published five anthologies, and edited numerous Jane Austen-inspired, contemporary and historical romance, and chicklit books. By the end of 2020, I will have edited forty-five books in seven years. This year, I edited ten novels (four to be published in 2021) —more than any year previous. I am thankful for the work and the talented writers who have trusted me with their words.
Have a happy new year, Meredith! A time for renewal is just around the corner, and 2020 will pass into the history books. A new year, new resolutions—the future awaits. I hope 2021 is the year I finish my own novel.
Thank you, Christina! It might be an all-time high for me, never to be repeated! lol!
I absolutely love your stats! Thank you so much for sharing!
It is so exciting about your editing projects, so many fantastic works you collaborated with, so many brilliant authors you worked alongside! How amazing! I’m so enjoying following all that you do, my friend! Your contributions to and influence on this genre are something we are so thankful for.
Excellent work on all your summaries. You always amaze me with your dedication to this extra information which I don’t see on any other blog. My husband and I continue to quarantine as much as possible but we do miss seeing our children and grandchildren. We are missing seeing a year’s growth on the latter. Happy New Year to all…stay safe.
Thank you, Sheila, it is so very kind of you to say!! You amaze me with all the reading you do! It is heartbreaking to be forced apart like this from your family,,,hoping it will be safe again soon!
….and thank you for every minute of what you did for this community in sharing your “Janeness” – it’s such a gift to all of us! Happy, Happy 2021 to you, Mr. Bingley and everyone in this wonderful community!
❣️Hugs, Jean! Thank you! Wishing you a happy 2021!
I love pie charts and stats, Meredith [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. We had health issues at our house this year. That has put me behind in my reading goal. But, there is always the new year. It is well. Thank you for all your dedication and hard work. We appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts and opinions with us…. and… there are those awesome pictures. Keep them coming. I love your mast head as it changes with the seasons and you showcase all your books. Yeah! I love books… and I want that bookcase. Heavy sigh. Blessings and have a blessed New Year.
Thank you, Jeanne! I always have fun making them. I’m sorry about the health issues, I hope you are all feeling better and on the other side of it.
I love that term “mast head” – sounds very Regency appropriate! I am glad you enjoy the pictures there! It is definitely a feature on my blog I enjoy working on! Wishing you a very happy 2021!
Love looking at all your numbers, broken down so cleanly! Thank you for all you do for the readers and authors in the Austen community! We appreciate you! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2021!
Thank you, Cat! I enjoyed tallying them up and putting them on a spreadsheet! Wishing you a very happy 2021!
These stats awesome. I just wanted to tell you again how much I love your blog, Meredith. I was so honored to appear on your blog this year. It was great fun. I’m hoping to do it again with my next release. 🙂
I’ve been scattered with my reading this year. I read more, but I also watched a lot more TV. I want to read more variations in 2021 and I always find great reads via Austenesque Reviews and the other awesome Austen blogs in our lovely community. Thank you for all your hard work and for your amazing blog!
Thank you, Lari Ann! You are so very kind!! I am so happy that you were one of my authors visits for this year! I would love to have you visit again!
LOL! I think I watched a lot of TV too. I hope you find a lot of lovely variations to reading in 2021!
I appreciate your blog and book reviews. I have purchased several books based on your reviews.
Thank you, friend! I am so glad you find the blog helpful!
Such dedication Meredith! I’m so grateful for your honest reviews, they help such a lot. I see that your modern reads were The Wedding Planners series and the Sanctuary series. I absolutely loved both those and am happy that you did too.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts during 2021 along with your gorgeous photos.
I think I’ve read more this year, especially from taking part in Christina’s read-a-thon. Also because there were so many great books as well as my compulsory rereads.
I do look forward to being able to visit family and friends again.
Thank you, Glynis! Those series were so fantastic weren’t they! I am so glad I read them this year!
I’m glad to hear you think you read more last year – I hope 2021 is another great year for your reading and that you get to visit with your sweet family soon!
Hi Meredith, Happy Christmas to you. Sad time for my family as I lost my mother 3 days before Christmas to Coronavirus. I take a lot of comfort reading your blog. I love your reviews. Thank you so much for everything you do. It is hugely appreciated. Let us hope 2021 is a better year for us all
I am so sorry for your loss, Michelle! Love and peace to you and also hoping for a better 2021 for everyone.
I’m sorry Michelle and hope you feel accompanied by your loved ones.
So sorry for your loss Michelle.
Oh, Michelle, I’m so very sorry. My heart goes out to you and your family – I hope you all find comfort and peace at this difficult time.
Thank you for your very kind words.
What impressive statistics Meredith! Thank you so much for what you do for the “Jane” community, you support so many diverse stories that are yet related. One question: what is the difference between “continuations” and “sequels”? I was honored to be one of your new authors this year also. Having read your blog for years, it was a “benchmark” for me to have you review Kitty’s story. I look forward to a fresh new year, and I am working hard on Mrs. Dashwood’s story right now, I’m having great fun with these characters. May you and yours enjoy a happy new year!
Thank you, Sallianne!
Great question – sequels are any books that take place after one of Jane Austen’s completed novels, continuations are any books that finish any one of Jane Austen’s unfinished novels – like The Watsons or Sanditon.
I loved that this year brought your work into print and a visit to my blog as a featured author! Woot woot!! I am so excited about your Mrs. Dashwood story…I cannot wait!
Following your blog has been a highlight this year, thank you, Meredith! Like you, I have also had more time to read this year, but my TBR pile seems even larger than at the beginning of the year. It really seems like there have been a lot of releases the past couple months. I am looking forward to making a dent in the pile in 2021. Best wishes to you and all of your family in the New Year!
You are such a dear, Robin! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed following this blog!
And I know how you feel about these past couple of months – I don’t think I will be ever to make a dent in my TBR pile!
Wow, what a busy year you had! Thank you for all of your hard work, Meredith!
It sure was!! Great way to keep busy though!
I love seeing your summary every year, Meredith. Your stats are so fun to look through. Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
Thank you, Katie! I love looking at stats…I’d make them all the time if I had the time!
I love how you graphed all of the data!
Thank you – I’m a big fan of visuals!
Love seeing your charts and how your reading year broke down into numbers. I had a good reading year though there was a bit when I was off pace and distracted. I read my JAFF/Austen goal this year and my GoodReads goal so I’m happy though I did hope to read more than I did since that TBR pile grew a lot. 🙂
Loved all your posts and reviews and your warm, welcoming blog. Have a happy New Year, Meredith!
Thank you, Sophia! I’m feel off pace and distracted now – not a good start to 2021! lol!
That is great that you met your goals! TBR piles grow out of control, don’t they!
Thank you for all your visits and for always joining in on the conversation here! I greatly appreciate them!
Wow, Meredith, you sure do a lot of reading! Despite a general COVID emptiness preventing me from much writing productivity, I was extra busy wearing my other hat in real life in 2020. In the middle ground, I found myself reading a little faster than anticipated.
With no goals set for the year, I read 64 books. Nine were Regency romances, one was an anthology, and 4 were JAFF reference books. The balance were JAFF fiction novels. Like you, I tried new JAFF authors I’d never read before and discovered some that I’d try again. I still find myself hopelessly behind on my TBR list. Readers of over 100 a year still have that problem, and with 50-60 new books a month, it’s no wonder!
Love your statistics! Pie charts are for cool chicks!
The sad truth is it is not enough, Suzan! I’m always wishing I could read more!
I’m sorry to hear that COVID prevented some of your writing, that is quite understandable.
Woot for 64 reads! I love that you shared your breakdown! And that is so great that you read and enjoyed some new authors.
Lol! I’d like to think so! 😉
I have a weekly/monthly reminder of how much you do for us. But then your stats report comes out at the end of the year and I’m still blown away from the numbers. I really cannot say enough amazing things about your work…I know you always say that you enjoy it…but when I get those emails, and read the reviews, excerpts, interviews, etc., I feel like it’s all for us. I know what you do must help the authors. I so rarely am able to read that book right away, but when I do get to it I’m thinking of the author’s interview or excerpt, or your words of praise.
I stopped counting in early December (it got a little ‘involved’ here,) but until then I had read well over 150 Austenesque books (including audio) some of those were rereads. I don’t even count my non-Austenesque. But I’m still deliberating over my top ten to vote on. When I first saw the poll to enter, I just felt crushed knowing the December releases, and the new ones having come out won’t be able to make my cut. When I see the end results, I’ll be kicking myself that I didn’t get to read them yet.
Michelle, you are so lovely! I appreciate your visits to this blog so much! Your kind words mean so much to me – and I love hearing that the posts you read here are something you reflect on when you read Austenesque books.
That is a super impressive number, Michelle! Wow!! And you read non-Austenesque too?!
It is hard about the December releases, but sadly it can’t be help unless I did the poll 12 months after the end of the year. 🙁
Overall, I think I read more, and with intention.
denise
That’s wonderful, Denise! One positive of 2020!
Hi Meredith! Your stats are overwhealming!
Your blog always provides such fun and delightful moments but I think this 2020 Austenesque Reviews has become a great source of relief and sweetness letting us forget the hard times outside. Thank you so much 🙂
In spite of this awful year, I feel safe and healthy and I’ve made changes for better in many ways.
Speaking of books, I’ve had more time to read and this is wonderful although my blogging is more or less like 2019.
I’ve made some changes in my reading habits like getting, at last!, an ebook reader as well as being fond of audiobooks (these ones are really useful when you have to do the housework and cleaning because, listening to the stories, you hardly realize about such a boring tasks LOL).
And finally, this year has been the 100th anniversary of Benito Pérez Galdos, a famous spanish writer, and I started reading several of his novels (National Episodes) which set during Jane Austen time (but in Spain) and I’ve learned a lot about Nelson, Napoleón and the difficult times Europe lived with the Napoleonic menace so it helps me to understand better the setting of Jane Austen novels 😉
I wish you a happy New Year and all the blessings to you and everyone of this community!
Hi Teresa!
I know this blog has provided all that for me this year, it is always my hope that others can get something good from their visits here!
I’m so glad to hear you reflections on the year and that you have had more time to read! That is so great about getting an ereader and learning to love audiobooks! (I feel like Catherine Morland when she said she learned to love hyacinths!)
How great that you celebrated the 100th anniversary of Benito Pérez Galdos by reading his books! I love doing things like that. Sounds like you are learning a lot and that is awesome!
Feliz año, mi amiga!!
Very impressive, Meredith! – the numbers, the breakdown, the stats, and especially the colorful pie charts! Haha! Nice to know that I’m responsible for a tiny slice of each one. 😀 Yay! Thanks for your continued, unfailing support of Austenesque authors and their books. I hope to have another one on your list in 2021!
Thank you, Shannon! Lol! One of the most fun things about making pie charts is picking out the colors!! 😉
Yes! You are repping the NA category and making sure it even exists!
Looking forward to whats in store for 2021!
I’m pretty sure the huge share that P&P variations gets in my stats is directly related to your posts and emails! You always feature so many amazing authors and stories – by this time, Amazon pretty much knows to put these kinds of books at the top of my recommendations! I, too had a lot more time to read due to the pandemic, and just really needing more HEA books. I’m reading A Fine Joke right now and it’s hitting the right spots. But this breakdown is impressive – keep it coming!
Lol! I don’t mind being guilty for that! 😉
I’m really glad that you are enjoying the authors that visit and the stories that I review! With so many books to choose from I am trying to be more selective.
Oh A Fine Joke looks so great! I’m glad to hear that reading has brought you such happiness this year!
Thank you, Meredith, for your contributions to the writing community. You have done a spectacular job throughout the years.
That is very lovely of you to say, Robin. Thank you! I’m happy to read and share my thoughts all these years!
Wow, Meredith, I’m in awe of your reading stats! I had such a dreadful year in terms of reading, trying to simultaneously homework and home school added to the general worry of covid really stifled my mental energy and I found it so hard to read. Glad you were able to read more!
I feel you, Ceri! I can’t imagine how hard it is for parents right now. I hope things will get better soon. I am grateful for being able to enjoy something like reading because doing things like traveling and going places weren’t really an option.
I love stats and graphics in general and this post in particular Meredith! I am really happy that this year you had extra time to increase the number of published posts and reviews and also to organise some fun initiatives like the Austenesque Christmas Book Exchange (the icelandic word is to hard to spell).
I hope that in 2021 my breakdown by publication date is more similar to your own, I am aiming to read more books that were published a while ago 🙂
Thank you for putting together this post Meredith, it is really a fun type of post, and I loved reading it 🙂
Thank you, my stat-loving friend! 🙂
I’m so glad that you took part in Austenesque Jolabokaflod! (lol, I’ve had a lot practice typing it!)
I wish I was reading more earlier publications this year too, but I’m already starting so far behind!
Good luck with your goals!