Pile by the Bed reviews The Past is Red by Catherynne M Valente a post-apocalyptic tale that takes direct aim at our consumerist society.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Harlem Shuffle – a crime caper novel set in 1960s Harlem by double Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead.

Pile by the Bed reviews Godspeed by Nickolas Butler, the story of the construction of an exceptional building in an unforgiving landscape that digs deep into issues facing modern America and the American dream.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Shelley Parker-Chan’s debut She Who Became the Sun – the first in her Radiant Emperor Duology set in slightly fantasy version of 14th Century China.

Pile by the Bed reviews Razorblade Tears by SA Cosby, the crime fiction follow up to his scorching debut (Blacktop Wasteland) about two ex-criminals searching for revenge and absolution following the deaths of their sons.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Chaos Gate the final book in Megan O’Keefe’s space opera Protectorate series.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Talk to Me by TC Boyle’s 18th novel, this one dealing compassionately and empathetically with issues of animal exploitation, experimentation and ethics.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (Texicalaan #2) – a worthy sequel to her 2020 Hugo Award Winning debut A Memory Called Empire.

Pile by the Bed reviews Second Place by Rachel Cusk – an rish exploration of life, art, parenthood and gender.

Pile by the Bed reviews The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton’s debut which explores issues of racism, gender relations, privilege and entitlement in the context of the story of a pair of 1970s music maker.

Pile by the Bed reviews What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch, the latest novella set in his Rivers of London universe featuring precocious teenager Abigail.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Like Mother by Cassandra Austin – a dark, engaging thematically rich novel with a devastating premise.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex – an assured and absorbing debut based on the true story of the locked door disappearance of a group of lighthouse keepers.

Pile By The Bed reviews and recommends Smoke, the fifth book in Joe Ide’s IQ series

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Lightseekers the debut crime fiction novel by Nigerian author Femi Kayode

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Open Water, the assured debut novel by British author Caleb Azuma Nelson.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends the new translation of the ancient English epic poem Beowulf by Maria Dahvana Headley.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends The Stranger Times a new comic urban fantasy set in Manchester by CK McDonnell

A pre-apocalypse, the labyrinth, an Australian drought, the US gold rush from a new perspective and an ode to our relationship with trees form Pile by the Bed’s Top 5 reads for 2020, together with six just as interesting and engaging honourable mentions.

Pile By the Bed’s top 5 science fiction books for 2020 and 5 honourable mentions (so actually a top 10).