The Best of Hooked On!: 2020 in Review

One of my favorite things to do on Closet Hook is to curate recommendations for my Hooked On! series. Here, I showcase on Instagram and FB stories every Wednesday, my weekly recommendations on everything from movies and TV shows to music, podcasts, and Audible books. I am constantly devouring books and articles and adding new songs to my running playlists. Plus, who didn’t go down the rabbit hole of binging way too much on Netflix during the Pandemic? Since I was already creating a “favorites list” in my head, I developed Hooked On! as a curated way to showcase all that I have loved and recommend. I think the name, Hooked On!, is pretty cute too!

I heard from many followers (and thank you for the great feedback!) that Hooked On! is a series you enjoy. Therefore, I decided to create a 2020 Year in Review post to remember and highlight the best of this Pandemic year! Hey, it wasn’t all bad!

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TV

*So I realize that a lot of these shows came out a few years ago. However, I discovered them in 2020, so they made my list!

  1. Normal People: I read the book Normal People, by Sally Rooney, last year and was so excited to see it brought to life this Spring on Hulu. This is one of the rare exceptions where I LOVED the show far more than the book. It was beautifully filmed and portrayed the evolving relationship between the characters Marianne and Connell in such a realistic, yet cinematic fashion. Plus, it was filmed in Ireland, where the novel takes place, providing a beautiful backdrop for this modern love story.

  2. Yellowstone: Montana has been on my travel list for years now! When I heard about a show set in Montana starring Kevin Costner, this was a must watch for me! Kevin Costner stars as the head of the Dutton family, who are tirelessly working and scheming to protect their family ranch. This show packs in family drama, political corruption, and gorgeous Montana scenery!

  3. Outlander: I will have to admit…the plot of this show sounded pretty weird to me at first. However, when you watch the show, it just works! Claire Randall, a British nurse during WW2, travels back in time to Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion. Held by rugged Scotsmen, Claire falls in love with Jaime Fraser and finds herself loyal to her new found country. If you can’t travel to Scotland in the near future, this is your ticket for an escape!

  4. Schitt’s Creek: Oh my God, ewww, David! I think it is almost impossible to watch this show and not fall in love with the Rose family. Schitt’s Creek follows the Rose family, who lose their mega-fortune, and find themselves living in a small town. Each character, Rose family and townsperson, has such a well-constructed and unique personality that has you laughing and cringing the entire time. In a really sucky year, this show gives us the comedy that we all need!

Movies

To be honest, I felt like I didn’t see many new movies this year…well at least movies worthy of mention. Without getting to head to the movie theatre, I ended up rewatching a lot of movies or devouring tv. Here is one Netflix movie that I really enjoyed!

Trial of the Chicago 7: The film, created by Netflix, is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the countercultural protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Not only do I love a good period piece, the cast of this movie was just fantastic. Honestly, Sasha Baron Cohen stole the show!

Music

Folklore and Evermore by Taylor Swift: This should not come as a surprise to anyone, but the top music of the year comes from my girl Taylor. Her two albums released this year were the musical gifts we all needed! Taylor explored a more mature sound, but continued to give her fans deep and thoughtful lyrics, proving that she is the queen of modern songwriting. Guess what…Swifties predict that Folklore and Evermore are part of a trilogy. If they are right, we can look forward to more incredible music from Taylor in 2021!

Other honorable musical mentions of 2020 include: Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, Ariana Grande (hello, Positions), and Justin Bieber (stop hating on me for that one!).

Books

Ok, I just did a whole post abut this, but I recently finished my 30th book of 2020. My favorite book of the year remains Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Dr. Lori Gottlieb! This book left me wanting more by this author and rumor has it- the book is being adapted as an ABC TV show!

Another book worth mentioning is Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC written by my friend, Jess Moss. Jess did all the leg work for you and found you the best inns, breweries, restaurants etc. within driving distance to DC. Although no one wanted a pandemic, this book came at the perfect time, when travel is safest via car trip! Check this book out for some great travel tips and ideas!

Podcast

I pretty much only listen to one podcast these days, and it’s Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. Maybe you remember Dax from his early days on the show Punk’d with Ashton Kutcher or maybe you were a Parenthood fan? Yes, that Dax Shepard has a podcast and he’s incredibly intelligent and highly engaging. Through his podcast, he interviews his celebrity friends, leading researchers, well-known psychologists, and politicians, delving into a wide variety of topics that will keep your attention hooked!

Ok, so this list doesn’t hit on everything worth mentioning, but it is a good start to highlight what I was Hooked On! all year! Goodbye 2020, but at least you kept me entertained!

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Fighting the Winter Blues

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The Top 5 Books I Read in 2020!