January is National Puzzle Month so I obviously need to share my favorite puzzles of last year.

In January 2020 I got back into puzzles and wow was that ever A+ decision-making. I used to love putting puzzles together as a kid and I've enjoyed helping friends working on theirs when I visited over the years. Sometime in 2019 I decided I should just start buying my own or asking for them as Christmas gifts. Shortly thereafter, my roommate and I put one together.

An obsession was born.

And I do mean an obsession. Once I start a puzzle, I have a hard time concentrating on anything else until it's done, to the point where I try not to start one until the weekend so I'm free to do nothing but work on it while listening to podcasts or the occasional audiobook. 

The pandemic began several weeks after my roommate and I finished working on that puzzle. I had a few others in my stash at that point but I quickly ordered more. If I couldn't travel anymore, then this was going to be my indulgence.

Truly, it's the best thing I ever could have done for my mental health. From mid-March to May, I did one puzzle every weekend and it was my saving grace. I moved back to the Chicago suburbs in June which threw me off for a few weeks. I've now settled into doing one or two puzzles a month, although I did two puzzles during Election Week alone. It was the only reason I was able to work or get any sleep that week.

Another unexpected benefit of this hobby is seeing all my friends who also enjoy working on puzzles. We've traded, we've buddy puzzled (working on the same puzzle at the same time from our respective homes), we've cheered each other on. And of course, we've enabled each other to buy more puzzles. Hopefully this will enable you too!

Affiliate links included in this post. But pro tip: I recommend signing up for the newsletters of your favorite puzzle makers so you'll be aware of sales and to keep track of what's in stock.

Galison Cool Cats A-Z 1000 piece puzzle

I bought this at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA while hanging out with Kini and Kim in January. That was such a great day! A week later, my then-roommate Kayla and I put it together, which was so much fun. I did it again in August in my new apartment. I don’t know if it’s because I’d worked on it before or if I’ve just become an expert puzzler but it came together SO fast once I connected the edge pieces. This one is absolutely a keeper.

Mudpuppy The United States 1000 piece puzzle

This was an absolute dream to put together. I was a little worried about all that green and blue but there wound up being very few pieces that were just plain solid color. I’m already looking forward to the next time I put this together!

White Mountain Readers Paradise 1000 piece puzzle

This was my first time doing a White Mountain puzzle and I want to do more from them. The pieces are larger! Pure enjoyment from start to finish.

EuroGraphics Eilean Donan Castle 1000 piece puzzle

(Keeping the caption from my Instagram post because it still makes me laugh.)

Great news: I finally finished the most challenging puzzle I’ve ever worked on.
Bad news: The puzzle never turned into a portal that carried me to a hot Scotsman in post-coronavirus times. Alas. Maybe next time.

Galison Full Bloom 1000 piece puzzle

The only way this puzzle could be better is if the flowers turned into real blooms. Can you imagine?! The colors are even more vibrant in person. Definitely a keeper!

Geo Toys San Francisco Metropuzzle 1000 piece puzzle

This was a thoroughly good challenge. I moved away from SF in Fall 2016 and it’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever lived. Working on this made me extremely nostalgic for my old haunts and it made me miss my people there, even more than usual. I’d been hoping to go back for a visit in the summer. I guess the visit will be that much sweeter whenever it happens. (I'm going to have to do their Chicago puzzle soon!)

Galison Phat Dog Vintage Library 1000 piece puzzle

If you too want to feel like a puzzle champ, this is the one for you! Hands down the fastest I’ve ever put together a 1000 piece puzzle! This was such a fun one to work on and I think it would be a great option for beginners.

Buffalo Games Cinque Terre, Italy 1000 piece puzzle

This puzzle is very close to a photo I used to make a graphic for my client J.T. Ellison’s forthcoming thriller Her Dark Lies and I knew it would make for a cool book background too. So I put it together and surprised her with a bunch of photos. This was a very challenging puzzle and a perfect choice for my anxious brain.

Ravensburger Antique Map 1000 piece puzzle

Why, look! Another map puzzle. I don't know why I love map puzzles so much but I'm not questioning it. I saved this one for when I really needed to clear my brain. It sure was a doozy to work on and just the challenge I needed! 

Galison Ideal Bookshelf 1000 piece puzzle

This was my first puzzle of the pandemic. I started it Friday night and barely did anything else until I finished it Sunday afternoon. It was the BEST distraction and my concentration was infinitely improved for the week after. I decided to start doing a puzzle every weekend thereafter.

Cavallini & Co Wildflower 1000 piece puzzle

This was one of my election week puzzles, which had the distinction of being worked on during the week, instead of the weekend. I was barely able to focus on books (this never happens) so I worked on this at lunch, while waiting for the kettle to boil, after work, and everywhere in between. So I'm grateful for that. But this was also my first time putting together a Cavallini & Co puzzle and I was super impressed with the whole design, right down to the canister box and cloth bag for the pieces.

Litographs 'Twas The Night Before Christmas 500 piece puzzle

This really truly was the most difficult puzzle of my life. This took sooooo many hours. I ordered it thinking it wouldn’t be too bad. Until I opened up the box. And saw how small the pieces were. And that tiny, tiny print on them. (The design is made from the words of the poem.) I was in trouble. But I put this sucker together piece by painstaking piece and emerged victorious!!!