Every year my love for reading grows. In 2018, I read/listened to more books than ever in a year, that would be 156 books! (Thank you audiobooks and long commutes) As hard as it was, I managed to pick 10 books out from that large pool as my absolute favorites for 2018.
Caraval/Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Yes, you should know right away that I’m going to cheat by combining books in a series.
These first two books in Garber’s Caraval trilogy tell the tale of two sisters who are obsessed with the infamous game of Caraval, where everything feels real but very few things actually are.
I got lost in the vivid world Garber created as it transported me to a magical place and the characters were spunky. And man, does this woman know how to write a tension-filled love story!
Read if you love feeling like you’re living in a magical world and can’t get enough love stories plopped in the middle of tense surroundings.
Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom Duology by Leigh Bardugo
This duology follows an unlikely group of six villains, criminals, and other ne’er-do-wellers as they try to pull off the most intricate, intense, dangerous heist ever. It’s Oceans 11 meets a fantasy Victorian world.
Bardugo is a master weaver of stories and she has compiled a stellar cast of characters in this duology. My mind was in awe of the details Bardugo managed to string together. This book hooked me from the beginning and refused to relinquish its hold on me.
Read if you enjoy plots that are intriguing and make you think a little. Also, each character is so unique I have a hard time believing you won’t find one you can’t relate to.
Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi
This series is about a young girl whose touch is lethal. The story follows young Juliette as she learns more about her abilities and herself and her decision about who she wants to be, a weapon. or a warrior.
This series was a surprise love for me because the characters felt like real people and Mafi did an excellent job at making their interactions relatable and interesting.
Read if you like to feel like you’re in the head of the characters you read about.
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
A heart-wrenching story about a young teen girl suffering from extreme anxiety and OCD. In this book, we see the struggles of Aza as she tries to live a normal life and solve the mystery of where billionaire Russel Picket has disappeared to.
This story broke my heart because I felt like I got an incredible insight into the mind of someone with mental health conditions that seem to get in the way of everything. I’ve never sympathized with a character more than I did with Aza.
Read if you don’t mind crying and seek out books that provide a unique perspective from someone struggling with a mental health condition.
The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
This series details the drama, fun and frustrating parts of a competition of sorts between 35 young girls vying for the hand of the young Prince Maxon. America Singer isn’t as excited as the rest, but learns to find moments of joy in her situation, even with the rebellion brewing outside the palace walls.
Okay okay, yes, this book is essentially the Bachelor for teenage girls. And I knew that going into it. But even though I don’t enjoy watching the Bachelor, I loved reading this series. The love story sold it for me.
Read if you are a sucker for a good romantic plot line or need a light-hearted read.
Fawkes by Nadine Brandes
The thing Thomas Fawkes wants more than anything is a mask the will allow him to use magic to keep the stone disease that slowly consuming him at bay. Except in order to prove himself worthy, he has to participate in the Gunpowder Plot his father and his gang are planning.
I really loved Nadine’s writing in this book and it was so fun to learn about how much of the story was based on the actual Gunpowder plot from the early 1600s! Brandes seamlessly weaves in elements of magic to an already exciting story.
Read if you love learning about history, but also have a soft spot for fantasy and magic.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
This adorable YA story follows the life of Lara Jean Covey as she deals with the aftermath of having her private letters written to the five boys she’s loved sent out through the mail.
I read a lot of long fantasy novels, so this quick, quirky, cute YA contemporary was exactly what I needed to lighten my mood. I fell in love with all the characters immediately which meant I couldn’t stop until I knew what happened to them.
Read if you love a cute love story or are looking for an excellent “breather” book between heavy reads that will lift your spirits.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Kady and Ezra aren’t speaking to each other when their planet is attacked. They manage to escape but have to figure out how to stay alive as they zoom through space with an enemy warship hot on their tail.
I was nervous about this one because I typically don’t like books in non-novel format. This book was told through a compilation of chat room transcripts, official memos, and other types of reports. Yet through it all, I was surprised at what a clear view I had of each character’s personality and the danger from the plot was always brimming under the surface.
Read if you are in need of a science fiction novel that keeps your heart racing and pulse pounding throughout the entire story.
Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
A version of the Jack the Ripper story you’ve never heard before. Told from Audrey Rose’s point of view as her neighborhood is plagued by the terrifying murders committed by the infamous Jack the Ripper. Can Audrey Rose gather enough evidence to catch the murderer?
There were so many facets of this story that I loved. The tension-filled interactions between Audrey Rose and Thomas were perfection. Seeing a young woman pursue knowledge unashamedly was inspiring. The heart-pounding fear I felt at times that made it hard to breathe. This book was fascinating, exciting, and just plain fun to read. I enjoyed every minute.
Read if you love historical fiction and crime novels with a good love story mixed in.
Flame In The Mist by Renee Ahdieh
An inventive re-telling of Mulan, Flame in the Mist is about Mariko’s time spent disguising herself as a boy in order to infiltrate the infamous Black Clan bandit group to discover who tried to have her killed.
I must admit, it took me a little while to get into this book, but after I was through with the first third, I was in, hook, line and sinker. The whole time I kept thinking about how I wanted to be more like Mariko. And there were some pretty amazing twists that completely caught me off guard and made the whole thing feel like a roller coaster in the dark.
Read if you can’t get enough of fairytale/folklore retellings with lots of twists and turns.
