Top 10 Books Read in 2018

2018 has finally come to an end. To some, it was a great year. To others (including myself), I can’t be more glad that it’s over. Now that I’m back from my hiatus, I want to recap my most favorite books I read in 2018.

Not going to lie, I was going to do a “top 18 books of 2018” but then I realized that list would consist of over half the books I’ve read… needless to say I vetoed that idea really quickly. My goal this year is to read more books.

Speaking of reading more, don’t forget to create a reading challenge on Goodreads (if that’s your thing)! New year = new goals. I’m going to try and be more active on Goodreads (and actually post reviews rather than just ratings) this year, but we’ll see what happens.

Alright. Enough chit chat. Onwards to the books!

Starting at our number ten….

10. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

I loved the artwork in this book, and I loved the message even more. I thought it was very relevant to what’s happening in the world currently. Even if you take out the deeper meaning, the story at face-value was very entertaining. I love all the books that Jen Wang has written so far and this one is no exception.

9. Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Out of all the books in this series, the last one has to be my favorite. Maybe it’s because the characters that I shipped finally got together and made it official. Maybe it was because of the twists and turns that had my head spinning. Maybe it’s because I love how it pulls at my heartstrings at times. My review for this one is coming as soon as I have some free time to write… which will hopefully be in the near future but who knows at this point.

8. Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Same thing as the #10 pick, but I loved the message in this graphic novel. The author had a rough upbringing, and he wanted to share his story as to how he got to where he is to show to others going through similar situations to not lose hope and that they can make it. The story focuses on his younger years up until his high school graduation, which kind of reflects on the audience’s age range. Graphic novels are easy to read, and even non-readers pick them up every once in a while, reaching a wider audience than he probably could’ve if he just wrote a story.

7. The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Yes, I know this is the second Armentrout book on this list, but I couldn’t help myself. I love her books, and The Darkest Star was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018. I literally went out and grabbed the book out of the mailman’s hand before he could put it in the mailbox and rushed back inside to read it. That’s how excited I was to dive back into the Lux world, and the book didn’t disappoint. I might even say that it’s even better than the Lux series, but I’m not going to say anything for sure until I get to rest of the series. It has loads of plot twists that you honestly never see coming and it’ll leave you speechless when it hits you in the face. I’m definitely excited to see what happens next!

6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

I owned a physical copy for several years now, but I never felt the need to pick it up. Contemporary really isn’t my thing. However, with the Netflix movie that came out in 2018, I had to read it before I got spoiled, and boy, do I wish I read it earlier. It’s so cheesy, but I absolutely love it. On top of that, the movie is fantastic, and if you haven’t watched/read the book then you need to hop on it. I’m not sure I’m going to continue the series but if I ever need something wholesome I know where to turn.

5. Warcross by Marie Lu

I had to choose between Warcross and Wildcard to put on the top 10 list, because I didn’t want to put two books of the same series. Because Warcross is the first book in the series, I decided to put it in. Just know that both books are equally good.

That aside, I love this series. One of the small things I love about it is how short it is compared to other series that are being released that are 4+ books. This story is covered over the course of two books, so it’s not a hassle to read. If you want a short series with Ready Player One vibes that include the dark web and romance, I highly recommend this series. If you like Marie Lu in general, you definitely should read this. It’s fast-pace, adventurous, and even a little bit suspenseful.

4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I’m surprised The Cruel Prince is this high up on my list, but then again, it was a really good book. I haven’t had the best luck with Holly Black’s other works, but this one surprised me.

That being said, I don’t remember too much of what happened because I read basically a year ago and I’ve had many sicknesses and classes between then and now. However, I do know that it’ll keep you on your toes and you won’t want to put it down until you finish it. Scratch that, even when you finish it you won’t want to put it down. You’re going to want the next book immediately, and now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure The Wicked King is released today.

3. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I honestly don’t think I need to explain myself here. It’s a fantastic and wholesome book and anyone who says otherwise can fight me. I’ve never smiled wider after a book ended.

2. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

I recently posted my full review on Tower of Dawn, but just to give you a brief summary, I loved it. I thought I wasn’t going to like it because I didn’t really like Chaol but this book flipped my opinion about him, and I’m glad I got to learn more about him. To anyone who has their doubts about this book: don’t. It’s great.

1. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Ok so. *deep inhale* IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ILLUMINAE FILES YOU NEED TO DROP EVERYTHING YOU’RE DOING AND PICK UP A COPY. THE SERIES IS SO GOOD, AND THE FINALE WILL BLOW. YOUR. HOUSE. DOWN. I’m not going to go into depth about it because of spoilers but all you need to know is that it about this team of teens that are traveling space trying to survive the sci-fi version of an apocalypse/government takeover. It’s insane, and it’s amazing. It’s because of this series that these two have become auto-buy authors for me.

That’s all, folks! That’s my top 10 books of 2018!

What are some of your top books that you read last year?

What are some of the books you’re planning on reading in 2019?

Any anticipated releases that you cannot wait to get your hands on?

Until next time….