My Favorite Books of 2018

I track the books I read on Goodreads and in my handy handwritten book journal. To be honest, there are many I don’t add to Goodreads as I feel bad bombarding my friends with 50,000 status updates on there (I read really quickly) and all the smut romance novels I read. Even though I read them as I’m falling asleep, I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and many of them aren’t fully review-worthy. Not that they aren’t well-written books, but if they are the predictable romance or just not that great, it takes a bit too much time to review all the additional ones I read at night.

The point of my tangent is Goodreads helps me track and quickly filter to my most favorite books. This year, I also found a cute little summary of what I read in 2018 with little pictures to go along with it. This was fun to see and helpful since flipping through my pages in my book journal to find the ones I marked as “favorite” takes much longer.

See how fun?!

Now, here is the list of the books that I loved this past year, in no particular order. There were quite a few this time around as I found some amazing series where each and every installment was perfection. And I think I just got lucky with finding some gems that I really needed to read this year. Isn’t it amazing how you can found a book at the exact right time you need it?

What were your favorite reads this year? Did you also read any of the ones I listed below?

Click the book covers to read my full review and a synopsis of each book.

1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book caught me off guard. I had heard so many people talking about it and it was listed on so many book club lists, but I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. Gail Honeyman wrote this novel with a perfect balance of sad and humorous scenes. She took a serious and difficult issue and somehow made it warm and funny, while still showing the severity and sadness of depression and loneliness. It was a book filled with emotion without making it overly-sentimental and made me laugh and cry with it’s perfect moments.

2. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I reread this classic this year and fell in love all over again. Rebecca is a beautifully written and creative story with great imagery and characters. Some of the details, such as the fact we never find out the name of our main character and narrator, to the twist that has you sympathizing in a cringe-worthy way, Daphne du Maurier wrote a wonderful and suspenseful book. 

3. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

This is the first Chuck Palahniuk book I’ve ever read. Insert your gasp or burst of outrage here. So imagine my mixture of surprise and delight when these are the first sentences I read; “If you’re going to read this, don’t bother. After a couple pages you won’t want to be here. So forget it. Go away.” One of my friends warned me that this book is dark and fucked up, it’s messy and also “weirdly heart wrenching”. I have to agree.

4. I’d Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel

This was a wonderful, quick little read that truly had me falling in love with reading all over again. It is a nod to everyone of us who is thinking about the book we are currently reading, just finished or is next on our list. It was heartwarming and really so relatable to anyone who loves to read.

5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Reader, I am in love with this book. Jane Eyre is a romance, yes, but I was also impressed by how Charlotte made Jane so ahead of her time. Jane's life is gut wrenching and emotional but still she stays strong through all her misfortunes. It is a realistic and plausible story for the most part, but there are added fantastical elements that made the story even more beautiful.

6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This book surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. Not the biggest video game connoisseur, I was a bit nervous about relating to the overall plot but this book sucked me in so quickly and had me finishing it within a day because I just had to keep reading. It’s a great balance of Sci-Fi and very interesting story that doesn’t go completely out of the realm of possibility.

7. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

This is everything you could want in a story about childhood; adventure, magic, overcoming fears, the things that children know and adults begin to forget. While reading, I found truth, joy, love and a sad, sweet melancholy that pulled at my heart and made me fall right into the pages. This book touched me so deeply that I know it will stay with me for years to come and I'll find myself rereading it in the near future.

8. And Then There were None by Agatha Christie

This was my first Agatha Christie novel and I absolutely loved it. It was such a fascinating idea; ten people are lured to a remote island under false pretenses and quickly find out they are to be punished by death for ‘crimes' they have committed in the past and got away with. It is not a long or complex book like many mysteries/thrillers, however it is still so clever and unpredictable. I never saw the end coming of who was behind the murders.

9. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I loved how Hercule Poirot points out certain facts and slowly puts things together for the other authoritative characters, but also for the reader. You almost feel like you are the detective yourself which is pretty fantastic. At times, the fact finding is comical but it always points out something I didn't catch myself.

10. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I was hooked on this book with the first couple pages, I just had to know what happened. It was a charming, exciting and very well-written book. Novik creates such a compelling world and describes everything so wonderfully, with just enough detail that you can imagine it but not get bored or frustrated as the plot line always moves forward. 

11. and 12. Vicious and Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

I truly enjoyed each and every character in these books. All of them are extremely well developed. These stories are darker with characters who are twisted just enough. This series is called “Villians", but the main characters are truly complicated antiheros. Sure, they are dark and murderous but they are also sympathetic and caring in certain situations.

13., 14. and 15. Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire; Every Heart a Doorway, Down Among the Sticks and Bones, Beneath the Sugar Sky

This series are dark, creepy almost fairy tales about children who find cracks - a wardrobe, a rabbit hole, or a simple doorway - and find themselves somewhere else; somewhere their family members and friends won't believe they've been. The stories are very strange, but so wonderfully written. They are eery, with this almost perfect balance between comical and serious, dark and light, fairy tale and thriller.

16. Only Human (Themis Files #3) by Sylvain Neuvel

I first started this series in 2017 but the final book came out this past year and I have loved almost every moment of this storyline and wonderful characters. There was still some action but this installment was a bit more dark and sad. It still had similar dark comedic moments which made it blend well and end in a consistent manner. Overall, I'd recommend this series to as many people as possible. It was one of my favorites over the past few years and each individual book had something great to offer, which is often difficult to accomplish.

17. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë uses this descriptive style of writing to truly set the scene of this darker tale and severely flawed characters. The descriptions bring you into the turbulent emotions of these characters and I loved the way the descriptions of the landscape, rooms or weather truly set the mood of the storyline, adding to each scene and setting.

18., 19. and 20. The Winter Night Trilogy by Katherine Arden; The Bear and The Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower and The Winter of the Witch

I haven't read many Russian folklore tales, but I truly enjoyed the magical and whimsical tales Katherine Arden weaves into her storytelling. I was hooked from the very beginning of this series and could feel the atmosphere Arden creates. It is chilling and haunting, but at times there is humor and moving moments that really made this series one of a kind. And even with the magic woven into the plot, these books are also grounded in the reality that makes a more enticing read. I cannot recommend this entire series enough.

As a reader, it’s always hard to pick just a few favorite books, especially when someone is asking for a recommendation. There are so many different genres, and then there are books that sometimes you can’t truly explain why it meant so much to you. Maybe those books you decide to keep to yourself in fear of your friend hating something that completely wrecked you. So what books to suggest to someone else? Here’s a list of my most often go-to’s that I make sure to tailor based on what the person says they already enjoy.

Note: A few of these books I read a bit too long ago to provide an accurate review but have them on my re-read list so check back! Or if there is a specific one you really want to see, message me on my "About" page.

Thriller

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower and The Winter of the Witch)

Themis Files Series by Sylvain Neuvel (Sleeping Giants, Waking Gods and Only Human)

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Classics

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

MISC or Heart Warming

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Non-Fiction (Memoirs or Historical)

MWF Seeking BFF: MY Yearlong Search for A New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Night by Elie Wiesel

Romance

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
 

Plot Twists

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The twist comes in the last 60 pages or so and Carlos Ruiz Zafón does an amazing job of intertwining so many different characters’ storylines to create the ultimate climactic event. Not only is this book beautifully written, it is something all book lovers can relate to; finding that book that speaks to your soul, that means everything to you. It is a little slow in the beginning, so I beg you to keep reading as I promise it will be worth it!

Synopsis: On Daniel’s 11th birthday, his father brings him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library protected by rare-book dealers. Daniel comes across a forgotten book called “The Shadow of the Wind” and is swept away by the story and writing. In his search for other books by the author Julian Carax, Daniel finds that someone is destroying each copy of the works. We follow Daniel as he uncovers the secrets of Julian Carax’s life and finds himself on a very similar path as his beloved author. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I believe Rebecca is a very underrated book. Written in 1938 you don’t hear about this classic as much as others that came out around the same time, such as Tender is The Night, As I Lay Dying, Agatha Christie books, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Gone with the Wind, Brave New World, For Whom the Bell Tolls. This is a shame, as Rebecca is a beautifully written and creative story with great imagery and characters. Some of the details, such as the fact we never find out the name of our main character and narrator, to the twist that has you sympathizing in a cringe-worthy way, Daphne du Maurier wrote a wonderful and suspenseful book.

Synopsis: The heroine and narrator is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and finds herself engaged. But when they arrive at his estate, she suddenly realizes the large shadow his late wife, Rebecca de Winter, casts upon Maxim, his family and staff and the estate itself. Will Rebecca destroy their marriage from beyond the grave?

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

I’ve enjoyed a few of Jodi Picoult’s novels, but this book is gut-wrenching and heart-wrenching on a completely new level. Not just one but two twists grace this storyline, making the reader gasp and cry (or sob in my case) until the very last page. Like many of Picoult’s novels, this story deals with difficult subject matter and a hard truth, but it is a wonderful and moving story. The movie changes one of these twists, so if you’ve only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book as well. Just another example that the book is always better than the movie. 

Synopsis: Anna is not sick, but may as well be with the amount of times she has been in the hospital in your short life. She has gone through dozens of surgeries and transfusions all to help her older sister, Kate, fight the leukemia that has taken over her body. But at age 13, Anna makes a decision that not only alters her life but that of her entire family. This is one family’s struggle for survival at all costs. 

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

This book is a unique take on alien invasion as the world is putting their future into the hands of these genius children. The children are being trained for the second attack of the “buggers” they all know is coming. We follow a young boy, Ender, as he navigates the school, bullies and friendships and ultimately, he may be the only one that can save them all. Orson Scott Card does an amazing job on the imagery in this book and it’s so entertaining it was hard to put down. When you think you know what you’re reading, he hits you with a twist that makes the book even better. The movie version is very different and leaves out some important characters that make the story a bit darker and thought-provoking.

Synopsis: Andrew “Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

I loved the creativity of this book. You follow the main character, Christine, as she wakes up every day not remembering anything of the day before as the last memory she has was when she was in her 20s. Now in her late 40s, Christine tries to relive her life, knowing the entire day that when tomorrow comes she must do it all over again. The man who is a stranger is also her husband, and he is supportive but can Christine trust him? Can she really trust herself?  

Synopsis: Christine wakes up every morning in an unfamiliar bed with an unfamiliar man. She looks in the mirror and finds an unfamiliar middle-aged face. Every morning, the man has to explain he is Ben, her husband, she is 47 and was in a terrible accident with brain damage that prevents her from making new memories. Every day, Christine tries to reconstruct her past and gets closer and closer to an impossible truth.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Yes, I know you have probably already read this one. Who hasn’t or at least hasn’t heard that it’s an amazing, albeit dark read, that has one of the craziest twists ever? Well, I of course had to add it to the list, because yes, it has an insane twist that hits you earlier in the book but keeps having an impact as you continue reading. Although the other books’ twists are fantastic and creative, I think this twist is the one that shocked me the most, I actually cursed out loud and had to think about it for a few minutes before I kept reading. This book also falls into the “fucked up” category below, but I won’t give away why that is. 

Synopsis: It’s the day of Nick and Amy Dunne’s 5th wedding anniversary, and Amy disappears. The cops, media and Amy’s parents are hounding Nick, what could have happened? Nick starts spinning a web of lies and is evasive, he is obviously bitter, but is he a killer?

Scary Plots or Concepts

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

This book is the least dark of the books I’ve listed, but just because there aren’t any psychopaths doesn’t mean this book still doesn’t make your head reel. Focusing on the idea of alternate universes, Crouch blows your mind by the possibilities and somewhat answering the age old question of “what if?” I felt so small after reading this book and had a slight headache from trying to make sense of it all, but man, it was good.

Synopsis: “Are you happy with your life?" Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before being knocked unconscious and waking up to a life that isn't his own. His wife isn't his wife, his son was never born, he is a genius who achieved the impossible rather than an ordinary college professor. Which life is the truth? Can he get back to the family he loves? 

Room by Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue was so creative with this concept. Having the narrotor be a 4-yr old boy, it lends a certain innocence and naïveté to the premise that his mother has been kidnapped, held in a shed for 6 years, and sexually abused all this time. There are also times that his 4-yr old observations or conclusions make the story even more chilling. The entire book I found myself thinking “what am I reading?” and “oh my god this is so good”. Horrifying yes, but a book I definitely recommend.

Synopsis: To 5-yr-old Jack, Room is the world. It is where he was born and grew up; where he lives with Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep every day. Room is home to Jack but a to Ma, it is a prison where Old Nick has held her captive for 7 years. Ma devises an escape plan, one that relies on Jack to be brave and very lucky.

All Gillian Flynn Books (As of this date she’s written: Sharp Objects, Dark Places)

Gillian Flynn has a knack for throwing twists in her books, but Gone Girl definitely takes the win for the best twist. However, all of her books deserve a nod as some of the creepiest and most shudder-inducing characters I’ve ever and propoably will ever read. Seriously, Flynn’s mind scares me, how does she create such different but still fucked up characters each and every time? Sharp Objects is definitely creepier, but Dark Places is a close follower. 

Sharp Objects Synopsis: Reporter Camille Preaker must return to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has barely spoken to her hypochondriac mother or the half-sister she barely knows. Now, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims a little too well and has to unravel her own past to get the story - and survive her homecoming.

Dark Places Synopsis: Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice". She survived, and accused her 15-yr-old brother, Ben, of being the killer. 25 years later, The Kill Club asks Libby for more details, trying to prove Ben innocent. Libby hopes to profit off her tragic history. The unimaginable truth emerges and Libby finds herself back on the run from a killer.

You by Caroline Kepnes

*Shudders* *Takes a deep breath* *Shudders again* After reading this book, you’ll wish there was a way to clean your brain, not to forget what you read, but rather, you’re entire body feels dirty. Because this book, ladies and gentleman, takes you inside the head of a stalker and you start to almost cheer for him! Not ok, but such a brilliant idea from Caroline Kepnes. Prepare yourselves before you read this one, but definitely a must read.

Synopsis: When a beautiful, aspiring writer comes into the bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: google the name on her credit card. There is only one Guinevere Beck in NYC. From her social media accounts he finds out all he needs to know, including where she'll be tonight to give him the opportunity for a "chance" encounter. Joe makes sure Beck finds herself in his arms. From stalker to boyfriend, Joe will be Beck's perfect man, all while removing obstacles in their way, even if this means murder.