Fave Reads of 2018

2018 was such a good year! Not only was it full of ups, downs, blessings, and surprises, it was also full of good books! I read a total of 56 books this 2018, but there are only 12 that made it to my list of favorites. And so, here are the books that captured my heart and completed my 2018!

1. Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

GGTVAV was such a wonderful read, one that took me by surprise. I loved it because it wasn’t only about a renegade noble touring Europe with his sister and his best friend, it was also about history and adventure. It talked about racism, about a girl who wanted to achieve her own dream, about understanding sexuality, and more.

2. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes was an atmospheric read! Filled with power-hungry royals, and oppressed nation, secrets, magic, and adventure! The first book of a trilogy, the author created a mesmerizing world and a plot that was a true page-turner.

3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give was an amazing book! It was timely, it was touching, it was funny, and it was emotional. This book did not only blow my mind and warmed my heart, it also opened up my eyes to issues that are happening right now in our world.

4. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm is the second installment to the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I loved the first book, Shadow and Bone, but it was Siege and Storm that really blew mind. It has action, adventure, dark forces, plus an intricate world that’s worth falling in love.

5. More Than This by Patrick Ness

The first 20-30% percent of this book was slow and confusing, but once I got past that, I found out just how amazing it was! More Than This was just the right blend of contemporary and science-fiction, and it will definitely make you think about life and what’s more to it.

6. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is the first book of a duology by Leigh Bardugo. Set in the same universe as the Grisha trilogy, this book was packed with action, gore, magic, and impossible heists. It’s safe to say that I am in love with everything about this book—from the plot, to the writing, and the amazing characters.

7. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

If I thought Six of Crows was amazing, its sequel, Crooked Kingdom, was even more wonderful! The plot got even more complicated and heart-stopping, the characters just made me fall in love with them more, and Bardugo’s gorgeous writing style hooked me from the first page until the very last.

8. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

I’ve been wanting to read Children of Blood and Bone since early 2018, and I can now say that the hype is definitely worth it. This diverse and riveting read was full of action, magic, and characters that are driven to fight for freedom and take back what was once theirs.

9. The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo continues to impress me—this time in the form of a collection of short stories. The Language of Thorns was an atmospheric read, one that really gave me chills and awe. The stories vary from each other, but two things remain constant—magic and the flaws of human nature. (Also this book is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen and touched, I’m not even kidding.)

10. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The thought of a book written in poems really excited me. I used to write a lot of poems (I was a literary writer in college), and edit a lot as well (I was also a Literary Editor), so reading and analyzing every single piece in this book was amazing. The poems were simple yet poignant, and some really took my breath away. The Poet X reminded just how powerful and beautiful poems can be.

11. Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

Bring Me Their Hearts has some of the things I look for in a YA fantasy book—intricate world-building, awesome characters, and great writing style. Although the plot was a little bit predictable, it still got me hooked until the very end.

12. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Eliza and Her Monsters is another surprising read. It was so good that I only read it for four hours. It was so good that I was crying my heart out while I read the last 20% of the book. The main character was really relatable, and the writing style was truly creative.

BONUS:

Earth to Charlie by Justin Olson

Earth to Charlie is an e-ARC I received from Edelweiss. It was funny, entertaining, and a real tear-jerker (it even made me cry while I was reading it at work). This book comes out April 2019!

And there you have it, those are my favorite reads of 2018! They went from historical fiction, to fantasy, to contemporary, to poetry! I read so many good books last 2018, and I can only hope that it will be the same this 2019.

How about you guys? What were your favorites? Do you see some of your faves in my list? 😀