Here are my favorite books of 2018. As a quick disclaimer, these books may not all be 2018 releases but I did read them in 2018. Currently, I am wrapping up my reading challenge and may go beyond my goal of 250 books. Without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2018 ranked according to the interest level.
Favorite Adult Books
I read a quite a few adult titles that I enjoyed in 2018 and I am happy to report that I enjoyed quite a few titles.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: In eighteen poignant, humorous, and incisive essays, Noah takes the reader along a personal journey of life inside South Africa.
The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty: The City of Brass is a complex, multilayered story that centers on the kingdom's deeply divisive religious, political, and racial tensions. The world building is excellent as clues are sprinkled evenly throughout the story will leaving mysteries that need to be solved. I loved the inclusion and infusion of Middle Eastern culture throughout the novel. I loved this debut novel and I can't wait to read the next installment next month.
The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy #2) by Katherine Arden: A fantastic sequel that skillfully avoids the dreaded middle book syndrome. Arden expands her world with new characters and a new setting in Moscow. Some readers have complained that the pacing was slow in this book, but I did not find it slow at all. I was completely captivated with the story and its multiple moving parts. I am sad to see this series end.
Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews: The last book in the Kate Daniel series, one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty: The City of Brass is a complex, multilayered story that centers on the kingdom's deeply divisive religious, political, and racial tensions. The world building is excellent as clues are sprinkled evenly throughout the story will leaving mysteries that need to be solved. I loved the inclusion and infusion of Middle Eastern culture throughout the novel. I loved this debut novel and I can't wait to read the next installment next month.
The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy #2) by Katherine Arden: A fantastic sequel that skillfully avoids the dreaded middle book syndrome. Arden expands her world with new characters and a new setting in Moscow. Some readers have complained that the pacing was slow in this book, but I did not find it slow at all. I was completely captivated with the story and its multiple moving parts. I am sad to see this series end.
Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews: The last book in the Kate Daniel series, one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
Favorite Children Book
I always try to fit in some children and middle grade reads into my yearly reading challenge. While I read quite a few children and middle grade books this year, I may have been extra picky this year as I only had one that I truly loved.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales: In this gorgeously illustrated memoir picture book, Morales recalls the time from her son's birth to their move to the United States from Mexico in the mid-1990s.
Favorite YA Books
Young Adult books dominate my reading pile because I work for teens as a high school librarian and I thoroughly enjoy reading and recommending them. I did not get to a lot of the big releases of 2018 and there were a few titles that didn't meet the hype.
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren: A story of family, friendship, acceptance, and being true to yourself with a sweet romance.
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley created Frankenstein by Lita Judge: An exquistie novel in verse biography on Mary Shelley.
Sadie by Courtney Summers: A powerful, timely, gut wrenching, thriller that will elicit strong emotions from you as you read it. Definitely check out the audiobook if you get a chance, it is fantastic.
Favorite Graphic Novels/Manga
I read several fantastic graphic novels in 2018. I still have to review a few of them.
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka: An intimate and heart wrenching memoir of growing up with family addiction and drug abuse.
Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll: A fabulous adaptation of a groundbreaking YA novel. Carroll's nightmarish illustrations highlight the horrors of rape culture.
The Divided Earth (The Nameless City #3) by Faith Erin Hicks: A fantastic ending to a solid fantasy series inspired by 13th century China.
Honorable Mentions
The following books are the ones that left a lasting impression on me that I would also highly recommend reading:
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Circe by Madeline Miller
Sophia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik
Us Against You by Fredrick Backman
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
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We have some favorites in common: Hey Kiddo, A Very Large Expanse of Sea, and Sadie. What a great year of reading you had! Happy New Year!
I love seeing all the variety of genres here! So fun. I hope you have a fabulous New Year!!
I loved Magic Triumphs as well - such a great way to end the series. I am tempted to pick up The Belles. The cover alone makes me want to read it. Happy 2019!
I didn't know the sequel of the Winternight series was out yet. I'm adding it to my TBR right now. I also had Hey, Kiddo on my list of bests. Happy New Year.