The Best, Worst And Everything In Between Of What I Read In 2018

Finally I’ve gotten time to sit down to take stock of my 2018 reading life and all the best books of 2018, worst books and everything in between — I was so behind in looking back on and looking ahead (thanks to my kid suddenly deciding she’s allergic to sleep) so I’m just doing it on my own timing and not worrying if it’s not timely.

This week I talked about how this year was the most rich and full reading life ever even though I read WAY less so definitely check that post out because I detailed why I think that. I like reflecting on that sort of stuff, too, instead of just focusing on numbers and what books I read. Just the overall FEEL of my reading year.

I created this end of year book survey back in 2010 and over the years others have joined in to fill it out and talk about their reading year. It’s a fun way to talk through what you read this year! You can get the template here if you’d like to fill it out. So today I’m talking about the best books I read in 2018 — and also everything in between.

 

 

**2018 READING STATS**

 

Number Of Books You Read: 40 (plus a million kid books with Riley)
Number of Re-Reads: 0 (I reread A LOT of books with Riley though haha sometimes multiple times a day)
Genre You Read The Most From: Wow! I read more historical fiction this year than anything else which is a genre I read most of WAY BACK before I started blogging and then I leaned heavily toward contemporary or fantasy.

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2018?

My favorite adult fiction book of 2018 was Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

My favorite YA book of 2018 was The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Gilead by Marilynn Robinson. I really didn’t like this book. Felt nothing for it.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis — in a bad way. The way EVERYONE raved about this thing made me think I would love it and it would change my life but yeah nooooo. Like not at all. I could tell you all the ways I hated it. It surprised me also how I went from like EH it’s okay because I got a few things out of it to OMG PLEASE LET ME NEVER SEE THIS BOOK AGAIN the more I marinated on it. I’m just surprised how much I just slowly despised it more and more.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Probably Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton — so many people asked for recommendations and I pushed this one the hardest.

 5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

I really didn’t read many series book in 2018 but the best one I started was The Cruel Prince. Also I read the whole Darkest Minds series all this year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

Hazel Gaynor

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory — this one was hard to say because I read mostly any genre and don’t have much outside of my comfort zone but I’m still definitely a very casual reader of adult romances. This book was so enjoyable out of the romance I did read this year!

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

I could NOT put down The Couple Next Door (but I hated the ending soooo)

 9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Probably Next Year in Havana

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

I really kept being drawn to the cover for The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

Shirin from A Very Large Expanse of the Sea — she just really stuck with me!

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

Hands down Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

This might be an odd choice but a non-fiction book I read called Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children — it really changed my life. I’ve made being outside such a priority with Riley and this book really made me think SO much about my parenting style and the things we are prioritizing.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? 

The Darkest Minds series!! That was such a fun ride!

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

“I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves.” — This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Shortest: My Sister, The Serial Killer (226 pages)
Longest: In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken (535 pages)

 

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Ghosted by Rosie Thomas (didn’t see one part of it coming) or In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken — damn you Alex I didn’t see something coming and was not emotionally ready.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Shirin and Ocean from A Very Large Expanse of Sea

 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Omg pretty much every non-romantic relationship in Once Upon A River

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian or Sadie by Courtney Summers

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

Hmmmm I don’t even know. I don’t even know that I did.

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

WOW….this is the first year I didn’t read any debuts of that year. WOW.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Girl With The Red Balloon or Next Year In Havana

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Save The Date by Morgan Matson — what a delight! Her books either make me really happy or sob like a baby…this one was all smiles!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Smell of Other People’s Houses — I can’t believe it took me this long to read this one!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Honestly there was something about The Clockmaker’s Daughter that crushed my soul a little bit.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle — definitely an interesting and unique premise! Or The Girl With The Red Balloon — just something felt very unique about it compared to a lot of the YA books I’ve read. A magical historical read!

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Sadie by Courtney Summers — I LOVED THIS BOOKS but poor Sadie!!

 

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?

@whatmeganreads on Instagram is a delight!

2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?

I wrote so many that I loved to be completely honest. Might be blogging less but love everything I’m putting out. I won’t include my motherhood posts I wrote this year, will stick to book stuff, but probably either my book club ideas to refresh your book club posts OR my newfound book organization hack!

3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018:?

Forever this one:

View this post on Instagram

 

One of my most favorite times of my day is before bedtime when Riley and I read ALL THE BOOKS. She loves books and I hope to continue to encourage that as she grows (any tips appreciated!). Her latest thing is tantruming after reading time is done and tries to clutch her books. 😬😬 I’ve created a monster but I FEEL YA, KID. • I had a really hard time in the beginning of motherhood with feeling boring and hating how every day felt the same. I still struggle with it sometimes but I have a much easier time delighting in the small, simple joys of my day now. Like reading with her before bed — she’s all snuggled up next to me, smells good from the bath and I get to see those little hands turn the pages and hear that giggle as we read. I’m so lucky that’s part of my day. I posted a list recently of our fave bedtime reads so check out the link in the bio! • 👉Tell me a small simple joy from your day! I think it’s important to take a moment and revel in the ordinary and every day moments. 👈

A post shared by Jamie | Book/Lifestyle Blogger (@perpetualpageturner) on Jul 30, 2018 at 5:33pm PDT

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

The only two book related things I did this year were going to a Gayle Forman event which was my FIRST book event after having Riley and she’s a fave so it was DELIGHTFUL. And I also started a book club in my new town! So YAY!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?

Just the fact I kept doing it despite now having a kid. I really thought it would be over during the newborn months after she was born.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Just finding the time for both of those — prioritizing and learning how to deal with less time for blogging and reading! Definitely came to terms with that and it made everything better. Helped me to learn more ways to become more efficient.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Well my most popular post view-wise was a post  I wrote at the end of 2017 that just kept getting views all year long so I won’t count that…but I think my book to movie adaptations for 2019 post! Comment-wise it was my post about grieving my very short breastfeeding journey — this is why I love y’all…so much support!

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I totally was excited about my ways to keep learning as an adult post because I am VERY passionate about keeping a learning spirit as an adult!

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Hmmm..I did discover a used bookstore in my new area so THAT…because I can’t think of anything else.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did hit my reading goal of 40 books just in the nick of time at like 11pm NYE.

 

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

Where The Crawdads Sing — I was on the freaking library holds queue for FREAKING FOREVER and I should be getting it within the next two weeks I would think. I will be reading it ASAP.

 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?

Oh lordy. Well everything on my new adult fiction books to read for 2019 list and my new YA book releases for 2019 lists. What a cop-out answer I know!

But if I had to pick ONE: Normal People by Sally Rooney (adult) and On The Come Up (YA)

 

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Honestly probably either The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason or We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal because I’ve known them both in the book community and they are wonderful people and I’m legit so excited for both of their books!

 

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?

I NEED THE WICKED KING by Holly Black more than anything!!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?

I honestly hope to give back to other book bloggers more in 2019. I have a lot of experience doing this since 2010 and I’ve grown my blog so much and I’d love to share what I know!

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

WELL I’m currently reading Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard and if you haven’t read this series YOU STILL HAVE TIME. This series continues to just be a must read.

 

 

Tell me about your favorite books of 2018!! Did you read any of the same that I did??

 

P.S. Did you miss my list of 2019 book to movie adaptations? It’s one of my favorite posts to write every year!