For
those who follow my blog throughout the year, the books on this list won’t come
as a surprise. I write long reviews, though, so below you can find much shorter
descriptions of my favorite books from 2018. All the books I reviewed are
linked to the original post.
Note
that these are books I reviewed in 2018, not necessarily books published in 2018.
You could call this book a sweeping love story
or an immigration saga; both are accurate. Ifemelu emigrated from Nigeria years
ago, but a reconnection with her college sweetheart makes her reflect on her
difficult immigration journey, and whether she’s where she wants to be now.
Thirteen-year-old Charlotte has no idea
what’s in store for her when she finds herself crossing the Atlantic Ocean
without her expected companions. Though bred for a life of luxury and etiquette,
she instead plunges into one of maritime adventure.
This second book in the imaginatively illustrated
ABARAT series follows Candy on further bizarre adventures in this dreamlike
world. Meanwhile, the nefarious Christopher Carrion hunts her, meaning the
reader can expect a build towards a dramatic, epic showdown.
One of my all-time favorite authors
delivers another gem with this fantasy series. The incubus Sebastian lives in a
world made up of separate, magically linked “landscapes” that change depending
on their inhabitants’ thoughts and emotions. When a dark force escapes its
imprisonment, the horrific monster threatens this entire world with its unusual
and twisted powers.
Though a skilled archer, teenage Ellie might
have more than she can handle when she stumbles back into the past: specifically
Sherwood Forest, unintentionally playing a Robin Hood role. This novel straddles
the line between serious and silly, making this addition to time travel
literature a fun and refreshing read.
This trilogy, wonderfully rooted in book
magic, continues with this second installment. Though they conquered the horrific
villain that Meggie’s father accidentally brought from a fantasy novel into the
real world, Meggie longs to explore the novel’s magical world. Everyone warns
her that the world of Inkheart is as terrible
as it is beautiful, but Meggie might have to see for herself.
Philippa Gregory remains my “measuring
stick” for quality historical fiction. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL follows Mary
Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn as well as King Henry’s mistress before he
set both Mary and Queen Katherine aside for Anne. Gregory will make you feel every page as both Mary and Anne
scramble for their ideal lives in a society disinclined to care what women
want.
This family epic switches between character
perspectives for each chapter to collectively portray a complex and affecting
family history. Skillfully written and expertly plotted, this novel impressed
me on both micro and macro levels.
This silly, amusing chick lit novel starts
with the heroine unintentionally spilling her every secret, big and small, to
her new boss: work secrets, family secrets, boyfriend secrets. Once she
realizes what she’s done, cue embarrassment and awkward encounters.
This nonfiction history book follows the American
ambassador in Germany before World War II: William E. Dodd. An unusual man for
both his time and ours, Dodd believed politicians should focus more on
affecting positive change and less on monetary rewards for mediocre work. Unfortunately,
his perceived eccentric views led many to dismiss his warnings about Hitler.
Veteran literary agent Donald Maass
delivers a unique and helpful writing guide that merges the actual craft of
writing with the business of writing what sells. By framing discussions around
stakes, characters, and conflicts, Maass addresses what works well in stories
and what makes us readers invest. Even with familiar advice, Maass finds his
own unique and refreshing phrasing.
When a wife finds a sealed envelope
addressed to her in her husband’s handwriting, she innocently mentions it to
him. He begs her not to read the letter, to dispose of it and forget she ever
found it. With her knack for exemplary characterization, Moriarty explores how
far we can extend trust, and what happens when it’s broken.
The second book in Nix’s one-of-a-kind
ABHORSEN series follows new characters: Lirael, who lives among prophets but
never seems to come into her own powers, and Sam, son of Sabriel and Touchstone
and the reluctant abhorsen-in-waiting. When a powerful entity starts gaining
followers, these two unlikely heroes find themselves taking charge in
unexpected ways.
This unique historical fantasy series, set during the Napoleonic Wars, imagines an additional branch of the military devoted
to dragons and their riders. TONGUES OF SERPENTS sees a disgraced Laurence sent
to Australia with his dragon Temeraire, where they encounter a dangerous new creature.
Then CRUCIBLE OF GOLD introduces the pair to the powerful Incas, who could
greatly sway the course of the war depending on whether they align themselves
with Napoleon or against him.
River lives for his incredible girlfriend
Penny, so when she dumps him he sincerely believes his life is over. Then he
meanders into a support group for teens with addiction where he expresses his
Penny withdrawal by substituting “girlfriend” for “marijuana.” Over the course
of an expected but nevertheless satisfying internal journey, River recognizes
the far greater hurdles that others overcome and that his life is far from over.
This nonfiction collection features dozens
of remarkable tales about real women from history who defied social norms and
expectations. While not all make for ideal role models, these woman are
certainly all memorable.
The second book in this trilogy finds
Yelena reunited with her long-lost family and struggling to master her magic. Then
she becomes the best hope for stopping a predatory kidnapper, but she’s far
from ready. Her adventures conclude with the third and final book FIRE STUDY.
In this creepy, gorgeously-written magical
realism tale, Jean-Baptiste has an almost supernatural affinity for smell. Not
only can he separate out individual scents and track them, but he lives for the
eventual goal of discovering a method of bottling and preserving the perfect
smell.
If I had to pick only one favorite book of
the year, this would be it. This young adult novel follows the friendship of
three unique misfits in a small town. Believe me, the description does not do
justice to this story’s stellar quality. Read it.