Wow. I genuinely cannot believe the end of the year is here???? And I have to pick favorite books I’ve read?? (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A COUPLE MORE I WANT TO READ) Ugh. I decided to bring back this format from 2016 because it is way more fun then just listing a bunch of books I liked.
A book with a title that SCREAMS ‘read me’
Yes. I am secretly 10. I mostly read this book because this title made me feel like I was going to dive into a cute read but holy fuck, Death by Toilet Paper hit all the right emotional notes. This book is funny but more than that, its actually heart breaking????? I did not expect a book with a title like this to actually have the ability to make me extremely emotional.
A cover that made me swoon because of the gorgeousness
I did not actually read this book but choosing a gorgeous cover is hard when there are SO MANY and there is just something about this one that spoke to me.
A sequel that lived up to book 1
I had to wait a very long time for this sequel but it was absolutely, 100% worth it. I am gonna be 30 before this series ends but thats okay because I love this series.
A series that concluded with me dying of heartbreak because I was so sad to see it end.
So, I’ve been terrible with keeping up with new releases this years and read more backlist than frontlist but I got to binged a couple series’ and two just, REALLY blew my mind and I was extremely sad to see these come to an end (even though they officially ended a while ago.) READ GALLAGHER GIRLS AND THE NATURALS, FOLKS.
A book with a super cute romance
I am not sure super cute romance is an accurate description because I feel like the romance in this book is much more than that. It’s fucking amazing and is why this book was my favorite romance of the year.
A book with the BEST angst
I have probably read a bunch of books this year that I would describe as angsty so when I had to think of the book with the best angst, it took me a while to figure out which one stood out the most BUT WHEN I THOUGHT OF IT, the answer was always right in front of me. The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You truly hit all the right marks for me. It was just so SO SO GOOD and I am sad I waited so long to read it. I am also sad I can never read it for the first time again.
A book I wish I had not read this year
Umm, there are a bunch of books that made it to the shortlist for this category but I chose True Confessions because even if other books made me upset, they didn’t bore me to death. This line from my review says it all: “I am pretty sure actual cardboard cutouts have more chemistry than the main characters in this book.”
Something Different
I’ve never ever ever willingly picked up comics. I read graphic novels all the time but they, imo, are different than comic books. BUT a bunch of my friends were fans of the Saga series so I decided to give it a shot. I had literally no idea what to expect but I did not expect to fall head-over-heels for this series and this fictional family. I FUCKING LOVE THESE comics and sad I haven’t read volume 9 yet.
A book that made me LOL so hard
Is it weird that a non fic that isn’t even a memoir is the funniest book I’ve read this year? IDK. I read a bunch of funny stuff but What if? was both educational and really funny so its a double win in my book.
A non-fic that made me feel ALIVE
I am not reading much non-fic but I’ve read the most non-fic I’ve ever read in any year this year and loved a lot of what I read. Why I Am No Longer Talking to White People About Race holds a special place in my heart.
Fav Historical Fiction
This is one of the first books I ever read that offered readers an insight into the India/Pakistan partition and how fucking horrifying it was. It was also #ownvoices and I might have cried just a bit seeing a huge part of my family’s history told in this well-written novel.
Fav Contemporary
#OzYa always amazes me and I am glad I finally read Vikki Wakefield this year. Ballad for a Mad Girl was not what I expected when I dove in, but I did love it.
Fav Fantasy
I have not read many fantasies this year but Tess of the Road was fucking phenomenal and made its mark. I went into it incredibly reluctant because I missed the Seraphina fam and wasn’t sure I wanted to read a book without my friends but Hartman won me over so much that I think I might have loved Tess’s story more. It’s so fucking honest and I don’t have any other words tbh.
Fav Sci-fic
I have read maybe 4-5 sci-fic novels this years which is NOT THAT MANY. I honestly shouldn’t have even kept this category but The Disasters deserves a mention because it definitely reminded me why I fell in love with sci-fic in the first place and it was a WHOLE lot of fun. IT NEEDS TO BE READ.
Fav Graphic Novel
Real Friends was the kind of book I desperately wish was around when I was younger because it was so validating. So completely worth it.
Fav Picture Book
I’ve read more picture books this year than I thought I would which means that I have more than a few options when it comes to choosing a fav but this one stood out by miles.
Fav Novel Written In Verse
I honestly cannot choose between these two because they are both so well written and were both five star reads for me.
Fav Mystery
Am I cheating again by choosing two books? Do I care? I don’t really because both of these are so different and reminded me why I used to read this genre so much. They are both well written and will fuck with your mind and feels.
Most Important Read of 2018
This is not a new release. This is a book I pre-ordered in 2016 and then promptly put off reading because I didn’t want to live in a world without any Marchetta to read. Of course, I am the world’s biggest dumbass because Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil is not the kind of book that deserved to sit on my shelves for two years, waiting patiently to be read. ITS NOT. I AM SORRY. I LOVE YOU. SO MUCH. Marchetta, obviously, killed me with emotions overload. It was fun 🙂
What were some of your favorite reads of the year?? What books do you wish you hadn’t read?
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