The 2018 Reading Wrap Up
- jodiesbookishposts
- Jan 2, 2019
- 5 min read
Part One
I'm writing this a little ahead of the new year – what with Christmas celebrations and family time – I wanted to make a start on this as early as possible. 2018 was an astonishing year for my reading. Before 2018 my best reading year on record was 2014 when I read 88 books. The ever year since then I have really struggled with my challenges so this year I aimed for 30 books – which would have been an increase on last years 25. I may have smashed this goal, as of writing this post (early December) I am on my 121st book of the year. With a few more weeks to go, I'd quite like to get to the 130 mark. When I post I'll write below exactly what I did:
In 2018 I read 127 books. Soooo close!
There are a few reasons for my boost in reading this year and I want to go into more detail about some of these things in future posts but the two big things are: the bookish community on social media, and the improvements in audio books. These two things have gone hand in hand, building up my recommendation pool, buzz for reading and sharing, and easy access to books when I am busy.
Now to the books!
In previous years I have done award-style posts about the books I read in the previous year and with 2018 being such a big year for me in reading, this was soooooooo difficult. I have tried doing categories but I felt like this way I was losing out on mentioning some of my favourite reads. I have tried to please myself by creating something different – away from genres or target audience. To start us off I have picked seasonal favourites, books that felt perfect reading for the time of year that I read them.
Spring Read Winner – The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee This follows the story of Monty, an eccentric aristocrat in love with his best friend Percy. With his sister Felicity – the three of them go on a journey through Europe and chaos follows them at every stage. I listened to the audio of this book and absolutely fell in love with the characters. It is a witty, creative and fun story.
Summer Read Winner – These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch If you are looking for a swash-buckling adventure story then look no further. With a magic system based on plants, this book is a refreshing twist on the pirate genre. I got swept away with the characters and world and cannot wait for the next in the story.
Autumn Read Winner – The Cruel Prince by Holly Black This book had been sat on my TBR for months, but for some reason I was waiting and waiting to start. I was worried about the hype. I'm so glad I waited for Autumn – it seemed like the perfect time to read this fun twist on the fairy genre. We follow Jude, a human raised almost all her life in the land of the Fae. To be honest, I don't want to say much else because it is just one heck of a ride. The sequel to this comes out early 2019. Needless to say, it is one of my most anticipated reads.
Winter Read Winner – The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden This book was on my radar for a while, but I decided to get it as a Winter read. This is the perfect book for cosying under a blanket with a hot cup of tea. The world is whimsical and harsh and wonderful. I fell in love with the main character Vasilisa – she was a firecracker. There is another book of this out now and a final due book soon too. Hoping that the others live up to this. A new favourite.
Pleasant Suprise – One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus I always read books I think I'm going to enjoy – very rarely would I pick up a book that I don't think I would like. But, there are books that I pick up thinking will just be okay and then end up loving them. This is one of those books. Pitched as The Breakfast Club meets murder mystery I was sold on that alone – but I didn't think I would love it as much as I did. The thing that bumps this story is the twist. It is a fantastic twist and made the whole thing feel worth it. I recommend for fans of YA looking to branch into more thriller books.
Creepiest Read – Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier What a read! If you are looking for spine tingling, spooky, atmospheric books then this is for you. Rebecca follows the story of the unnamed narrator moving into a new house – she is the new wife but 'Rebecca' though dead, is still present in every nook and cranny. Highly recommend. Now I just need to watch the Hitchcock film.
Strongest Voice – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman I'm pretty sure this is going to be on a lot of peoples book lists this year. It has been seen all over the place. With great reason, I might add. Eleanor Oliphant is a character you will take into your heart. There is no avoiding it. I've read so many books since this one but the characters voice is still clear in my head when I think back to it. If you haven't read this yet – get it on your TBR.
Strongest World Building – Strange The Dreamer/ Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor I adored Laini Taylor's previous series – Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I was so excited that she had another series out but for some reason I didn't read Strange the Dreamer until this year. The story is set in another world, where a young Lazlo Strange dreams of a mysterious place that lost it's name and can now only be called Weep. Laini Taylor is Queen. Her writing style is beautiful, lyrical and all consuming. The world of these characters was rich and vivid and a master class in world building.
Complete Cuteness – To All the Boys I Loved Before series by Jenny Hann I'd seen these books around for quite a while, but with the Netflix adaptation happening I wanted to make sure that I could read at least one before it aired. I did that, loved it, loved the adaptation and promptly read the last two books. These books follow the story of Lara Jean, a middle child who writes letters to boys she has crushes on and hides them away. When the letters 'accidentally' get out – she must confront her feelings. If you are looking for cute, fluffy and fun reading – you can't go wrong with these books.
Rip My Heart Out Why Don't You – They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera I mean … what was I expecting with that title. Adam Silvera is an author I am just discovering and he just created a beautiful bunch of characters and such an interesting concept to explore the subject of life and death. In this story – the world is not much different than it is now, except there is a service that calls you on the day you are going to die. To give you warning, to get your affairs in order – or just to freak you out. We follow the story of two teenage boys who received the call, and through social media find each other. This book just hits you right in the feels. It's brutal and raw and wonderful. For fans of John Green books – this is a great next read.
And so ends part one of my 2018 wrap up.
Coming up next week – more new favourites.
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