Amy's Favorite Books of 2018

Here are the best books I read in 2018. (These are not books that were necessarily released in 2018.) I read 56 books (so far) this year and chose not to finish another 5 books. I found it a difficult year for narrowing down all of my favorites to just the Top Ten.  I ended up removing most of the sequels (with a few exceptions below for the reasons stated) as a way to scratch out a few favorites. Nine of the ten books were written by new authors for me. 

My 2018 favorites, in order, were:

    1. Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor (young
    adult fantasy)

    2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (fiction)

    3. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan (historical fiction)

    4. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (historical fiction)

    5. Eldest and Inheritance (Inheritance #2 and #4) by Christopher Paolini
    (young adult fantasy)

    6. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (young adult fantasy)

    7. The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle (mystery)

    8. City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson (young adult mystery)

    9. What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather (nonfiction)

    10. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (women’s fiction)

Below are some details about these books, listed in alphabetical order. (For full reviews, click on the book titles above which will take you to the blog post for the book.):

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (women’s fiction)  

In an expensive, private Nashville high school, a compromising photo of one student is posted by another student. As a result, the lives of several families get pulled into difficult situations due to the fallout and likely consequences.  The situation was so believable. I was able to step right into the story. The characters were interesting and made me want to keep reading to find out what happened to them. The topics of sexual assault, boys doing bad things in high school/college, and privileged people thinking they can buy their way out of troubles are all timely and current, as is the posting of inappropriate photos. This novel made me think deeply about these issues and consider how I might handle similar situations.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (historical fiction)  

Told from two viewpoints, one an older woman looking back on her life and one a younger woman discovering the truth about her grandmother's life, it tells the amazing fictional story of Rill Foss and her family, victims of the real-life Memphis-based Tennessee Children's Home Society during the 1930s and 1940s. After it going going, I was completely sucked into Rill's story and had to find out what happened to her and her siblings. Her narrative was full of ups and downs
--harrowing, horrifying, and heartwarming.  She was a girl who was strong in the face of adversity of all sorts and braver than anyone could have expected. I loved the way Lisa Wingate crafted the story. I enjoyed both points of view and they never felt disjointed or placed at inopportune intervals, which can sometimes happen with multiple viewpoints.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (fiction) 

Bel Canto tells the tale of a group of people who find themselves in a hostage situation. A large group of people remain in a house, both terrorists and hostages, and learn to live in their new reality while ongoing negotiations take place. I was captured by this story and it caught me by surprise. The atmosphere in the house is almost like a situation where a group of strangers are stranded on an island. They are separated from their lives suddenly and unexpectedly and must attempt to make the best of the situation in order to carry on. It was a fascinating study of people, psychology, sociology, and the kidnapper/victim dynamic. I adored getting to know all of the characters and seeing how relationships changed over time. The language barrier aspect was intriguing. The anticipation about wondering how this would end was fantastic. I enjoyed the ride.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan (historical fiction) 

What a story! This novel details two years during WWII in which Pino Lella, an Italian teenager in Milan, helps Italian Jews escape to Switzerland, enlists in the war, and serves as a spy against the Germans aiding the partisan efforts in Italy. This is a fiction based on Pino's real story. He had an amazing experience. The novel also covers the highlights of all the characters' lives after the war and into current day so that the reader is able to learn what became of everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of this heroic, brave, strong, loyal, romantic, adventurous, devout, amiable, and smart young man. Mark T. Sullivan did a fantastic job bringing Pino and all the other characters to life. The story ran smoothly with just the right amount of background information, detail, and intrigue. There were such highs and such lows, the most shining moments and the darkest moments, and it is all written so realistically and clearly. 

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (young adult fantasy) 

A great read! Eleven years earlier, the evil king of Orisha killed all of the adult maji in his attempt to rid the country of the magic-wielding population, thereby ensuring his power over the people. However, he did not realize that magic might be returned to the people. A young woman named Zelie finds herself in a situation where she may be able to bring the magic back. I loved the characters and the mystical world containing fantastical animals. The novel got better and better as it went along. It was very difficult to read at times due to tragedies. However, it was also difficult to put down and was quite hopeful. It was extremely gripping, particularly, near the end. And some of the characters surprised me which is always nice even though some of them surprised me in a bad way. I'll look forward to the sequel.

City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson (young adult mystery)  

This is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel. I ate it up. Tina is a thief in a busy city in Africa. She has had to learn to survive after her mother was murdered. She joins a gang and learns to be a thief. Then, when she's so close to finally getting revenge on the man she suspects of murdering her mother, she is caught in the act. I was hooked and enjoyed every opportunity to read these pages. The characters seemed genuine, the settings were well-described, and the action was terrific. I can definitely see this one being made into a movie. I enjoyed reading about the African cities and villages and lifestyles, as depressing as much of it was. I appreciated the view into a new part of the world about which I don't know very much.

Eldest and Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #2 and #4) by Christopher Paolini (young adult fantasy) 

I read all four books in the series this year but these two novels, in particular, stood out.  I recommend the entire series for those of you who love epic fantasy. Eragon is a young man who unknowingly finds a dragon egg while out hunting and his life is turned inside out as a result. The story, characters, and adventures are all very engaging.  The characters and settings are all well-drawn.  Eragon travels far and wide and makes wonderful discoveries, allies, and enemies.  It’s a charming tale and all the more amazing that it was written by a very young author.

The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle (mystery) 

I couldn't put it down! Iris is stunned when notified that her husband, Will, was killed in a plane crash of a flight on which he was not supposed to be a passenger. He had told Iris he was flying to Orlando, but the flight that crashed was headed to Seattle. While grieving, she is driven to learn why her husband had lied to her about his flight plans. The characters were all interesting, the setting of Atlanta was full of fun local references of my home city, and the storyline kept me fully engaged. I was as determined as Iris to get to the bottom of the mystery. The fact that Iris was a psychologist gave the reader some important insights.

Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor (young adult

fantasy) 

Even though this is a sequel, it was my favorite novel of the year so I could not exclude it.  The first novel in the series, Strange the Dreamer, made last year’s list. I LOVED this novel! This is only a 2-book series and it was terrific. Laini Taylor's creativity is simply the best--she wins!  Her ability to weave an engaging tale full of lovable characters in a dream world that is both scary and spectacular has been proven over and over with her novels. She's magical. This novel was like the most delicious dessert you could ever read! (And narrator Steve West's voice was the icing!) I had to know what was happening next. The story-crafting was superb. 

What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather (nonfiction)

Part memoir, part history lesson, part political statement, this is a wonderful book written by an educated, observant, lifelong newsman. Each chapter has several sections which read like essays or news segments. Dan Rather is so rational and measured and brings out the facts in order to support and explain his statements. His humble childhood and natural curiosity, combined with good fortune in his career, have provided him with a perfect platform for weighing information and knowing the important points to make. He understands firsthand how impressions can change with exposure to situations, gaining new information, and meeting people. His message, while dire at times, is overall one of hope and confidence. I learned several things about historical events and national transitions and movements. 

If you’re hungry for more, here are my favorites from 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.  Also, don’t miss Lynnie’s favorites of 2018! (Three of the books above also made her list--Before We Were Yours, Muse of Nightmares, and Children of Blood and Bone!)

--Amy