Is it 2019 already? You know what that means - yearly favorites! While my goal was initially to read 100 books in 2018, I subtracted 10 from my Goodreads goal because 90 was a little more attainable for me. So here it is, my favorite books of 2018! Did any of these make your list as well? What were your favorite books? Leave a comment below!
Jocelyn's Favorite Books of 2018
8) The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
I must say, this was one creepy retelling of Frankenstein! Kiersten really knows how to spin a dark story. This was my first book by Ms. White and was not my last (I read Slayer shortly after ). She definitely has a new fan of her stories after 2018!
7) Any Man by Amber Tamblyn
While this was a short read, it was anything but easy. It was frightening, emotional, and literally unlike anything I've ever read before. This was an allegory for gender roles and assumptions and it just has to be read. Trust me on this one.
6) The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
Another retelling is in my favorites for this year - this time a gender-bent Beowulf retelling. The relationships in this book were so wonderful - some romantic, some platonic, all amazing! I'm a big Tucholke fan. I really can't wait to see what she comes out with next.
5) The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Marketed as a historical fiction based off the dialogue liberties taken by the author, this true story about the holocaust was deeply disturbing yet extremely informative about how politics played out in the camp. This book will be very traumatic for some people, so just a warning! However, I feel like this book tells an important story of hope during a very dark time period.
4) The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black
Holly Black - Queen of Faerie is back with a new series. While this book came out super super early in 2018, I still remember how sucked in I was. However, writing this now, all I can think of is how amazing the follow up, The Wicked King (which I read after BEA) is. HOLY CRAP. You need to read this series because The Wicked King literally just came out like last week and needs to be talked about asap. That ending, though?!
3) An Easy Death (Gunnie Rose, #1) by Charlaine Harris
I was SO stoked this year that one of my favorite authors released a new fantasy series. An Easy Death is the first in a series of fantasy western novels! This book had such a perfect setting, romance, and mystery, like only Charlaine knows how to do! I highly recommend giving this series a try!
2) The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James
So, this book hit me like a ton of bricks! I read this so fast and found myself turning the pages so quickly. A SciFi Thriller YA set in space? This was AMAZING and full of plot twists. I really hope Lauren James has more up her sleeve for 2019!
1) Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2) by Neal Shusterman
The second book in a series is never good as the first, is it? I'm not sure if it's because length of the time you went between reading them takes a toll, if the plot drops off, or what ... but this follow-up was not like that at all. It was PHENOMENAL and my all time favorite book of 2018. I'm obsessed with this series and can't stop thinking about wanting the third book in the series to be out NOW. If you haven't started this series, I highly recommend you do so. It is amazing.
