My Top Books of 2018

Chelsea Pennington
3 min readDec 18, 2018

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Even though it feels like just yesterday that we were saying goodbye to 2017, somehow 2018 is already drawing to a close. Which means it’s time for end-of-year wrap-ups! I started bullet journaling in October of 2017, and pretty much the only “collection” I keep up with is my book log. I list every book I read and rate it on a scale of 1–10. Not all of these books were published this year, but they’re all pretty recent. It’s a rather eclectic collection, but they all ranked 9 or higher, at least according to my tastes!

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Funny and heartwarming, this book will both make you laugh out loud and also keep you thinking about it long after you put it down. Not to mention it won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

Love & Gelato and Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

These are both super adorable and fun romance stories set in absolutely gorgeous places. I picked up Love & Gelato because I was traveling to Florence and wanted to get a feel for the area, and I fell in love both with the city and Welch’s amazing characters! The sequel is about the main character’s best friend and is set in Ireland, and I just adored it.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

I read this book in one afternoon because once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Think The Breakfast Club, but with murder. It’s so suspenseful, it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

I’d never read historical fantasy before, but wow am I glad I decided to branch out and try this one! Centered around the Gunpowder Plot, this novel is amazingly creative and has wonderfully lovable characters.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The final book in this series came out this year, so I figured I’d better actually start reading the whole thing. I know I’m super late to this, but boy have I been missing out! I have to say, I’m not as obsessed with it as a lot of other readers seem to be, but it’s still a captivating story with badass characters and detailed worldbuilding. Also, you’ll probably cry. Just warning you now.

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

This is a beautiful and creative debut novel that makes me excited to read whatever Weymouth writes next. It tells the story of three siblings who traveled to a magical, Narnia-like world, and their transition back into the “real” world. I love any book that explores the relationship between sisters, and this one does so in a complicated and realistic way, despite the fantastical elements of the plot.

Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Are you looking for a story about badass teenage girls figuring out grief, guilt, and female friendships, all while sailing on the high seas? Even if you didn’t think you were, you still need to read Seafire, because it’s a fantastic book and just plain fun to read.

From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein

I know, I know. Who wants to read a book about politics during a time like this? But this book is about so much more than just politics. Dorey-Stein explores the tension between having a successful career and a happy relationship (especially when you’re working in politics) and the reasons why we continue to make toxic decisions even when we know they’re bad. It’s a love story, a memoir, and an advice column all wrapped up into one beautifully written book.

(FYI–This post includes affiliate links. I promise to never recommend anything that I haven’t loved and think you should try!)

What are your favorite books you’ve read this year? What 2019 releases are you most excited for?

Originally published at chelseapenningtonauthor.com on December 18, 2018.

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Chelsea Pennington
Chelsea Pennington

Written by Chelsea Pennington

I help readers and writers discover and create life-changing stories. Connect with me at ChelseaPenningtonAuthor.com

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