Favorite Books of 2018

Another year coming to an end, another year of finished books under my belt. I upped the ante on my Goodreads Reading Challenge this year by pushing myself with a goal of 85 books—a higher goal than the previous year, but conceivably possible.

So yes, I reached my 2018 reading goal, because as arbitrary as the goal is, I just *have* to finish something once I set my mind to it.

But I barely made it. My biggest lesson of the year is that I’d rather read fewer (perhaps long) books that I love than more (perhaps short) books that I might not love just for the sake of reaching a number. Next year I’ll set a lower goal, one that gives me the freedom to take my time with each book—the freedom to savor the ones I adore.

And trust me, there were many books I adored!

Not every book I read in 2018 was published in that year. I’m a sucker for all sorts of genres, including the classics, and of course I still had to catch up on some must-reads from 2017. Still, a good chunk of my favorite hobby this year was taken up by books published in 2018, so narrowing it down was damn hard.

And without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2018!

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

2018 marked the beginning of my foray into graphic novels, and The Prince and the Dressmaker was my favorite of the year. Following the story of a prince who likes to wear dresses and his personal seamstress, the main characters learn and grow as they fight for their own goals as well as each other’s. A true delight that had me biting my nails before rooting.

The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis

Sometimes you come across the right book at the exact time you need it. The Dangerous Art of Blending In, which follows 17-year-old Evan Panos, was just that book for me this year. Intense, relatable, and inspiring, Angelo Surmelis’s story gripped me by the heart as Evan navigated the expectations of his abusive mother and the confusion clouding his relationship with his best friend.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

In 2017 I fell in love with The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, so I was over the moon about its 2018 sequel. The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy matched all my expectations—a slow build with an out-of-this-world adventure and a satisfying ending that made me sigh with happiness. Check, check, and check. And bonus points, I’d argue that you don’t need to read Gentleman’s Guide to understand this sequel—if you wanted to dip your toes into this book before the former, you’d be just fine.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

An alternate-history Civil War story with zombies that explores racial issues—yes, please! In Dread Nation, Justina Ireland immerses her readers in the nineteenth century and offers creativity mixed with poignant cultural and societal commentary. The book finishes with some loose ends, paving the way for a much-anticipated sequel. This is not just your typical zombie book; it's a true piece of art and research that happens to have zombies in it. Bonus points for having my favorite cover of the year!

Nothing but Darkness by Maria Ann Green

The main character in this snaking thrill ride, Aidan Sheppard, finds himself taking bigger and bigger risks as he gets away with one horrendous crime after another—until he reaches a point where he's bound to be discovered. I was on the edge of my seat through Nothing but Darkness and couldn't wait to find out whether Aidan would get caught. This page-turning thriller is perfect for fans of Dexter and Gillian Flynn, particularly for lovers of anti-heroes and gore.

The Girl in the Sand by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain

The Girl in the Sand is dark, twisty, and quirky—all the things you'd expect from a Vargus and McBain book. This thriller follows an FBI Profiler investigating a series of shallow graves in the desert outside Las Vegas. With the authors’ tact for building suspense and their well-developed characters that messed with my mind, I couldn't stop thinking about this book after I put it down. And there’s great news on top of that: even though The Girl in the Sand is part of a series, you can read the books in any order.

Honorable Mentions

The following books published in 2018 were just too good to leave off the list. My year of reading wouldn’t have been complete without these delightful and original stories that made significant contributions to their genres:

From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon: The main character in this romantic comedy, Twinkle, is a hoot in From Twinkle, with Love; as an aspiring filmmaker, she writes to her favorite filmmakers, reaches for the stars with an epic Dracula remake, and finds love in unexpected places. Highly recommended for people interested in stories about following your passion and being true to yourself—especially if you like endings that make you cry happy tears.

Pulp by Robin Talley: I’d been waiting a long time for a great LGBTQ book set in the 1950s, so I jumped all over Robin Talley’s Pulp when it came out. Mixing the charm of a young adult contemporary with the authentic feel of historical fiction, Pulp is a well-researched exploration of 1950s lesbian pulp fiction from a present-day perspective.

Severance by Ling Ma: The millennial main character in Ling Ma’s Severance hooked me from the start with her drab-but-identifiable office job and free-spirited nature; add an apocalyptic satire to the mix and this book had me sitting straight-backed with anticipation.

American Panda by Gloria Chao: A heartwarmingly cute read about finding yourself amid your family's expectations, American Panda is relatable on many levels to anyone trying to discover who they are and what they want to become—especially when at odds with what your family thinks is best.