Another year of reading in the books (HAHAHAHA). According to Goodreads, I finished 81 books (well, 82 but it counted one book twice for some odd reason) and 24,407 pages (less when you subtract the one it counted twice). The shortest book I read was The Body by Stephen King and the longest was Ohio by Stephen Markley. Weird coincidence that Stephens bookended by books.
I need to stop with these book puns. I’m annoying myself.
Anyway.
I did some additional counting and discovered that I read:
- 60 fiction books
- 21 nonfiction books
- 57 written by women
- 24 written by men
- 2 DNF and like 3 more I should have DNF (looking at you, The Cuban Affair)
- 16 ARCs from NetGalley
- TWO set in Delaware (The Book of Unknown Americans and Sunburn)
That last statistic was a bit mindboggling because it’s hard to find a book set in Delaware yet I read two. IN ONE YEAR. I think I need to add “books taking place in Delaware that aren’t Fight Club” to my posts I need to write list.
I also participated in the 24in48 readathon and plan to do it again at the end of January. You should join me! It’ll be fun. All the cool kids like me and Audrey and Rebecca Jo are doing it. You know you want to, too.
But you’re not here for the peer pressure. You’re here to find out what my favorite books of the year were. Oh, an admin note. I was going to put a collage of the covers in this post but during our earlier SUYB, someone (I’m sorry, I forgot who) commented that she appreciates that I don’t put the book covers in my posts since it helps keep her focused on my reviews and opinions rather than judging the book by its cover. I like that, and I’m going to stick with it.
One more admin note. When I say favorites, I don’t necessarily mean my highest star rating. My favorites are picked based on the ones that stick with me, the ones that I’m most likely to recommend to others, the ones I might read again, and the ones that I just enjoyed. Some books are outstanding but they don’t meet the rest of my criteria.
Okay. Now, having said that, here are my favorites of 2018.
Fiction (in no particular order)
- Ohio by Stephen Markley
- An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- Daisy Jones and the Six by TJR
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
- Puddin’ by Julie Murphy
- Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke
- The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling
- The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Honorable mention: Five Minutes Alone by Paul Cleave, Vox by Christina Dalcher, The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn, The Dry by Jane Harper
Nonfiction (in no particular order)
- Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
- Educated by Tara Westover
- Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
- Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg
- Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
- Squeezed by Alissa Quart
Now that you know what books I loved the most this year, tell me what your favorites were! Don’t forget to check out Steph’s favorites, as well as some of the favorites from our reader crew. And, if you’re interested, you can join us on January 8, 2019 for our regularly scheduled Show Us Your Books!
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Despite reading over 150 books this year, I have not read a single one of your favourites. Zhis boggles my mind!
I definitely ant to participate in the next 24in48 readathon – i keep meaning to and then i forget. an american marriage is on my tbr, i also loved daisy, essie and the great alone. i still need to read puddin, i might have to re-read dumplin first as it’s been ages. i bought educated because of all the good reviews so hoping to get to that next year. i have high expectations!
We have three on the fiction list in common and Ohio was my longest read too!
An American Marriage was on my list too, and I have Ohio on my TBR–I need to bump that one up to the top! I finished Dumplin’ a few days ago and was tempted to add it to my list, but didn’t since I already had the post prepared. Glad to hear that Puddin’ is excellent as well. Also, I got my husband I’ll Be Gone in the Dark for Christmas (he’s into true crime) and so I’m glad to hear it topped your list!
Sadie is on my list as well. Such a good one. I can’t wait to read Puddin’ and TJRs next book. Most of those non-fiction are on my list too. I didn’t read as much non-fiction this year. Maybe in 2019! : ) XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Alexandra recently posted…My Favorite Books of 2018! // Bookworm
Bluebird, Bluebird was amazing! I can’t believe I haven’t seen more people talking about that one! It also made my list of 20 favorites this year (of the 205 I read in 2018).
Sadie seems to be popping up on everyone’s favorite list! I just added it to my TBR list! Happy New Year!
An American Marriage, Puddin’ and Daisy Jones make my list too…If I ever get my post published. I can’t bring myself to start The Great Alone. I think I will need to be in the right mood. Can’t believe we are here at the end of the year, having to start our book count all over again in a few days!
I can’t wait to read Daisy Jones and Sadie! Actually, I just need to read your whole list.
Olya @ The Siberian American recently posted…Best Books I Read in 2018
Loved Puddin so much more than Dumplin (which I also read this year). I don’t think I read any non-fiction this year, but Educated and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark are both on my TBR. Sadie is sitting on my bookshelf, so that will be the first one up after my holiday fiction kick!
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is on my list too. I really need to own a copy (mine was from the library). For Fiction, I really want to read An American Marriage, Sadie, and Daisy Jones so I’m glad you loved them.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Top Favorite Books of 2018
We have several of the same books on our lists. I have had Sadie and Daisy Jones on my TBR for a while now. Since you loved them, its moving up the list.
Puddin made my list too! Daisy is getting such good reviews, can’t wait.
Fun to see the extra stats on your reads for the year – nice ratio of women to men authors! 🙂 Also a great idea to split into fiction/non-fiction because I had trouble narrowing down to 10 total… An American Marriage and Dumplin/Puddin made my list too, and my 2019 reading list is definitely going to include Daisy Jones after seeing it on your list and Steph’s. Thanks for a great year of link ups!
I am SOOOO looking forward to Daisy Jones and the Six. I just love TBR! I enjoyed The Great Alone as well. Happy New Year!
Super excited for the next 24 in 48 🙂 I wish it was a weekend that K was traveling. Hahahaha!
When books stick with me well beyond my finishing them, I always regret not rating them higher… but I know that’s silly.
I am SO looking forward to reading Daisy Jones and The Great Alone and that Matt Haig book in 2019!
Audrey recently posted…What I Read… 2018 Recap
Well, I can’t believe we don’t have a single fiction book in common on our best of list, although virtually all of your books are on my TBR. I haven’t read the latest TJR yet, otherwise I imagine we would have had that one in common. Reasons to Stay Alive would have made my list, but I didn’t include non-fiction because it was the only non-fiction I read last year. 😀 I had I’ll Be Gone in the Dark checked but lucky me (not) it was in my purse when I got mugged. So I didn’t get to read it but I did get to buy it for the library! Here’s to more great books in 2019!
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…2018 Best Books: It Must Have Been Love
24in48 sounds fun! Seeing how many nonfiction books you read makes me think I should actually read a few. I’ve been reading one business book on and off all year but I never put an effort into reading it.
Alison – Puppies and Pretties recently posted…Top 10 Books of 2018
I have gotten a few non fiction recommendations from your posts this year! I read Squeezed and have Heartland on reserve. I have not yet read Educated which is a must read for 2019.
You have some great book stats! I have some non-fiction books to check out now, because I’m really hoping to read a lot more this year.
Carly recently posted…Favorite Books of the Year (2018)