This is my favorite post to write every single year! I love making the charts and answering the book-related questions and combing through my GoodReads list to see what worlds and decades and countries I visit via print!! 📚
Today I am linking up with Steph and Jana (of course) but also borrowing a book recap tag from Jamie (The Perpetual Page Turner) as I do each year! Also, I made my graphs here.
I read 40 books this year. To some that’s a lot, to many that’s a few. To me it’s mostly perfect. I went through lulls and spurts. I’m 100% good with 40 books in 2018. Here’s how they hashed out:
I need to be more picky with my star ratings. How I have zero “2 stars” is unbeknownst to me… I ALSO finally finished one of Erin’s Book Challenges! Finally!! A new one starts on Tuesday and I’m pumped.
Alrighty, on to the year end review tag.
Number Of Books You Read: 40
Number of Re-Reads: 2
Genre You Read The Most From: SciFi/Fantasy, Romance, & HistFic
Best Book You Read In 2018
I read some great ones, but the best was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t
After Alice by Gregory Maguire & The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote. I didn’t remember what the movie was about AND the book takes a different tone than the film anyway.
Best series you started or best Sequel or best Series Ender of 2018
I started The Three Dark Crowns series. I plan to tackle books #2 & 3 in 2019.
Favorite new author you discovered in 2018
Mariana Zapata and R.S. Grey
Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimanamda Ngozi Adichie
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018
A Holiday By Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
Most memorable character of 2018
I loved Juliet & all the people of Guernsey (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows)
Most beautifully written book read in 2018
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff was lovely. It was nonfiction & reading those letter, written by real people, made time seemingly stop.
Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read
Guernsey & THUG
Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata – 673 pages
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – 52 pages
Book That Shocked You The Most
An Act of Villainy by Ashley Weaver. It was a mystery and I did NOT solve it.
OTP OF THE YEAR (One True Pairing- you will go down with this ship!)
Vanessa & Aiden (The Wall of Winnipeg and Me)
Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Meredith & Edith (Arrogant Devil by R.S. Grey)
Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
All the illustrated Harry Potter books.
Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018
Aiden Graves (Winnipeg) and Nate (One of Us Is Lying)
Best 2018 debut you read
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (a 2017 debut read in 2018)
Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read
Arrogant Devil by R.S. Grey
Hidden Gem Of The Year
Winnipeg – although not-so-hidden since Kristen sings its praises 😉
Book That Crushed Your Soul
And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
Most Unique Book You Read In 2018
A Tyranny of Petticoats (various authors) – love it, though
Book That Made You The Most Mad
Until Harry by L.A. Casey- not a good book OR romance
One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)
The first chunk of books I’m tackling are on my list for Erin’s 10.0 challenge!
Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019
Ashley Weaver is writing another Amory Ames story, set to release in September.
One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019
Obviously I’d like to read a little more this year. I’d like to clean up the blog a bit, too. I know blogs don’t need structure or schedule, but I enjoy that kind of organization and I’d like to be better about it here.
So tell me about your year in books! Or, better yet, link up with Steph and Jana, too! Their standard monthly link-up is my favorite day in blog world. I’m so grateful that they host a big ol’ book party every month!
What was your favorite book from 2018?
Life as Louise 
I love these posts. So many good books for the year – that’s great.
I need to look at my stats on Goodreads – I havent even glanced at it yet.
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I just love stats 🙂 And I love books! So when you combine the two things… MAGIC!
Lol 🙂
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I loved THUG as well! I still haven’t seen the movie and need to make that happen soon. I’m going to look up the Three Dark Crown series…I need a new good series to latch onto!
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I haven’t seen the movie for THUG yet. I know it’s going to make me as sad/angry/hopeful/aware as the book did. I’m going to be emotionally drained! The Three Dark Crowns series is great- at least book #1 is anyway! Lol
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Fun post! Love charts so much. I’m doing the Erin challenge too this year because I remember it from here. Hope we both finish it 🙂
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I love charts & stats, too!! I’m so glad you’re doing Erin’s challenge! Happy to pass the word along 🙂 Good luck to both of us!
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I think 40 is a great number. I think my goal is going to be lower for next year, though I never stress much about the amount I read. I just want to focus more on my own writing projects AKA work on my novel more, so I need to read/blog a little less I think. LOL I still need to read THUG, though I’ve owned it since it came out. I’m glad you liked it though.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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40 was the perfect number. I’m going to strive for it next year and hopefully exceed it! I’ve read more and more each year, but I always try for at least 3 books a month (so at least 36, lol). I’d love to write more, though. Oh definitely read THUG!!
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THUG was really great! I just love that book. Guernsey was a re-read but Im glaqd I read it in 2018 and I also cant believe I waited until 2018 to read THUG
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Such great books. I’m so glad I read them, too. I’d recommend both of those books to anyone!
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THUG and We Should All be Feminists need to be required reading for everyone
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Yes! I agree completely!!
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I love the charts. I want to make charts but I’m not a chart maker. Still, every time I see one I’m like NEED MY OWN CHARTS.
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I love doing the charts! I wish I’d remember to do more than stars or genres, though. I should do one for female v. male authors or something like that.
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I love your graphs-I always think those are so interesting. These lists have convinced me I need to read The Hate U Give. Guernsey is such a good book. I need to reread it soon!
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I love making the graphs. It’s such a concise way to look at my patterns 🙂 For sure read THUG! It was one of the best this year!!
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That is a beautiful cover. I really need to read The Hate U Give but I’ll be honest: I’ve been putting it off. It is going to upset me, which is good because it should, but my mood has been so Grinch-like lately that errr … I don’t need anything that will make me more crabby. But I know it’s an excellent book that I will also love and likely recommend to everyone, even complete random strangers I meet on the street! I love that you read all the illustrated HPs too.
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I love that cover ❤ I think THUG ends hopeful- which is a good way for that story to go. You have to wade through some sh*t to get there, though. You'll enjoy it, though. Once you're ready 😉 I LOVE the illustrated HPs!!
Happy New Year, friend!!
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Wow it was so cool to see what you read in graphs!! And I love seeing your favorites so that I know what to look for at the library next! I’m in a reading lull so it’s about time I checked something out!
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I love making those graphs 🙂 I hope you get to some of these! I can’t believe I didn’t rate anything 2 stars. LOL
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Love the graphics! You read some great books this year. I am also reading Nine Perfect Strangers for Erin’s Challenge. Pam 🙂
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Thanks!
I’m two chapters into Nine Perfect Strangers. I’ve never read that author before so I’m curious to see how I feel at the end!
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I was a pretty big fan of the Three Dark Crowns series; there was a lot that I loved about the first two books. Needless to say, I am excited for the third. Also, I want the new illustrated Harry Potter books so bad! I think that I am going to start buying them in the new year! Thank you for sharing your list — there are quite a few books that I am going to have to check out!
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I remember loving the first! I need to get my hands on the second one! I looove the illustrated HP books. They bring me so much joy. I think the 4th one is finally coming out in 2019!
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I love, love, love these posts! I shall be perusing your recommendations at large!
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Thanks, Emma!! My top of the top books were pretty darn good 🙂 I hope you find some page-turners for your 2019 reading!
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We had pretty identical reading lists this year. The Hate U Give is definitely at the top of mine, as is 3 Dark Crowns xx
rhymeandribbons.com
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They were both excellent books in their own ways. I’m excited to pick up the next book in the TDC series!
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YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WINNIPEG FOREVER!!!!!!
but seriously, yay!
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So in love with Aiden. I can practically visualize his big football arms. HAHAHA.
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