Since all of the book community, and really the whole world, is doing their list of top ten things I've decided that I'm going to do my own list of the top ten books that I've read this year. My goal for this post is to tell you why these 10 books were my favorite, what I rated them on Goodreads, and also what the book's average rating on Goodreads is. By the way, the list is going to go from 10 all the way to my number 1 favorite read.
This list was kind of hard because I really couldn't decide on some of the books and then the placing of the books was pretty rough too. But I think overall I'm pretty proud of how it turned out.
So let's get this ball rolling!
10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Why is the book on this list?
I was skeptical about this book going into it. I didn't know if I would like the author, the store, or basically anything about this book! Let's just say I'm skeptical about any book that is written by an author I've never read about. Fangirl is actually one of the books that I've actually heard so much hype about that led me to read it. Normally I just go with my own opinions, but I'm really trying to reach out more. Like I've mentioned in my review of the book I found an adorable copy of the book and I just had to have it. I ended up really loving the book I loved the story, I really related to it. Rowell does a fantastic job. There were some really annoying parts, mostly the parts that cut over into Cath's fanfiction. I will admit that towards the end of the book I just barely skimmed these moments. But I loved watching how Cath had to really learn how to be her own person without having her built-in best friend, aka her twin sister.
Goodreads Rating VS My Rating
I had 4 out of 5 stars, so it looks like me and the Goodreads community, for the most part, agrees on this rating. The book had a bunch of annoying moments like I listed above about the excerpts from Cath's fangirl fiction, which is the point of the book. I really like the story and the fact that she wrote the fanfiction, however, I just found it annoying reading the excerpts. There were a lot of pluses and negatives with this book.
My goal is to not have any spoilers so for more on the rambling thoughts of this girl about this book there is a blog post about Fangirl.
9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Why is the book on the list?
This was definitely one of the books that I really had a lot of issues with because I really didn't know where the book should be listed at. I really liked this book and it was really surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. But then I decided it had more negatives than some of the others higher on the list. I really loved the story overall, I loved the main characters, and it really gave me the Selection series vibes. But I think this book tried to fit in so many different things that it got a little bit confusing! If you could take out the ghosts I think it would make more sense. But I'm told I really need to continue on with the series to really find out the way the whole story fits together. Definitely, something I really want to continue on with.
Goodreads Rating VS My Rating
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars, but looking back now I think the book really deserved 4 out of 5 stars. Mostly because of the confusing parts, even though there were only a few that were really confusing. I absolutely loved the characters and hated the villains. This book I feel like had so much hate or love that I really just wanted to have my own opinions on. I really loved how the book came out overall.
8. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Genre: Adult Romance
Why the book made the list?
This was the first Roberts book that I've read that wasn't apart of her In Death series. I absolutely loved it! I learned that I love her writing in general. I could not have loved Abra more! Then the mystery that revolved around Eli's ex-wife! It was most definitely a cannot stop listening to the audiobook, which definitely made this book one of the top 10 books of the year.
The Ratings: I gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars like I mentioned I absolutely loved this book, the characters, and just everything about this book! Goodreads, on the other hand, gave this book a 3.99 rating! Pretty disappointing, not bad but still not great. It seems like most people didn't like it because it was predictable, slow, and overall boring. I guess I haven't read enough of Roberts books to feel like that.
7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Genre: Adult/Contemporary
Why is the book on the list?
This is one of those series that I was completely obsessed with over the summer and it is all because of this book right here. It was definitely a laugh out loud book. I literally just watched the movie version of the book and even though it had its funny moments it doesn't stand close to this book. Now it definitely isn't any kind of mystery book and it does have a lot of romance, I mean the whole point of the book is about Nick and Rachel going to Singapore to meet his family so obviously the romance is centered around this couple. I think it was the perfect thing to read over the summer and help get over my reading slump that I had going on at the time.
The Ratings: I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars because obviously, I loved the book. But thinking back now I think the book really deserves maybe a 4 or 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book was amazing and funny but was it one of the greatest books I've read not really. Will I ever reread it? Definitely so. This was probably my favorite one out of this series though. I'm still wishing for a fourth book in the series! The Goodreads nation gave the book a 3.82. I can totally see it though.
6. The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
Genre: Adult/Contemporary
Why the book made the list?
This was one of the books that I got through Book of the Month and it was something that I definitely went out on the limb with. If I saw this book in a bookstore I honestly would not have picked it up. Mostly because the cover wouldn't attract me to it and because of that I would never have read the book cover to even see what the story is about. Essie's story is insane! I could not read this book fast enough! I was hooked from the very beginning and I think part was because it is different from anything I've never read before. I cannot express how glad I was to read this book. I know it is technically a contemporary book according to Goodreads, but it was so suspenseful and kind of had a little bit of mystery to it.
The Ratings: Since I couldn't put this book down obviously I gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars. The Goodreads nation rated this book a 3.98! Which rounded up makes a 4 out of 5 stars. 😂😂 A lot of people said that the subject matter was intense, which I totally understand. In this book a lone there was sexual assault, abuse, teen pregnancy, and religion. I honestly loved the mystery behind it, but I'm not going into it since it would definitely give the book away. So if these things are triggers for you then I definitely wouldn't pick up the book.
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Adult/Historical Fiction
Why the book is on the list?
I adored this book! It was so interesting and from the title you know there is going to be a lot of drama because this chick had seven husbands throughout her life time! The book definitely gives off some old Hollywood vibes, think Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. The book jumps between two different times because the main character is telling a journalist her life story so it can be made into a book. This book was definitely not released in 2018, but it sort of got it's popularity this spring. So many people fell in love with this story and it really deserves it because it was an amazing story. Definitely not something you expect.
The Ratings: On Goodreads this book received a 4.26 out of 5. It seems that some people read this book just because of the hype and others really enjoyed it. It is one book that I could really understand. I gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars. It was a very interesting read and I loved it. There is starting to be a theme that all of these books on this list are books that I just couldn't read fast enough!
4. Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Genre: Adult/Contemporary
Why the book made the list?
This book was something else. I actually read it recently and I have another review of it. I was really interested in this story! I loved the way the three stories pretty much intertwined with one another. The three stories are really just the three different main views that we see because the book follows the three siblings. I honestly really hope that there is another book that follows them, or at least little novellas because I'm so curious how these kids grew because you really watch them all transform throughout this whole book.
The Ratings: Naturally I gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars. The Goodreads nation gave the book a 4.31 out of 5.
3. Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts
Genre: Adult/Romance/Mystery
Why the book made the list?
This one was intense you guys! It starts off with this crazy intensity. The majority of the book you are following a few main characters as the try to figure out how to live after being apart of a mass shooting at a mall. Then there are some crazy twists and turns throughout this book that brings these characters back together. I just really loved the book as a whole. I cannot really explain how much this book was without giving away some key spoilers.
The Ratings: This book was definitely a 5 out of 5 for me. The Goodreads nation even gave it a 4.26 too, so it really came up strong with the book world as a whole also. But like any Roberts books there are lovers as well as haters.
2. Born in Death by JD Robb
Genre: Adult/Mystery
Why this book made the list?
I absolutely had to have an In Death book somewhere on this list! It has became one of my all time favorite books! For those of you that do not know this is a mystery series written by Nora Roberts. It's based in the future and the books follow a lieutenant named Eve Dallas. I picked this one in the book because I think it was definitely one of the stronger ones that I've read so far. It was amazing. I think a lot of people are intimidated by this series because it is so long. So far there are 45 books and she is still writing them! This book is the 23 in the series. Like any series there are some books that cannot be put down and then there are some that are just hard to get through. But they all have a reason to be read. All I can say is that this series is most definitely worth it and you do not have to read the books back to back. I bounce back and forth to this series. I'm obsessed with all of the characters.
The Ratings: I ended up giving the book a 5 out 5 stars. The Goodread nation gave it a 4.35 out of 5 stars. So like I've mentioned it is one of the stronger books in the series.
1. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Genre: Adult/Thriller
Why the book is on the list?
So this is no surprise! I first listened to this book on Audible, and I mean I was listening to it in the car, at work, and even when I was just at the house. I was obsessed with this book! As soon as I was finished with this book I had to have a physical copy so I was lucky to get one through Books of the Month. After my crazy obsession with this book I started hearing about it everywhere! All of the sudden everyone was reading it, talking about it, and then having serious arguments over it. It was crazy! I think this is one of the first times I ever got to read the book before the hype took over it.
The Ratings: I of course gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars. The Goodreads Nation gave the book a 3.85. Like I said it became a pretty controversial book, which really surprised me. It was most definitely one of those books that you just to read to understand it.
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