Best of the Bunch!
I had participated in #Top10of2018 and did a Best of the Best post the other day, but since I read over 400 books, I was lucky enough to encounter more than 10 amazing books. AND, I will always welcome another opportunity to show my affection for books I loved. So, I picked some random categories, and these are some of my favorites, which fit the category.
- Best Adult Rom-Com: Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
- Best Middle Grades: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
- Best Uplifting Throwback: The Running Dream by Wendell Van Draanen
- Best YA Cry: The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger
- Best YA Sequel: The Year of Living Awkwardly by Emma Chastain
- Best Cozy Adult Romance: Wild On My Mind by Laurel Kerr
- Best YA Paranormal: Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider
- Best YA/NA: Flight Season by Marie Marquardt
- Best Adult Sports Romance: When It's Right by Victoria Denault
- Best YA Sports Romance: The Game Can't Love You Back by Karole Cozzo
What were some of your top reads in 2018?
Let us know in the comments!
Flight Season looks interesting, and The Year of Living Awkwardly looks fun! I love that cover with the dog on the floatie. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Flight Season was wonderful. All Marquardt's books have been winners for me. Chloe Snow won my heart. I really enjoy the series that follow the protagonist throughout high school. It's amazing to see them grow and change so much.
DeleteWith not one but two Christina Lauren books making my top 10 this year, it makes it even more unbelievable that I haven't read Josh & Hazel yet. I'm seeing it on so many best of lists this week and it gets me more excited for it every time. :)
ReplyDeleteJosh & Hazel was so fun and funny and I adore both Josh and Hazel so much. so, so good.
DeleteIt was a good year for great books and new authors for me. I hope this year is as good as that for both of us!
ReplyDeleteI finished my first book of 2019 and it was very good. So, off to a great start.
DeleteI hope the New Year finds you in good health and excellent spirit!
ReplyDeleteRyoma.
May the new year be filled with great things for you too!
DeleteOh I like how you did this !! Love seeing Josh and Hazel up there.
ReplyDeleteI kind have been doing favorites all week with the Top 10 of 2018, so I thought I would be more specific with this post.
DeleteThis is a cool idea for a post. I like your categories. I’m going to be reading The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl this month. I’m glad it’s good. Happy 2019!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Lightning Girl was wonderful! I so loved Lucy and her grandmother and all that math so much.
DeleteI could use more than one best of list...it is so hard to narrow things down! I totally agree with your love of Victoria Denault and The History of Jane Doe was just a great book.
ReplyDeleteThat Denault series was so, so good. There were a lot of things I liked about the last book, but I would have loved a jump ahead epilogue, because it was the last. Regardless, it was a series I adored (though I still need to read book 1 - I know! That's bad, right?)
DeleteI haven't even heard of most of these, let alone read them :) I'm glad you had such a good reading year. Mine felt a little humdrum. Here's hoping 2019 will be a little more exciting book wise!
ReplyDeleteI have been finding some great books, but I have been sticking to my favorite genres too
DeleteFlight Season sounds fantastic. I would really like to get to that one. Hope you have a wonderful 2019, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy that author. Her books were all fantastic
DeleteYou are a reading machine! Josh & Hazel sounds interesting. I've seen it on a few lists today.
ReplyDeleteJosh & Hazel was a fabulous rom-com. I loved it.
DeleteThe History of Jane Doe is calling me. I loved Wild on My Mind- so cute.
ReplyDeleteJane Doe will make you laugh and cry. I wish more people were talking about Wild on My Mind. It was so fun and cute.
DeleteI've read one book by Karole Cozzo and loved it; I need to read more of hers!
ReplyDeleteI read three, and they were all excellent. I have to get the The Truth About Happily Ever After still, but I am really fond of her style.
DeleteI haven't heard of many of these. Thanks for bringing the spotlight to them. Happy New Year, Sam!
ReplyDeleteThere is nary an SFF book there, but you know, if you ever want to try some contemporaries, let me know.
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but I know where to start! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's mixed age wise, but, as always, all contemporaries.
DeleteI haven't read any of these yet but they're all on my TBR and I'm pretty sure that's because your reviews made them all sound so good, lol.
ReplyDeleteEvery one of these has stuck with me for some reason. If I tell someone about Jane Doe, I start crying a little, while the others never fail to make me smile.
DeleteThe Game Can't Love You Back made it on my best of 2018 list too!
ReplyDeleteI thought that book was fabulous! Glad to hear you liked it too.
DeleteYou read over 400 books? Amazing! You know I loved Josh & Hazel, too! That'll have to be re-read for me someday.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot, long commute. I keep trying to think of how CLo can bring us back into Josh & Hazel's world, but Emily was already married, and I cannot think of any other prominent characters aside from her and the hubs.
DeleteCongratulations on reading 400 books. :) I must confess I didn't read any of the books you mentioned above, but Invisible Ghosts seems very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
As a reader of fantasy, you'd be hard pressed to find any books on my list. I have just been in a contemporary groove for a while now.
Deleteoooh my gosh, 400 books this year? That's fantastic, Sam! And also, I am jealous!
ReplyDeleteYeah, but I have watched so little TV, and that's what everyone is always talking about.
Delete400 books! Wow. It was a great year for reading. Very nice choices:)
ReplyDeleteYeah. I read more books, but also listened to more audiobooks. I am totally in love with them now.
DeleteThanks for sharing. 400 books...wow.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
My superpower is pretty useless, right?
DeleteOk, why haven't I read any of this list? I am adding the sports romance choices to my TBR along with the cosy adult romance because that cover has drawn me in. I will refer back and add the others later because the covers of all of these make me want to read (even that shirtless one).
ReplyDeleteThis one does have a few adult contemporary romances, but no hyped books. I have read other Denault books, but that series is special, because of the family it focuses on, and the dad's illness raises the emotional level. Wild on My Mind took me by surprise. It was so adorable. Hmm, if you look at my read shelf, there are a plethora of shirtless covers.
DeleteIt's amazing you read 400 books and narrowed down a list of your favorites lol. I have to catch up on Christina Lauren's books. This is a great list. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt was hard picking favorites, but I had the opportunity to spread the love, because I have been doing year-end best lists for over a week. I think CLo were on fire in 2018, because I loved every book they put out.
DeleteI really need to pick up Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating this year! It sounds exactly like my type of book and I keep hearing nothing but positive about it. Thank you for reminding me and fabulous post, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
Josh & Hazel gets all the stars and hearts from me. If you like quirky heroines and rom-com-ish stuff, you would enjoy it.
DeleteHOW? How did you manage to read 400 books DD: There aren't even enough 400 days in a year DD: I am amazed and respect your reading queen status :)
ReplyDeleteI read a lot on my commute and am able to listen to audiobooks while I work. I have been getting through 5-6 books a week, and 2-3 audiobooks a week. It adds up.
DeleteGreat list! I LOVED Josh and Hazel and honestly hadn't heard of any of the other ones on your list but they all look amazing. Definitely will be checking them out asap!
ReplyDeleteJosh & Hazel are totally near my tippy top. I really enjoyed that book and sort of smile when I think of it.
DeleteOh I will keep these in mind! I know I'm going to be craving some romances and YSa soon! Hope this year is even better for you Sam!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much my niche.
DeleteWoah, you read a ton! That's awesome. I still need to read Josh and Hazel.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Josh & Hazel was so fun! I really enjoyed being part of their story.
Delete