Carol

Most Memorable Reads of 2018

December 31, 2018

Top Ten Memorable Reads: The List and The Categories

I love top ten lists! Making them, however, is a daunting task! First, let me remind you that this list is subjective. It’s compiled of books I’ve read this year (there are always so many more great ones that I didn’t get to), and each one has made it onto this list because reading it was a memorable, emotional experience and gave me a “book hangover.” I’m presenting my list this year in two formats: in list form and in categories. the categories part is a bit more comprehensive because I provided some runners up. Titles are links to my reviews.

Memorable Reads of 2018

Top Ten Memorable Reads of 2018: The List

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

From Sand and Ash by Any Harmon

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Educated by Tara Westover

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Top Ten List: The Categories

It’s difficult to rank books in order from 1-10 because they are each special in their own way, so I’ve sorted them into categories (similar to last year) and included some runners up (because who can choose just ten?). Even though not all of them are 5 star reads, these are the books that were the most memorable for me….the ones that I still think about….the ones I recommend the most often.

Most Memorable Overall (and my BEST read of the year)

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
5 Emotional Stars
Genre: Family Drama

Most Memorable WW11 Historical Fiction

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
5 Stars
Genre: HistFic (WW11)
We Were the Lucky Ones author interview podcast link

Runner Up: From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

Most Memorable Non WW Historical Fiction

The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
4.5 Stars
Genre: HistFic

Runner Up: The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor

Most Memorable Light Historical Fiction

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
5 Stars
Genre: HistFic (WW1)

Most Memorable Biographical Historical Fiction

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
5 Stars
Genre: Histfic (biographical)

Most Memorable Middle Grade

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
4.5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction

Runners Up: Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo (2nd review on page) and The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker

Most Memorable Dysfunctional Family

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5 Stars
Genre: Women’s Fiction (also coming of age), Southern, Nature

Runner Up: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Most Memorable Quirky Character

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
4.5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Fiction (Allegorical)

Runners Up: Harold from The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, Virgil from Virgil Wander by Leif Enger, and Keiko from Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Most Memorable Light Reading for Women

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
4..5 Stars
Genre: Light Women’s Fiction

Most Memorable in Contemporary Issues (Nonfiction and Fiction)

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
4 Stars
Genre: NON FICTION (memoir, true crime, social justice)

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
4.5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary FICTION

Most Memorable Memoir

Educated by Tara Westover
4 Stars
Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir

Most Memorable True Crime

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4 Stars
Genre: Non Fiction, True Crime

Most Memorable Young Adult

The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
4.5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction (contains Myth), Coming of Age
Although not marketed specifically for YA, this could fit the genre nicely and is the closest to YA I read this year.

***This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info.

Link to last year’s post…most recommended reads of 2017

journey of a lifetime reading meme

Happy Reading Book Worms

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

Looking Ahead:

Friday, I’ll be back with a review of The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner (author of As Bright as Heaven). This is an ARC and won’t be available until March.

Last Year of the War

Links

A treat for you in 2019: If you’re looking for an inspiring lifestyle blog, check out my new (in 2018) blogging friend Kendra Nicole for honest, inspirational, and reflective posts about motherhood, reading, self care, and living intentionally.

kendra nicole

I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl: Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books Read in 2018.

top ten tuesday

I’m also linking up today with Traveling With T, Estella’s Revenge and Girlxoxo for A Month of Favorites:  Fave Books of 2018.

If you’re stopping in from these links, welcome! I hope you enjoy looking around!

A Month of Favorites TwithT

In Movie News….

Reese Witherspoon to produce “Where the Crawdads Sing” and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

And….here’s the trailer for Where’d You Go Bernadette starring Cate Blanchette.

(You might want to put these three books on your winter to read list in preparation!)

Sharing is Caring

Thank you for reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along, promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

 Let’s Discuss

Please share your best read of the year in comments! Please?! I’d love to hear!

***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price. This money will be used to offset the costs of running a blog and to sponsor giveaways, etc.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

28 comments

  2. Great picks! I haven’t read too many of these, but enjoyed every book I have read from your list (and many are on my TBR). I love your categories; not many readers could have multiple selections for “Most Memorable WWII Book”, haha! And thank you so much for the shout out, I feel honored!

    Reply

    • Right?! I was desperate to fit in all the histfic books I love! Crazy categories to the rescue! 🤣🤣
      My pleasure to give you a shout out! You put an incredible amount of effort into your content! 👍

      Reply

    • It’s interesting, too, that in my stats this last month that there are more search terms for Where The Crawdads Sing than any other search words! It’s very popular…I hope you enjoy! Sometimes it’s difficult reading a book when you go into it with high expectations 😩 I hope it’s a good read for you! Thanks for leaving your link..I’m hopping over now👍

      Reply

    • Oh! It’s a wonderful story of faith and family and survival. I hope you have an opportunity to read it Brooke! Let me know how you like it! Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

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