I’m closing out 2018 with a look back at my favorite reads for the year. In the past, I limited my list to a top 5 or so. But this year I’m going to chat a bit about each book that earned a 5-star rating. There were fourteen in total, 10 of which were re-reads. 

In no particular order, here are my favorite 2018 reads.

I decided to re-read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein when I saw an article regarding an upcoming movie release starring Milo Ventimiglia from NBC’s This Is Us. I listened to the audiobook this time and found it just as enjoyable the second time around.

 

After watching the movie starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, I needed to relive Wonder by R. J. Palacio a second time. It’s one of those books that touched me deeply and feel everyone should read, especially kids. Wouldn’t the world be a better place is we would all choose kind?

 

Colleen Hoover wouldn’t be on my radar if it weren’t for my friend and fellow blogger Jenn, so thanks Jenn! All Your Perfects is Hoover’s latest and true to her other books, is real life. You can relate to her stories and that is what has me flipping the pages as fast as I can with each of her books.

 

If you follow my posts, then you know Karen Kingsbury is a favorite of mine. When We Were Young is the latest in her new Baxter Family Collection and my favorite in the collection to date. If you missed my review, take a peak at that here.

 

I have friend and fellow blogger Shawna to thank for putting Ban this Book by Alan Gratz on my list. I admired the main character’s spunk and only hope if I’m ever in the same situation, that I’ll fight just as hard! I would recommend the audio version of this book because the narration is well done and added something special to the story.

 

Shawna is also responsible for Only Child by Rhiannon Navin being on my list. It is a school shooting story, which unfortunately are so prevalent in our news now. It is not an easy read, so pick up a box of tissues before you sit down to read. Grab the audio version if you can. The story is heartbreaking enough, but a child’s narration really packs that extra emotional punch.

 

I re-read One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury after visiting New York in September to help a friend and her son with their 9/11 project. Read more about that trip here.

 

 

Closing out my list is the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. My friends over at Readers of Kindle Books talked about Harry Potter a lot! For the longest time, I ignored them because I thought the series wasn’t for me. In 2017, my thinking finally changed and I started the Jim Dale audiobooks and fell immediately in love! I re-read the series (paperback) in 2018 with a group of fellow Potter lovers. I think 2019 will find me immersed in the series again, but this time with the Stephen Fry narrated audiobooks.

Thank you for joining me on this walk back through 2018! What were some of your favorite books this year? I’ll see you all again in 2019. Until then, happy reading!