Can you believe it’s 2019?! 2018 was such a rollercoaster for me, with striking university lectures, stressful dissertations, panicking about jobs, the roller coaster that was the world cup, house hunting, living in a building site for three months and finally being where I am now. It’s mad to think back on it all and it feels sort of unreal, so much has happened.
But if one things stayed pretty stable it’s my love for books. So here’s a Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader, listing my top ten reads of 2018.
1. Children of Blood and Bone
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Easily in the top ten and possibly first place, I adored this novel and can’t wait for the second one to come out in 2019. This novel was so big it defined my start of summer reading. I read it in an Air B and B in Brussels, between goals while watching the world cup, on the hot and stuffy replacement bus to YALC and while doing my summer job, waiting for kids at airport terminals.
2. To Kill a Kingdom
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If you read my review you’ll know I loved this novel. It was fantastic, enchanting, funny, well written with a plot that will always keep you on the edge of your seat!
3. All Quiet on the Western Front
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This emotional rollercoaster of a book saw me through several long train rides into work. It showed me a perspective on the First World War that I’d never read or understood before.
4. Traitor to the Throne
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How can this author make politics this entertaining to read?! This novel drew me into reading when I was drowning in dissertation stress and wading through job applications. A great read but a less fun memory.
5. Caravel
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Beautiful descriptions, intriguing characters and an intricate plot made this novel amazing. It’s also the novel I decided to take up to Manchester with me on my first visit so I distinctly remember it for that.
6. Ace of Spades
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The first novel I read since starting my first full time, permanent, real life not ending and is now my life job on that long train ride up for my first day. I remember feeling just as lost as Ennie stepping into New Reynes on my first day at the office.
7. The Exact Opposite of Okay
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This funny yet important read was short and light hearted, perfect for the stress of my dissertation and exams. While panicking about striking lectures, impending deadlines and postponed courseworks all appearing at once I could at least comfort myself with Izzy’s humour and staple love of milkshakes.
8. Flawed
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I read this dystopian on many a replacement bus, since I read it on the week the trains stopped running, and it will do nothing but remind me of large busses turning in small country villages.
9. The Bone Season
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It was during the cold March snow that I read this action packed gem. I followed Paige through the dingy halls of Oxford colleges while I was freezing in my cold student house and wishing my stingy housemates would put the heating on. Luckily the university library always had my back.
10. Hero at the Fall
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Because I adored the conclusion to the novels that ensured my love of reading during university. It may not have been perfect but it was good enough.
Let’s Compare Notes
So there you have it! Ten reads I loved in 2018. I can’t wait to see what magical books 2019 will present me with. Any 2019 releases you’re excited for? Or books you’re planning on reading? What was your favourite read of 2018? Feel free to drop an opinion or link to your post in the comments section!
Happy new year!
Oh, i haven’t read any of these!
I think i have a copy of Bone Season tho 😀
Caraval i’m planning to read this year. Fingers crossed!
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Happy New Year! Ooh I hope you like it! It’s quite long but well written. Caravel is so good 😍 you should definitely read it!
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So many great books on your list! I also had The Exact Opposite of Okay and Children of Blood and Bone on mine 🙂
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Ah yeah they were both so good! Can’t wait for their sequels next year 😍
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Me either 🙂
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I’ve got Children of Blood and Bone and The Exact Opposite sitting on my bookshelves. I’m definitely going to bump them up my TBR after hearing such great things about them both.
My Top Ten Best Books of 2018.
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Haha they’re both so good! They also both have sequels coming out next year if you manage to read them in time 😝 thanks for leaving your link!
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I had “Children of Blood and Bone” on my best of 2018 list, too! I can’t wait for the sequel 😄
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It’s so good isn’t it!! Me neither, it ended on such a cliff hanger 😫
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Yes!! I mean, I wasn’t so fond of the main romance, but that ending! I need to get this sequel in my hands.
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You probably don’t need to worry about that romance appearing too much in the sequel haha I didn’t mind the main romance too much, I didn’t enjoy how much romance there was (did every character really have to hook up?!). Oh I so need that book soon 😍
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Lol, yeah, I understand that. Honestly, there seemed to be tension between two certain characters, and I was surprised that they didn’t end up together.
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If you’re thinking of the same two characters I am then I completely agree 😂
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We may or may not be, who knows 😂
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To Kill a Kingdom was on my list also! Why aren’t there more good mermaid/sirens book out there like this one?
Also, I love how you reflected on not only these books, but where you read them. So fun!
Happy New Year!
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I know! To Kill a Kingdom was amazing 😍 it’s my favourite fairy tale retelling I’ve read yet haha
Yeah I don’t know why but I remember where i read books and associate them with stuff going on 😂 happy new year to you too!
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Happy New Year! I read All Quiet on the Western Front years ago. Ace of Shades and Legendary made it to my top 10 2018 releases last year.
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Happy New Year to you too! All Quiet on the Western Front is so good isn’t it 😍 I’m so excited to read Legendary, I got it for Christmas!! I’ve heard great things. Ooh Ace of Shades was such a fun book, I haven’t read the sequel yet though 😝
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I remember reading All Quiet on the Western Front back when I was in my teens and it was quite the eye-opening read. I’d never read anything from the German perspective of either world wars before and it really hit me. I’m amazed – in a good way! – to see it make a Best of 2018 list! 🙂
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It’s shocking! Definitely eye opening, I think a lot of young people would really like it, it’s nearly YA with how approachable it’s written. Yeah I haven’t read that perspective before and I think it’s a little forgotten really. Haha glad to amaze you 😂
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I read All Quiet On The Western Front a few years ago and really liked it. I’m glad you did, too. Happy 2019!
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It’s so good isn’t it! Happy 2019 to you too!!
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Great list! I think Children of Blood and Bone has the potential to be a new favourite novel for me so I need to cross it off my TBR asap – hopefully I can get to it soon and read it before the second book is released. 😀
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Ooh you should so give it a go, it’s amazing 😍 it is quite big though 😬
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