Yes, I do realize that it’s the last day of January, but I am going to throw it back a couple (31) days and pretend it’s still 2018. I am finally getting around to posting some of my top picks from last year! I read 105 books total, (interested in seeing the whole list? – you can click here) it was really hard to narrow it down to just a few favorites, so I decided to break them down into two posts non-fiction and fiction.
In no certain order – my top 12 fiction picks from 2018. If you are interested in reading any of them, just click on the titles and you go straight to Amazon!
Ashes on the Moor, Sarah M. Eden
Of course, this one made it to my list- she appears another time too – because Sarah M. Eden is always a winner for me. Her books are great and easy, clean and interesting. Ashes on the Moor introduced new characters and settings to us, and I hope to see some of them again!
An Inconvenient Romance, Chalon Linton
Chalon Linton was a new author to me this year and she did not disappoint! I read both of her books – and loved them both! And her new one will be released tomorrow (and should arrive from Amazon any moment too!)
Picoult books are always interesting to me, they really suck you in and give you so much to think about. I feel she does such amazing research, I don’t even know when she would have time to write, the amount of research she puts into each story. I also read her newest book, A Spark of Life, but had a super hard time with the subject and some of the scenes (it’s set in an abortion clinic). Leaving Time was much easier to read and still just as interesting.
Miss Wilton’s Waltz, Josi S. Kilpack
A few years ago I read all of Kilpack’s murder-mystery books and loved them, but I am SO glad that she is writing regency books now! They are so fun! She came out with two really great books this year that kinda go together, The Vicar’s Daughter and Miss Wilton’s Waltz. I highly recommend either of them!
Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, Sarah M. Eden
Of course, Sarah M. Eden is on here again! It was super hard not to put her on more than that too! This has to be one of my favorites though, because we get a book with the Jonquil family. I love the wit and humor of this family and reading more into each of their lives. Highly recommend any of her books!
The Women in the Castle, Jessica Shattuck
I love regency, but I also really am a huge sucker for any WWII book as well. The Women in the Castle weaves together the story of three women near the end of the war. If you liked The Nightingale, Lilac Girls, or Sarah’s Key I would recommend this book!
Road to Rosewood, Ashtyn Newbold
Newbold is a pretty new author, she is super young, so I’ll give her a break for that – and I cannot get enough of her cute books! Road to Rosewood is a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery and adventure too. I find Newbold super fun and clean and not entirely fluffy novels either, so I call them a win!
The Girl you Left Behind, JoJo Moyes
Note, this is NOT a WWII novel, but a novel that takes place in modern day and then WWI – a big difference! Since I read so many novels around WWII, I had to keep this straight in my head, but it was interesting to read about a different war and time period. If you are looking for a book by Moyes like Me Before You, I don’t think that these are really similar, but I did really enjoy this book (if that makes sense?)
The Lost Castle, Kristy Cambron
I came across this book and was really intrigued by the idea – this follows the story of a castle in French Revolution, WWII and present day. It’s a love story and a story about redemption. Cambron is a Christian writer, but I didn’t feel that was a huge part of the story either. I’ve read all her other novels after reading this one and really enjoyed her writing.
A Long Walk to Water, Linda Sue Park
Perhaps this book should fit into the non-fiction group – since it’s based on a true story – I’m really not sure, but I LOVED this little tiny book. It probably deserves a spot on both lists. It is small but has a HUGE impact. It was such an eye-opening book! My kids read this book at school (my main reason for reading it in the first place is I wanted to see what they were talking about!) and then recently their school did a coin drive for wells and clean water in Africa. I think everyone should read this book!
The Clockmaker’s Daughter, Kate Morton
Kate Morton books are always going to be books that I enjoy – the only problem is that they don’t come out that often. This book was similar to her others, it starts a little slower, but by the second half you really can’t put it down. It’s a mystery and love story wrapped up into one. I highly recommend any of her books!
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford
And last, but not least – I don’t know why I haven’t read this book before – because once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down! The story bounces back and forth between WWII and the 1980s in the Seattle area focusing on a Chinese American boy who falls in love with a Japanese American girl. Since we lived just south of Seattle in while my husband was in residency I had an easy time visualizing these settings. We lived right outside of Puyallup and I had no idea that the fair grounds there had been an internment camp! This book was touching and really thought provoking. It would make a fantastic book club selection!
There you have it! My top fiction picks for 2018 – although when I look at the list I really just want to put SO many more on this list. I really love reading and finding great books. Leave me a comment and share with me some of your favorite books from 2018.
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