Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is “Best Books I Read In 2018.” I read some fantastic books in 2018. There were several I added to my “Beloved Books” shelf on Goodreads, which means I didn’t just love them, I LOVED them. And for the first time ever, I had exactly ten five-star reads, which makes this list easy to put together. Covers are linked to Goodreads.

1. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse – I’m starting this list with my last five star read. Trail of Lightning was all kinds of fun and did such a fantastic job of showing just how rich the Navajo culture is and really had me thinking how much I would love to see more fantasy novels inspired by non-white cultures. I want all of them. 

2. Blanca y Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore – Because I am predictable, Anna-Marie McLemore of course makes this list with her latest novel Blanca & Roja. If I could wrap myself in her words like a warm, fuzzy blanket, I would. I do not have the words to describe just how magical her stories always are, but they are and I will continue to come back for more.

3. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Is there anything this author can’t write? I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at this one if it wasn’t written by Moreno-Garcia, but her previous novel Certain Dark Things impressed me so much, I knew I had to read this one. I can’t decide if the love story or the understated magical elements was my favorite.

4. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon – It took me forever to read this one, but it was also kind of worth it. I think I picked it up at just the right time. When Dimple Met Rishi is one of the most delightful books I’ve ever read and solidified itself as one of my all-time favorite contemporaries. 

5. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo – This is one book that I’m sure I will be rereading multiple times in the future. From Acevedo’s poetry to the lead character Xiomara’s struggles, I could not put this one down. I was complete enthralled and this book may have single-handedly changed my view on poetry and novels in verse.

6. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland – If you wanted to know what kind of books appeal to me the most, this is the one I’d probably hand to you. Ireland not only created a character with such a distinct voice, one that felt real and authentic, but she also elevated her story by created a world based on an alternate history that still felt rooted in truth.

7. Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali – I don’t think I’ve come another character quite like Janna. I wanted to reach into the pages of this one to comfort her. She was extremely relatable and after all these months, I still get choked up when thinking about her story.

8. Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero – This is one of those novels I wish had been around when I was a teen. Have I ever come across a character with a voice quite like Gabi’s? This novel is told in journal entries, but if you told me it was written by a real person, it wouldn’t even make me pause for a moment.

9. peluda by Melissa Lozado-Oliva – Every time I hear this woman recite a poem, I get chills. There’s something incredibly powerful and unique about her delivery and words. I bought this for myself for my birthday and it has not left my bedside table since.

10. Montress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu, Illustrated by Sana Takeda – I am so glad I decided to pick up this graphic novel series. I can see myself revisiting these volumes over and over again.

Last minute addition: I finished Empire of Sand by Tashi Suri yesterday and it also ended up being a five-star read, so wanted to make sure to mention it here.

Are you a fan of any of these like I am? Which 2018 read surprised you the most (in a good way)? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave me a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit.