Hello, World.
With 2018 almost behind us, I wanted to share a little recap of all the books I read in 2018. I made the goal of 12 books for myself on Goodreads, and for the first time in a long time, I surpassed my goal! I ended the year with 19 books read. In case you’re looking for books to add to your To Be Read, this list may be helpful!
January 2018
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
My quick thoughts for this book can be found here. If you like family dramas that span a long time, this is a great read! The writing was great and I enjoyed most of the characters. I do remember wishing there was a little bit more character development, but overall I liked the book! I gave this book 4/5 stars.
March 2018
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
I loved this book. 5/5 stars. My full review can be found here. This is a romance novel and a coming of age story.
May 2018
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
A great read that Hulu picked up to create a TV series with Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. So excited to see this story brought to life! See my full review here. 4/5 stars
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
I’d like to read another book by Kristin Hannah in 2019. Her writing is beautiful and so engaging. This story made me nervous at times and covers some hard topics, but is so good! Review here. 4/5 stars
June 2018
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
This book fell a bit flat for me after all the hype it got when it was released. I still enjoyed the story, but I think calling it the “me too book we all need” was excessive. I liked this book for what it was! 4/5 stars. Full review here.
Educated by Tara Westover
5/5 stars. I don’t usually reach for memoirs (other than Lauren Graham, obviously), but this one had gotten rave reviews from people whose book opinions I respect, so I gave it a go. I loved the story and it read like a novel. Full review here.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
This one took me a bit longer to read than I expected. I think I enjoyed taking my time because it was a bit heavier than other books. It’s raw and thought-provoking and relevant. 4/5 stars. Read my full review here.
July 2018
She Regrets Nothing by Andrea Dunlop
I won this in an Instagram giveaway. This book is basically Gossip Girl but better. The main character is someone you love to hate. The ending was unexpected and I was a little unsure about it, but I still really enjoyed the book. Review here.
The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah
My favorite book of the summer. I couldn’t put it down! It was incredible. 5/5 stars. Review here.
Euphoria by Lily King
This was super outside my comfort zone, but I loved the writing even if the story wasn’t necessarily one I connected to. 4/5 stars. Review here.
August 2018
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
This is a true romance. I thought it’d be a very different book, but I wasn’t disappointed that it wasn’t what I expected. 4/5 stars. Review here.
The Late Bloomer’s Club by Louise Miller
Miller is quickly becoming my go-to author for cozy, warm, character-driven books. I highly recommend this and even more so The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. 4/5 stars. Review here.
The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams
I need more of Williams’ novels in my life. She’s a great writer. This story was so so good and I thought about it long after I read the last page. 5/5 stars. Review here.
You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
I adored this story. It took me a while to get into, but I just loved it by the end. Even though I didn’t perfectly relate to the main character’s story, I really enjoyed reading her story and gaining a bit of perspective on something I don’t understand. Review here. 4/5 stars.
September 2018
Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris
This was a three star read for me. I liked the story, but a few things fell short. I didn’t write a review of this one, but if I had I would have said something like “good story with an interesting point of view, but predictable and a bit slow.”
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
No review for this either, BUT I really enjoyed this feminist retelling of The Illiad. I knew the story, but I loved hearing it from a female perspective. It illuminates the issues with the original story and the misogyny and mistreatment of women.
October 2018
November Road by Lou Berney
This was the first “crime” type book I’d read. I love Book of the Month because I often choose things I wouldn’t otherwise pick up in a bookstore to try to push myself a bit. I loved this one. I devoured it on my flight to and from Boston over fall break! 4/5 stars. Review here.
December 2018
One Day in December by Josie Silver
If you are a hopeless romantic, this is for you. If you want to read about love, friendship, and timing, this one is for you. If you love a cozy read, this one is definitely for you. 4/5 stars! Review here.
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
Review coming soon! Spoiler alert: I loved it! Read it in two sittings!
Did you read any of the listed books? Which books do you hope to check out in 2019?
Truly,
Callie leigh
