Things have been pretty quiet around here this month, but despite the hustle and bustle of Christmas I had to join the Show Us Your Books linkup to share my favorite books of the year. Since I read a mix of new and old books, this list includes all the books I read this year, not just books published in 2018. Also, since I’ve been reading a lot of both fiction and nonfiction, I split up my list and picked favorites for each.
{fiction favorites}
{Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery} I’m sure I read this as a child, but reading it again as an adult has been one of the most pleasurable reading experiences. I loved every moment of it, and I can’t wait to share Anne with my kids when they’re a bit older. See my review here.
{Us Against You by Fredrik Backman} Beartown was one of my favorites last year, but I was surprised at how much I loved this follow-up. If Backman wants to write any more books about this hockey-loving town and its people, I would no doubt scoop those up as well. The man has a gift. See my review here.
{An American Marriage by Tayari Jones} This is one of those books that checked all the boxes for me. The characters are complex and flawed, yet still relatable, and while the plot itself was enough to keep the pages turning, there was so much more beyond the surface. My review here.
{The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin} This felt like a book for book lovers. And as such, I loved it so hard. Sometimes I love books because of the way they’re written or because of the way they make me think, and other times I love them because of how they make me feel. This is one of the latter kinds; my heart was so happy reading it. My review here.
{A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman} I can’t say I have a favorite author, but I think Fredrik Backman has to be up there. There are still several books of his I haven’t read, but so far I’ve adored all the ones I have. I loved this story about a curmudgeonly man with a kind heart. My original review here.
{The Ragged Edge of Night by Olvia Hawker} As my first free book from Amazon First Reads, I went in with pretty low expectations. However, I loved this book, its message of hope, and its perspective on what it means to be a hero. My review here.
{non-fiction favorites}
{Dear Ijeawele by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie} I read this short book–a letter to Adichie’s friend upon the birth of her daughter–in one sitting, but it stuck with me for much longer. I think this is a must-read for anyone, especially if you have children or plan to. My review here.
{You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero} This one tops my list because of the impact it had on my life and my attitude toward money. Jen Sincero’s books (this one and her original You Are a Badass) may not be for everyone but for me her words were exactly what I needed to hear. My review here.
{Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish} I don’t read a ton of parenting books, but this was an excellent one. I think anyone with more than one child would benefit from reading it. I only wish I had bought this one, because it’s one I’d like to go back and revisit. My review here.
{Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert} This one feels like a manifesto for creatives, and I found it inspiring to read. At the same time, it felt very down-to-earth and reminded me that creativity doesn’t always mean producing something critically acclaimed or financially successful. See my review here.
{The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie} I am obviously a huge reader, so it is immensely important that I share my love of reading with my kids. The Read-Aloud Family is such a great handbook for sharing that love. It’s both a practical and inspiration guide to reading aloud with children of all ages. See my original review here.
{Educated by Tara Westover} If you’re going to pick up one memoir to finish out your year, I recommend this one. It’s gotten a ton of buzz, but in my opinion it is well-earned. See my review here.
{shop fiction favorites}
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables Novel)
An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel
{shop non-fiction favorites}
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids
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Linking with Show Us Your Books.
