Top 10 Tuesday: Authors I Found in 2018

I found several authors that I had not read yet last year, and there were a few that really stood out to me.  This week’s theme from That Artsy Reader Girl is New To Me Authors I read in 2018.

Jacqueline Susann

I read and fell absolutely in LOVE with Valley of the Dolls.  I definitely want to check out Susann’s other books to see if they’re just as entertaining and addicting.

Stephanie Perkins

I put off reading Anna and the French Kiss for a long time because of the hype surrounding it, and I am so glad I finally read it.  Such a great, heart-warming romance with a smoldering build up.  I loved it and can’t wait to read the rest.

Laurie Forest

I read both The Black Witch and The Iron Flower by Laurie Forest last year, and I cannot wait for the third book.  It is such a great series with incredible world building and complex characters.

Morgan Matson

I really loved Save the Date.  It was such a sweet and refreshing story about family and growing up, and I totally connected to the characters and writing style.  I got another Matson book for Christmas, and I’m excited to see if I like her other work just as much.

Tahehreh Mafi

I started reading the Shatter Me series last year, and I enjoy it a lot.  What really hooked me was the novellas from Warner’s perspective.  He is probably one of my favorite villains ever, and I’m so looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Rainbow Rowell

Carry On was one of my favorite books of the year, and I am dying for the upcoming sequel.  My sister is also a huge Rainbow Rowell fan, so I have faith that I will enjoy the rest of her books too.

Alice Hoffman

The Rules of Magic was, without a doubt, my favorite book of the year.  I started with Practical Magic (a movie that I love), and was slightly underwhelmed, but The Rules of Magic really blew me away.  Definitely a book I want to reread and one I recommend to everyone.

Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

The Illuminae Files were out of this world.  Literally.  I still can’t get over how much I loved them.

Stephanie Garber

I was late on the Caraval train, but it really grabbed me.  I read the sequel, Legendary, as well, and I am anxiously awaiting Finale.

Dhonielle Clayton

I LOVED The Belles.  It was such a unique and interesting world that completely fascinated me.  I have an ARC of the next book, The Everlasting Rose (EEEEEE!! Still freaking out about this!), and I cannot wait to see where the story is going to go.

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I cannot wait for all of the new authors I can discover in 2019! Leave me some of your favorites in the comments so I can add them to the list! 🙂

Top 10 Tuesday: My Top Ten Reads of 2018

I read 79 books this year and 31 of them were 5 star reads.  I was super lucky in having such a great reading experience this year, but there were 10 books that rose above the rest for me.  This week’s theme from That Artsy Reader Girl is celebrating our favorite books from 2018.

10. The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

I LOVED The Black Witch.  I bought it after reading the controversial reviews about it, and I am so glad I did.  The sequel came out this year as well and it was just as good as the first.  I can’t wait to see what is next because the world building and character development in this series has been so great.

9. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

I am obsessed with this whole series, but this one really stuck with me and got me hooked into the rest of the series.  I also just love Chaol in this one.

8. The Diviners by Libba Bray

I don’t know what took me so long to start this series, but I CANNOT wait to read the rest of them.  I was so addicted to the plot and fell in love with the characters and their powers.  Also the 1920’s time period was so fun.

7. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and her latest novel did not disappoint.  I sobbed like a little baby and these characters wormed their way into my heart.  I would love to see this made into a film.

6. Emma by Jane Austen

Emma is now one of my favorite classics.  I have become such an Austen fan and I think Emma is my favorite of her characters.

5. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

This book haunted me for days and gave me one of my biggest book hangovers of the whole year.  It was also one of the first books I read in 2018 and it still stood up against all the rest.

4. Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

I still can’t get over this series.  It took me for a ride I was completely unprepared for and I loved every minute of it.

3. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

This book is hilarious and so insanely clever.  I loved the world of magic and the language of the story and this is definitely a book I could re-read several times and never get sick of it.  I CANNOT wait for the sequel!

2. Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

This. Book.  I am obsessed.  It is one of new favorite books of all time, and I will recommend it to anyone and everyone.  It was so revolutionary for its time and is still  completely relevant.  I can totally relate and reveled in the ins and outs of the entertainment industry, and there is nothing better than Old Hollywood Glamour.  Unfortunately, the movie ruined the book, but you can’t win them all.

1. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Here it is, by far my favorite book of the year.  This book is absolutely STUNNING.  The writing, the characters, the story, the quotes.  It just takes the cake for me.  It’s pretty close to perfection.

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What were your favorite books this year? Let me know in the comments which books I need to add to my 2019 TBR! ❤ Happy New Year everyone!

Three Bookish Things Tag

I was looking for a tag to do for this week, when I saw this one on Ally Writes Things and thought it looked like a fun one 🙂

Three Read Once and Loved Authors

1. Morgan Matson: I read Save the Date and fell completely in love with the Grant family and Matson’s writing.  I definitely plan to read the rest of her stuff.
2. Rainbow Rowell: Carry On is now one of my favorite books, and I really want to read Fan Girl too see what inspired it.  My sister is also a huge Rainbow Rowell and recommends so many of her books.
3. Stephanie Perkins: I finally read Anna and the French Kiss, and I don’t know what took me so long.  I’m really excited to read the rest and hope they are just as good.

Three Titles I’ve Watched But Haven’t Read

1. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks: This movie is just perfection in my opinion, and I just don’t need to read the book.  I’m too attached to what I have in my mind now.
2. Room by Emma Donoghue: The acting in this movie was incredible, and the plot made my heart race.  I would definitely still be interested in reading this book, even though I know how it ends, because I hear it was incredible.
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: I was forced to watch this before reading the book with a group of friends, and now I have no desire to read it since I know the twists.  It did give me an excuse to cuddle with my now boyfriend for the first time though, so I can’t complain.

Three Characters You Love

1. Aelin from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: Aelin is such a badass, and I love that she is so complicated and imperfect.  One of my favorite heroines to date.
2. Sookie Stackhouse from the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris: I just can’t help but love Sookie.  She is so delightful and sassy and different from other main characters.  She is strong and independent while still being super girly and sweet.
3. Emma Woodhouse from Emma by Jane Austen: Emma is my favorite classic so far that I have read during my Classics Club Challenge, and it’s because of the main character, Emma.  I totally connected with her and watching her meddle was so entertaining.

Three Series Binged

1. The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman: This series.  I can’t say enough good things about it.  I put off reading it for a while, and then when I finally jumped on the band wagon, I couldn’t stop.
2. The Sookie Stackhouse Series: These books are just so quick and fun, and I love all of the characters so much.  I have one more book left to read after bingeing the rest of them, but I can’t bring myself to read it because I am not ready to be done.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses: I discovered this series when I first started blogging, and luckily I started it right before the third book came out and I didn’t have to wait at all.  I absolutely loved it and it was one of the series that made me fall in love with blogging.

Three Current Favorite Book Covers

I had a really hard time thinking of these because there are so many that I love.  Here are three that immediately came to mind when thinking about covers.

Three Goals for the Year

1. Read 10 classics for my classics club challenge (I’ve seriously been struggling on this one)
2. Get my Netgalley percentage up to 80%
3. Read 100 books

I tag anyone who wants to do this fun tag! ❤

 

Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Platonic Relationships in Books

We all love a good romance, but we rarely celebrate the other, non-romantic relationships that many books have.  This week’s theme from That Artsy Reader Girl is all about our Favorite Platonic Relationships.

Kate and Tully from Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

I love their life-long friendship, and all of the trials they dealt with only made them a stronger pair.  They were so different and yet completed each other.

The Grant Family from Save the Date by Morgan Matson

I want to be a Grant.  Their family dynamic was so endearing and amazing, and I couldn’t get enough.  I loved the focus on family in this book.

Rhys, Azriel, and Cassian from A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

The best trio of bros you could ask for.  Each one of them is unique and they have their differences, but they work so well together.

Sookie and Pam from The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

Sookie and Pam’s relationship is so weird, but I love it.  Seeing it progress throughout the series was really fun and their banter is hilarious.

Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

This series was one of the first series I really fell in love with, and these girls feel like a part of my family.  I love how all four of them are so different but are soul mates all the same.

Kvothe and Auri from The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Their relationship is so sweet and strange, you can’t help but love it.

Kelsea and The Mace from the Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

The Mace was my favorite character in this series, and his fatherly care of Kelsea mixed with his gruffness was the perfect combo.  Their relationship was loving and perfect.

Jamie and Fergus from The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

I love how Jamie took Fergus into his family.  Their father-son relationship is amazing and continues to grow in each book.

George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Ugh this book wrecked me.  George and Lennies tragic friendship is just incredible.

Harry and Hermione from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

How could I not include Harry and Hermione?

Top 10 Tuesday: Best Books I’ve Read in 2018 So Far

It’s our favorite time of the week, Top 10 Tuesday!  This week’s theme from That Artsy Reader Girl got me really excited: The Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2018 So Far.  I have read some really good ones, and I’m pumped to share my 10 favorites with you all! So in no particular order:

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

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The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

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Emma by Jane Austen

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Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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Fracture by Nina Walker

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What are your favorite books you’ve read so far this year? Let me know in the comments so I can add them to my list! 🙂