I ACCOMPLISHED MY GOAL OF READING THIRTY BOOKS IN 2018!! This year's list, much like the last couple, is a hodgepodge of genres with a little more exploration into non-fiction and historical fiction. My reads this year kept me on my toes as I trapezed between physical and audio books. Hopefully you enjoy this year's list and find your next great read. Leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts on any of the titles you may have read. Also, let me know what you are currently reading or looking forward to reading in 2019! I upped my goal by one book this year so clearly I need to get back to my current read (Michelle Obama's Becoming) - Happy Reading! *EROTIC STORIES FOR PUNJABI WIDOWS - BALLI KAUR JASWAL | Do not be fooled by the title, this book is a great story of generational and cultural differences. It helped continue my streak of picking great books to start off the new book club year. *OUR LADY OF THE PRAIRIE - THISBE NISSEN | I do not have much to say about this book except that no one in my book club enjoyed it so I'll leave it at that....if you happen to read it let me know what you think. THOUSAND STAR HOTEL - BAO PHI | My first poetry book of the year was filled with moving words about a minority group that is often ignored. I won't spoil it all for you but this is a good, quick read. THE ROSIE PROJECT - GRAEME SIMSION | This book had been suggested to me a few times over the last couple of years so in 2018 I finally decided it was time to give it a read. I laughed out loud a few times throughout this great story and am upset it took me so long to read. It has a psychology background but is not hard to understand/follow. ALL THE MISSING GIRLS - MEGAN MIRANDA | I picked up this book because of the cover without realizing it was a psychological thriller. I did not see the ending coming and found this to be a good slightly brain bending read as you try to sleuth out what happened. READY PLAYER ONE - ERNEST CLINE | This book was recommended to me by a co-worker who then subsequently told me about the upcoming movie so I set out to read it before it hit theaters. This story is AWESOME if you like tech/gaming and I find the book to be way better than the movie. Bonus points for being set in Columbus, OH - my hometown! ALL THE SINGLE LADIES - DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK | The easiest way to describe this book is old lady shenanigans. A good light-hearted read that provides both a few eyerolls and giggles. *WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE WINE - GABRIELLE UNION | While we we're all very excited to read this book for book club the reviews were very mixed. I learned a lot of things about Gabrielle Union while reading but felt pretty indifferent overall about the book. *ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE - GAIL HONEYMAN | I laughed right through this entire book because it felt so real. This book is super relatable for millennial women and definitely one I'd suggest you read. RED QUEEN - VICTORIA AVEYARD | I finally started the Red Queen Series this year and I was not disappointed. The first book sets the stage nicely for the rest of the series which I cannot wait to dive into. *AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE - TAYARI JONES | This book was another popular one that we read for book club and created seemingly endless discussion. It is fiction but rivals reality in the stories of marriage and love and discovering one's self. *LONG SHOT - KENNEDY RYAN | This book reminded me of the ones I read back in high school which provided a great nostalgia factor. It is a big book but once you start you really cannot put it down. EDUCATED - TARA WESTOVER | Tara's story is powerful and this book tells it in the most amazing and page turning way. I had the opportunity to hear from her shortly after reading and it was almost cooler than the book. ARMADA - ERNEST CLINE | I loved Ready Player One (RPO) so much I decided to pick up another Ernest Cline novel. This one was also good but not as exciting to me as RPO. DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY - ERIK LARSON | If you like historical fiction this book is a great read. Even though this is not my favorite genre I like the history of Chicago and the World's Fair which is how I picked this one up. *THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO - TAYLOR JENKINS REID | Grab a glass of wine and dive into this great read. Have your friends read it to as it is also perfect for discussion. WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LULULEMONS - LAUREN WEISBERGER | This book is a continuation or after of The Devil Wears Prada focusing on Emily. This is one to pick up for summer or early fall reading, also a good suggestion for vacation. BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME - TA-NEHISI COATES | I don't know that this book needs much explanation, it is a non-fiction account of current day issues in America. You should read. CRIMES AGAINST A BOOK CLUB - KATHY COOPERMAN | Read this on vacation, you will get quite a few laughs and it is an easy read. Book clubs are never quite what they seem. *LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE - CELESTE NG | (This was a re-read so reposting my thoughts from last year) Family is the center theme of this book and connections to those around us. Drama and mystery abound in this book. Is anyone who they seem or who you think they are? You'll have to read this book to find out! TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT - MARIA SEMPLE | After reading about and loving Bernadette last year I decided to try another Maria Semple novel but this one did not quite catch my attention like Bernadette. Eleanor has similar quirks to Bernadette but her day, while at times funny, was just not for me. THE FEMALE PERSUASION - MEG WOLITZER | I will admit that the cover of this book drew me in then the story kept me flipping page after page. I'd suggest this one for cooler months because it is a little longer and perfect for a cup of coffee/tea and blanket on the couch or in your favorite chair. HEART TALK - CLEO WADE | A book of poetry that hits you right in the heart and soul. If you do not read any other books on this list please please read this one. *MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE - SOPHIE KINSELLA | They say you should never envy what others have because you are only seeing one part of their life and this book embodies that notion. It is a great book club pick and a good read overall. *MY ABSOLUTE DARLING - GABRIEL TALLENT | I will start by saying I absolutely did not enjoy this book. After failing to progress on the print version I had to switch to audiobook and it was still a huge struggle to finish. It has some very tough themes so I may also need to provide a trigger warning if you are thinking about picking it up. WHAT TRUTH SOUNDS LIKE - MICHAEL ERIC DYSON | An on time and critical lens of racial politics in America. If you are interested in the current political climate you should definitely read this book. *CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE - TOMI ADEYEMI | This book is the start of a series and I cannot wait for more. If you are a fan of fantasy fiction this is a great read for you as it is filled with lots of magic. SURPRISE ME - SOPHIE KINSELLA | The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry is the perfect description for this book. This book is a good middle of the road, if you want an easy read to feel a little indifferent about this is a great place to start. ALL WE EVER WANTED - EMILY GIFFIN | I was so hooked on this book that I finished it super quickly. Values, family, and allegiances are all tested in this multiple viewpoint book. Pick this one up for vacation or a lazy read. BIG GIRL PANTIES - STEPHANIE EVANOVICH | So I bought this book on a clearance rack binge in late 2017 and finally opened it in 2018. I'm not so sure what took me so long to read it but it was a very enjoyable story about new beginnings. I'm happy I finally read it and think you should too. * - book club selections
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