My Favorite Books of 2018

Oh, 2018! What a year of incredible reads. I’m always so happy to share my annual books with you guys, and this selection of glimmering gems is no exception. I read 25 books in total, and below I’ll give short reviews of 10 exceptional favorites. Truthfully, I loved all but a few, and even those semi-duds taught me something or other. I actually, rarely, fi­nish a book I’m not loving, because life is too short! But if it’s for Book Club, I’ll finish no matter what, and same (usually) if it’s super widely acclaimed and I already bought it. Even if I’m not obsessed with a mega-bestseller, I will often read to the end out of sheer curiosity.

This year, as most of you know, I had a super hard pregnancy followed by the dreamiest newborn. So, many of these books I read in the last 5 months, once my head fog and nausea finally lifted! Overall, though, I turned to books for a respite, a boost, a distraction, a smile, new lessons learned the fun way. I read far fewer deep, introspective, soul reads than my usual, because life felt intense enough, I suppose. Instead, I rea­d long strings of wonderful love stories, a few awesome spiritual reads, two killer thrillers, and memoirs by incredible humans who—quite simply—make me happy.

Additionally, almost every time I post something about books, somebody (understandably!) asks me: “How on earth do you read so much?!” And my best logistical answer is this! I do most of my reading at night after the babes are down, having mysteriously lost interest in so many TV shows over the last couple years (miracles do happen!). Additionally, Doug usually falls asleep around 9 p.m. and I have a hard time shutting my eyes before 10 or 11. These few quiet hours of “me” time become rather precious after long crazy days with my beautiful girls. On average, I probably read 1-2 hours per day—but I often listen to Audible chapters here and there, too. If the average book I read takes, say, 5-10 hours to finish—you can see how the books add up! Throw in the fact that I come from family of very fast readers and possess maybe just a hint of addictive personality tendencies—and you have yourself quite the bookworm. (And there are worse vices, right?!)

But the bigger-picture answer is, truly, that I read every chance I get! I always have. I find snippets and margins of time without even consciously realizing it, because it’s a priority in my life, and something that fills me up. Since the Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, the Christy Miller series (anyone?), Francine Rivers, the Classics, books have been a kind of oxygen for me. My self-care, my happy place, my favorite of all entertainment forms. When I had postpartum depression after Hadley, I first learned about the genuine power of books to aid in rampant and real mental health issues like OCD, depression, anxiety. In certain cases, books have been proven as medicine. They pull us out of our own heads, providing a safe place of total absorption and full concentration. Our defenses are down. Our problems are gone, for a moment. Characters become teachers and friends. Books can redirect thoughts, heal perspectives, change moods. Books keep my mind sharp, and my heart open. They inspire community and connection!

Don’t worry, guys. I’m still obsessed with my Bachelor, Netflix Original Series, true crime docs, the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas and going to the movies. Duh! But reading does something different for me. Something magic happens when we quiet our minds and souls to a place of serenity and vulnerability, to a state where we peacefully open ourselves to new stories, and worlds, and words.

And so.

I read!!!

And I hope you do, too!

Now, to the fun part you came here for! Honestly, I had a really hard time choosing 10 books to review, because I adored so many THAT MUCH! But I feel I can say with confidence that there’s something in this list for everyone. So here are 10 that stood out to me, in no particular order except the VERY particular order that Where the Crawdads Sing takes my #1 spot. These books were so dear to me and reading them was a pleasure and privilege, each in their own unique right.

Where the Crawdads Sing—If you had told me last year that my favorite book of 2018 would be a novel about a girl who grows up in a swamp, full of nature writing and set in North Carolina, I might have been like, yeahhh, soooo, when’s the next Bachelor/ette memoir coming to town?! This was one of the first books I finished reading after Reese was born, when I finally felt clear-headed again, and the most open-hearted—which could also have played into my crazy love for the book. I don’t know; it was just pure magic for me. Kya is one of the most brilliantly developed, gorgeously depicted and strikingly complex characters I have read since I can remember. Reese Witherspoon recently announced that she optioned the rights for the movie, and to say I am DYING to see who plays Kya is an understatement. Abandoned by her family in early childhood, she grows up with the wild marsh as a stand-in family, of sorts. The marsh serves as a powerful character all its own, which I know sounds a little bit out there, but you’ll just have to read to believe. This book has it all. Poetic language, crisp-clear characters, mystery, heartache, love. Court drama done superbly. I still think about the ending sometimes and find myself wanting to full-body embrace everyone else who’s experienced this book and the haunting spell of its marsh.

Sisters First—I’m definitely part of the generation of girls who feels like we grew up with the Bush twins, even though they’re a few years older than me. I’ve always been a bit mesmerized by them, since I first saw their faces on People magazine in the grocery store checkout line. I figured I’d enjoy this book, but I wasn’t prepared for the depth of emotions, from real tears to deep laughs, that I experienced in its pages. Written effortlessly and charmingly back-and-forth by the sisters, this book encouraged my soul and renewed my faith in America. I was left in awe of the Bush men: devoted countrymen, gentlemen, family men. Respectable leaders, heroes of war and of faith. If you want to learn some fascinating new information about First Family life and feel newly inspired about the US of A, this is your book. Because of it, I couldn’t tear myself away from the hundreds of tributes and endless media coverage when dear George H.W. passed. Every man should dream to have his granddaughters speak of him the way Jenna and Barbara revere him and his legacy. And what brilliant forces of nature and patriotism in their own stunning right. I love these girls.

The Dinner List—“If you could have dinner with any five people, living or dead, who would they be?” This whimsical, whip-smart, absorbing novel begins with this premise and unfolds with vivid characters, moving moments, and thought-provoking insights. On her 30^th birthday, Sabrina finds herself at dinner with the guests on her “list”—her father, her ex-boyfriend, her best friend, a former teacher and Audrey Hepburn. I had no idea where this book would take me, but I had a feeling I’d love it, and feel it, and learn from it, and I was right. I also just have to not-so-humble-brag that I knew Rebecca Serle (the author) at USC, and she was truly one of those humans you meet and you know: she’s special. We had tennis class together I remember clearly the sweet, grounded, witty and wise essence of her personality (which clearly flows into her book) as well as her clear dream to become an author. How cool is that? A dream realized! Her book is receiving all kinds of accolades and it’s truly so well-deserved. She also wrote the mega-hit book-turned-TV-show Famous in Love. Way to go, girlfriend! I’m proud of you. Also, friends: Who’s on your list?! Think about it! Who’s on mine?! Gosh, I don’t know. Today, I’ll say: Jesus, my grandma, Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian, C.S. Lewis. Um, can you begin to imagine?! What on earth will I cook for them?!

How to Walk Away—I mentioned this book in my Instagram Stories a few months ago and was SO giddy to hear how many of you friends proceeded to read it! And love it as much as I did! This book is like reading a perfect romantic comedy… with a serious plot. More traumatic injury in an airplane, less flirting over drinks at a party. But the love story. I don’t want to give anything away, but you’re gonna wanna curl up with this one sometime before winter is over. Sprinkled with wisdom and grounded in love, it’s a book I’d compare to Me Before You and One Day in its tragedy mingled with sweetness, its heart balanced with humor, its pure readability and my obvious compulsion to pass it on. I can’t wait to read more by Allison Center—who, by the way, has been incredibly sweet when I’ve fangirled her shamelessly via Instagram. I think it says a lot about an author when she’s kind enough to respond to her fans and accept their exuberant compliments with genuine gratitude.

All Your Perfects—Colleen Hoover, you’ve done it again! Ripped my heart out and put it back together… only to lurch it right into cardiac arrest, then heal it one more time before daring to mess with it all over again but finally leaving it better than ever before… you get the picture! Before I go on: Adult! Racy! Bad Words! Adult! Racy! Bad Words! Rating: Not suitable for work or for children. OK, I said it twice, so there it is. And now I can go FULL Queen Colleen on you! Colleen captured my heart a few years ago with her absorbing characters, fast-moving plots, incredible love stories, witty dialogue and achingly accurate insight into human hearts and behavior. She really owns her lane, guys! Obsessed is an understatement. All Your Perfects is unique in that it’s a love story about a couple that’s already married. Be further forewarned that parts of the beginning are incredibly sad and potentially hard to read. Early on, I was like, “I don’t want to read about a marriage falling apart!” But I hung in there for the great reviews and obvious depth of themes I felt coming. At the crux of this book, I honestly sat there and wept. And felt, and wept some more. It was so important, so moving. Marriage, infertility, infidelity, love. I found it so affecting and now will rank it right behind It Ends With Us as a very-fave Colleen masterpiece.

Begin Again—Leeana Tankersley’s words have probably touched me more than any other writer’s in these last 5.5 years of motherhood. She doesn’t have hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers. She hasn’t been on the NYT bestseller list (I don’t think). But she is a warrior, a sage, a sister, a writer, a truth-seeker, deep in her strength and humble in hard-won wisdom. I read her books slowly, with a pen and at least three highlighters. I journal and pray and seek—and always come out the end transformed in some way. Chapter 12 of this book, called “Bring Her to Me,” still wraps my heart in its courage and grace. Leeana keeps me thinking. She keeps me seeking. She keeps me writing. I’m so thankful I came across her. When I met her at MOPS a few years ago, she stood up to hug me as I told her what her writing has meant to me. It was hard for me not to cry. Maybe I did, a little. She’s just a woman, showing up, telling her truth. Letting God change lives through her. She’s someone who’s impacted my life. Begin Again is her newest, and it did not disappoint. Breathing Room will probably always be my favorite of hers. Thank you, Leeana. Thank you.

Every Breath—Everybody on earth! When and why did I stop reading everything that Nicholas Sparks ever writes?! In college I went through a strong NS phase and can remember one Hawaiian vacation in particular where I packed three—yes, three—of his books and devoured them all. Probably all on the airplane. Since then, my taste has diversified, obvi, but reading this honestly made me a little sad that I’ve hardly read him in the last decade. Can you say FOMONS? And now I’m getting all emo just like Nicholas Sparks wants me to! Back to this book, though. It’s the last one of the year I finished, just a few days ago, and I still have a full-on emotional hangover. I’m still thinking about the main characters, and the beauty of this story between two souls courageous enough to keep believing in the power of love. The plot centers around a real-life historical landmark called Kindred Spirit, a mailbox where strangers deposit mementos of hopes, dreams, love, life and loss: letters, photos, poems, lists, sketches, anything, really, at all. I was swept up into the couple’s relationship, transported straight to the beaches of North Carolina as well as the lands of Zimbabwe. Look this one up, guys. Buy it for Christmas for your mom, for your sister, for your best friend, for you! It’s everything you love about Nicholas Sparks, shameless and perfect in all its romantic splendor. A guilty pleasure done right. It was filled with exceptional passion and, I thought, awesomely paced character development. I adored it.

Sometimes I Lie—“I’m in a coma. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. Sometimes I lie.” Um, I’M IN! This edgy psychological thriller had my mind in mazes and my stomach in knots, all in the best way possible. My bestie and fellow reader Allison told me about this book, and I’m so glad she did. It was just the twisty page-turner I needed. Lovers of The Girl on the Train, The Couple Next Door and the like will eat. this. up. Also, I did both Kindle and Audible for this one, and let me just say that the woman with the British accent performing the audio is sufficiently creeeeepyyyyy, guys! I loved it. The end of this book does require a whole new level of concentration to keep up with the mind-bending twists, but don’t let that deter you if you’re into the thrillers like me! I found this one particularly unputdownable, and not at all predictable. Refreshing and bold and whoa!

All We Ever Wanted—Wow, this book was powerful. It was the first I’ve ever read by Emily Giffin and it definitely won’t be my last. High-society Nashville? A Snapchat scandal? Complex family dynamics, small-town gossip chains, secrets, lies and a steadfast search for the truth? Sign me up for it allllll. I’m still thinking about Nina, the mother in this book, the main character. Her Princetown-bound golden boy gets swept up into a tornado of trouble, which swirls into a maddening (addicting) tale of he-said-she-said high-school drama of the heaviest, most heartbreaking kind. This book is GOOD. Dark, though. Think 13 Reasons Why meets Pretty Little Liars with a touch of Little Fires Everywhere vibes. Not the lighter fare I’m pretty sure most people associate with Emily Giffin. In what seems to be a departure for her, though, I think she succeeds remarkably. Also, I didn’t read any reviews of this book until after I finished, and was surprised to see that so many readers thought it was over-the-top political. I didn’t read it that way, but in retrospect, it does touch heavily on a number of hot-button issues. Social media, bullying, race, class, immigration, sexual assault. Still, my takeaway from this book was not so much political as: Holy smokes, a mother’s love. I appreciated this book for its relevance, impeccable storytelling and, well, mostly for Nina. Its mom.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky—Pino Lella, I will never forget you. I kinda fell in love with you, too. Your bravery, honor, and soul. While the solid five-star Amazon rating with 21,000+ reviews speak for themselves, I am happy to echo every last breath of praise this stunning true World War II story will no doubt continue receiving for decades. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not naturally drawn to historical fiction, but this is one major reason I really love being in Book Club. It pushes me beyond my typical preferences to discover the most unbelievable books. I can honestly say that before Beneath a Scarlet Sky, I’d read next to nothing specific I can recall about Italy during WWII. I learned so much about the political climate, the leaders, the atrocities committed in Milan and beyond. Under wild circumstances, protagonist Pino becomes the driver for General Leyers, a German solider, while continually reporting back as a spy for the Allies. The landscapes painted, brutalities witnessed, historical characters brought to life. All beating continually with the heart of the most unbelievable love story. This book isn’t short; it’s an investment, an epic. But I promise it’s worth your time. Unbroken is one of my favorite books of all time, and something about the soul of this book echoed its strength. Louis Zamperini and Pino Lella are the truest of heroes and men. And, OK, maybe they need to be on my Dinner List.

Well, my friends, that’s a (book) WRAP! Oh my gosh. Remember book wraps in high school and junior high?! Didn’t even know that memory was stuffed in my archives. Anyway, big hugs and Merry Christmas to every one of you. Ask me without hesitation if you have any questions, about ANY of these 25 reads! I love talking books, and I love you guys.

Read on!

Can’t wait to keep sharing all the book recs in 2019!