I love to read.
I feel like anybody who is a traveler must love to read. How else are we to pass the time on long-haul flights and layovers?
While these days I spend most of my flight time researching or writing, I still bring along my Kindle to sneak in some reading during my downtime. I got a Kindle last year for Christmas and it has changed my life! (I promise this is not a sponsored post by Kindle. I just really, really love mine.) I can bring as many books on my travels without having to worry about finding room in a suitcase! Technology is a beautiful thing.
Anyway, I definitely did read A LOT of books this year thanks to my Kindle and there were a few favourites that stood out from the crowd.
Here are my favourite books that I read in 2018:
Tribe – Sebastian Junger
I know that you’re supposed to save the best for last, but there was no way that I could put this book at the end of this list. I read Tribe twice in the span of a month and I can say with confidence that it is now my favourite book. This book digs deep into the faults of our current society and what we can learn from tribal society practices. It explores the quest for human meaning and belonging in a way that will make you rethink how you see the world around you. I have honestly not lived a day the same since opening this book.
Summer Skin – Kirsty Eager
This is the ultimate summer romance novel; the kind to pack with you to a tropical destination and read on the beach with your sand between your toes while peering over the book every now and again to enjoy the local eye candy. This raw and honest book tells the story of Jess, a college girl out for revenge and her experiences with love, sex, and heartache along the way.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky – Mark Sullivan
This one is for all my history buffs out there. Beneath a Scarlet Sky is my new favourite Word War ll book. This novel tells the story of a young, Italian teenager named Pino who is faced with a difficult reality when his parents force him to join the German army in an attempt to protect him from the Nazi’s. Pino ends up being recruited as the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers. Pino leverages his position to spy for the Allies inside German high command, taking readers through the horrors of the war and highlighting the courage of such a brave young man.
Tell Me Lies – Carola Lovering
Another college romance, this novel takes you through the roller coaster romance of Lucy and Stephen. This book alternates back and forth from the voices of each character, providing a unique perspective on their stories as their relationship progresses and more and more secrets are revealed. This story was powerful and real; it will resonate with any young adult experiencing yearning ambitions and the difficulties of letting go.
The Perfect Mother – Aimee Molloy
This psychological thriller is being turned into a movie soon and I CANNOT WAIT. This book was so addicting that I could not put it down – I finished it in two days. It follows a group of new mothers whose lives are turned upside down when one of their newborns goes missing. In the race to find the young boy secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, friendships are destroyed, and the most unlikely of suspects comes to light. This is a true page-turner bound to keep you entertained during any boring layover!
One of us is Lying – Karen M. McManus
One of the reviews for this book describes it as “Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars” and it is absolutely spot on. The scene is set in high school detention where five students are serving a sentence, but only four of them walk out of the room. The chase is on to find the fifth student’s killer and the four other students are prime suspects.
The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena
Another psychological thriller, this book follows two couples through a journey to find out who committed a crime during one of their dinner parties. Along the way, secrets are revealed about both families, making everyone uncertain about who their neighbors really are. What follows is a nerve-racking unraveling of a family and a chilling tale of deception that will keep you hooked until the final, shocking twist.
Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult
This book tackles such a real and heavy topic with grace, offering a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today. The story begins when a young white-supremacist couple has a child in the hospital where Ruth Jefferson, an African American woman is a nurse. The couple doesn’t want Ruth anywhere near their child and orders her to be reassigned. But in the middle of the night, while Ruth is on duty, the baby goes into cardiac arrest. Does Ruth obey orders to not touch the child or does she intervene? This book is a really fantastic read that has a pulse on the sad, small-minded society that we live in today.
She Regrets Nothing – Andrea Dunlop
I can’t handle cheesy family dynasty reality shows, but I sure do love reading about them. This book tells the story of Laila, a twenty-three-year-old who suddenly becomes an orphan and is soon after introduced to her estranged, glamourous cousins. As the novel progresses, the truth unravels about Laila’s family and she soon finds herself dead in the middle of a deep-rooted scandal. This book was such a fun read, highlighting the glamour and seductiveness of the big city and revealing all the nastiness that goes on behind the scenes.
Behind Closed Doors – B.A. Paris
A final psychological thriller that proves you don’t really know people as well as you think. This novel tells the story of Jack and Grace, the perfect, wealthy charming couple in the neighborhood. Everything seems normal until you want to get to know Grace better and realize that the two are inseparable. Grace can never answer the phone or never meet for coffee. Things start to become more concerning when you look deeper into their lives and notice the high-security shutters on the windows or why Grace never takes anything with her when she leaves the house. This was one of the most exciting and shocking books that I read this year – I highly, highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller!
Did you read any great books this year? Leave them down below! My goal is to read 52 books in 2019 and I need some suggestions!
