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The Best Books I Read In 2018

Happy Wednesday Everyone :)


I hope you're all having a lovely week so far, and that 2019 is off to a great start for each and every one of you.

On Monday I shared with you all what I thought were the worst books I read in 2018, and now today I'm going to do the reverse and share what I thought were the best books I read in 2018.


This was extremely hard to narrow down honestly, as of the 215 books I finished this past year, I actually enjoyed quite a few of them.


However, here is the best of the best!

Now a small disclaimer here: I am not including anything that was a re-read as I can guarantee that they would take up a large portion of my list. So for this list I am only including titles that I read for the first time in 2018.

Also, these are going to be in no particular order, except for the very last one which will be my favorite book I read in the entire year.



The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel:




I'm starting off my list with this beautiful story about two sisters who've never seen eye to eye that end up going on an extensive trip to cross items off a bucket list. I wholeheartedly loved this one, and reviewed it fully here.

My Unscripted Life by Lauren Morrill:



I've come to expect pretty great things when I pick up a Lauren Morrill novel, and this one definitely did not disappoint. And the fact that it has my favorite trope ever-the famous person falling in love with a regular person-just added to my enjoyment of it.


The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof:



I'd been hearing great things about this book ever since it's release, and I was honestly a little hesitant as to whether or not it could possibly be as good as everyone was claiming. Let me tell you guys it wasn't as good, it was even better. This is by far one of my favorite books of all time, and definitely my favorite historical fiction of all time. You can check out my full review here.


Waterfall by Lisa T Bergen:



I read the entire River of Time series in 2018 and I loved it. While there were certain parts that I maybe wasn't entirely one hundred percent okay with, for the most part it was a fantastic series, and has become a new favorite. Check out my review of this one here. 


The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson:



2018 included my first time reading a Melanie Dickerson novel and I was completely blown away. I was not expecting such a spiritually powerful novel when I picked this one up, and I definitely can't wait to continue on with this series in 2019.


Storm Front by Susan May Warren:



While I loved all of the titles I read from this series in 2018, I definitely have to pick this one as my favorite. Ty and Brette were without a doubt my favorite couple introduced in this series, and I couldn't have been happier with how their story came together. You can read my full review here.


Falling For You by Becky Wade:



I'm sure no one is surprised to see a Becky Wade novel on my favorites list, and I have to say that this may just be my favorite novel by her yet. You can check out my full review here. I so can't wait for Britt and Zander's story.


The Forgotten Recipe by Amy Clipston:



I adored this one so very much. It was such a realistic portrayal of grief, I loved the budding romance between the two main characters, and I loved how there was kind of a mystery element that underlines each title in the series. 


Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch:



I'm always on the lookout for new YA contemporary romances, and this much hyped book definitely fit the bill. I adored this story, and how it's about a girl coming to learn her true family history while falling for the boy who helps her discover it all. You can read my full review here.


Spies, Lies and Allies by Lisa Brown Roberts:




I've loved every Lisa Brown Roberts book I've read, and this one is definitely one of my favorites. The romance is adorkable, the office setting is pretty unique for YA, and I loved how Comic Con also plays a role in this adorable story. 


Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey:



While I expected pretty amazing things from the last title in the Chesapeake Valor series, Dani Pettrey still managed to blow me away with the intense story line in this one. Check out my full review here.


The Reckoning At Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright:



In the last year and a half or so, Jaime Jo Wright has become one of my all time favorite authors. In fact, she's one of only two authors to appear on this list twice this year. She's amazing at time slip story lines, and I love she keeps her content faith based while still being deliciously scary. Check out my full review here.


From The Start by Melissa Tagg:



I could have honestly listed almost all of Melissa Tagg's books on this post, but I decided to just go with my favorite. I'm really hoping we're going to get a new book from her very very soon. Check out my full review here.


Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer:



Ahhh how I loved this beautiful story. It was one of those ones that honestly kind of had it all. It's funny, it's clean, it's faith based, the couple will have you rooting for them right from the start. I loved loved loved this one. Check out my full review here.


Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen:




What can I really say about these two other than to say that they are utter perfection, and were everything I was hoping for and more.


On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter:



The final installment in the Blue Ridge Romance series was definitely my favorite. Jack and Daisy were such a good match, and I felt my heart breaking for them with everything they were going through. You can read my full review here.



The Spring of Candy Apples by Debbie Viguie:



I don't think I honestly expected to like the Sweet Seasons series quite as much as I did. This whole series was lovely, but my favorite was this final installment. Candy is such a great role model for young girls, and I loved the Zone theme park as the setting for this series. I only wish the coupling had changed earlier on, but all in all I adored this one. Check out my full review here.


Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost:



I have a habit of really loving cozy mysteries, but this surpassed even my usual love of them. This book had literally everything I was looking for: a protagonist I could root for, a budding romance, a mystery that kept me guessing, a town full of quirky characters, and a setting of a Christmas tree farm that had me literally wanting to move there. Check out my full review here.


The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright:



I honestly think that Jaime Jo Wright gets better and better with each book she writes, and this upcoming release by her is my favorite to date. On top of it being a fantastically spooky mystery story, it also dives into the topic of mental health and the way it's been stigmatized throughout history. I can't recommend it enough, and you can check out my full review here.


and lastly, I'm going to talk about the best of the best, my absolute favorite book I read in 2018, and that honor goes to............................................................

The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel:



Months after finishing this one, my mind is still reeling from it, and I think I may just have to reread it really soon. I picked this up expecting a quick, romance read, but ended up being completely blown away by the amazing story that unfolded around me. As a Christian, I wasn't sure how I was going to like the spiritual segment of the story, but I was pleasantly surprised with the way everything comes together, and I can't recommend it enough. Kristin Harmel is a fantastic author, and I highly hope that I get to read more of her books in the near future.

And that's my favorite books that I read in 2018 guys! I'd love to hear what were your favorites from this last reading year. Let me know in the comments!


This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners. 








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