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Another year, another list of My Favorite Reads of the year! These are my top books that I read this past year, regardless of their publication date (not all of these were published in 2018, some were published earlier). Here we go!

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10. Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

This historical fiction read takes place in Columbia during the time of Pablo Escobar, and is a compelling coming of age tale that focuses on two girls, Chula and Petrona. I loved the character of Chula and thought this was a great historical fiction read. (Published in 2018)

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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9. The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This one is a topsy-turvy mystery that kept me glued to the page and I didn’t predict anything about this! This was definitely one big puzzle to solve, and I loved all of the twists and turns. This is a great one for mystery fans! (Published in 2018)

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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8. Doc by Mary Doria Russell

What a story! What a life! This historical fiction book tells part of Doc Holliday’s story. There is a sequel to this, titled Epitaph, which I haven’t read yet. This was a book club read for me, and I’m so glad to have read this book. Full of fascinating detail about the Wild West, Doc was a great historical fiction read for those who enjoy factoids along with a good story. (Published in 2011)

Amazon   |  Goodreads   |   My Review

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7. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

And now I’ll add a contemporary read to the list! And it’s no surprise that it’s a book by one of my favorite authors! Backman has such a way of writing fully fleshed out characters that are neither good nor bad, and go through life’s struggles. This one focuses on a high school ice hockey team, and I was surprised to love this one as much as I did. A tough read in subject matter, but oh so powerful. I have yet to read the sequel, Us Against You. (Published in 2017)

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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6. Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

This is a jaw-dropping book in its attention to detail and focus on its star, Norma Jeane Baker, aka Marilyn Monroe, as it follows her through her life. This is a super intense read, with many graphic scenes and difficult subject matter, but it is so illuminating and absolutely fascinating. It’s a long book, and there are sections to push through, but it’s worth the effort. (Published in 2000)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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5. Half Moon Bay by Alice LaPlante

Here’s another book that was published this year, and another contemporary! This one is a psychological suspense read, one that focuses on grief, and this just pulled me right in from the very beginning. I was so hooked on this, and while some of it got a bit strange, I was enthralled from beginning to end! (Published in 2018)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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4. Beloved by Toni Morrison

And a classic makes the list! This was the only classic that I read this year, which I hope to remedy next year, and this is a read not to be missed. Telling the story of an escaped slave named Sethe, Beloved is powerful and haunting. I’ll be re-reading this one for sure one day. Such a masterpiece! (Published in 1987)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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3. The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin

Another book from my favorite genre, historical fiction! This one tells the story of silent film star Mary Pickford and her scenarist, Frances Marion. With fascinating details about early Hollywood, and with a great story and characters, this title was one that I really loved! (Published in 2018)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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2. The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin

And here’s a memoir making my list this year! This book tells the story of Anthony Ray Hinton, a black man who spent thirty years on Alabama’s Death Row, all the while being innocent of the crime he supposedly had committed. This is such an important read, and one that I keep thinking about. Hinton’s story will have you furious at the legal system and ready to make some changes. This one is not to be missed and speaks of the power of hope. (Published in 2018)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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And my Favorite Read that I read this year is:

1. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

With one of the most memorable characters I’ve read in quite some time, Eleanor Oliphant will break your heart and patch it up again. Here’s another read that I couldn’t put down, and there’s a wonderful story of friendship here that is just beautiful. I loved this read so much, and wow, a contemporary topped my list this year! (Published in 2017)

Amazon |   Goodreads   |   My Review

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And there you have it! Oh, wait, I guess I should mention My Least Favorite Read of 2018, and it’s Delicacy by David Foenkinos. Here’s a link to my review if you’re interested. This one was boring and bland, and I didn’t get it. It was made into a movie, so I know some people loved it? But I just couldn’t get into it. (Published in 2009)

And there you are, My Favorite Reads (and one bad one!) of the Year! I was able to read a lot of great books this past year, and while I didn’t even get close to hitting my 100 books a year goal, there’s always the plan to get that amount read next year! Here’s to 2019!

Have you read any of these books? What was your favorite read of the year? How many books do you want to read in 2019 and did you meet your 2018 reading goal?