2018 In Review

Hello. Hi. How's it going?
I'm pretty sure it's been roughly a year since I had an actual post go live. I had such strong intentions at the start of 2018. L.O.L.
For the one or two who might read this(or maybe care enough) here's 2018 blogging thinking in a nutshell. Think about writing some sort of review. Writing two or three snarky lines on Goodreads as a review instead. Rinse and repeat. As the months dragged on it was quite apparent that blogging was not on my radar anymore. I still used the blog to keep track of my monthly reads and such. But that was it. Which means I could not pull the plug and close this place down. Especially when I had thoughts every once in a while about actually getting a review up. Which again; L.O.L.

I don't know if 2019 will bring me back here. I've had strong feelings about starting back up. But isn't that how everyone starts 2019; good intentions and goals. In reality, I no longer care to try and write longish detailed reviews. My Goodreads ones are precise and to the point. Which works for me. #lazygirl. No promises to myself. I just figured I'd like to come on here, spout a few words. Talk about my favourite reads of 2018 so I have a record of them. So here we are.

2018 was not an amazing year for the books. I mean I read a lot. 200 to be exact. Very few were 5 stars and standouts. There was a chunk of 4 stars. But for the most part mediocre. Apparently, that was my 2018 reading aesthetic. (My Goodreads is the perfect place to check out what I read and what I'm reading. I keep it up to date).
As for reading tastes, they actually changed. Well not changed. They went in a different direction. One I haven't been in for years. As the year went on Romance took a back seat. I was actually getting really annoyed with most of the ones I read. Which paved the way for Fantasy to jump back into my life. And that it did. The end of the year was romance heavy for reason only, to slam through a bunch of books real fast. But I was bored with them. Don't get me wrong, I still read a bunch of romance and contemps. Just not as many as years passed. So I went back to my origin(what?? lol...). There was a time when all I read was Fantasy.
Audiobooks were also my bae. I mean I was listening to them in past years. But this year I was never without one on the go. I really took advantage of using them in times where I could be(getting ready, driving, cleaning, etc...). I found some series that are still ongoing and will only be read as audiobooks as the next book's release. I can't imagine them any other way now. Audios also help with this big ass books that I can't bring myself to read. I just highly suggest introducing them into your life if you aren't already. I have a ton of recommendations now.



My favourite books for 2018 you ask? Well, there are some I truly loved. Obviously not as many as one would hope. But I think I can name a handful.
Romance wise, well I loved Colleen Hoover's All Your Perfects(a tear jerker), Christina Lauren's Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is the most precious darling book ever. As soon as I finished it I started it again. It's cute and dorky and funny and just lovely.

Have you read The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo? You probably know ten people that have. At least. I cannot believe I had an ARC in my hands and it took me a year to get around to picking it up. Actually, the audio was the way I went and totally suggest. Evelyn Hugo is a masterpiece of fiction. I literally cannot believe that Evelyn is not a real-life movie star that we all grew up and watched her insane life unfold on the TV and newspapers. Besides that, it is a diverse and beautiful story. Evelyn is unapologetically honest and herself. I dare you not to cry a thousand times.

Jenn Bennett delivered another hit with Starry Eyes. I love those authors I can always count on; will never let me down. If you're a contemp fan and haven't picked up Jenn's backlist you're possibly not the contemp fan you think you are(I kind of kid...). Sex positive. Funny. Heartfelt. Diverse. The list goes on and on. Hard to pick, but Starry Eyes is now my favourite of hers.

And talking about dependable authors, Brigid Kemmerer delivered another perfect read in More Than We Can Tell. It left me emotionally spent. Rev my precious darling. I've never wanted to a hug a character so much.

The book that surprised me the most and so underrated(which sucks, it deserves so much love); The Art of French Kissing. Cheesy title aside, this little book surprised me at every turn of the page. It's like Top Chef meets teenage angst in a nerdy, banter-filled, swoony, geeky, diverse filled ray of sunshine. Literal joy. Which is going to deliver me a college-aged sequel. Right?! RIGHT?!

Finally. After years of waiting and hoping, Warner returned to my life. Restore Me broke me so many times. How can I love a book that hurts my precious Warner so? Probably because it gives me Warner and Kenji and a Juliette who I have to like a lot more than ever predicted. I cannot even imagine what Defy Me will bring into my life. Do to my life!

I finally caught up with and finished the Magnus Chase series by Uncle Rick. I love Percy Jackson, but Magnus Chase really delivers on another level. The sass is real. The characters come from every walk of life; a gender fluid MC. A Muslim MC. A middle-grade MC is actually homeless and it's not discussed or told in a demeaning way. Leave it to Uncle Rick to come in with Percy make it a success and introduce diversity in every sense of the way into middle-grade fantasy adventure books.

The Nevermoor series has landed into my life. It has plugged the Harry Potter hole I've been trying to fill for like ten years now. I mean that in the way it makes me feel. Besides the fantastical quirky whimsy of the story and characters. The books just gave me those feelings the Harry Potter did. I can't explain it. But if you're an HP fan you get it. And if you want to talk audio recommendations, well ma'am here is where you start. The production and narration are amazing. There is no other way for me to absorb these stories in the future.



Anybody that's still hanging around here, name some of your favourite reads from 2018. Maybe we'll be twinsies.




Like I rambled on about above, I'm not sure how 2019 will go blogging-wise. I'm of the mind to try and at least do weekly wrap-ups; which I've already failed seeing as we're now in the second week of January. But my aim is to read three books a week. So I could potentially get small and precise reviews up in my weekly wrap-ups. Try and keep this blog alive!...

Happy New Year! Here's to another year of amazing books and everything else. I've got some Disney trips booked and we'll see what else pops up at work.

Happy reading!

Brittany

2018 Reads

January
1. Nowhere But Here(Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry = 496 pages
2. Walk the Edge(Thunder Road #2) by Katie McGarry = 426 pages
3. Long Way Home(Thunder Road #3) by Katie McGarry = 448 pages
4. Down by Contact(The Barons #2) by Santino Hassell = 220 pages
5. Daughter of the Pirate King(Pirate King #1) by Tricia Levenseller = 320 pages(reread)
6. Daughter of the Siren Queen(Pirate King #2) by Tricia Levenseller = 352 pages
7. Blood Passage(Dark Caravan Cycle #2) by Heather Demetrios = 512 pages
8. Saga Vol. 8 by Brian K Vaughan = 152 pages
9. The Sword of Summer(Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan = 499 pages(reread)
10. Freedom's Slave(Dark Caravan Cycle #3) by Heather Demetrios = 608 pages
11. Rebel of the Sands(Rebel of the Sands #1) by Alwyn Hamilton = 358 pages
12. The Cruel Prince(The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black = 384 pages
13. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis = 368 pages
14. The Hammer of Thor(Magnus Chase #2) by Rick Riordan = 471 pages
15. This is Our Story by Ashley Elston = 312 pages
16. On Hart's Boardwalk(On Dublin Street #6.7) by Samantha Young = 120 pages
17. Brooklynaire(Brooklyn Bruisers #4) by Sarina Bowen = 452 pages
Total = 6498(17 books)

February
18. Gone Rogue(Wires and Nerves Vol.2) by Marissa Meyer = 324 pages
19. More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer = 416 pages
20. Timekeeper(Timekeeper #1) by Tara Sim = 414 pages
21. Truthwitch(The Wtichlands #1) by Susan Dennard = 415 pages
22. The Ship of the Dead(Magnus Chase #3) by Rick Riordan = 423 pages
23. Tell Me Three Things by Jule Buxbaum = 328 pages
24. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli = 303 pages(reread)
25. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli = 336 pages(reread)
26. Reckless by Lex Martin = 406 pages
27. Illuminae(The Illuminae Files #1) by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman = 602 pages(reread)
28. Bad at Love by Karina Halle = 367 pages
Total = 4334(11 books)

March
29. Gemina(The Illuminae Files #2) by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman = 663 pages(reread)
30. Opal(The Raven Cycle #4.5) by Maggie Stiefvater = 38 pages
31. Shatter Me(Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi = 338 pages(reread)
32. Unravel Me(Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi = 461 pages(reread)
33. Ignite Me(Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi = 408 pages(reread)
34. Restore Me(Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi = 448 pages
35. Before I Ever Met You by Karina Halle = 324 pages
36. After All by Karina Halle = 310 pages
37. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren = 432 pages
38. Not-Joe Story(Wild Seasons #4.5) by Christina Lauren = 96 pages
39. Alphas Like Us(Damaged Like Us #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 489 pages
40. Everyone's a Aliebn When Your A Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun = 256 pages
41. Autoboyography by Christina Lauren = 407 pages
42. Obsidio(The Illuminae Files #3) by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman = 615 pages
43. A Study in Charlotte(Charlotte Holmes #1) by Brittany Cavallaro = 321 pages
44. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli = 303 pages(reread)
45. The Prophecy(Titan #4) by Jennifer L Armentrout = 400 pages
46. A Thousand Pieces of You(Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray = 368 pages
47. Alphas Like Us(Damaged Like Us #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 489 pages(reread)
48. The Last of August(Charlotte Holmes #2) by Brittany Cavallaro = 317 pages
49. Book Boyfriend(Book Boyfriends #1) by Claire Kingsley = 239 pages
50. Ten Thousand Skies Above You(Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray = 432 pages
51. Damaged Like Us(Damaged Like Us #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 400 pages(reread)
Total = 8554(23 books)

April
52. Lovers Like Us(Damaged Like Us # 2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 462 pages(reread)
53. Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett = 432 pages
54. Lady Midnight(The Dark Artifices # 1) by Cassandra Clare = 698 pages
55. The Case for Jamie(Charlotte Holmes #3) by Brittany Cavallaro = 368 pages
56. What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum = 292 pages
57. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover = 320 pages
58. They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera = 368 pages
59. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli = 368 pages
60. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne = 384 pages(reread)
61. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera = 448 pages
Total = 4140(10 books)

May
62. A Court of Frost and Starlight(ACOTAR #3.1) by Sarah J Maas = 229 pages
63. Moonrise by Sarah Crossan = 400 pages
64. The Leaving by Tara Altebrando = 432 pages
65. Him(Him #1) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 360 pages(reread)
66. The Red Pyramid(The Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan = 516 pages
67. Vengeance Road(Vengeance Road #1) by Erin Bowman = 327 pages
68. The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid = 400 pages
69. Us(Him #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 328 pages(reread)
70. Good Boy(WAGs #1) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 282 pages(reread)
71. Stay(WAGs #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 295 pages(reread)
72. The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin = 352 pages
73. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan = 352 pages
74. Furyborn(Empirium #1) by Claire Legrand = 512 pages
75. I Flipping Love You(Shacking Up #3) by Helena Hunting = 320 pages
76. The Darkest Star(Origin #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout = 368 pages
Total = 5473(15 books)

June
77. Still Me(Me Before You #3) by Jojo Moyes = 390 pages
78. Off Base(Out of Uniform #1) by Annabeth Albert = 304 pages
79. Homecoming(Out of Uniform #1.5) by Annabeth Albert = 43 pages
80. Off Leash(Out of Uniform #1.6) by Annabeth Albert = 15 pages
81. I Do(Out of Uniform #2.5) by Annabeth Albert = 51 pages
82. At Attention(Out of Uniform #2) by Annabeth Albert = 304 pages
83. On Point(Out of Uniform #3) by Annabeth Albert = 304 pages
84. Wheels Up(Out of Uniform #4) by Annabeth Albert = 320 pages
85. Squared Away(Out of Uniform #5) by Annabeth Albert = 336 pages
86. Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen = 451 pages
87. Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley = 336 pages
88. Best of Both Worlds by N.R. Walker = 112 pages
89. Everything Changes(Resilient Love #1) by Melanie Hansen = 200 pages
90. Tonight by Karen Stivali = 43 pages
91. Finders Keepers by N.R. Walker = 218 pages
92. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang = 336 pages
93. Learning to Feel by N.R. Walker = 290 pages
94. As I Am by Melissa Collins = 251 pages
95. Son of the Dawn(Ghosts of the Shadow Market #1) by Cassandra Clare = 68 pages
96. Cast Long Shadows(Ghosts of the Shadow Market #2) by Cassandra Clare = 68 pages
97. Noah by Cara Dee = 283 pages
98. The Darkest Flame(Roadmap to Your Heart #1) by Christina Lee = 240 pages
99. The Faintest Spark(Roadmap to Your Heart #1.5) by Christina Lee = 131 pages
100. Every Exquisite Thing(Ghosts of the Shadow Market #3) by Cassandra Clare = 78 pages
101. The Deepest Blue(Roadmap to Your Heart #2) by Christina Lee = 240 pages
102. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Want = 292 pages
103. The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby = 288 pages
Total = 5992(27 books)

July
104. Sadie by Courtney Summers = 320 pages
105. The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby = 320 pages
106. Getting Schooled(Getting Schooled #1) by Emma Chase = 300 pages
107. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill = 72 pages
108. The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R Shrum = 256 pages
109. Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West = 336 pages
110. Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neill = 96 pages
111. The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting = 352 pages
112. Tight Quarters(Out of Uniform # 6) by Annabeth Albert = 336 pages
113. When It's Right(San Fransico Thunder # 3) by Victoria Denault = 304 pages
114. The Beau & The Belle by R.S. Grey = 346 pages
115. Ever After A Gary Fairy Tale by Christina Lee & Riley Hart = 266 pages
116. An Ember in the Ashes(An Ember in the Ashes #1) by Sabaa Tahir = 480 pages
117. Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill = 56 pages
118. Space Boy Vol 1 by Stephen McCranie = 248 pages
119. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee = 513 pages (reread)
120. Learn About Loss(Ghosts of the Shadow Market # 4) by Cassandra Clare = 47 pages
Total = 4417(17 books)

August
121. My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand & Jodi Meadows = 491 pages
122. Sheets by Brenna Thummler = 224 pages
123. Black Wings Beating(skybound #1) by Alex London = 432 pages
124. Fence Vol 1 by C.S. Pacat = 112 pages
125. Fence # 5 by C.S. Pacat = 27 pages
126. Fence #6 by C.S. Pacat = 32 pages
127. Fence #7 by C.S. Pacat = 28 pages
128. Fence #8 by C.S. Pacat = 28 pages
129. Bruja Born(Brooklyn Brujas #2) by Zoraida Cordova = 336 pages
130. The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock = 240 pages
131. Escaping From Houdini(Stalking Jack the Ripper #3) by Kerri Manisalco = 416 pages
132. Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker = 436 pages
133. A Deeper Love(Ghosts from the Shadowmarket #5) by Cassandra Clare = 51 pages
134. Sidebarred(Legal Briefs #3.5) by Emma Chase = 101 pages(reread)
135. The Prince(A Wicked Trilogy #3.5) by JLA = 125 pages
136. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren = 320 pages
137. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren = 320 pages(reread)
Total = 3719(17 books)

September
138. Mark of the Thief(Mark of the Thief #1) by Jennifer A Nielsen = 352 pages
139. Jack of Hearts(and Other Parts) by A.C. Rosen = 352 pages
140. The Chase(Briar U #1) by Elle Kennedy = 377 pages
141. This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender = 304 pages
142. As Dust Dances(Play On #2) by Samantha Young = 361 pages
143. Rise of the Wolf(Mark of the Thief #2) by Jennifer A Nielsen = 352 pages
144. Intercepted(Playbook #1) by Alexa Martin = 308 pages
145. Wrath of the Storm(Mark of the Thief #3) by Jennifer A Nielsen = 343 pages
146. The Wicked Ones(Ghosts From the Shadowmark #6) by Cassandra Clare = 74 pages
147. Check, Please!: #Hockey Vol 1 by Ngozi Ukazu = 288 pages
148. Warcross(Warcross #1) by Marie Lu = 353 pages
149. Graceling(Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore = 471 pages(reread)
150. A Torch Against the Night(An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir = 452 pages
151. Strong(Stage Dive #4.5) by Kylie Scott = 120 pages
Total = 4507(14 books)

October
152. The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee = 54 pages
153. A Reaper at the Gates(An Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir = 464 pages
154. Strange the Dreamer(Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor = 536 pages
155. Saga Vol 9 by Brian K Vaughan = 152 pages
156. Fight or Flight by Samantha Young = 384 pages
157. Supernova(Amulet Vol 8) by Kazu Kibuishi = 224 pages
158. The Burning Maze(The Trials of Apollo # 3) by Rick Riordan = 431 pages
159. My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren = 400 pages
160. The Land I  Lost(Ghosts From the Shadowmarkets #7) by Cassandra Clare = 123 pages
161. 9 From the Nine Worlds(Magnus Chase #3.5) by Rick Riordan = 176 pages
162. Lord of Shadows(The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare = 825 pages
163. The Cruel Prince(The Folk of Air #1) by Holly Black = 370 pages(reread)
164. The Witch Boy Vol. 1 by Molly Ostertag = 224 pages
165. The Lost Sisters(The Folk of Air #1.5) by Holly Black = 50 pages
166. Sweet Filthy Boy(Wild Seasons #1) by Christina Lauren = 385 pages(reread)
167. Fire(Graceling Realm #2) by Kristin Cashore = 480 pages(reread)
168. Dirty Rowdy Thing(Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren = 352 pages(reread)
169. Muse of Nightmares(Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor = 514 pages
Total = 6144(18 books)

November
170. The Wicked King(The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black = 336 pages
171. Wildcard(Warcross #2) by Marie Lu = 341 pages
172. Maybe Now(Maybe Someday #2) by Colleen Hoover = 200 pages
173. Wallbanger(Cocktail #1) by Alice Clayton = 384pages(reread)
174. Rusty Nailed(Cocktail #2) by Alice Clayton = 320 pages(reread)
175. Last Call(Cocktail #4.5) by Alice Clayton = 176 pages(reread)
176. Pucked Love(Pucked #6) by Helena Hunting = 278 pages
177. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee = 450 pages
178. Through Blood, Through Fire(Ghosts From the Shadowmarkets #8) by Cassandra Clare = 56 pages
179. Kiss the Sky(Calloway Sisters #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 442 pages(reread)
180. Hothouse Flower(Calloway Sisters #2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 475 pages(reread)
181. The Iron Trial(Magisterium #1) by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black = 295 pages(reread)
182. The Copper Gauntlet(Magisterium #2) by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black = 264 pages
183. Addicted After All(Addicted #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 533 pages(reread)
Total = 4550(14 books)

December
184. The Bronze Key(Magisterium #3) by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black = 256 pages
185. The Silver Mask(Magisterium #4) by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black = 232 pages
186. Fuel the Fire(Calloway Sisters #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 556 pages(reread)
187. The Golden Tower(Magisterium #5) by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black = 256 pages
188. The Trials of Morrigan Crow(Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend = 512 pages
189. East(East #1) by Edith Pattou = 512 pages
190. Wundersmith(Nevermoor #2) by Jessica Townsend = 544 pages
191. The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand= 416 pages
192. The Swedish Prince by Karina Halle = 458 pages
193. The Wild Heir by Karina Halle = 406 pages
194. The Nordic King by Karina Halle = 376 pages
195. Hotshot Doc by R.S. Grey = 350 pages
196. Nothing Personal by Karina Halle = 259 pages
197. The Diviners(The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray = 578 pages
198. Verity by Colleen Hoover = 250 pages
199. Space Dumplins by Craig Thompson = 316 pages
200. The Girl Who Saved Christmas(Christmas #2) by Matt Haig = 336 pages
Total = 6613(17 books)

Grand Total = 64941


DNF
1. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory = DNF @ 34 pages
2. In the Heir by Ruth Cardello = DNF @ 29 pages
3. Villain by Samantha Youn = DNF @ 20%
4. Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne= DNF @ 113 pages
5. A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall = DNF @ 122 pages
6. Bombshell = DNF @ 51%
7. Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey = DNF @ 163 pages
8. Ruined by Amy Tintera = DNF @ 109 pages
9. Layover by Amy Andelson = DNF @ 30%
10.Windwitch by Susan Dennard = DNF @ 65 pages
11. 99 Percent Mine = DNF @ 10%