2018 wasn’t my best book year, but I did discover some favourites along the way. I unfortunately also discovered a bunch of least favourites.
My list of best and worst books of 2018 is inclusive of all the books I’ve read this year so you’ll see release dates in previous years (but they’re just as good–or bad!)
The Best Books I’ve Read in 2018
Here are the books that I couldn’t stop thinking about, the ones that lived up to the hype, and the ones that will be on my favourites shelf for years to come!
5. The Extinction Trials – SM Wilson (2018)
(Book Depository / Amazon US / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK)
Jurassic Park meets The Hunger Games. I loved this one! It was addictive and the perfect novel to read in one go on a lazy Saturday. Fun and thrilling all around.
4. Gemina – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (2016)
(Book Depository | Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK)
This entire series is a work of art! Gemina is the sequel to Illuminae and lives up to the visually stunning pages of book one. It was a bit annoying that the basic premise of the book is similar to one I’m currently writing (Die Hard on a space station), but it was such a thrill that I couldn’t help but love it. Will be reading book three in 2019!
3. Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi (2018)
(Book Depository / Amazon US / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK)
Children of Blood and Bone lives up to the hype! A solid debut novel and a wonderfully fleshed out fantasy world. Also there was that time I met Tomi in the elevator at YALC! Read my full review for Children of Blood and Bone!
2. Geekeralla – Ashley Poston (2017)
(Book Depository / Amazon US / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK)
Geekerella is possibly the most adorable thing I’ve ever read. If you frequent conventions, you’ll love this one. If you don’t attend comic cons, you’ll still love this one because of how cute it is!
1. Star Trek DS9: The Never Ending Sacrifice – Una McCormack (2009)
(Book Depository | Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK)
The Never Ending Sacrifice is not only the best Star Trek novels, but it’s also now one of my favourite books ever. You don’t have to be a Star Trek fan to love this one! It’s a masterpiece; an historical epic that just so happens to be set on another planet. Read my full review.
The Worst Books I’ve Read in 2018
Here are the books that disappointed me, the ones that failed to reach their potential, and the ones that didn’t live up to the hype.
3. These Rebel Waves – Sara Raasch (2018)
(Book Depository | Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK)
The annoying thing about These Rebel Waves is that it wasn’t bad, it was just boring. It could have been an exciting book, but it didn’t live up to what I thought it would be. Read my full review.
2. The Fandom – Anna Day (2018)
(Book Depository / Amazon US / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK)
I wanted to love this; I should have loved this. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and the whole thing felt super rushed. Good idea but in the end, it wasn’t for me.
1. War Storm – Victoria Aveyard (2018)
(Book Depository / Amazon US / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK)
Red Queen was the book that got me reading YA as an adult so this series has a special place in my heart, but what the hell happened? War Storm was so boring and so dragged out; it took A LOT of effort to make it to the end. Extending the series into four books instead of three may have been a bad choice. That said, I’m so excited to see what Victoria does next!
What are your best and worst books of 2018?
I still haven’t read The Extinction Trials omg. I keep meaning to but alas! Life gets in the way. I’m super excited about picking it up next year though.
Hopefully you get to it next year, it’s so fun! 🙂
Gemina and Children of Blood and Bone are still high on my TBR list. But I agree that they’re great! ♀️ Geekerella is more of an okay read for me. Oh and OMG yes, War Storm is the worst. I’d been falling out of love with the series since the second book. I kept reading because of Maven, but oh how everything went downhill after that.
I hope you get to them soon!
War Storm sent me to into such a bad reading slump, I’ll never forgive it. Glad to hear I’m not alone!
I love Gemina so much! And the whole series, for that matter!
It’s so good! I’m hoping to read book 3 in Feb!
I want to read Children of Blood and Bone so bad but it’s such a big book for a debut and I’m scared it’s gonna drag on.. Some of my favourite books read last year were by Holly Black; The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Cruel Prince.
It’s got a few different character POVs so I found it really fast and not dull at all. Hopefully you enjoy it! 🙂
I haven’t read those ones yet, definitely will check them out!
Gemina was a really great book! I loved the different characters and the series became one of my favourites! I have Children of Blood and Bone on my TBR and I cannot wait to buy it!
I love these posts and I think they’re really insightful for recommendations and seeing through the hype for some of the books!
I thought I’d be put off by a whole new set of characters, but I loved Gemina. So good!
I add waaay too many books to my TBR because of posts like this hahaha
I personally don’t agree with you, Dana.
I loved War Storm, for me it would have been
number one on my favorites list.
Anyway, I very much enjoyed your list and agree with most of these places.
Glad you enjoyed War Storm! 🙂