5 Best Books I Read In 2018

I try to read 100 books a year and even though I got derailed a little this time around (I blame BTS), I still read quite a few books, so I thought I would talk about a few of my favorites. Without further ado, here are the five best books I read in 2018.

5. A Place For Us - Fatima Farheen Mirza

A Place For Us is the definition of a family saga. It centers around an Indian-American Muslim family in America and they are celebrating the oldest daughter's wedding. Her special day is overshadowed by her brother's return to the family after three years away. It travels between various timelines to tell the story of the parent's immigrating to the U.S. and everything that led up to the present day. It's beautifully written and heartbreaking at times. It was really interesting to learn about a culture so different my own, while still finding the family dynamic relatable.

4. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

I started watching the Outlander series last fall and decided to give the books a shot. I was pretty intimidated staring at the 800 pages ahead of me, but they flew by. Gabaldon's writing is expressive and fascinating. While all her plant descriptions weren't completely captivating, there was plenty to keep me going. I especially love the character of Claire and I think the show does a great job of capturing her. She's full of energy and isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means being accused of witchcraft because of it. This book has it all: historical fiction, romance, time travel and war. If you're even remotely intrigued, I would recommend it.

3. The Prince and the Dressmaker - Jen Wang

I don't read a ton of graphic novels, but The Prince and the Dressmaker left an impression on me. The first thing to catch my eye was the illustration style. It's simply enjoyable to look at and the color palette really fits with the story. It's about a prince who secretly dresses in woman's clothes and befriends a dressmaker that designs and creates custom pieces for him. It's a very sweet book and one that would be perfect for teaching kids that it's OK to be different.

2. Rebecca - Daphne De Maurier

I heard a lot about Rebecca before reading it. It's a classic Victorian novel that was also made into a well-known film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock. I don't want to say much, because this thrilling book is best to go into blind, but it was captivating and different from what I expected. Every time I thought I knew what would happen, another twist was thrown my way. The whole atmosphere of the book is palpable. I could see the red flowers and feel goosebumps from the sea breeze. This is definitely going to be a book I reread and Mrs. Danvers might even make it on my list of favorite book characters of all time. Also, now is a great time to read this book with the upcoming Netflix film version coming in the near future. Get on it!

1. Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata

I was drawn to Convenience Store Woman because I've been wanting to read more translated fiction and books that take place in Japan, and this one lined up perfectly. The main character, Keiko, started working at a convenience story right out of school and, now 36, she's still content being a cashier. Her family and coworkers are confused about why she doesn't want to move forward in her a career or make any effort to find a husband. My favorite part of this book was the description of how comforted she is by the sounds and routine of the convenience store. I relate to that feeling from working in retail and having that opening/closing routine to rely on every day. Keiko's point of view is different than anything I've ever read and it was fascinating to be there. I loved reading her thoughts, like, “Good, I pulled off being a ‘person’.” If that isn't relatable to someone with social anxiety, I don't know what is. If you read one book from this list, please make it one, mostly because I selfishly want someone to talk to about it.

Please let me know if there are any books you read that I should add to my 2019 reading list.