Hosted by: Jamie @ the Perpetual Page-Turner
Happy New Year y’all! I can’t believe 2018 is over, and if I’m being honest, I’m not sad to see it go. 2018 was a rough year. I’ve got the gray hairs to prove it 😉 As a result, my reading took a swan dive and hit rock bottom. In fact, since I started blogging in 2014, this is the least I’ve read (even including all the drama from 2017). I’m hoping to find a reading groove again this year, and as my husband so delicately put it “unclench” a little 🤦🏼♀️😂
2018 Reading Stats:
Number Of Books You Read: 87
Number of Re-Reads: 6
Genre You Read The Most From: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Best in Books
Best Book You Read In 2018?
Hands down, no contest!!! Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas was the best book I read in 2018. In fact, I blame it for my current lack of reading. I’m still hungover and it’s been two months! KoA was everything I could have asked for in a conclusion to the Throne of Glass series. It answered every question and left me satisfied. I wanted more (I always do), but I didn’t need more. It was perfection ♥️
Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I was really excited to start Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Science Fiction is a favorite genre of mine and this one promised a good tale. However, I was disappointed. The science fiction took a back burner. I did enjoy the puzzle-like adventure plot enough that I’m curious to know what will happen in the next book.
Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
I have to admit that I purposely put off reading Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas. Chaol is not my favorite character, or at least he wasn’t when I started the book. I was dreading reading it and honestly debated skipping it entirely. However I’m very glad I didn’t! I wound up loving the book. Chaol completely redeemed himself. Also the Southern Continent….I really hope we see more of it 😀
Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?
Best Series I Started
I love Siobhan Davis! She is a master storyteller. So when I saw that she had written a new scifi series, I jumped on it. I’ll admit I was a little scared. It’s reverse harem, which is not my thing, but Davis writes it well and I found myself having no problem reading this one.
Best Sequel
I read the first book, Spelled in 2015 and wasn’t in love. I did like the pop culture references though and the world the author created enough to read the sequel. Wanted more than makes up for the disappointment of the first one. I absolutely loved it!
Best Series Ender
I have a feeling this book will feature a lot this year 😉
Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t typically read angsty, contemporary romance. I made an exception though for Siobhan Davis because her writing and storytelling is fantastic. I’m glad I did too. If you haven’t read this one yet, strap in because you are in for a ride 😀
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
I read Ash Princess on vacation this past summer and loved it. I couldn’t sit it down. I got so engrossed that I wound up finishing it in one sitting, earning myself a pair of scorched shoulders in the process.
Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I DNFed this book after trying to read it for over a week. From all the reviews I’ve read, it looks like I gave up just before it got good. I’m willing to give it another read simply because I like books about the Fae 😉
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?
Most memorable character of 2018?
Ayden from Inseparable by Siobhan Davis made a big impact on me while reading. I can’t really say much more than that. Because….
Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
Laini Taylor can craft a story that comes to life on the pages! Her writing is full of vivid imagery that leaves little to the imagination. As I read, the picture forms in my head to the point that I feel like I could live inside it. Strange the Dreamer is no different. It’s beautiful!
Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?
I listened to The Darkest Minds this summer because I wanted to read it before the movie came out. How I’ve never read this prior to now, I’ll never understand!!! I devoured this book and it’s haunted me since I finished it. Now I need to make time to finish the series 😀
Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?
Shortest: 45 pages
Longest: 992 pages
OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
My OTP of 2018 is….
Aro and Kei from Broken Kei
They are best friends in The Broken Ones series by Jen Wylie, but I ship them SO hard. They love each other fiercely, work together seamlessly, and complete each other ♥️ Is it so bad that I want them to wind up together?!
Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Aelin and Aedion from Kingdom of Ash is my favorite non-romantic relationship. Aedion’s devotion to Aelin, Aelin’s love for him….it’s really sweet.
Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?
Pestilence from Pestilence by Laura Thalassa *sigh* Who knew one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (and the grossest one if you ask me) could be so hot?!
Best 2018 debut you read?
Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018? Book that Crushed Your Soul?
Inseparable by Siobhan Davis broke me! It was such a fantastic read. But be prepared, it’s a rollercoaster.
Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?
If Harry Potter and The Hunger Games had a baby, Ruthless Magic is it.
My Blogging/Bookish Life
New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?
So technically this isn’t a newly discovered blog for me. I’ve been following Lenore and Carla for almost as long as I’ve been blogging. If you haven’t, stop by and say hi to them 😀
Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?
I have a partner in crime now 😀 Amanda and I go all the way back to junior high and reconnected on Facebook. Mutual love of books and geeking out over them prompted me to ask if she’d join me. She said yes!!! So now I have a partner on the blog, and we are hoping to figure out a way to co-blog some reviews and transfer our fangirling in messenger to something legible 😉
Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
We had a lot of life changes last year. We started 2018 trying to have a baby, pursing fertility treatments and having failed IUIs. It was devastating at the time, and then my husband had a seizure. He’s never had one before, and the doctors determined it was related to his blood pressure. So now we’re changing some dietary habits. Did y’all know that there is salt in literally everything?! It’s kind of hard to eliminate. I’ve gotten very creative with seasonings. Shout out to Mrs. Dash 😅
As a result of the seizure, my hubby couldn’t drive for 6 months. Y’all it was the best and worst thing ever. I really enjoyed spending the extra time with him in the mornings and afternoons, taking him to and from work. It basically ensured we talked in the mornings instead of a hurried kiss goodbye. However it was also torture, especially if he had a late day. There were some afternoons that my son and I would sit in the car for over an hour waiting on him to get out of work 🤦🏼♀️ Not to mention my husband said he felt like a kid again having to ask mommy to take him places 🙄
During this whole fiasco, we got a puppy. Y’all what was I thinking?! We had enough going on without adding a puppy to the mix. Said puppy will be a year old next month and currently weighs 74lb. Ummmm….he’s a lot bigger than he was supposed to be.
As 2018 was coming to a close and I was praising that we were making it through the school year without any sickness (last school year was awful with flu and ear infections), my son had a seizure. Yep you read that right. MY SON HAD A SEIZURE. As if my husband having one wasn’t enough, 2018 decided to give us one more surprise as it came to a close. So far all of little man’s tests have been negative (Praise GOD!), but now it is a waiting game. Neurology apparently doesn’t get involved until a second event because 70% of people who have a seizure will never have another one in their entire life. So I’m entering 2019 with the firm belief that little man falls in that 70% because if I have to call 911 any time soon I’ll have a head full of white hair 😅
Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
My most popular post in 2018 was a review I wrote in 2015 for Fury by Steven James. I’m not sure if it got shared or promoted by the author or what. But it had over 400 views in less than a week back in April and has had a steady number of views the rest of the year 🤷♀️
Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I started a new feature when I revamped the blog over the summer called Novel Flicks. Basically I’m reviewing TV/Movie adaptations, giving my dream cast, etc. It’s a fun feature and I’m enjoying it. So far it has so little views I’m wondering if I should continue it. But I love it.
Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Looking Ahead at 2019
One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?
Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?
2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?
One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?
OMG!!! I’m going along reading, enjoying seeing all your different book picks, and then in the middle of all that is a shoutout! I can’t tell you how much that means. I’ve been super sporadic in following blogs this year, going on spurts sometimes, and then nothing for weeks. But yours is always one I come back to.
I’m so sorry to hear about your crazy health year, and my fingers are crossed for the 70% for your son! My Mom has kidney problems, so I totally get being shocked about sodium in things. What shocked me most was how much more salt there often is in “light” products. And Mrs. Dash’s taco seasoning is actually really good, I don’t miss the salt in that one!
Here’s to a much better year of reading for you! I know we put a lot of blogging stress on ourselves, but honestly just do what makes you happy…you went on a hiatus, and we still found you when you came back. <3 So take care of yourself! Happy new year!
Lenoreo recently posted…2019 Diversity Reading Challenge — January to March Link-Up
Awe 😘 I’m the exact same about being sporadic about reading. But I’ve been reading yours a while now and like you said it’s one I always come back too (though I’m awful at commenting, I read a lot on the go).
Even the low sodium options shocked me. A lot of those aren’t much different. Mrs. Dash is a lifesaver! The marinades are really good. My husband loves Asian food and well teriyaki and soy sauce have a ton of salt. Mrs. Dash has a marinade version that tastes really close to the original. It’s my go to in meals now.
Happy New Year Lenore ☺️
Is it bad I feel better that you’re sporadic too? I’m also a terrible commenter, so we’re twinsies there as well.
A marinade eh? I might have to check that out…
They’re pretty good. Our local market sells the Teriyaki and a Lime & Garlic.
OMG there are so many books on here that I want to read! WE have similar tastes in book genres. Thank you for the recs!
And thanks for the shout out!
You’re welcome 😊Hope you have a great New Year!
I’m reading a Laini Taylor book right now and really enjoying it. I guess I need to pick up Strange The Dreamer soon. Wow, I hope this year is better for you! Seizures are scary.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…December Wrap-Up
I love Laini Taylor. She hasn’t disappointed yet. Hope you enjoy it!