Let’s me be clear. I’m not talking about books that were necessarily published in 2018. Just the best books I read during 2018. All rated with FIVE stars.
Topping the list: Where the Crawdads Sing (2018), the debut novel from naturalist Delia Owens. Simply Stunning! Beautiful language, a feisty female protagonist you will love, and a coming-of-age story alongside a murder mystery. This one has it ALL! One of the best books I’ve EVER read. Full Review.
Little (2018) by Edward Carey. The imaginative back story of the famous wax works woman (WWW) Madame Tussaud, which takes place against the drama of the French Revolution. Full Review.
The Silence of the Girls (2018) by Pat Barker. A remarkable retelling of the Fall of Troy from the perspective of the women who were there. Full Review.
Less (2017) by Andrew Sean Greer who won a Pulitzer Prize for this one. A central character you will love who, at mid-life, is accessing both his personal and professional life during a trip around the world. Written with a smart, funny, and distinctive voice. Full Review.
The Romanov Empress (2018) by C. W. Gortner. A wonderful historical novel centered on Empress, Maria Feodorovna, mother of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. Full Review.
Still Me (2018) by Jojo Moyes. Here is the completely satisfying conclusion to the ME BEFORE YOU trilogy, where every page is a joy to read. Full Review.
There There (2018) by Tommy Orange. An insightful look at diverse characters who together portray the deeply human suffering of Native Americans in the United States. Full Review
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2015) by Bryan Stevenson. This shocking, mesmerizing, sobering and, at times, unbelievable first-person account by Attorney Bryan Stevenson about his work representing marginalized clients simply CAN’T be missed. Full Review.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky (2017) by Mark T. Sullivan. Based on an amazing true story, an unlikely teenager winds up becoming a hero in Italy during World War II. An intense anti-war novel. Full Review.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration (2010) by Isabel Wilkerson. A truly transformational book that uses compelling stories to show the consequences of racism that pervade ALL our lives, everyday. I wish this was required reading in all public school curricula. Full Review.
Toby A. Smith 