The Top 12 Books I Must Read in 2018

meltotheanyAside

Okay, I hate using words like “must” but these are the twelve books (one for each month of the year) that I’d really like to check off my TBR in 2018! None of these are 2018 publications, all of these are considered “backlisted”, and all of these are books that I’ve had on my TBR for far too long. Yet, honestly, all these books intrigue and excite me and I have high hopes for my enjoyment reading for all twelve of these.

➽The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I’m currently reading this with Paloma and we are both really enjoying it! This story is about a group of kids that are attending a very prestigious school in New England and who are all a part of a very elite group that had a love for everything Greek. The prologue gives us a glimpse into what happens to them, and how one of them gets murdered, and the rest of the story is watching the tale unfold by a very unreliable narrator.

➽Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This is very obviously a classic, and in my goals for 2018 post, I spoke about how one of my goals is to simply read a classic this year. The basic premise is “Orphaned Jane Eyre grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, where she endures loneliness and cruelty, and at a charity school with a harsh regime.” Yet, the main reason I want to read this is because of the next book on this list. And I might read this with Alexis over at The Sloth Reader.

➽Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
This was on so many people who I trusts’ “best of 2016” lists and I’ve been eyeing it every since. And this is a loose retelling of Jane Eyre, but in this version Jane is a serial killer. Like, please, take all my money.

➽The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I made two impulsive purchases on December 31st, 2017 and this was one of them. First off, holy beauty at this cover. Second, I am 99% sure I am going to devour and love this with everything that I am. Lastly, I need to read this before Circe comes out, because I am again 99% positive that that book is going to make my “best of 2018” list. Oh, and this is the story of the fall of Troy that centers around Achilles and Patroclus and their love for one another. Be still, my everything.

➽The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
And this was the second impulse buy of mine on December 31st, 2017. And apparently this is a very hetero-baiting title, because every queer friend I have is singing this book’s praises nonstop. I couldn’t resist buying and reading it for myself. And I believe this is a tale about a woman, Evelyn Hugo, being interviewed about her past relationships that have taken place over the span of her life.

➽The Book of Etta (The Road to Nowhere #2) by Meg Elison
Okay, I’m a terrible person and I cannot believe I didn’t read this in 2017. But let’s be real, my mental health was not in the best place to be reading about a book where after an apocalypse happens, and when 99% of the female population gets wiped out, but only 98% of the male population does, and where women are being sold as the hottest commodities would have probably made it a lot worse. But the first book in this series, The Book of the Unnamed Midwife, was my favorite read of 2016, so I have to get to this most likely masterpiece of a book this year!

➽Now I Rise (The Conqueror’s Saga #2) by Kiersten White
Okay, so I read and three stared And I Darken. I thought it was a good read, but one of the main characters just drove me past the point of frustration. Well, also many of my friends (and my girl gang consisting of Destiny, Em, & Elise) have promised me that that character doesn’t have a big influence over this story, and that this second installment is very much worth reading. So yeah, if I don’t like it, I’m blaming all of them.

➽The Queen and the Cure (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #2) by Amy Harmon
I read and loved The Bird and the Sword in 2017, and I still can’t believe I didn’t get to this last year. This is a high fantasy story that is very heavy of the romance, and it’s honestly a gift to the world. I wish more people would read The Bird and the Sword so I could gush with them about how amazing it was. But then again, I’m the slacker that hasn’t read book two yet.

➽A Daring Arrangement (The Four Hundred #1) by Joanna Shupe
Okay guys, hear me out. I did get this sent to me from a publicist, but she is a friend of him who has recently switch jobs and how works for Avon! So, this feels sort of like a gift, and I always like to read the books that people gift me. Plus, I’m totally trying to get more into historical romance anyways, so this might be a pretty good start for me regardless. Oh, and the MC’s last name is Parker! *wink* And I believe this is totally a marriage of convenience story, and you all know I love those.

➽The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss Surrounds Us #1) by Emily Skrutskie
This one is 99.9% for Elise, but it also sounds amazing too. I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s about lesbian pirates battling sea monsters, and what else do I really need to read about?

➽Hideaway (Devil’s Night #2) by Penelope Douglas
Okay, so this is an erotic new adult series and I read book one, Corrupt, last year and it became my very favorite enemies to lovers book in the world. I do want to stress that this series is filled with very dark themes that I know won’t be for everyone. But basically in Corrupt, we follow a girl who is finally starting her own life, yet there are four guys from her past that are wanting to take revenge on her for something that happened years ago, but she has no idea what. She starts to fall for one of the guys, lots of angst ensues, and this book had some of my favorite sex scenes of all time. So yeah, I can’t wait to start book two in this series, especially if I feel a reading slump coming on!

➽Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake
This book is probably the one I need to get to the most, just because I’ve honestly put it off for two years and now I have an ARC copy of book two. This is supposed to be about three sisters, all with different magical abilities, fighting for the sole spot on the throne. And that sounds amazing, even though I do think this is a pretty polarizing book in general.

And I do believe that is twelve! Hopefully I can knock these out, and even more so hopefully, I hope to love them all. I should be able to do one a month, but I would honestly be so proud of myself if I could read all of these way before December 2018, so I’d feel even less pressure! I hope you guys enjoyed, and I wish you all the happiest of reading today, 2018, and forever! ❄☃💙

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52 thoughts on “The Top 12 Books I Must Read in 2018”

    1. THIS COMMENT MAKES ME SO HAPPY! Thank you so much for it! I think The Song of Achilles might be the second book I read from this list, because it’s just taunting me at this point! Happy reading, love! 💖xx

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  6. Great list Mel! I’ve read The Queen and the Cure, Now I Rise and Hideaway on your list. I loved the first two books but Hideaway left me disappointed.

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    1. So many people have told me that Hideaway was a “set up” book and I just… I don’t want it to be true. But I honestly trust you and I’m like “ahhhh, no… whyyy!” But thank you for your positive feedback on the other two, love! You’re the best. Happy reading! ❤ xx

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  7. Yes can’t wait to see what you think of these, especially Song of Achilles, Now I Rise, and Three Dark Crowns since those are all on my TBR still. I have a really good feeling about them though. Also curious to see how you will feel about Jane Steele since I’m not sure if I want to read it or not but if you love it I will definitely be keeping it on my list! 😁

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    1. Awhhh, thank you, heather! And if you ever want to buddy read any of those, just let me know! Well, I’m actually going to read Three Dark Crowns super soon, BUT THE OTHER TWO! Haha! Happy reading, love! ❤ xx

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    1. Awh, thank you so much, love! I’m 1/2 way into The Secret History now… and it has the most hypnotic writing. It’s unlike any other reading experience I’ve ever had. And I don’t know if I love or hate it, but I feel like I’m in a haze while reading. It’s honestly the strangest thing! Haha! But happy reading, love! ❤ xx

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  9. It’s so awesome to see someone else that has read The Book of the Unnamed Midwife. I loved it when I read it on Kindle Unlimited. I need to get it back so I can read the sequel.

    I like your list. I might have to add some of these for myself.

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    1. You are honestly my ONLY friend that I know that has read it and I feel like my mind is exploding right now! If you ever want to buddy read book two, let me know! I’m so upset at myself for not reading it last year!

      And thank you for your kind words! Happy reading, love! ❤ xx

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      1. 🙂 Excellent! I will def let you know! I legit just picked it up because the cover was so pretty and the title was intriguing!

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    1. This comment makes me even more excited! Seriously, everyone on booktube and twitter loosing their minds over The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo completely made me impulse buy it on Dec 31st (so it didn’t count as me buying in 2018…. I’m a mess) Happy reading, Emma! ❤ xx

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  11. I think you will love Jane Eyre. I considered suggesting it to read together but it would be a reread for me. It is one of my all-time favorites. 🙂

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  13. Aahh there are so many books on here that I need to read in 2018 as well!! I have to read Song of Achilles for my friend, The Abyss Surrounds Us for Elise (like you 😂), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for another friend, and then And I Darken because I’ve heard great things about it. Hope you get around to these this year, Melanie!! 💜💜

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  18. You have some great choices on here! Jane Eyre is one of my favourite classics and Jane Steele is such a fun adaptation. The Song of Achilles is one of my top 5 favourite books and is just beautiful.

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