I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. From devouring The Boxcar Children, Magic Tree House, and Harry Potter series to my stint with Amish fiction. Then tackling my dad’s personal development collection and discovering my love of historical fiction and pop psychology. And now, adding travel guides, cookbooks and writing on faith and theology to the mix. I absolutely love to read!
The only time it wasn’t a big part of my life was in college. (Personal reading anyway. I got in a lot of textbook reading and especially loved my marketing and psychology reads.) I found my reading outside of school had significantly slowed down, so when I graduated, I decided to make it a priority again. And in 2018, I began keeping track of what I read by year.
I am always on the lookout for titles to add to my “Books I Want to Read” list, so I thought I would share. Especially now that a great number of us are spending increased time at home due to Covid-19.
For those who do not want to read the entire post, below is the list of my 2018 reads in order of when I finished them. The remainder of the blog post consists of my thoughts on each. Feel free to skip down to the titles that most peak your interest. I conclude with my top picks of the year. Happy reading!!
The Alchemist
All the Light We Cannot See
The Defining Decade*
The 5 Love Languages*
Lilac Girls*
Decision Points*
Magnolia Story
Girl, Wash Your Face
Liturgy of the Ordinary
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society*
The Little Book of Lykke
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*
The One Thing*
One Day in December
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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Reading this book felt perfectly timed! Not only was it my first book of a new year, but I was on the cusp of a new season. At the end of 2017, Scott and I made the decision that working a full-time job was no longer the best way for me to support our family. Beginning February 1, 2018, I would trade in my full-time job to become a full-time wifey, part-time travel agent, chef and housekeeper. While exciting, this was a huge change and came with a lot of unknowns. I now had significantly more say in how I spent my days and wanted to make the absolutely most out of them! Reading about Santiago’s journey was inspiring as I decided how best to steward my time as I embarked on a new chapter in my life.
I enjoyed this one but doubt it would be as meaningful if I had read it at a different time. If you are facing a big life decision, charting down a new, unexpected path, or uninspired by your current one and feel you need to make some changes, I recommend. Otherwise, I don’t think it would be as impactful.
This would also be a great read for high school seniors!
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I picked up this book at the same time as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. As luck would have it, I read Nightingale first. It is absolutely incredible!! And one of my favorite books of all time. Because of this, I knew that almost anything I read right afterwards would likely not be able to shine a light to it. Accordingly, I held off reading any other historical fiction novels that took place during World War II (my favorite genre!) for over a year.
All the Light We Cannot See brought me back. It is no Nightingale 😉, but still a good one. It was a great first read back to my favorite genre! It even inspired me to add on a day trip to St. Malo during our big Normandy road trip in June 2019.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
This was one of, if not the, most engrossing reads of my year! After loving the author’s TED talk, I was thrilled to learn she had written an entire book on the topic. As the subtitle states, she argues “why your twenties matter” and equips the reader with information on “how to make the most of them now.” I read this at 25, a few months prior to my 26th birthday. It helped shape my personal and professional goals for the remainder of my twenties. And I still regularly refer to the notes I took during and after reading it!
Obviously, I would only recommend this book to 20 somethings. 😀 If you are not a 20 something yourself, this would make a great gift for a college graduate! Or for a loved one’s 20th, 21st, or 25th birthday.
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
My mom gifted this book to me at my wedding shower. I am so thankful she did! Even if you are already familiar with the five love languages, it is still worth reading the book for added insight. Like The Defining Decade, I took ample notes while reading and still refer back to them on a regular basis.
This is a great read for newlyweds!
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Oh, my heart. This. Book. SO so good. I could hardly believe this was the author’s debut novel because it is so well written. And I am tearing up again now thinking about the ending. ❤
I like that large parts of it are based on actual events and that the story includes real-life people like Caroline Ferriday and Herta Oberheuser. I especially like how the narration switches between three different characters’ points of view. Despite taking multiple classes on European history and the Holocaust and visiting many notable WWII sites, I did not know about the horrors of Ravensbrück and what happened to the “rabbits” before reading this novel. It is wild how many layers of evil transpired during that time period.
Aside from the Harry Potter series every few years (and Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever when I was young), I am not usually a big re-reader – there are so many books to read – but writing this blurb has me wanting to pick up Lilac Girls again. I cannot recommend it enough!
Decision Points by George W. Bush
I didn’t think I could love “Dubya” any more. And then I read this book! It gave me a deeper understanding of what the U.S. president actually does, along with an even greater respect for George W. as a person.
It was interesting to read about the events of his presidency years removed from them. And I appreciated reading a book written by such an intelligent, well-educated person. G-Dubs sure knows how to wield the written word. And his love for Laura!? Does it get any sweeter than that?
My husband is not a big reader, so it speaks volumes that he read this one cover to cover. I highly recommend! I now want to read 41 to learn more about his dad and read more of W’s writing.
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
A colleague recommended listening to this one on audiobook because it is narrated by Chip and Joanna. I second that! My little VW Polo does not have an AUX input, so I bought it on CD(s). It felt like Chip and Joanna were speaking directly to me as I made my way to base and back over the course of a week. I thoroughly enjoyed their company. 😉
It is an inspiring read, or in this case, listen. It is filled with both feel-good and funny content. And a lot of themes resonated with my current season of life – building a family of my own. The Gaines’ are excellent mentors from afar. I found a few of the stories gave me a little oomph for the areas of my life I want to work on. And I felt so seen when Chip described their first year of marriage. He said he could have titled it, “she cried”. 😂
I have since re-listened to it a couple of times and loved it more with each replay.
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Part memoir, part self-help, Girl, Wash Your Face is both funny and incredibly vulnerable. This was my introduction to Rachel Hollis and I have since gone on to be a regular listener of her podcasts.
In this book, she walks you through a series of lies she used to believe to be true. At the end of each chapter, she includes a list of things that helped her overcome that specific lie. You will laugh. You will cry. And you will find yourself flying through this one. It is well written, easy to read, and while some parts are very serious in nature, I still found it to be a great summer read!
Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren
The sanctuary is not the only place worship occurs. And God’s presence can be found even in the ordinary, often mundane, acts of daily living.
In Liturgy of the Ordinary, an Anglican priest takes the reader through a day in her life – from waking up and brushing her teeth to drinking tea and heading to bed. And everything in between. Along the way, she reveals how “each activity is related to a spiritual practice as well as an aspect of our Sunday worship”.
The back cover asks, “How do we embrace the sacred in the ordinary and the ordinary in the sacred?” I think you’ll enjoy reading the answers to both parts of that question! I sure did.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I will never forget picking out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It was at the Scholastic book fair held in the Oakbrook Elementary School library. Little did I know at the time just how much I would love this novel, let alone the entire series.
At this point, I have lost track of how many times I have read it. A few of the books were already out when I first read Sorcerer’s Stone, so when I finished it, I was able to go right on to the next one. But when there began to be years in between the releases, I would start over from the beginning and re-read the Sorcerer’s Stone and every book after it before the next installment released. I have since read the entire series a few times over. Outside of that, I would also sometimes pick up this one and read it again on its own. Sooo…maybe a dozen or so? 😉
When I read it again in 2018, it was the longest stretch I had gone without reading it. I think the last time I read it was my sophomore or junior year in college. It felt so good to be back in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I feel like I grew up alongside Harry and Hermione and Ron, so re-reading this not only brought me back to their childhood, but to my own. It was a welcomed escape from the ever-increasing responsibilities of adulthood.
While I know the entire story by heart, it still felt good to get back into the details. I was delighted all over again by this beloved novel. ❤
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This novel is an absolute delight! I loved it so much it inspired an entire blog post of its own. You can read that here.
I know this received ample praise when it first released. If you, like me, did not read it at that time, do yourself a favor and read it now! Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. And Guernsey is officially on my travel wish list.
The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking
I picked this up in Singapore’s Changi airport. I was headed back to Germany after an incredible father daughter trip in Southeast Asia. Joy filled from such a special time, subconsciously, I may have chosen this book to help that continue.
I loved The Little Book of Hygge, so I was excited to see that Wiking had another “little book” to read. I took a psychology of happiness class in college and have read multiple books on the topic, so there wasn’t anything groundbreaking in this book, but it does include beneficial suggestions and good reminders of how to enhance your happiness. I like Wiking’s style, the infographics, and the beautiful photos as well.
Out of the two, I prefer Hygge, but I still enjoyed reading this one. If you are feeling down, this may help you pull yourself out of a rut! And if you are currently in a happy season, this can give you some ideas on how to keep your spirits lifted.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
I love the entire Harry Potter series. But if I had to pick my favorites? Goblet of Fire. Sorcerer’s Stone. Deathly Hallows.
And then I pick up Chamber of Secrets and remember how much I love this one, too.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
And then we meet Sirius and Lupin. And Hermione has a…well, I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read it, but those who have…you know. And I wonder, why the need to pick favorites? So good!
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
My mom gifted me this book for my 22nd birthday with an inscription stating that it seemed right up my alley. She was right! I did not read it at 22, but I am glad I waited. Like my reading of The Alchemist, this too felt perfectly timed.
The One Thing shreds the myth of multi-tasking to pieces and encourages the reader to narrow their focus. Though many ideas in this book are not new, I think the author does a great job of packaging them into tactical, digestible chunks that promptly inspire action. The tools and advice can be applied to not only your work, but your life outside of it as well.
I found it both inspiring and practical. And a reference I regularly go back to because our culture continuously fights against the practices of this book. I highly recommend!
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Scott was deployed in Africa for much of the 2018 holiday season. Knowing I was a bit down and in need of a happy distraction, Taylor recommended this book to me! It was Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club pick for December. Reese likened the novel to a romcom in book form and I found that description spot on.
This is a much lighter, “easier” read than what I normally l go for, but I really enjoyed it! And I love that it takes place in the UK. It was the perfect read as I awaited my love’s return.
I recommend bookmarking this title and reading it this coming December curled up under a blanket (and a cat or two) and twinkling Christmas lights.
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2018 was a fantastic reading year for me! I think every book on this list is worth a read. With that said, of course I loved some more than others. If you are trying to decide what to read next, I highlight my favorites below to help you narrow your focus. To note, the Harry Potter series is one of the best of all time, so I will not include those in my top picks. Assume that I will always suggest you read them.
In terms of fiction, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls take the cake! Both are absolutely wonderful!
For non-fiction, my top two are The Defining Decade and Decision Points. These are followed closely by The One Thing and The 5 Love Languages.
I feel The Alchemist and The Defining Decade are suited for a specific season of life, so these will not appeal to everyone. Otherwise, there is not a single book on this list that I suggest you skip.
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Have you read anything good lately!? What title are you most excited about on your “to be read” pile? I would also love to hear if you’ve read anything on this list! Leave a comment or send me a note through the contact page.
*Highly recommend.
Reisen, Abenteuer, und Love. 