2018 has been my most challenging year for reading… mainly because university demanded that I upped my game with reading course material and with working full time alongside it and in general living a life – time was limited. However I have managed to fulfill my personal challenge of reading 100 books throughout the year. This is primarily down to two factors… NetGalley and the host of publishers that have either auto-approved me for reading ahead of publication or who have granted my my pestering wishes.. and also… William! My Fiance has, without complaint or moan, permitted every book wish I have expressed and ensured that I have never been without new reading material. He also created another amazing book Hamper for me for Christmas which contains some fabulous reading material to get me stuck into 2019…

However first, it’s time to review the books that I have read in 2018. Here are some interesting stats…

In 2018 I read 24,061 pages across 100 books. The shortest book was 32 pages (I had to read the sequel to the Velveteen Rabbit!) and the longest book was 784 pages. The average rating that I gave for books this past year was 4.6. I have now completed a grand total of 356 book reviews! I’m also in the top #50 reviewers on Goodreads (at one point last month I was in the top #10.

Favourite Book This Year

The Man I think I know by Mike Gayle.

I read this back when it was released but it took me forever to review it because I just found it so incredible!

Least Favourite Book This Year

A marriage in Dog Years by Nancy Balbirer

Oh for so many reasons this book was just apalling. 207 1 star reviews on Goodreads… Yet some people have put it up there in lists (books about dogs) with Marley and Me… no no no… I was the harshest I have even been in a book review when writing about this one… Here’s a snippet… “I feel it’s unfortunate she chose to write about a marriage in dog years because it really did have to be strung out – perhaps she could have chosen another unfortunate animals life span to save us all the trouble. Here’s a suggestion – ‘A marriage in drone ant years..’ Three months. BOOM. Done. “

Most Surprising Book This Year

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

She is one of my most favourite authors but this one surprised me the most because we all wondered… can she pull off a murder mystery…? Of course she can!

Tear Jerker of the Year

Hope Family Calendar by Mike Gayle

Mike Gayle made it into the list twice! Althought this was published some time ago, I only discovered it this year and the whole book just had me feeling emotional and attached from beginning to end.

So those are my high (and low) lights of the year and here’s a snapshot of every book that I’ve read this year… yes I’m really going to do it… Here goes!