I was planning on posting these genre-specific “best of 2018” lists WEEKS ago, but… alas, time has slipped away from me. Better late than never?
Today, let’s talk about my favorite CONTEMPORARY reads of 2018!
Note: These are not only 2018 releases, just books I READ in 2018!
All of these are books I gave 4.5+ stars in 2018. These are in no particular order!
1. Sadie — Courtney Summers (review)
This book is a little hard to categorize because it’s more of a mystery/thriller than contemporary, IMO, but since I don’t read a ton of mystery/thriller books, I won’t have a ‘best of 2018’ list for that genre… so, here we are. ?
This book destroyed my entire soul and left me basically a broken, weeping mess on my floor, but in the best way?? Hard to explain but I love it so freaking much and it means more to me every time I think back on it.
2. The Way You Make Me Feel — Maurene Goo (review)
This was my first Maurene Goo book, and it was just the cutest, most hilarious, awkward little thing. Her sense of humor clicked with me so well and I loved the characters, including Clara’s rude, angsty little self.
I also adored the effortless diversity woven into the cast, the characters are all their own wacky little people who entertained me endlessly, and it made me put Maurene Goo on my auto-hype list for probably forever because her writing is exactly what I need on a carefree summer day.
3. When My Heart Joins the Thousand — A.J. Steiger (review)
SO. FREAKING. UNDERHYPED.
This one is an angsty, awkwardly comedic romance between a girl with autism, trying to prove to the world that she’s not broken, and a chronically ill/disabled boy. This is more of a new adult book than YA in my opinion, and there are loads of weird sexual moments/comments and super secondhand embarrassment-inducing dialogues, but in THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I can’t say enough good things.
4. The Astonishing Color of After — Emily X.R. Pan (review)
This book… sigh. It hurts me just to think about it but it’s so beautiful. Emily is honestly one of the most lovely storytellers I’ve seen in a long time and I am so here for everything she writes in the future.
The thing that I loved most about this wasn’t just the beautiful writing or incredible, thoughtful rep; it was the way suicide is viewed. Despite the impact Leigh’s mother’s actions left on their family, it’s never used to vilify her—instead, we get to slowly explore the nuances of her mental illness and the fight she’d been waging for so long against herself. It’s heartbreaking but wonderful.
5. Summer Bird Blue — Akemi Dawn Bowman (review)
Another book about a dead family member?! Yikes. I know you guys are probably like, “Wow, Destiny, do you even LIKE to be happy?” and that answer is clearly a resounding “uhh, rarely?” because here we are.
Anyways, I adore Akemi as a human being and a writer, and I don’t think I’ll ever shut up about how flawless her books are or how nuanced her character writing is or how well she tackles topics like mental health and grief in her stories.
6. A Very Large Expanse of Sea — Tahereh Mafi (review)
This was my first Tahereh Mafi book and, y’all, I get it now. She’s flawless and so is this more-or-less autobiographical contemporary.
Seriously, Tahereh based this off of her own experiences as a teen Muslim girl in the US, reeling from the aftershock of 9/11 and how it impacted Muslims all over this nation, and it is brutal and downright infuriating to read at times, but you can’t afford to miss it tbh.
7. To Be Honest — Maggie Ann Martin (review)
YO, PUBLISHERS, GIVE ME ALL THE CUTE FAT GIRLS ON COVERS THIS YEAR PLEASE.
Seriously, this is just a cute, fluffy contemporary story about a fat girl living life, owning her bad self, falling in love with the cute new kid at school, and basically being awesome. It was cute as hell and I’m forever here for watching fat girls be queens.
8. Bad Romance — Heather Demetrios (review)
Okay, the last one was a little too cute, so let’s dial up the depressing again: Bad Romance is a book about domestic abuse, so please know that beforehand if you’re adding this one to your TBR. That said, the abuse rep in this… jesus.
Full disclosure, like Grace in this book, I was a victim of domestic abuse for many years from a few different significant others. I’ve read a lot of books about abuse, because they’re cathartic for me—they help remind me of where I came from and why I’m never going back—but I don’t know if any of them made me feel as seen as this one did.
9. Nice Try, Jane Sinner — Lianne Oelke (review)
This was one of my first reads of last year, so I somehow almost forgot to add it to this list?! But it was so great and it does not get the credit it deserves AT ALL.
Nice Try, Jane Sinner is a YA/NA contemporary about a girl who goes to live in what is basically a Big Brother sort of house to be filmed in exchange for student housing. It’s kind of hilarious at times, because Jane is a riot, but it also has AMAZING depression rep.
10. Letters to the Lost — Brigid Kemmerer (review)
Also one of my first 2018 reads, also almost forgot it, also can’t possibly finish this list without mentioning it.
Y’all already know I love a good falling-in-love-through-letters story; in fact, it’s probably one of my all time favorite Weirdly Specific Romance Book Tropes? Ironically, one of my other all time favorite WSRBTs (is that a thing? if not, it is now) is when one of the characters is a big grouchy bear who has a soft little molten heart of gold and chocolate inside, which Declan TOTALLY is, so… love it, love Declan, love this whole book.
That’s it! Those were my 10 favorite contemporary reads of 2018.
What were yours?
Kristina
January 25, 2019Ouuh! Sadie and letters to the losts are definately on my wanting to read. The astonishing color of after is even more appealing to me after what you said of how suicide is viewed in the book – I’ll go ahead and add it to my list too.
Bad romance has such a beautiful cover but alas.. I don’t think I could handle reading about abuse, however it’s nice how it made you feel like that ! At some point, we all wanna find that book who cover almost pinpoint how we are feeling, eh?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019They’re such good books! I hope you enjoy them. ♥ It’s totally understandable that you’re not sure on Bad Romance—it’s one of those books I love but don’t always recommend to people because it’s so heavy!
Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books
January 25, 2019I own Letters to the Lost and The Astonishing Color! I can not wait to get to them. Definitely need to make them a priority. I have had my eye on Bad Romance for awhile. You have inspired me to finally pick it up!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Yay! They’re all so good! I hope you enjoy them all. ♥
trufflereads
January 25, 2019I want to read so many of these! Especially Bad Romance and The astonishing colour of after ? great post!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Thank you, love! I hope you get the chance to. They’re so good!
What's She Reading?
January 25, 2019I wasn’t a HUGE fan of Goo’s first book, but I’ve seen so many positive things about her second, I might have to pick it up.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019I’ve heard a lot of people say they thought her first book wasn’t nearly as good as TWYMMF! I think I’ve decided to probably steer clear of her first one after all the mixed reviews. I do hope you like her newer stuff, though 🙂
What's She Reading?
January 28, 2019That’s good to know!
Danielle Hammelef
January 25, 2019I enjoyed American Panda best in this genre. I just got The Astonishing Color last week.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019American Panda has been sitting neglected on my shelf for far too long and I need to fix it!
kindkonfetti
January 25, 2019Added all to my TBR!
I haven’t thought about compiling my best books of 2018 or stats, because 2018 was more about getting back into reading for me. 2019 is when I may go stat and list crazy though!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Yaaaaay! <3 I can't wait to see your 2019 lists!
Dezzy @ The Thoughtful Voice
January 25, 2019Ahh my contemporary-loving self absolutely adores this post! You mentioned so many great books here, most of which are on my TBR, haha. Sadie was my last read of 2018 and I loved it; it was such an emotional, heartbreaking, and empowering read. ❤️ I’ve started A Very Large Expanse of Sea but still haven’t finished it; I have to prioritize it! And I’m also very excited to read Summer Bird Blue; Akemi Dawn Bowman is wonderful. I adored Starfish ? Great post, Destiny! ☺️
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Yaaaay! ♥♥ Oh man, I’m so glad you loved Sadie, and I hope you love(d) the rest of AVLEOS! Thank you, Dezzy, you’re so sweet! ♥ It sounds like our contemporary tastes are super similar so feel free to throw any recommendations my way!!
Ellyn
January 25, 2019I’m so sorry about how Bad Romance made you feel but I think that’s why the book is so important because it hits so hard!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Thank you, my love! YES, exactly! It wouldn’t have been half as good if it hadn’t hit me so hard!!
Classy x Book Reviews
January 25, 2019I’m reading letters to the lost right now!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Awesome! How are you liking it? 🙂
Classy x Book Reviews
January 28, 2019It was amazing.
Marie
January 26, 2019Oh this is a great list! I really want to read Jane Sinner, I’m so happy to see this one on your list 🙂 I also have A Very Large Expanse on Sea on my TBR and I can’t wait to read this one, too. Oh, and The Astonishing Color, this book just broke me. I loved it SO much. <3
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Thank you! Jane was so much fun and yet so deep at the same time. <3 I hope you enjoy it and Expanse!
Kelly
January 26, 2019I have to admit that I don’t read a lot of contemporary. It’s either hit or miss for me. And, usually, it’s a miss. Give me dragons and demons and all things magical any day. But reading your top ten has pretty much got me sold on most of these. A few have been on my TBR for a while, like Sadie, A Large Expanse of Sea, and The Astonishing Color of After. But, wow, do (most of) the rest sound intriguing, empowering, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Onto the TBR they go…
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Haha that is so understandable though, love! Sometimes I’m not in the mood for contemp AT ALL (and then other times, like right now, I want aaaaall the contemporary books!). If you do check any of these out, I really hope they’re hits for you. 😀
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall
January 27, 2019I may …. or may not …. have read any of these. Oooooops. I keep meaning to read more contemporaries, but always feel a pull towards SFF! Haha! I have literally all of these ones on my tbr tho! I especially want to read Astonishing Color and Letters to the Lost! ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Bahahaha I know what you mean! I look back on the 2018 fantasy releases I wanted to get around to, and it seems like I read most of them, and then I look at the contemps, and I missed so many because I just don’t reach for it as much. ? I hope you love these when you get to them, though!!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
January 28, 2019I read.. one of these. ONE.
On the upside, I do own copies of Sadie, A Very Large Expanse of Sea and To Be Honest. Summer Bird Blue is probably one I’ll be buying when I’ve read three of my pre-2019 books. [I can already buy two though so maaaybe..]
The Astonishing Color of After was on my Goodreads-TBR already aaand The Way You Make Me Feel as well. The latter speaks to me waaay more though. Hmm.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019They’re all SO GOOD. I hope you liiiike theeeem~ 😀
Rachel @ Typed Truths
January 28, 2019i looooved letters to the lost too! it so underhyped and just the grouch teddy bear feels with declan were everything.
but wow, this is reminder of all the amazing contemporaries i need to read asap ? especially a very large expanse of sea
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 28, 2019Oh my gosh, Declan is seriously such a grumpy bear in the best way ? I love him. Did you also read More Than We Can Tell? His moments in that were my faves!
justonemorepaige
January 29, 2019Oh, Astonishing Color was one of my favorites from last year. I’m glad you loved it too!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 29, 2019It was so good! Heavy, but good.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 29, 2019I don’t read much contemporary so the only one on your list that I read was Sadie and I LOVED IT!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 29, 2019Sadie was so good! My audiobook hold is almost up for grabs and I’m super excited to reread it whenever it comes in.
theorangutanlibrarian
January 29, 2019Awesome list! I definitely want to read sadie and the astonishing colour of after 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 29, 2019Thank you! Awesome, I hope you get the chance to soon!!
bookschiefmanaged
January 29, 2019Oh my gosh this was one of the posts I never knew I needed in my life. Thank you for your little reviews and comments on each, I just added more than half of them to my TBR. I love certain contemporary books but need some more in my life.
So, thank you!! This post is fantastic.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 29, 2019Awwww, yay, this makes me so happy! Thank you so much!! ♥
bookschiefmanaged
January 29, 2019Pshh you’re more than welcome! Thank *you* for posting stuff like this, it’s always so helpful!
Michelle
January 31, 2019I am ashamed to say that I have not read one book on your favourites list, but I have most of them on my TBR!
I’ve read Starfish this year and I really enjoyed it so I’m definitely planning on picking up Summer Bird Blue. Another book that is high on my TBR is Sadie, everyone seems to love this book and I really love mystery/thriller books so I’m definitely in for a treat ? I really, really want to read To Be Honest for the fat rep and I’m so happy you enjoyed it.
Other books that I have on my TBR that you’ve absolutely loved is The Way You Make Me Feel (I haven’t read anything by her yet, but I’m excited), The Astonishing Color of After & A Very Large Expanse of Sea.
Really a great list with some great reads, Destiny ❤️
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 31, 2019Thank you so much! Wow, I love this whole comment because you just have SO MANY amazing reads ahead of you and I really hope you adore all of them! ♥