A long time ago, I created a series called 7 Things, where I share my favorite things from travel destinations to books.

I’m planning to revive this series, although it won’t be a regular feature for the time being. For now, let me share my curation of 7 favorite books I read in 2018, in no particular order.

1. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

As a historical fiction novel, Between Shades of Gray might not be as popular as The Book Thief, All the Light We Cannot See, or The Tattooist of Auschwitz, but it brings to light the stories from the other corner of the world who suffered under Stalin’s regime. The story is centered around a Lithuanian girl who was sent to a labor camp in Siberia. The historical events and story of survival are woven beautifully into this captivating (albeit grim) tale. 4/5 stars.

2. Becoming by Michelle Obama

Of course, I have to include this. The book is divided into 3 parts: Becoming Me (about her childhood and life before meeting Barack Obama), Becoming Us (life with Barack and her family), and Becoming More (life in the white house). Becoming is personal, raw, and touching. Michelle Obama is honest about her struggles as a wife and mother, and particularly, woman of color. I also enjoyed reading about the glimpse of as the FLOTUS, all behind-the-scene moments in the white house and her journey. 5/5 stars.

3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Right from the start, this book hooked me. Eleanor is an odd girl, socially awkward and annoying at times. But as her stories are unraveled, readers get to learn about her dark past and reasons for all her quirks. It’s endearing and heartbreaking at the same time, and the twist at the end is totally unexpected. 4/5 stars.

4. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Homegoing is comprised of different stories that span across generations; from life as a British colony in Ghana to slavery in America. It starts with the story of 2 sisters with contrasting fates, and the story follows the descendants of each sister. Each story is captivating (even if it’s harrowing at times). I love historical fiction, and this is a good one. 4/5 stars.

5. The Girl in the Ice by Robert Brindza

The Girl in the Ice is the best thriller novel I read this year. Detective Erika Foster investigates the murder of a lady whose body was found in ice. Along the way, she finds out there’s a possibility that this murder is connected with the murders of 3 prostitutes whose bodies were found in the water around the city. Many thriller books fall into the same patterns and predicted twists, but this book is nothing like that. With brilliant plot and jaw-dropping twists, it’s definitely a page-turner. 4/5 stars.

6. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is good at creating light thriller books that involve a good mistery, a bit of chic-lit feel, and brilliant twists. This book has all of that. Three women in Sydney live their lives (rather) blissfully, unaware of a red thread that connects them: a murder committed in the past. Their husbands carry a different secret each, and when these secrets are out of the bag, their lives are sent into a tailspin. 4/5 stars.

7. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Another thriller novel, this time revolving teenagers and a murder investigation in their school. Although the ending is a bit disappointing and feels a bit rushed, the storyline and the build-up are quite good. 3/5 stars.

*please note that the books in the picture don’t represent my curation (it’s just the only apt photo I could find for this post). Most of the books on this list were either borrowed from the local libraries, or read on Kindle.

I’m always looking for recommendations for books to read, so if you have any favorites, please send them my way! 🙂

If you’d like to see my other reviews, you can check these out:

• Recently Read – First Quarter of 2017
• 7 Best Books I Read in 2016
• Fiction Favorites of 2015
• Heartbreaking Children’s Books You Cannot Miss