My Top 5 Books of 2018

So we're almost at the end of another year, and while I can't quite believe that 2018 is very nearly over, the close of the month means that it's time for one of my favourite round-ups of the year!

Following in the footsteps of last year, I've decided to continue my self-imposed tradition of doing an annual round-up here on The Writing Greyhound, featuring my top five books of the year.

My top five books of 2017 were a bit of a mixture, so let's see what 2018 had in store for me!

I read a total of 26 books in 2018. That's still a way off from my goal of 50 books a year, but it's better than last year's total of 20 - which, considering the fact we moved house earlier this year, is definitely good going!

So, out of those 26, which were my favourites? Let's find out!

Note: These are all books I read in 2018, not necessarily books that were published during the last year. My top five are also in no particular order.

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

I read The Golden Compass, the first book in the His Dark Materials series, back in 2015 for a module at university. However, it wasn't until 2018 that I finally got a chance to read the second and third books in the series and finish the original trilogy. The Amber Spyglass, the third of the series, was my favourite purely because I felt that it perfectly summed up the heightening events of the first two books. An absolute classic series, the His Dark Materials trilogy is a must-read for adults and children alike.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Scythe, and let me tell you, this book features a little bit of everything you could want from a Young Adult novel! I was instantly hooked from the premise and the story itself certainly didn't disappoint, leaving me hungry for more! Thunderhead, the second in the series, is currently sitting on my bookshelf just begging to be read - I'm sure it won't be long before I cave in and pick it up!

Eve of Man by Tom & Giovanna Fletcher

Eve of Man is probably my most hyped and most talked about book of 2018 - made even more special by meeting Tom and Gi at YALC earlier this year. The book ticks all my boxes - YA, top-notch dystopia, action and adventure, and just a dash of romance. My freshly-signed Eve of Man hardback has quickly become one of my most prized literary possessions and the sequel has since gained a number one spot on my to-read list... when it's released, that is!

Generation One by Pittacus Lore

This is the second year in a row that a Pittacus Lore book has made it into my top five, so clearly, this author is doing something right! Generation One is the first in a new spin-off series (Lorien Legacies Reborn) that was created off the back of the success of the original Lorien Legacies series. I love learning more about the wider world that these characters inhabit, as well as some all-star cameos from the cast of the original books!

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

The Fourth Monkey is the odd one out in this year's top five, as it's neither children's/YA nor fantasy/dystopian! The first in an explosive new series, The Fourth Monkey is an exemplary thriller - the kind that keeps you turning page after page just to find out what happens next! I read both this book and The Fifth to Die, the second in the series, while away on holiday earlier this year and I just couldn't put them down.

Honourable Mentions

There are always going to be some great books that I read and enjoyed but just narrowly missed out on making the top five. However, I think that they still deserve some recognition, so here are my 2018 honourable mentions:

• Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
• Joseph Barnaby by Susan Roebuck
• Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Giveaway

As usual, I'm giving one lucky TWG reader the chance to win their choice of book from my top five. Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:
1. Giveaway closes on 11th January 2018 at 11.59pm (GMT)
2. The prize consists of a copy of one of the books from my top five shortlist above, as chosen by the winner
3. The prize will be posted out to the winner by me directly from Amazon
4. This giveaway is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over
5. The winner will be randomly generated once the giveaway has ended
6. The winner will be informed by email once the giveaway has ended
7. The winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize. If the winner has not responded by this time, another winner will be announced

What were your top reads of 2018? Let me know in the comments below!