December not only means Christmas season (I just took down my Christmas tree and I have all the feel still), but also one of my other favorite times of the year: Wrap-Up Season!

I read a total of 113 books in 2018—the most I’ve read in one year! That being said, it was really difficult to choose my absolute favorites (and consequently couldn’t be cool and choose 18 for 2018).

Before I jump into my absolute favorite books that I read in 2018, listed below are my other yearly wrap-up posts:

• CONTEMPORARY AT HEART: 2018 Favorite Contemporary Books
• IT’S A WRAP: End of Year Book Survey 2018
• My Favorite 2018 Bookstagrams
• COMEDY & MORE: Favorite 2018 TV & Movies

Series Finales:

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

KoA was a beyond satisfying ending to the Throne of Glass series. SJM skillfully balanced the finale’s necessary & sadder moments with happier moments that still left me crying for some of my all-time favorite characters.

Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab

Like many of the books on this list, Vengeful was just so freaking good . This sequel really expanded the world of Vicious. I loved the new characters as well as being reunited with the Vicious cast (Victor and Mitch will always have a sweet spot in my reader heart). While I think Vengeful was a nice wrap-up to the Villains series, I could so see and support a spin-off.

Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu

Warcross was one of my favorite books of 2017, and its sequel went into a different direction than I expected. Marie Lu’s twists felt right and definitely left me shocked, leaving me really impressed with the ending.

Books I Can’t Believe I Didn’t Read Until 2018:

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Picking up Crazy Rich Asians this year was definitely influenced by its 2018 film adaptation, but I think I would’ve picked it up either way. I loved the humor and original story.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

I’ve said it before, but thank you to my fellow readers & bloggers for influencing me to pick up Strange the Dreamer. Strange the Dreamer is easily the most beautiful and lyrical fantasy book that I’ve ever read. Lazlo Strange is definitely a new member of my fictional boyfriends list.

Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman

I don’t understand how Laura Silverman’s Girl Out of Water flew under my radar because it was such the perfect contemporary book for me. It partially takes place in a beach town and has such rich character development. Plus a very cute skater boy of a love interest.

Scythe and Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

While I couldn’t really read Thunderhead until its 2018 release, I’m so glad I gave into the hype and read Scythe. BECAUSE THE HYPE FOR SCYTHE IS DEFINETLY WORTH IT FRIENDS. Scythe cured my dystopian/The Hunger Games book hangover I didn’t know I even had until reading the first hundred pages of Scythe. As a sequel, Thunderhead completely delivered and yes, I am still screaming at its ending.

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas

Definitely in my top three favorite Throne of Glass books, Chaol Westfall, as always, stole my heart in this ToG installment. This book should really be called Tower of Feels.

Burn for Burn by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han

Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian are two of my favorite YA authors, and their Burn for Burn trilogy was the fun and fluffy binge read I needed this summer. I would love to see these two co-write again.

Contemporary Love

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

I went into Stay Sweet expecting to love it and I’m so glad it delivered. This book following one girl’s last summer working at a run-and-owned by women ice cream stand was so empowering and makes for the perfect summer contemporary.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited’s MC, Molly, has become one of my most relatable characters, and not just for our mutual crush on the book’s love interest, Reid. The Upside of Unrequited is filled with tons of diversity and heart-warming feels.

Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky

Mammoth was another 2018 release that I went in expecting to love and thankfully met my expectations and more. Mammoth features a plus-size fashion blogger’s summer working at a fossil dig site. If you couldn’t tell by the mini description, this book is so original.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

It’s no surprise that Morgan Matson’s latest release made my favorites list. With its family and wedding-centric story, Save the Date was my most anticipated Morgan Matson book. While there is some cute romance, I loved how the focus was on the above-mentioned elements.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Summer contemporaries are just EVERYTHING, and Starry Eyes completed delivered in that category, following two ex-best friends camping adventure. Along with Alex, Approximately, Starry Eyes made Jenn Bennett one of my new favorite contemporary authors

Love à la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Love à la Mode captured so much of what I love to see in YA contemporary: romance, friendship, family, baking and travel— in Paris!!

Amazing 2018 Releases

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Like many of the books on this list, Sadie deserves all the hype, being the most unique and fantastic thriller that I ever read.

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

As much as I love reading books that I go in expecting to love, I also love unexpectedly loving books, like Tracy Banghart’s Grace and Fury. Grace and Fury was the feminist fantasy I didn’t know I needed and reminded me so much of The Handmaid’s Tale.

The Girl in the Tower (Winternight #2) by Katherine Arden

Another book I didn’t realize how much I would love, The Girl in the Tower made the Winternight trilogy one of my all-time favorite fantasy series. Katherine Arden has such a beautiful writing style, and I love The Girl in the Tower’s character development and Vasya’s growth.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

My favorite graphic novel of 2018, I want The Prince and the Dressmaker’s aesthetic for EVERYTHING.

The War Outside by Monica Hesse

While I really enjoyed Girl in the Blue Coat, The War Outside made Monica Hesse one of my favorite historical fiction authors. The War Outside is such an untold story in YA, following two girls’ experiences living in a US internment camp during World War II.

Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen

I had heard mostly great things about Reign the Earth from a few bloggers (especially Avatar fans), but I did not expect to be captured by this book as much as I was. The world-building and elemental magic system were absolutely fantastic. While there were hard scenes to read (warning for abuse and violence), it was so empowering to see Shalia and other female characters rise up against brutality and gender roles.

Best Favorite: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

As 2018 comes to a close, thank you much for supporting Fangirl Fury. I hope that you have a happy, healthy & safe New Year.

What were some of your 2018 reads? Any of the above? Share in the comments!