June Wrap Up: My Top 5 books of the year so far!

Hello! As we are approaching the end of June, and the second half of the year, I have decided to do a mid-year wrap up of my favourite books so far!

Now this is books I have read this year, not that came out this year, I am not as up to date as many bloggers seem to be and some of them were…old.

1. The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

This one goes without saying! If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you might know this was one of the first books I ever reviewed on my blog. It had everything I love in a book: diverse, complex characters, a fully fleshed-out world including multiple cultures each distinct from one another. It was exciting and emotional and hilarious and I just fell in love with it!

See My Review at:

https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/02/16/reviewing-the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet-by-becky-chambers/

2. State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury

This book was intense, it physically stressed me out and while I like to think of myself as being quite good when it comes to seeing where a plot is going (I’m probably useless, but I like to think I’m good at it) this one threw me a few times and I loved it! It is beautifully written, and you really see Sorrow grow and change as a person over the course of the novel. Highly recommend it!

See my review at:

https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/05/28/reviewing-state-of-sorrow-by-melinda-salisbury/

3. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

I love fairy tales, the darker the better, and this book had them in abundance. I wanted to read Tales from the Hinterland, I could see Twice-Killed Katherine stalking the city streets at night, cage in hand. It was magical, and mysterious, and I absolutely loved it. A brilliant story of darkness, magic, obsession and the fact that you can never really run from who you are.

See my review at:

https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/reviewing-the-hazel-wood-by-melissa-albert/

4. To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

You might spot a theme here, I like fantasy novels with dark elements to them, and what’s darker than sirens literally ripping out human hearts using their irresistible voices as snares to the unwitting sailors? A retelling of The Little Mermaid at heart, this book was stunningly written and I wanted more of it. Each nation had its own unique traits and beliefs, and the characters were wonderfully written.

See my review at:

https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/reviewing-to-kill-a-kingdom-by-alexandra-christo/

5. Blackout by Kit Mallory (Review yet to come!)

So originally this was going to be The Shining, but then I read Blackout. I’m actually swapping my next few reviews about a bit just so I can tell you about this book (because putting it here and then not posting the review for two weeks feels a little harsh to me). Blackout is a dystopian fiction set in England, which contains a tremendously diverse cast, a frank look at mental illness and one of my favourite same-sex couples in any book ever. It’s realistic, thrilling and wonderfully written and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!

And that’s my top five of the year so far!

BONUS ENTRY:

Welcome To Night Vale, A Novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

Okay, so let me explain this – this was a re-read, and technically I didn’t read it for the first time this year, so I thought it wasn’t right to put it in my top 5 of 2018. Welcome To Night Vale is one of my favourite podcasts, I’ve been to see it live three times and this book just makes me so happy as a fan of the novel. It’s strange and scary and funny and I loved it just as much the second time I read it as I did the first! I’d recommend a listen to the podcast first, but the book is wonderful either way!

See my review at: https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/reviewing-welcome-to-night-vale-a-novel-by-joseph-fink-and-jeffrey-cranor/

This year I have also:

• Gotten engaged!
• Got a dog
• Been on my first grown-up couples holiday abroad
• Discovered the joy that is greek coffee
• Started this blog
• Finished the blanket I have been crocheting since I was 18

What are your favourite books this year so far? Any achievements or milestones you’re proud of? Do drop a comment below, I love talking with you all!

Charlotte 🙂