Mid Year Best Books of 2018

[@attaleewatson7250]

Such a great list! Can't wait to read some of these!!

[@joannemepham29]

Memoirs of a Geisha was not only written by a man but was a debut novel that took Mr. Golden 10 years to write. I think it was well worth his effort, and is one of my favorite books. Awesome video!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Isn't that amazing?! 10 years - but you can see why! Attention to detail was unreal! :) I just wish he'd write another!

[@ThatsWhatSheRead]

Great list! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is great and of course, so is Cabin!

[@BooksAndJams]

Rebecca is so good! It's the only one of these that I've read. I have more for my tbr now!

[@BobbiReads]

I just received The Cabin at the End of the World in my June Horror PageHabit box and I’m so so excited!! It’s completely annotated by Tremblay plus it came with a letter from him as well. Can’t wait to start it!!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Oh I hope you LOVE IT!!! I've gushed about that one so much lol. How exciting that it came with annotated bits from Tremblay himself!!!!

[@BobbiReads]

Getting Hygge With It I love the annotations. That’s why I love PageHabit. It makes the reading experience more fun! I have a feeling I will love it! I will be starting it soon!

[@vivianski]

I love your channel and I have put so many books on my TBR that you have recommended! You really know how to describe books that you have read and it’s great! 😊

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Oh I'm so glad! This is such a kind compliment! :)

[@JasmineReads]

I loooove all of these mid-year check in type videos everyone is doing at the moment! This was fab. I’m SO intrigued by The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I’ll have to keep my eye out for it!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

It's a fun one for the summer!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I haven't read Seven Husbands, but I've read all of Jenkin Reid's other books. You MUST read the read of her stories! I'm not sure which is my forever. Maybe After I Do. They are great on audio if you've been getting into audiobooks lately.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

I have two of her other books! They sound like fun summer reads!

[@outofthebex]

I'm totally marking these in my Audible wish list. Thank you for the rec!!!

[@AmyPool]

Memoirs of a Geisha is so incredible. I really need to give that one a reread. And so many other books I need to get my hands on!

[@littledreamowl5163]

Me to. Loved it first time.

[@juliae.8237]

That Rebecca book cover is sooo beautiful! The woman in the window sounds interesting... Thanks for this video.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Thanks! Yes I had another copy of Rebecca but I saw this one and was like "DROP EVERYTHING! I MUST HAVE THAT BOOK!" :)

[@outofthebex]

I felt the same after Evelyn Hugo! I'd never read Jenkins before but I tell ya what, after that I would buy EVERYTHING she's written

[@Literatiloves]

I want to read all of these, especially Memoirs of a Geisha! I recently ordered Hum If You Don't Know the Words after hearing you talk about it and I'm really looking forward to that one. Rebecca is one of my all time favorites. It's just so good! I love your videos, April and I hope this doesn't sound strange but they are so comforting to watch. You have such an upbeat personality and enthusiasm for books. I'm recovering from oral surgery today so this just what I needed! 😊

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Thank you Lauren! I hope you love Hum. It really is my favourite so far this year. And I LOVED Memoirs. What a great read. I hope you're feeling better soon. Lots of popsicles! :)

[@merelevelyne]

I only read Rebecca out of these books and loved it! You really have made me want to pick up a crime or even a horror novel since I started watching your videos :D I haven't so far, but as soon as I'm able to buy something new I'm sure there will be something like that included. I love it when someone lures me out of my comfort zone ;)

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Let me know what thriller or horror you pick up! :)

[@jennarusso9382]

Thank you for all the great recs April!! Love you and your videos❤️

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Thanks Jenna!!

[@katrinaandallthebooks7993]

I just discovered your channel through Harriet Rosie's tag. This is a great list of books, I love that it's not all this year's releases and a good mix of genres, I've added a few to my wishlists and tbr. My favourite book so far has to be Notes from the Exhibition by Patrick Gale, I've read a lot of good books but very few standouts so far, I need to sort that out in the next 6 months.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

So glad you found my channel! I haven't heard of Notes from the Exhibition before! Eager to learn more about that one!

[@mrchips9852]

So many great recommendations 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Also never worry that you might be repeating yourself about books you have mentioned before... I could watch your videos all day x

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Thanks Joanne!!

[@sasapejcin5915]

April your voice is so soothing and nice that i could listening you talking about anything.Also your recommendations are great.:)

[@patricejones8799]

I agree with you regarding Rebecca. Jamaica Inn was great, too. I have not read My Cousin Rachel, yet. Great video.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

I'm so eager to read more du Maurier! :)

[@debbievanhorn6205]

2 of my favorite books for this year thus far are: Calling Me Home & The Sun Does Shine....fantastic reads...

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Ooooo i haven't heard of those!

[@HannahCassieBooks]

I am obsessed with the woman in the window, so so good!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

It was really fun!

[@CarolMarieReads]

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was amazing! And Rebecca is one of my all time favorites! I hope you enjoy more DuMaurier. I’ve read My Cousin Rachel and a bunch of her short stories and enjoyed them all! I also loved The Woman in the Window! I loved all the old movies/Hitchcock references!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

I'm so excited to read My Cousin Rachel! :) It's on my summer tbr!

[@bookishfoureyes3018]

I really need to read Hum if You Don't Know The Words and I'll Be Gone in the Dark! I also enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha, such a good read.

[@nnvv8475]

So far - Bird box! On your recomendation. Looooved it! :-)

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Yaaaaaaaaaasssssss!!!! Try Cabin at the End of the World if you want something equally as good (imo)! :)

[@nnvv8475]

Getting Hygge With It I will if it comes out in mu country :-)

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I didn't know that the author of "Memoirs of a Geisha" is named Golden. I have relatives with that name so Arthur Golden and I may be cousins.---I've read about Daphne DuMuarier and learned that Manderley is based on two real houses in England.--Not major but the dust jacket of "Come Closer" reminds me of the dust jacket of "Burnt Offerings" (1970's) which involves a house that can renew itself. Bette Davis was in the movie version.---I'm having a field day with "The Grip of It" that you discussed, April. That book is terrific.---So far "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters "Copsi Castle" by Norah Lofts are still tied for my best books of the year.---I'm making more time for reading and am reading books I really want to read so I hope my list of "completions" will be longer this year than in past years. So far, so good!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

You might be related to Arthur Golden?! That's so exciting! :) I'm so glad you're enjoying The Grip of It - it's different, eh? Very much literary horror. :)

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Also! I plan to read The Little Stranger this year too!

[@tinaconn3989]

My favourite book of this year so far has to be Our House by Louise Candish. I am torn about reading I’ll be gone in the dark. I am really interested in True Crime but I don’t have much luck when it comes to books about the subject.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

It sounds really fun!!!

[@BohoBookworm]

I have just received Our House by Louise Candlish from the publishers! So excited for it. I am hostingf a readalong for I'll Be Gone in The Dark at the end of this month! You should join! We're a group of over 20 already x

[@tinaconn3989]

Boho Bookworm what a coincidence. I found and subscribed to your channel yesterday. I would be really interested to know what you think of Our House because I haven’t heard anybody else talk about it.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

The first one that came to mind as soon as you asked what the best book was The Traitor's Wife by Alison Pataki, but I have read a lot of great books so far this year. Its hard to narrow it down to one.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Oooo I haven't heard of that one before!

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

Its about Benedict Arnold's second wife Peggy Shippen and how she might have been responsible for him betraying America.

[@Phillybookfairy]

I'd love to see you read Tin Man by Sarah Winman. It's the top.book.i read this year and one of the shortest. Beautifully written. Heartbreaking.

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Yes! I really want to read it!!

[@BohoBookworm]

I had no idea Memoirs of a Geisha was written by a man! I actually adored the movie but haven't read the book. I really must. Haven't read any Daphne Du Maurier either, I will definitely be picking up Rebecca first! I watched the movie My Cousin Rachel a while ago and loved it. Give me ALL the Paul Tremblay! I REALLY want to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, too!! Very excited to be reading I'll Be Gone In The Dark at the end of the month. Cannot believe I have only read ONE of the books on your list!! SHAME. I just filmed my Mid Year Best Books of 2018 while cooking a chili con carne.. will be uploading it this evening! BEST book would have to be Lie To Me by J.T Ellison I think.. .or Lies she Told by Cate Holaman... I DON'T KNOW. So hard!!!

[@danecobain]

I keep saying this every time people mention it but I REALLY need to read I'll Be Gone in the Dark. Rebecca might make its way into my best books of Q2, we'll see!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

You really really do!!

[@LauraLittlePony]

I feel really obnoxious asking this, but is Foe not going to make the cut?? 🙀 You are so good at describing books in a way that makes me want to read them so badly. . . and at pointing out the things I loved about the books you've read that I've also read!!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Hee hee! I LOVED Foe but I really wanted to keep this to the best of the best (in my eyes). I also hmmmmed and hawwwwd about The Good Daughter. But these are truly my faves!

[@LauraLittlePony]

Getting Hygge With It I feel you; making a very-best list is really hard! I just want to keep my expectations reasonable about Foe... waiting for that release is torture! 😸

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

John Boyne is currently in Toronto on book tour

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Gah! That's exciting!

[@noeytindol5529]

How do you decide what to read?

[@bookishfairygodmother]

I have a lot of people I trust on youtube that I'll get recommendations from. And then I buy a ton of books so that going to my shelves - tons of books are popping out at me! :)

[@eimearreads]

I definitely want to read Rebecca before the end of the year but I'm a little daunted by it😣

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Don’t be scared! It’s lovely!

[@noeytindol5529]

You remind me of Vanessa Bayer from SNL!

[@bookishfairygodmother]

I've heard that one before lol

[@angelaluz405]

I am going to re-read Rebecca later this year for sure. I need to get some moor of du Maurier's books too. I've heard good things about My Cousin Rachel, Frenchman's Creek, and The Scapegoat...as well as The Birds and Other Stories!

[@genevieveseah4542]

I am very torn about Memoirs of a Geisha. I read the book when I was in college, and I remember enjoying it. But when I started doing my Japanese Studies courses, began discussing the book with my peers and profs, and subsequently moved to Japan to live there, I realized how much the author misrepresents, fetishizes, and deliberately mystifies the culture (as well as the Geisha craft). It's interesting that you mentioned the author to be seemingly understanding of women. I found the book to have a prominent male gaze instead, and upon subsequent reads was quite perturbed by it. It was also controversial that the author wrote the book without the permission and blessing of the muse herself. Considering how secretive the craft is, and how Japanese culture largely revolves a insider/outsider mentality, Mrs Iwasaki must have trusted the author a lot and spoke about to him in confidence. This betrayal is truly shocking. I believe there were several articles and interviews where she publicly denounced the book after she read it in Japanese, which begs the question of whether he had deliberately misled her. I am so sorry to give a long rant of this. This is in no way dismissive of your love or recommendation of the book! I just wanted to raise awareness on the problematic nature of the book and the author. 🙏

[@bookishfairygodmother]

Oh wow! Yes I definitely haven't done any Japanese Studies at all. I still love the book though!

[@monicateele6263]

I DNF Rebecca but I found my cousin Rachel for a $1 so I'm going to give that one a try.