Top Ten Books That I Read In 2018

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It’s all about love of lists, love of literature and bringing bookish people together. 

This week’s Top Ten list is all about our favourite books that we read in 2018. I like doing these sorts of posts because I get to look back at the books I’ve read!

In no particular order, here’s my list… book images go to Goodreads!

This was a beautiful read. I didn’t want it to end because I knew what was going to happen at the end. It was a really incredible read. I love Adam Silvera’s writing.

Another fantastic writer here. Heather Demetrios is amazing. I highly recommend her books. This one was heavy going but so worth the read.

I’d had this book on my radar and was so pleased I made time for it in 2018. I thought it was amazing. So not what I expected.

Another unexpected gem!

I love Matt Haig’s writing, if you hadn’t guessed.

I bloomin’ loved this book! 🙂 It’s hard-going but so beautifully written.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I thought it was really unique.

I adored this book! So much so, that I’m reading it with my book club at school! 🙂

This was a beautifully written book!

I read some cracking debut authors in 2018 and this was another one! 🙂

Tell me about your favourite books of 2018! Feel free to leave me a link to your Top Ten post and I’ll stop by!

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Winter TBR 2018

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It’s all about love of lists, love of literature and bringing bookish people together. 

This week’s list is our Winter TBR. I’ve decided to read more Christmas/Winter-y themed books this year. I’ve picked 5 winter themed books and then 5 I just want to get to. So here are my picks for December!

After really enjoying The Creakers I wanted to read this book by Tom Fletcher!

I am trying to find some perfect Christmas reads to use in class. I can’t this year as I have a Jehovah’s Witness, but it’s always nice to search for some Christmas reads for the future.

I’ve read these 4 already this December! Go me… 🙂 

This does have a winter-y vibe but it has been on my TBR forever. I need to finally get around to it.

The last 5 books are books carried over from my Autumn/Fall TBR that I never got around to. Oops! Hopefully this winter! 🙂

I read Mine recently too! 5 crossed off already…. Will this be the Winter that I complete my TBR?

What have you got on your Winter TBR? Let me know!

The Truth Pixie (Christmas #3.5)

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• To Be A Cat
• Echo Boy
• Reasons To Be Alive
• How To Stop Time
• Notes On A Nervous Planet

Christmas

• A Boy Called Christmas
• The Girl Who Saved Christmas
• Father Christmas and Me

Synopsis:

From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true.

Thoughts:

The Truth Pixie was one of the stand out characters in Matt Haig’s Christmas series, so I was super happy that she got a short story of her own. I wasn’t expecting this little book to be in verse, so that was a lovely surprise! It’s such a sweet, quick read centring around a pretty awesome character.

The Truth Pixie is finding it hard to make connections with people around her because she has to tell the truth. As we know, lots of times the truth can hurt and so- people do not want to be around her. She’s feeling very isolated until she bumps into a sad human child named Aada. The Truth Pixie has to tell Aada the truth. However, this time The Truth Pixie’s truth is given with wonderful advice. The Truth Pixie guides Aada through life’s ups and downs.

It’s a beautiful short story that centres around life very much being an up and down journey. I think it’s wonderful to read to young children and very charming to read if you’re an adult! 🙂

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

An awesome addition to the Christmas series from the superbly talented Matt Haig!

Father Christmas and Me (Christmas #3)

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• To Be A Cat
• Echo Boy
• Reasons To Be Alive
• How To Stop Time
• Notes On A Nervous Planet

Christmas

• A Boy Called Christmas
• The Girl Who Saved Christmas

Synopsis:

It isn’t always easy, growing up as a human in Elfhelm, even if your adoptive parents are the newly married Father Christmas and Mary Christmas.

For one thing, Elf School can be annoying when you have to sing Christmas songs everyday – even in July – and when you fail all your toy-making tests. Also it can get very, very cold.

But when the jealous Easter Bunny and his rabbit army launch an attack to stop Christmas, it’s up to Amelia, her new family and the elves to keep Christmas alive. Before it’s too late…

Thoughts:

I am super pleased that I had the idea of binge-reading Matt Haig’s Christmas series. I have been absolutely loving it. Before reading this series, I knew Matt Haig was a wonderful writer but this has fully cemented that fact for me. Someone that can write so well for children AND adults is pretty impressive in my eyes. Gushing over with, let’s move on with the review.

Father Christmas and Me centres around Amelia, Father Christmas and Mary (yes Mary, Mary Christmas!) Amelia is living in Elfhelm with Father Christmas and Mary. She’s finding it hard to adapt to life in Elfhelm though. School is different, she looks incredibly different and the weather is always cold. She also becomes a target of a local newspaper and a horrible elf named Father Vogol. Father Vogol is determined to get Amelia out of Elfham. Added to that, the Easter Bunny is feeling pretty resentful… he’ll do anything to spoil Christmas and with Father Vogol on his side, he might just do it!

I absolutely loved this final instalment in the trilogy. Amelia is such a strong character. She’s had a hard life but is still incredibly resilient and is determined to fight evil and save Christmas again. There’s so much to be enjoyed in this action packed tale. It’s very clever and captivating.

I’m going to miss the wonderful characters in this trilogy who I have definitely loved all the way through. I think Amelia is a great character for young people to look up to. Father and Mary Christmas are so wonderfully loving. I absolutely adore The Truth Pixie. Father Vogol is so fun to dislike too. I highly recommend this series, if you’re looking for a fun, engaging, festive read then this trilogy could be for you.

Look out for my review of The Truth Pixie on Monday. I couldn’t resist getting it!

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

An incredibly heart-warming trilogy!

The Girl Who Saved Christmas (Christmas #2)

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• To Be A Cat
• Echo Boy
• Reasons To Be Alive
• How To Stop Time
• Notes On A Nervous Planet
• The Boy Called Christmas

Synopsis:

If magic has a beginning, can it also have an end?

When Amelia wants a wish to come true she knows just the man to ask – Father Christmas.

But the magic she wants to believe in is starting to fade, and Father Christmas has more than impossible wishes to worry about. Upset elves, reindeers dropping out of the sky, angry trolls and the chance that Christmas might be cancelled.

But Amelia isn’t just any ordinary girl. And – as Father Christmas is going to find out – if Christmas is going to be saved, he might not be able to do it alone . . .

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this follow up to the wonderful The Boy Called Christmas. Matt Haig truly writes beautiful, magical Christmas stories. I highly recommend picking them up even if you are an adult. We all like a bit of magic at Christmas time, right?

This story picks up during the 19th century and Christmas is approaching. Father Christmas is getting ready to deliver to the world and bring joy, as he loves to do. Trouble happens up in the North and he finds out that the elves are in trouble. He needs a lot of magic to get through it. Meanwhile, the first girl to receive a present, Amelia, is on her own. She has been orphaned. The only friend she has is a cat and even then they end up being parted. Amelia is certainly losing hope and that is the thing that magic runs on. With appearances from Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens, this book really is action packed.

The Girl Who Saved Christmas is so heart-warming. It has some darker themes which I think are important, especially because life isn’t always sweetness and light. It’s so accessible for young children, yet it still utterly appealing for adults too. It barely took me any time to read at all. It’s perfect for curling up with on a cold winter’s day. I think these books are timeless and definitely deserve to be part of a festive collection.

Feel free to come back to visit my blog on Saturday for the review of the third book in the series Father Christmas and Me. 

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

I actually preferred this book to the first in the series which is quite rare for me! A wonderful festive read.

This Week In Books #136

I am joining in with the lovely Lipsy from Lipsy’s Lost and Found’s feature which highlights our week in books. I shall be sharing what I’m reading now, then and next! I won’t be showcasing my new books as I do that on a Saturday. I’m really excited by this feature as I loved sharing my recent reads. My book reviews published on my blog are often WAY behind what I’m actually reading, so this is a good feature to keep you up to date!

Book images go to Goodreads!

NOW-

I am only 30 pages into this book, but so far so good. It’s about a girl that is struggling with her mental health. She is offered the opportunity to go to Camp Reset.

THEN-

I finished this book last night. I absolutely adored it! This series by Matt Haig is so magical. ❤

NEXT-

I didn’t intend to read this book this month as I’ve read a lot of Matt Haig, but I can’t resist it.

What are you reading this week? Let me know!

A Boy Called Christmas (Christmas #1)

How did I get it?:
I bought it!

Previously reviewed by the same author:

• To Be A Cat
• Echo Boy
• Reasons To Be Alive
• How To Stop Time
• Notes On A Nervous Planet

Synopsis:

You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.
It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible.
If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you.
Because this book is FULL of impossible things.

Are you still reading?

Good.

Then let us begin . . .

A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn’t afraid to believe in magic.

Thoughts:

I promised myself that I’d binge read Matt Haig’s Christmas trilogy and that is exactly what I have done. Throughout this week, my reviews will be published on this wonderfully charming middle grade series.

A Boy Called Christmas is all about how Father Christmas became Father Christmas. It explores how a human ends up living with elves and how presents began to be delivered to every child across the world on Christmas Eve. It follows Nikolas as he travels through Finland to find his father who has gone on a quest to find a real Elf for the King. The story starts with Nikolas and his father who live in a small cottage. They don’t have much money and life can be a struggle at times. However, overall Nikolas is happy. When his father goes on the quest to find the Elf (and give them some much needed money) he is left alone with his terrible Aunt. Nikolas ends up leaving home to find his father. He isn’t aware that this trip is going to change his life forever.

Nikolas is such a fantastic character. I loved that his life wasn’t easy. Sometimes children’s books don’t focus or dwell on sad moments which is totally understandable. However, I think Nikolas and his struggles made him utterly relatable. He was a character that you instantly rooted for.

I knew that I’d love Matt Haig’s writing because I’ve read quite a few of his books. I didn’t expect it to be as charming as it was though. I loved how magical the story was. I don’t read a lot of Christmas books, but this one really did steal my heart. It had such a sweet message about being good to everyone and passing that goodness on. Certainly not a bad message for any time of year!

This book didn’t take me long to read at all. It’s so easy to read. The reader experiences many emotions as they discover how Nikolas became Father Christmas.

Look out for my review on Thursday of the second book in the series The Girl Who Saved Christmas. 

Would I recommend it?:
Of course!

A very charming Christmas read! The series gets better as it goes on, so look out for my review later in the week!