Whooo! It’s Sunday which means it’s time for another Summer Blogger Promo Tour post! ☀️ Today, Stephanie and I will be doing a Top Ten Tuesday meme with the prompt Best Books I’ve Read in 2018 (So Far)…except it’s Sunday and we’re technically each listing five. 😅Let’s start the countdown:

5. Once and For All by Sarah Dessen 

My Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’ve read my review for this book or my Mid-Year Freakout tag, you’d know that this book was an unexpected surprise for me. 💖 I never thought that I would enjoy it as much as I did. Sarah Dessen did an amazing job writing a light-hearted romance that serves as a contrast to a serious topic.

I originally called Once and For All the perfect summertime read, but realistically, it’s more of the sweet springtime read. 🌸 Still, it was an amazing book! The family interactions were very genuine and funny, and the main character was very likable. Now, can someone please invite me to a wedding?? I want an excuse to dress up and eat some wedding cake! 🍰

4. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson 

My Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (highest ever rating for a contemporary!)

I literally just finished reading this book two nights ago, and I had to rewrite this post so that this book could be included. The Unexpected Everything is truly the perfect summertime read! I cannot stop squealing about how cute and amazing it was. 😱💕

The writing was fantastic, and the characters were adorkable and oh-so-lovable. The plot touched on family, friendships, and (of course) romance. Andie, our protagonist, was extremely relatable. I identified so much with her careful planning and need to be in control, so when her summer plans get turned upside down, how can she be prepared when everything about her summer is unexpected? Guess you’ll have to read about it to find out! 😉

3. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

My Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love fantasy novels with kickass characters, and this series just swooped in and stole my heart! It’s perhaps my favorite series now?? I am unapologetically Sarah J Maas trash. 😂 #SorryNotSorry

Sarah J Maas has created the most amazing story with wonderfully hilarious and perfectly imperfect characters. The world is extremely fascinating because it incorporates magic, faeries, and a bit of a medieval vibe. ✨🗡️ I didn’t expect to love this series this much because the first two books were good but not great. Truthfully, the first two books were more of a 4/5 star read, but everything else blew me away! I am so emotionally invested in these characters lives, and my heart is not ready for Kingdom of Ash. 😍 If you haven’t yet, check out my reviews for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and The Assassin’s Blade!

2.  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

My Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a book that everyone needs to read! It’s incredibly relevant to our world today, and it honestly opened my eyes. I highly recommend this book to all my friends, and you should definitely finish this book before the movie is out! 🎬

I can’t even form proper words to describe how fantastic this book is. Through the eyes of Starr, our protagonist, we see how the issues of police brutality, racism, and cultural appropriation effect one individual, one community, and evidently, one country. Angie Thomas also perfectly incorporates realistic family dynamics and complicated friendships with those of other races. The writing is phenomenal, and the narrator of the audiobook captured every scene perfectly.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is literally a classic, and I am so ashamed of myself for not reading it until this year! Normally, high school students read it during their freshman year, but I wasn’t able to due to class scheduling issues. I decided to listen to the audiobook, and holy smokes this book is amazing! 🐦

Scout is the cutest narrator ever! We see the story play out from her perspective, and because she is young, she has a refreshingly innocent and kind mentality. This book deals with racial inequality, rape, discrimination, courage, compassion, gender roles, etc. Like THUG, To Kill A Mockingbird teaches the important lesson of standing up for what is right–even when the system is against you. It’s no wonder why this book is an American classic and needs to be taught in classrooms!

What were your favorites this year so far? Any recommendations? Any rants? Let me know in the comments! 💕