To commence the end of 2018, we thought we would share with you a book review of sorts- a list of all the books we read in 2018. As you all know, we are a big fan of books for both ourselves and our kids. Why not take a little break from reality every once in a while? And we would love to find out what books you read this year too!We are going to list these in order from our favorite to our least favorite (doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad).The BabyThis year, I really got into audio books. They are a great destresser. Plus, I love listening to them on our car trips. They make the trip go by faster.The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth SteinHeart warming. I read this book three times this year. The second and third time me and my husband listened to it on car trips. Highly recommend as an audio book. I still think about that book when I talk to my pup. I think my dog, Buddy, also thinks he will be a human in his next life, just like Enzo.
The Nightingale by Kristin HannahEngrossing. This had a slow start and a lot of setting, but once you get into the meat of the book, you can’t put it down. I never actually liked the main characters, but I loved the story. This book sparked my interest in the world wars and the country invasions at that time. The ending was great and unexpected.When Breath Becomes Air by Paul KalanithiSuch a moving and real book. This book put life in perspective and was a total tear jerker.A Man Called Ove by Fredrick BackmanThis was a recommendation from Sister #1. I just loved Ove. The story walked through his life and painted a detailed picture of who he is. His surly attitude made me giggle a lot.
See Me by Nicholas SparksI love a good Nicholas Sparks' romance. Overall, it was somewhat predictable, but the story kept my attention. The main character, Colin, was kinda meh for me. All of his traits together didn’t make sense to me as a real person.
Twilight by Stephanie MeyerThe movie was better. Getting deeper into Bella’s head was not necessary for me. I would never want to die to be a vampire.
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told By Christian by E. L. James
I read the 50 Shades of Grey series a few years back and thought I would pick this up and enjoy it. I really disliked the book. It was silly from Anastasia’s perspective, but Grey’s was impractical.Middle SisterThis year we moved again so I had a lot of time alone in the car and packing. That’s where Harry Potter came through for me. Reading at night helps me reduce my stress level, so nothing too riveting for me. Plus, if I read something suspenseful, it would keep me up all hours of the night… and the kids don’t know how to sleep in yet… This is just one reason why I reread books all the time.Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John TownsendI always read a marriage or parenting book every year, and this year this was the one. Love this book!The Harry Potter Series by J. K. RowlingA perennial favorite - no further explanation.The Series Inception: A Dark Paranormal Romance by Bianca Scardoni I couldn't put it down. If you like the Twilight series, this is definitely a must read.The Twilight Series by Stephanie MeyersAn easy read on my 2 week vacation. Baby sister dislikes Belle, and I would have to say she isn't my favorite character. But, I love unconventional love stories.Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd TrippOne of my top parenting books and like I said... I reread them all the time.Safe Haven by Nicholas SparksOne of my favorite love stories. The Notebook by Nicholas SparksLong lost love, who doesn't love that? Read both of these back to back after needing something light to read before unpackingSister #1This year I have probably read more fiction than usual… and I didn’t hate it! You will also notice quite a few books dealing with WW2… I was just feeling it at the end of this year. Oh, in case you are wondering, I typically decide what to read because of recommendations from others. I rarely reread books, but I am also definitely not a person who reads new releases without hearing from real people that it is worth all the hype. So that may explain why I read books that I probably should have read 10 years ago…And FYI, it was incredibly difficult for me to rank these. Seriously, each one of these holds a special place in my heart.The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James BrownYup, it was great. Needs to be a movie. Plus, now I want to visit Washington.The Nightingale by Kristin HannahTook me forever to get in to this one, but the second half was so amazing.Last Child in the Woods by Richard LouvIn the same spirit of Nurture Shock, this book made me analyze how nature affects both me and my kids. A little bit of a more technical read.Healing Children by Kurt Newman, M.D.As a pediatric nurse, this was right up my alley. Plus, it wasn’t too technical- bonus points!The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth SteinLove this. Needs to be a movie. And now I want a dog and still want to visit Washington…All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoersLoved the varying points of view, especially from a German during WW2. I always thought there wasn’t enough telling their stories. That was my favorite part.Between Shades of Gray by Ruta SepetysSalt to the Sea by Ruta SepetysLet me just say, that I love this author. She has a unique writing style with short chapters. And she sheds light on WW2 topics that I never knew about. And they are relatively easy and quick reads.The Silent Sister by Diane ChamberlainI have always love this author. Her stories are so riveting, and this one did not disappoint. Read it in about 2 days.The Last Castle by Denise KiernanA great true story about the Biltmore. Can’t wait to visit it one day.Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael LedwidgeIf you love suspense, this is for you. Could not put it down.Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. LoewenThis is the only one I would probably not recommend. It was really good, but I felt that it was pretty biased. It constantly had me asking, “but what about the other side of the story?” Trust me, I understand that man has a sin nature, and our history is not always something to be proud of. But it is also not something to be completely ashamed of either.And that’s all! Maybe we inspired you to read something new or re-read an old favorite! Let us know what you read this year and what you are planning to read next year.Happy New Year and Happy Reads!Until Next Time,The Sisters

26 Books in 2018

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