My #TopReads of 2018 by the book review café #MustReads

I know some people think it’s too early to be sharing a top reads post before the end of 2018, but I’m taking some time off from my blog until the new year so it’s now or never.

I have been blogging for just over three years now and yet I’ve never done a top reads post and now I know why😂  I have read some fabulous books this year and trying to narrow it down is nigh on impossible. If you read my book of the months post you will know I can’t even manage to choose ONE book of the month! So I set myself an impossible challenge or so I thought, but then I had a brainwave “why not share all the books I gave a gold star too” simple eh?

So my top read list consists of all the books I gave this award to, It’s given to a book I feel is particularly outstanding, a book that covers every aspect of what I look for in a read, an original  plot, great characters and a storyline that drew me in from the first page and kept me in its grips until I reached the very last page. So here are those books in no particular order.

Links to my reviews can be found under each set of books I’ve included

 

 

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/02/02/unsub-by-meg-gardiner-bookreview-duttonbooks-meggardiner1-mustreads/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/01/06/blog-tour-hydra-by-matt-wesolowski-orendabooks-concretekraken/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/02/27/thehunger-by-alma-katsu-mustreads-almakatsu-poppystimpson-transworldbooks/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/04/09/blog-tour-keeper-by-johana-gustawsson-bookreview-

 

 

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/04/23/the-key-to-deaths-door-by-mark-tilbury-bloodhoundbook-mtilburyauthor-mustreads/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/05/11/dying-truth-by-angela-marsons-bookreview-writeangie-bookouture-mustreads/

http://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/05/25/dont-make-a-sound-by-david-jackson-bookreview-mustreads-author_dave-bonnierzaffre/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/05/30/thepuppetshow-by-m-w-craven-mwcravenuk-littlebrownuk-mustreads/

 

 

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/05/15/cross-her-heart-by-sarah-pinborough-sarahpinborough-harpercollinsuk-mustreads-donttrustherbooks/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/06/07/blog-tour-th1rt3en-by-steve-cavanagh-sscav-orion_crime-lauren_bookspr-tr4cyf3nt0n-thatbookthathook/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/06/19/thislittlepiggy-by-rob-ashman-blogblitz-robashmanauthor-bloodhoundbook-mustreads/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/06/22/the-old-you-by-louise-voss-bookreview-mustreads-louisevoss1-     

 

 

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/07/06/the-lion-tamer-who-lost-by-louise-beech-summermustreads-louisewriter-orendabooks/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/07/16/in-the-dark-by-cara-hunter-mustreads-carahunterbooks-penguinrandom-penguinukbooks/?preview=true&iframe=true

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/08/21/blog-tour-beforehereyes-by-jack-jordan-jackjordanbooks-corvusbooks-must-reads2018/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/09/10/blog-tour-the-hangmans-hold-by-michael-wood-michaelhwood-killerreads-harpercollinsuk-

 

 

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/08/23/truthandlies-by-caroline-mitchell-caroline_writes-mustreads-newcrimeseries/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/10/04/blog-tour-the-murder-of-harriet-monckton-by-elizabeth-haynes-elizjhaynes-myriadeditions-harrietmonckton-

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2018/11/27/the-liars-wife-by-samantha-hayes-samhayes-bookouture-blogblitz-

And finally just when I thought I had completed my top reads  post I read Skin Deep by Liz Nugent which blew me away, and now it’s firmly one of my top reads of 2018. 

#SkinDeep by Liz Nugent #BookReview #MustReads @lizzienugent #IrishBookAwards @PenguinBooks

And there you go my 19 top reads of 2018, are any of my choices included in your top reads of 2018? Do you want to share your top reads of 2018?  I would to love to know so please feel free to leave a comment in the post.

I’m ashamed to admit I only read 104 books in 2018 not as many as I hoped (Holds head in shame) but hey ho hopefully next year will be better, here are the books I read……..

Some of the books I’m looking forward to reading in 2019….

To all the fabulous publishers and authors who have sent me ARC’s, it’s an honour to get so many awesome books, but it’s not something I’ve come to expect or take for granted so a huge thank you to each and everyone of you x x 

Finally I would like to wish my followers, those who constantly share my posts, book bloggers,  publishers, authors and readers a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year,  And thank you for all your support 😘

 

**My Book Of The Month** July 2017

I can’t believe we’re in August already, where has the year gone, let alone the last month? Which can mean only one thing it’s time to choose my book of the month for July. Now this Month choice is some what different to previous months,  more on that further down this post!

The Book Of The Month is chosen by myself at the beginning of every month, for the previous month. It goes to the author/book that I found outstanding for that month, and I may have given a higher rating than a 5 star review if I actually star rated books on my blog.

You all know by now I’m indecisive and very often choose more than one book. Yes I’ve chosen two books again this month! but unusually it’s for two books by the same author and it’s a crime series. 

I absolutely loved these books and they had all the elements I look for when reading a book, well developed characters, a strong plot and bucketfuls of suspense. So without further ado the books I have choosen are………

Those That Remain by Rob Ashman

I think I have just found myself a new crime thriller author and series that will be going straight on my “must read authors list”. What a gripping book Those That Remain turned out to be. I do love American based crime thrillers they always seem so much darker and twisted. To say I loved this novel is an understatement it’s probably one of the best debut crime thrillers I’ve read this year in fact. You can read my full review here…….Those That Remain Review

In Your Name by Rob Ashman

I thought this series couldn’t get any better but I’m pleased to report I was wrong, if anything this book is darker, and definitely more gruesome, the pace is relentless so you don’t have time to catch your breath before the next big shock comes along. I should point out all though Rob Ashman is a British author this novel reads very much like it’s been written by an American, the settings are authentic and the scenes frighteningly disturbing just the way I like my crime thrillers. You can read my full review here In Your Name Review

Luckily we don’t have to wait long as the third book in the Mechanic series Pay The Penance is out the beginning of August and I can’t wait!

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter you can read my review and author interview with Karin Slaughter  here…..The Good Daughter Review

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent you can read my review here…..

I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen you can read my review here……. I know A Secret Review

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent you can read my review here……Unravelling Oliver

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent #BookReview @lizzienugent

Book description

“I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.”

So begins Liz Nugent’s astonishing debut novel—a chilling, elegantly crafted, and psychologically astute exploration of the nature of evil.

Oliver Ryan, handsome, charismatic, and successful, has long been married to his devoted wife, Alice. Together they write and illustrate award-winning children’s books; their life together one of enviable privilege and ease—until, one evening after a delightful dinner, Oliver delivers a blow to Alice that renders her unconscious, and subsequently beats her into a coma.

In the aftermath of such an unthinkable event, as Alice hovers between life and death, the couple’s friends, neighbours, and acquaintances try to understand what could have driven Oliver to commit such a horrific act. As his story unfolds, layers are peeled away to reveal a life of shame, envy, deception, and masterful manipulation.

Imagine if people you met through life, neighbours, family, and friends narrated the story of your life would it make for an interesting read? Or would it make a disturbing one? That’s precisely what happens in Unravelling Oliver. You know from the first chilling sentence “I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her” where Oliver is talking about Alice his devoted wife that he isn’t a pleasant man, but I never expected such a shocking and gripping unveiling of a sociopath, as seen from different people’s viewpoints. The author expertly “unravels” the psyche of a very damaged Oliver in a gripping read that I read in one sitting.

One night Oliver beats Alice and she ends up in a coma. What happened to make Oliver a handsome, charismatic, and successful author do something so terrible? Various characters narrate Oliver’s story friends, family and acquaintances even Oliver himself. Slowly layer by layer each characters story “unravels” Oliver and the events that have shaped him into the person he has become.

This is a relatively short book at 240 pages, but even if it had been much longer I would still have had to read it in one sitting. Unravelling Oliver isn’t a fast paced novel by any means as it’s character led, but don’t let that put you off as it’s the extraordinary characters that make this novel such an exceptional read. Every character has their story to tale about Oliver some more chilling than others, Liz Nugent has managed to breathe life into each and everyone of her characters, and it was extraordinary reading how one person could shape some many people’s life’s in the worse possible ways.

I couldn’t help but have some empathy for Oliver as you learn more about him you realise how damaged he is, there are so many strands to Oliver, his childhood, his marriage and his relationships which made for a throughly compelling read. I found Unravelling Oliver to be a real page turner, an intelligent psychological thriller with heart. I’m ashamed to say this is the first book I’ve read by Liz Nugent and I’m kicking myself as it’s obvious the author is one very talented author.

Buying links: Amazon UK 🇬🇧 Amazon US 🇺🇸

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Penguin (9 April 2015)

 

**Weekly Wrap Up**

 

Well I’m thrilled to report that I’ve actually read three books this week, so I’m feeling pretty chuffed with myself.

ARC’s I received this week

Book description

The life she wanted wasn’t hers . . . The compelling new psychological thriller that will break your heart into tiny pieces, from world-renowned author MICHAEL ROBOTHAM

Everyone has an idea of what their perfect life is. For Agatha, it’s Meghan Shaughnessy’s.

These two women from vastly different backgrounds have one thing in common – a dangerous secret that could destroy everything they hold dear.

Both will risk everything to hide the truth, but their worlds are about to collide in a shocking act that cannot be undone.

Book description

A brilliant and immersive, all-consuming read about one fourteen-year-old girl’s heart-stopping fight for her own soul.

‘You think you’re invincible. You think you won’t ever miss. We need to put the fear on you. You need to surrender yourself to death before you ever begin, and accept your life as a state of grace, and then and only then will you be good enough.’

At 14, Turtle Alveston knows the use of every gun on her wall;
That chaos is coming and only the strong will survive it;
That her daddy loves her more than anything else in this world.
And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her with him.

She doesn’t know why she feels so different from the other girls at school;
Why the line between love and pain can be so hard to see;
Why making a friend may be the bravest and most terrifying thing she has ever done
And what her daddy will do when he finds out …

Sometimes strength is not the same as courage.
Sometimes leaving is not the only way to escape.
Sometimes surviving isn’t enough.

Book Post

The Other Twin by L V Hay

I know A Secret by Tess Gerritsen

Books I bought this week

Book description

Law student Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, working on a retrial for death-row convicted murderer and child molester, Ricky Langley, finds herself thrust into the tangled story of his childhood. As she examines the minute details of Ricky’s case, she is forced to face her own history, to unearth long-buried family secrets, and to reckon with how her own past colours her view of his crime.

When Alexandria begins a summer job at a law firm in Louisiana, and sees Ricky’s face flash on the screen as she reviews old tapes, and hears him speak of his crimes, she is overcome with the feeling of wanting him to die.

Shocked by her reaction, she digs deeper and deeper into the case, realizing that despite their vastly different circumstances, something in his story is unsettlingly, uncannily familiar.

Book description

“I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.”

So begins Liz Nugent’s astonishing debut novel—a chilling, elegantly crafted, and psychologically astute exploration of the nature of evil.

Oliver Ryan, handsome, charismatic, and successful, has long been married to his devoted wife, Alice. Together they write and illustrate award-winning children’s books; their life together one of enviable privilege and ease—until, one evening after a delightful dinner, Oliver delivers a blow to Alice that renders her unconscious, and subsequently beats her into a coma.

In the aftermath of such an unthinkable event, as Alice hovers between life and death, the couple’s friends, neighbors, and acquaintances try to understand what could have driven Oliver to commit such a horrific act. As his story unfolds, layers are peeled away to reveal a life of shame, envy, deception, and masterful manipulation. (less)

I know I said I wasn’t buying any more books for a while but as I mentioned last week Ebooks don’t count in”Lorraine’s world” 😂😂 and I’ve read some fabulous reviews for The Fact Of The Body so I couldn’t resist. As for Unravelling Oliver I’ve been wanting to read this one for ages and I accidentally on purpose “clicked” on the book version so epic fail there!

 What I’m reading next

 

 Last week on the book review café

**My Book Of The Month** June 2017 | The Book Review Café
https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/07/01/my-book-of-the-month-june-2017/‪

The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne #BookReview @KarenDionne | The Book Review Café https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/06/27/the-marsh-kings-daughter-by-karen-dionne-bookreview-karendionne/

**Blog Tour** Exquisite by Sarah Stovell @Orendabooks @Sarahlovescrime #BookReview | The Book Review Café   https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/06/26/blog-tour-exquisite-by-sarah-stovell-orendabooks-sarahlovescrime-bookreview/

#Giveaway The Friend by Dorothy Koomson | The Book Review Café https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/06/28/giveaway-the-friend-by-dorothy-koomson/

#Giveaway The Friend by Dorothy Koomson | The Book Review Café
https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/06/28/giveaway-the-friend-by-dorothy-koomson/

Next week on the book review café

**Blog tour**  Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear

The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Lesley Welsh #BookReview

Manipulative Lies by H. A. Leuschel #BookReview

**Blog Tour** The Other Twin by L V Hay #Guestpost

**Weekly Wrap Up**

I managed to read four books this week, which I’m  pretty pleased with. As from Monday I will be starting my new job which means back to good old shift work 😢 so it’s unlikely I will be reading  more than two books a week. So I might not be posting as many blog posts in the weeks to come as obviously books read equal reviews to post, but time will tell.

Books read

Blink by K L Slater

The One by John Marrs 

Backstabber by Kimberley Chambers 

The Break Down by B A Paris 

Book Post 

I love the cover of this book it’s a real beauty, but from what I’ve read it’s anything BUT a beautiful read! I’m looking forward to reading this one soon.

Books  I’ve bought this week

I bought five books this week all are by authors I haven’t read before, remember in my yearly wrap up I said I wanted to read more books by new authors well I thought I would start with these.

The Reaper by Steven Dunne

The Disciple by Steven Dunne

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent 

What Remains Of Me by A. L Gaylin 

ARC’s

I’ve kept away from NetGalley as much as possible,but yet again Bookouture are my downfall 🙈 so I have Two ARC’s, in my defence one of them is for a blog tour so that doesn’t really count, or so I’m trying to convince myself 😂😂

 

Book description

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger?

Lottie is about to come face to face with a twisted soul who has a very warped idea of justice.

 

 

Book description

She got into bed but sleep didn’t come easily. Every creak in the house made her alert. She was waiting for him to come and get her.

The small city of Stockleigh is in shock as three women are brutally attacked within days of each other. Are they random acts of violence or is there a link between the victims? For Detective Eden Berrisford, it’s her most chilling case yet.

The investigation leads Eden to cross paths with Carla, a woman trying to rebuild her life after her marriage to a cruel and abusive man ended in unimaginable tragedy. Her husband Ryan was imprisoned for his crimes but, now he’s out and coming for her.

As Eden starts to close in on the attacker, she also puts herself in grave danger. Can she stop him before he strikes again? And can Carla, terrified for her life, save herself – before the past wreaks a terrible revenge?

Last week on the book review café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/13/the-mountain-in-my-shoe-by-louise-beech-orendabooks-louisewriter-bookreview/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/12/topfivethursday-with-bookblogger-kaisha-holloway-aka-thewritinggarnet/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/11/the-girl-before-by-jp-delaney-bookreview/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/09/%ef%bb%bfsnatched-from-home-by-graham-smith-caffeinenights-grahamsmith1972-bookreview/

Next Week on the book review café

**Blog Tour** Ledston Luck by Andrew Barrett – Author interview

**Guest Post** by J.M. Richardson author Of The Barataria Key

**Blog Tour** Guest post by CJ Carver Author Of Tell Me A Lie @C_J_Carver

#TopFiveThursday

and hopefully a couple of reviews