Best books of 2018 (so far...)

We're just over half way through the year, so it's time to list my top 10 9 books of the year so far. As per usual, I'm not going to list rereads, which actually made picking my books a tad tricky as I've reread a LOT this year (which is also why I only made it to 9). Still, there were at least 3 that are sure contenders for my Best of 2018 list as well :-)

A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles Henni recommended this to me as an "unlikely comfort book", and she was spot on! I had NOT expected to love this as much as I did, but reading about Alexander Rostov's way of coping with his lot and carving out a life for him at the hotel just worked for me. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but loved the rest.
Now That You Mention It - Kristin Hannah Kristin Hannah has written both one of the best and one of the worst books I've read so far this year. I received this as an arc and read it in no time flat. Chick-lit with substance.
A Wish Upon the Stars - T.J. Klune The last book in the "Tales from Verania" series, and every bit as sweet and funny and touching as I had expected. I expect this to be a series I reread often in the years to come.
The Loose Ends List - Carrie Firestone This book made me cry longer and harder than I had ever expected going into it. But it's not depressing. It's heartbreaking and life-affirming. Poignant and beautiful. A close contender to the best book I've read so far this year.
Just One Damned Thing After Another - Jodi Taylor The first book in a new series and I immediately fell in love with the quirkiness of it all. Unfortunately the sequels couldn't quite live up to it, but this first one was totally worth the read.
Discount Armageddon - Seanan McGuire Once I read "Life as the chosen religious figure for a colony of cryptid mice can be a lot of things, but it's definitely never boring." I was sold!
The Tuscan Time Traveler - Claus Holm I'm not usually a huge fan of short stories, but something about this collection just appealed to me.
There's Someone Inside Your House - Stephanie Perkins I started reading this mostly because I was interested in seeing how somebody known for the romance YA could write suspense. The answer? Surprisingly well! Sure, it had a few issues, but at the end of the day, I couldn't put it down, and greatly enjoyed it.
Algeria is Beautiful Like America - Olivia Burton I know very little about Algeria, so was fascinated by this graphic memoir describing Olivia's journey through the country her parents grew up in.