A perfectly selected book as a gift for the holidays can make you the most thoughtful of gift-givers.
Whether you're looking for something new to pick up for yourself or stumped by what to get that very special bookworm in your life, check out our list of best reads of 2018. It's curated by our "GMA" Book Editor, including what we just can't wait to get our hands on in the New Year.
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"Children of Blood and Bone," by Tomi Adeyemi
Author Tomi Adeyemi describes her fantasy novel as “Black Panther but with magic.” It follows a girl named Zélie as she fights to bring magic back to her people. Set in a West African-inspired society, the fantasy world is based off her own Nigerian heritage. Adeyemi's father adorably confessed to "GMA" that he has read his daughter’s novel sixteen times. And we cannot wait to read Tomi's second book in the trilogy, "Children of Virtue and Vengeance," out in spring 2019!
"You Are A Badass Everyday," by Jen Sincero
Having a hard time sticking to your New Year’s resolution? Stressing about your finances? "You Are a Badass Every Day" is the pocket-size guide we all need to stay on track in 2019. Bestselling author Jen Sincero hilariously calls her new book "loving motivational spankings" which is designed for the reader to either follow along in order, or open up to a random page when you need a quick hit of sweet motivation.
"One Day in December," a novel by Josie Silver
The perfect rom-com to read over the holidays! In the novel, Laurie falls in love at first sight, and spends the next year searching for the guy, only to “reunite” at a Christmas party to find out he is dating her best friend Sarah. The rest of the book follows Laurie, Jack, and Sarah over a decade in a moving story of love, friendship, heartbreak, and destinies reconsidered. This book stole our hearts as well as Reese Witherspoon’s, who recently selected the novel as a Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick!
"Nine Perfect Strangers," by Liane Moriarty
"My Year of Rest & Relaxation," by Ottessa Moshfegh
Have you ever wanted to sleep for a year? In this dark, humorous, and unusual novel, a young Upper East Side woman does just that, with the assistance of a highly irresponsible psychiatrist in an attempt to "rejuvenate her spirit, cleanse her soul and dodge the ghosts of her past."
"The Great Believers," by Rebecca Makkai
Soon to be a major television event, optioned by Amy Poehler, "The Great Believers" is a dazzling new novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980's Chicago and contemporary Paris. Two intertwining stories take us through the heartbreak of the eighties and the chaos of the modern world.
"The Kiss Quotient," by Helen Hoang
"Sadie," by Courtney Summers
This riveting Young Adult novel is about a murder of a teenage girl and the disappearance of her older sister, Sadie. It alternates between transcripts of a “Serial” style podcast and chapters narrated by Sadie herself. We promise you won’t be able to put this one down!
"Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup," by John Carreyrou
The unbelievable saga of Theranos, a Silicon Valley startup. Instead of revolutionizing health care, it risked the health of millions of potential customers. Masterfully reported, you think you know the story, but it is far, far worse.
"Katerina," by James Frey
Would you respond to a Facebook message from an unrecognized user? Would you if you knew it would draw you back to the life, and possibly the love, you abandoned years prior? Controversial "Million Little Pieces" author James Frey is back with a sexy and electric novel flipping between 1992 Paris and Los Angeles in 2018.
"How to be a Good Creature," by Sy Montgomery
A beautiful gift for all animal lovers! Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery traveled the globe encountering some of the planet’s rarest and most beautiful creatures, and uncovered what they can teach us about acceptance, forgiveness, and gratitude.
"Educated," a memoir by Tara Westover
If you loved “The Glass Castle,” this is for you. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho who prepared for the end of the world, this is Tara Westover's unforgettable memoir about leaving her isolated family and her journey to earn a Ph.D from Cambridge University.
"An Anonymous Girl," by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
From the wickedly clever duo who brought us "The Wife Between Us," comes "An Anonymous Girl." This highly anticipated thriller is about a young woman who is paid a generous sum to participate in an anonymous study on ethics and morality. But as the questions become more intense and invasive, and sessions turn into outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act... She begins to worry Dr. Shields knows what she is thinking, and what she is hiding. We cannot wait for this one to be published in early January 2019!
