2018 Book Reviews and Recommendations

 

Scroll to the bottom to read what I think are the BEST BOOKS of 2018!

40 books I’ve read in 2018:

1. Money-making mom – (4/5) This book had some different ideas about how a mom can earn some extra money while raising kids. Written by Crystal Paine who created MoneySavingMom.com.

2. Girl Wash your face by Rachel Hollis – (4/5) Read my review by clicking here.

3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (5/5) – Fascinating book, and I highly recommend it. Read my full review by clicking here.

4. Mother & Son: The Respect Effect by Emerson Eggerichs. (5/5)  Read my review by clicking here.

5. Conversations with a Billionaire by Ted Egly (5/5) Awesome book! Get a glimpse into this book by clicking here.

6. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (3/5) Read my review here.

7. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (3/5) – Read my review here.

8. Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud (5/5) – Loved this book and HIGHLY recommend it if you are going through any transitions. Read my full review here.

9. Breathing In, Breathing out by Ralph Fletcher (4/5) – Read my review here.

10. Love Does by Bob Goff (5/5)  – I read this a couple years ago, and downloaded the audiobook to hear the author read it! This is one of my favorite books ever.

11. Everybody Always by Bob Goff 5/5 (Review here)

12. Wise Woman Abides from The Help Club for Moms – 5/5  – Fall Bible Study book. Click here to read an excerpt.  My favorite Bible study for women.

13. Wise Woman Stays from The Help Club for Moms 5/5

14. Wise Woman Loves from The Help Club for Moms – 5/5

15. Fervent by Priscilla Shirer – (5/5)  read my review here.

16. Indescribable by Louie Giglio – (5/5) We aren’t finished yet, but the kids and I love this Devotional Book for Kids. Read my review here.

17. My Bible – (5/5) I did not read the ENTIRE Bible this year, it’s just something I read from most days.

18. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson – (5/5) Great Book!! Read my review here.

19. Adamant: Finding Truth in a Universe of Opinions by Lisa Bevere – (4/5) Good book full of truth.

20. Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels (2nd reading) (5/5) A great book to read if you work with volunteers. Read my review here.

21. Family Ministry Essentials– (4/5) Great book for anyone serving in children, family, or student ministry. Review here.

22. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine – (3/5) There were some sweet parts to the story, but overall sad.

23. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris – (4/5) Funny stories from David’s life. It has some inappropriate parts (TMI).

24. Volunteer Engagement 2.0 – (2/5) Skimmed this book and because it’s more of a textbook and not one I’d read for “enjoyment.”

25. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems – (5/5) Awesome book about an incredible missionary! Great gift for a high school student.

26. Hallelujah Anyway by Anne Lamott – (4/5) Anne is an entertaining writer – good book!

27.  Encountering our Wild God by Kim Meeder – (5/5) This book is full of fascinating stories of what God has done in and through people. Loved it!

28. Fully Alive by Ken Davis (4/5) – Funny and interesting. Feels like it’s written for an older age group, but overall enjoyable.

29. The Path between Us by Suzanne Stabile – (3/5) Enneagram book. How to have a relationship with people of different personalities. I listened to the audiobook and think it was too much info to ‘listen to.’ I’d probably give it a higher rating if I’d read the book.

30. 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman (5/5) I’ve read this a long time ago but this is one you could keep coming back to. The book discusses different ways our children receive love and how to provide that love.

31. What’s God Really Like? by SJ Hill (5/5) Outstanding book on our amazing God and his incredible love for YOU! This book reminded me of all the ways God SHOWS his love for me! Wow, so so good.  READ THIS BOOK!

32. Of Mess & Moxie – 4/5 Entertaining and FUN to read with lots of truth nuggets.

33. Love Does for Kids -(5/5) I LOVED the grown-up version of this book, so I was really excited to get this and read it to my kids. It’s a great book, but I may have enjoyed it more than the kids. I’m still trying to figure out how to get four boys to sit and listen. The book is FULL of great stories, and each connects with a lesson from the Bible.

34.  Strong mothers, strong sons by Dr. Meg Meeker (5/5) A book that every single mother of sons should read. Absolutely fantastic. So many scenarios with recommendations of what is normal and how to respond, what to do, etc. Really good for me in a house full of boys! I’ll be reading this again in two years when I have a teenager. This would make a great gift for the mother of pre-teens or teens.

35. The Middle Place (3/5) – This book came recommended so I had high expectations. I usually enjoy memoirs, but this book did not deliver. I felt like it was more of a letter to her own family and too personal. The book’s title: “The Middle Place” refers to being in that place of raising children and still being someone’s child. I skipped through a few parts and kept hoping it would get better. It didn’t.

36. Speak Life by Brady Boyd- (5/5) An amazing book about the power in our words. My review here.

37. The Remarkable Ordinary  – (3/5) I downloaded this audiobook because of the interesting title. There were some enjoyable parts to the book, but overall, I wasn’t crazy about it.

38. Unsupermommy by Maggie Combs (5/5) – A book every single mom should read. She speaks truth. LOVED IT and plan to give a few as gifts!

39. Cultivate by Lara Casey (3/5) – About “cultivating” the life you want. Decent book but the book was a little flat for me. However, I was “listening” to this book and may have been distracted. It has great reviews on Amazon.

40. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp – 5/5 This is one of my TOP FIVE books of the year! Ann is probably one of the most gifted writers I’ve ever read. This is a book on the power of gratitude. This would be a PHENOMENAL gift for any person you know.

Of the 40 books listed above, here are my Top 8 Favorite Books of 2018:

1. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp – An incredibly well-written book that reminds the readers of how gratitude can positively change your life.
2. UnSuperMommy by Maggie Combs – This would make a great gift for any new moms or moms with young children.
3. What’s God Really Like? by SJ Hill – LOVED this book. It would make a good gift for anyone wanting to be reminded of how GOOD our God really is!
4. Conversations with a Billionaire by Ted W Egly – I LOVED this book and think it would be a great gift for anyone needing a little inspiration.
5. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver – So interesting. A great gift for any gardener or foodie!
6. Love Does by Bob Goff
7. Speak Life by Brady Boyd
8. Strong mothers, strong sons by Dr. Meg Meeker

(Books above are affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase one, I may make a small commission without any additional cost to you.)

What were your favorite books this year? Leave me a comment!