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December 3, 2018



2018 was another great year for the novel.

These are the 11 novels I have most recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who has crossed my path this year (my personal metric for "favorite").

What was your favorite novel of 2018? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook.





Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Akwaeke Emezi's novel Freshwater is one of the strongest debuts I have read in years, an innovatively told and engrossing book.





Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi

Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi's novel Call Me Zebra is my favorite book of the year so far, a smart and compelling look at exile, love, and literature.





Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Celeste Ng's powerful novel Little Fires Everywhere is a nuanced portrait of motherhood, community, and identity.





Those Who Knew by Idra Novey

Idra Novey's brilliant novel Those Who Knew is timeless and haunting, and one of my favorite books of the year.





Destroy All Monsters by Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson's Destroy All Monsters is not only one of my favorite books of the year, it is my favorite rock novel ever. Jackson vividly captures the connection to music for both performer and listener in this engaging and smart read.





Gun Love by Jennifer Clement

Jennifer Clement's timely novel Gun Love excels at both poetic storytelling and social commentary.





The Third Hotel by Laura van den Berg

Laura van den Berg's The Third Hotel is a haunting and innovative novel, easily one of my favorite books of the year.





Severance by Ling Ma

Ling Ma's novel Severance is an astute combination of workplace novel and apocalyptic tale. Smart and filled with humanity, this debut is one of the year's best books.





The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling

Lydia Kiesling's novel The Golden State is one of the year's strongest debuts, a profound examination of motherhood and love.





The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon

Propulsive yet spare in its prose, R. O. Kwon's timely The Incendiaries is one of the most rewarding debut novels I have read in years, and one of the best books of the year.





Lost Empress by Sergio De La Pava

Sergio De La Pava brilliantly takes on privilege, class, and race in his maximalist epic Lost Empress.



also at Largehearted Boy:

list of online "best of 2018" book lists

Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2018

Largehearted Boy favorite short story collections of 2018

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2017

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2016

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2015

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2014

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2013

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2012

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2011

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2010

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2009

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2008

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2007

other lists at Largehearted Boy

Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)

Book Notes (authors create playlists for their book)

Note Books (musicians discuss literature)

guest book reviews

musician/author interviews



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