As avid readers, we all have that ever-growing list of books we are excited about and can’t wait to get our hands on. However, as the year goes by, that list often gets longer and longer, and some books end up sitting on our shelves untouched. In 2018, there were so many amazing books released that it can be easy to overlook some and push them to the bottom of the pile. Here is a list of the top ten 2018 books I was excited about and should have read already.

1. “Circe” by Madeline Miller – A retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, the witch from Homer’s Odyssey, this book has received rave reviews for its lush prose and compelling storytelling.

2. “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah – Set in 1970s Alaska, this novel follows a family struggling to survive in the wild and harsh landscape.

3. “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi – A YA fantasy novel inspired by African mythology, this book has been praised for its rich world-building and diverse characters.

4. “The Female Persuasion” by Meg Wolitzer – This novel explores themes of feminism, friendship, and ambition through the story of a young woman mentored by a feminist icon.

5. “There There” by Tommy Orange – This debut novel follows the interconnected lives of Native Americans living in Oakland, California, and has been hailed as a powerful and important work.

6. “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones – This novel tells the story of a young African American couple torn apart by a wrongful conviction, and explores themes of love, loyalty, and race in America.

7. “The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin – This novel follows four siblings who visit a fortune teller as children, and explores how their lives unfold based on the predictions they receive.

8. “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang – A romantic comedy featuring a mixed-race heroine with Asperger’s syndrome, this novel has been praised for its diverse representation and heartfelt storytelling.

9. “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh – This darkly comic novel follows a young woman who decides to hibernate for a year with the help of prescription drugs, seeking to escape the pain of her past.

10. “The Perfect Nanny” by Leila Slimani – A chilling and suspenseful novel about a nanny who becomes obsessed with the family she works for, this book has been praised for its gripping plot and psychological depth.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, these are just a few of the 2018 books that I was excited about and should have read already. As the year comes to a close, there is still time to catch up on some of these amazing titles and discover new stories and voices that may have slipped under the radar. So why not pick up one of these books and dive into a world of imagination and wonder?