Here is a list, in no particular order, of my five favorite reads (all novels) of 2018 (up to now, anyway–the year isn’t quite over yet):

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. I could have read this book in 24 hours except I had to take time to eat and sleep. Unputdownable suspense thriller.

The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. I laughed out loud often, and I smiled at the bittersweet finale of this saga of a family living near the US/Mexico borderline.

Kindred by Octavia Butler. A powerful depiction of slavery and its continuing aftereffect on modern American society (even though the present day in the book is 1976, it could just as easily be today).

The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera. A very good coming-of-age YA novel that focuses on the importance of appreciating the person you are and where you come from.

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez. Yes, it’s a children’s book, but I think most readers would enjoy this story about learning to be comfortable in your own skin.