ICPL Top Staff Picks for 2018: BEST OF THE BEST

It’s here: the Iowa City Public Library’s Top Picks for 2018! 

Staff members nominated more than 130 books released in 2018 as their favorite reads of the year. Those that made this list were nominated by more than one person, which truly makes them the Best of the Best.

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
• White Houses by Amy Bloom
• The Disappeared by CJ Box
• A Duke by Default: Reluctant Royals by Alyssa Cole
• A Princess in Theory: Reluctant Royals by Alyssa Cole
• Vox by Christina Dalcher
• Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal
• Bingo Love by Tee Franklin
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
• Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
• The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
• A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
• I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean
• The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
• Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies by Christian Trimmer
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss
• The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
• Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
• Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Our Best Book Overall for 2018 is Becoming by Michelle Obama. The former United States First Lady’s autobiographical memoir was released in mid-November, with Library Holds exceeding 135 requests on our more than 40 copies.

During her eight years in the White House, Obama established herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world. Her memoir chronicles the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.

Staff who nominated this title call Becoming inspirational and inspiring. “I was excited to read it, but I was surprised by how much I loved it,” one nominator commented. “I couldn’t put it down. I rarely say that about nonfiction!”

Go here to see all of the titles nominated in 2018, as well as our Best Books from 2013-2017!