These are my top 18 favorite books of all time. It was a sort of experiment where I wanted to see where these were placed in my heart despite genre.

1.The Simple Wild (really, the whole Wild series) by K.A. Tucker is my absolute favorite. I gush about this book to anyone who will listen. It’s so much fun, has the BEST banter and it also has emotional depth. It has neither a duchess or a dragon but it’s still magic.

2. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

I’ll never get over this ending.

3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the most fun I’ve had reading a book. It is lighter on the emotional impact and heavier on the mystery. It is like Harry Potter in that it’s littered with forshadowing if you look hard enough and reveals at every turn I never saw coming. Also, the dragons are sassy and hilarious.

4. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas is the best and only finale I’ve ever loved in a series. This was everything season 8 of Game of Thrones should’ve been.

5. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Manon’s character development is everything. Along with Lysandra and Aelin’s budding friendship and Manon and Dorian’s budding attraction. Not to mention Arobynn dies in THE most satisfying way AND we get Aelin and Rowan finally getting the show on the road. All the different storylines came together perfectly in this.

6. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre’s story of healing and resilience is remarkable. She and Rhysand’s relationship slow burn is the best out there.

7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

It’s really hard to pick a favorite out of this series but this is the book I’ve read the most times. I love Voldemort’s backstory and the Horcrux reveal. I also love Ron and Lavender’s disaster of a relationship and Harry and Ginny’s banter!

8. The Bridge Kingdom & The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen

The chemistry between this couple is unmatched. I love the slow reveal that what Lara has been told her whole life may not actually be true. Her character development is one of my favorites, and she is a badass. I enjoy the rest of the series as well but books 1 and 2 (and the their novella, book 2.5) are my absolute favorite.House of Earth and Blood

9. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

This is amazing! Tisaanah to me is like what Game of Thrones had envisioned for Daenerys at first, before they went and messed it all up! She is strong, fierce, compassionate, with a pure heart that is not hungry for power for her own ego. This story is amazing equally because of its emotional impact, characters and action.

10. House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City 1) by Sarah J. Maas

This is the longest book I’ve ever read and at the same time the fastest I’ve ever finished a book. It’s an amazing story of grief and resilience.

11. It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

Hyacinth is my favorite Bridgerton sibling and this book has the best plot of the whole series. Hyacinth has strong opinions and isn’t afraid to share them. There’s mystery, an Italian diary, some jewels and plenty of Lady Danbury.

12. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Top notch banter and flips the Hallmark trope on its head.

13. The Day of the Duchess

There’s sometimes an issue with regency romances that stay too true to the time period- which typically include blurred lines at best and lack of consent at worst and general misogyny. This book is set in the 1800s but the modern female characters takes on gender inequality. This is such a fresh, modern and feminist regency and maybe my favorite regency romance to date?! After hardship, Sera basically hosts The Bachelor of the 1800s for her husband to find a replacement for her only for them to rekindle their marriage and start anew!

14. Make it Sweet by Kristen Callihan

I love the opposites attract and setting of this! And that the MMC makes sweet treats which makes this a palette cleanser in more ways than one.

15. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Persuasion can step aside because THIS is the most charming letter writing regency storyline. AND there’s a puppy?!

17. Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Most well written regency romance I’ve ever read!

18. When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

This has more depth than the rest of the series! I don’t say that disparagingly, I love this series- this book just had a little more power to it.