Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there is a new topic for bloggers to choose and list their top ten. This week’s theme is Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2018.
Every year when it comes to this Top Ten Tuesday topic I always find myself doubting I’ll be able to come up with ten new-to-me authors to feature; because of many series I love, favourite authors I keep going back, and old books I just have to re-read I don’t dedicate enough time to discovering new authors out there. Maybe it’ll end up being one of my resolutions for this year, to make a conscious effort to discover more new authors.
I actually got a copy of Laura Steven’s debut novel at YALC back in 2017, but didn’t get around to reading it until the beginning of 2018. The Exact Opposite of Okay is a book (and Laura Steven is an author) who deserves a lot more recognition, and her next release it high on my TBR list for sure.
Everyone has been raving about The Bear and the Nightingale. It remained on my TBR list for a long time before I picked it up but now I’m one of the people raving about the Winternight trilogy. it’s incredible, and now Katherine Arden is one of my auto-read authors.
The Diabolic was a release which yo-yo-ed on and off my TBR list, but I finally picked it up in 2018 and I am glad I did. S.J. Kincaid has written an addictive story which is so fast-paced, brutal and action-packed that after that cliffhanger ending to The Empress I can’t wait for the last in the trilogy.
Another debut author I discovered in 2018. Emergency Contact only ended up on my radar thanks to Marie’s glowing review, but I’m always on the look-out for incredible YA contemporaries to pick up and this one ticked all my boxes. I had high hopes and Mary H.K. Choi actually exceeded them.
Neal Shusterman is one of those authors I have heard so many amazing things about; everyone seems to have loved his Unwind series (which is still on my TBR list), and after reading Scythe I can see why everyone is raving about his writing. It’s incredible, and I need The Toll in my hands now.
Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka are a writing pair so I’m counting them as one author for the purpose of this list. Always Never Yours is another book I discovered thanks to Marie. Megan ended up being one of my favourite main characters, and I have high hopes for the second book from these authors.
Darius the Great is Not Okay is a book which deserves so much more hype than what it currently has. Darius the Great is my favourite YA contemporary read of 2018 (if I can only pick one); it has incredible diverse representation, an amazing platonic friendship and overall it’s just a beautiful and moving story.
I brought Spellslinger a few years ago and then left it on my TBR list for ages. When I finally got around to the first book I enjoyed it so much I binge read all the books in the series I could get my hands on. De Castell is definitely going to be an author I read more from in the future.
There seems to be a massive following for Sakavic’s All for the Game trilogy on Tumblr, which is where I first came across this series, but it was only hearing Malanie and May talk about it so much that I was finally convinced to pick up the first book. It was addictive, and I pretty much sped through all three books.
Towards the end of the year there seemed to be so much hype for Sadie. This ended up being the first ever audiobook I tried listening to (some reviews mentioned it was better listening to it as an audiobook) but I am definitely going to add more of Summers’ books to my TBR list.
So what do you think? Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, if so let me know some of your favourite new authors who you discovered last year. Would you struggle to come up with ten (like I always think I will) or is the challenge for you narrowing it down to just ten?
Reading Every Night 
Great list! I’m glad to hear the exact opposite of okay was so good. And I’m so so glad you’re on the Arden train now!! I definitely need to read diabolic and emergency contact as well 🙂 And shusterman is brilliant! And I really want to check out darius the great, always never yours and sadie 😀
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Thanks so much. 🙂 I’d highly recommend The Exact Opposite of Okay, it deserves so much more hype than it currently has, and yes I LOVE Katherine Arden’s books. Neal Shusterman’s other series is high on my TBR list, and Darius the Great is another book which doesn’t have the attention it deserves so it’s another I’ll highly recommend. 🙂
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I loved Emergency Contact as well, so Mary HK Choi is definitely on my list of favourite new-to-me authors as well! I’ve heard so many good things about Scythe and I am looking forward to reading this series soon 🙂 Great list Beth ❤ ❤
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That was an incredible book right? I’m going to keep an eye out for whatever she releases next. I’d definitely recommend Scythe, it’s an amazing series and the books end on such an intense cliffhanger as well.
Thanks so much. 🙂 ❤
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Oh wow haha. I love cliffhangers however it can be a tough wait when the next book isn’t out yet! However I am definitely looking forward to reading Scythe!
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I’m maybe one of the rare people who don’t love cliffhangers. I guess I’m just too impatient to wait for the next book when it’s still so far away. 😀
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I definitely agree about cliffhangers when the next book isn’t out yet!
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Yes, I’m so happy I had a part in the final push to getting you to read The Foxhole Court! It truly is such an addictive series (I’m on the verge of tears thinking about it right now haha!). And aahh I got Sadie as a holiday gift and I really need to read it soon since I’ve heard the best things about it!!
Marie definitely has a lot of great recs for contemporaries — Emergency Contact is definitely a book I want to pick up because of her! And I am SO happy you loved Darius, since it’s truly such a beautiful and underhyped book and I wish more people could read it!!
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It ended up being one of my favourite trilogies of 2018 so I’m really glad I picked it up (and that you had a hand in recommending it to me as well!) Oh I hope you love Sadie May, it wasn’t my usual genre of choice but once I started I was addicted. The story really packs an emotional punch.
When it comes to contemporary I wholly trust Marie’s opinion, and yes I would love it if more people discovered and loved Darius the Great. That book deserves all the hype in the world! 🙂
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This list is SO PERFECT ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ I discovered so many of these authors this year too????? I have The Diabolic on my shelf and I’m so surprised I haven’t read it yet, the name itself gives me chills
Also I didn’t realize the same authors who wrote Always Never Yours also wrote If I’m Being Honest, now I want to read IIBH even more (the cover is so gorgeous)
+ HOORAY FOR ADORING DARIUS THE GREAT! I hope Adib Khorram writes more books v soon, I was so in love with Darius?? I have never been more astonished at the lack of hype, how can more ppl not love that ADORABLE story about pure friendship
++ I love that Sebastien de Castell is holding a sword
+++Nora Sakavic needs to write more, it’s a TRAGEDY that she hasn’t. we've waited long enough
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Thanks so much. Oh it took me a while to get around to picking up The Diabolic but if the name itself gives you chills the story will completely blow you away! 😀
Yeah, If I’m Being Honest has the makings of a favourite YA contemporary for me, it’s going to be incredible.
I think he does have another book in the works, and yeah I’m not sure why more people haven’t read and loved Darius the Great! 😀 Hopefully more people will pick it up soon.
Ha, yeah that’s a pretty epic fantasy writer pictures right?
Same here, I need more from her even if it’s not more Neil and Andrew.
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Lovely list, Beth ❤️
You have so many amazing books on this list and so many of them are on my TBR (it feels like my TBR is never ending). Like we’ve talked about before: Scythe was amazing and I also really enjoyed Always Never Yours – I loved Megan! I felt like she was such a strong minded character and I really liked that about her. I hope If I’m Being Honest is going to be just as great as the their first book.
I started The Bear and The Nightingale but I don’t think I was in the right mindset when I did because I only got a few chapters in before putting it down. I still really want to read it though so it’s not been removed from my TBR. I’m in love with the cover for Emergency Contact and the story sounds really good.
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Thanks so much Michelle. ❤
I know that feeling, my TBR just keeps getting longer and longer every day. 🙂 I'm so excited for The Toll, it's going to be amazing right? I'm sure If I'm Being Honest will be just as good, I mean the blurb sounds good doesn't it?
Oh that's a shame, but I guess that's a book you do need to be in a certain mind frame for. I found it a little slow when I first started but once you get into it it is worth it. The book itself is even better than the cover if you can believe it. If you love the cover I'm sure you'll love the book as well. 🙂
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No problem ❤️
To be honest, I’ve heard that there is going to be a third book in the series, but I didn’t know that it’s going to be named The Toll. I can’t wait – I really think it is an amazing series!
Yes – I’m sure If I’m Being Honest is going to be really good and you’re right the blurb sounds really good and I’ve heard it’s roughly based on the movie Ten Things I Hate About You – I absolutely loved that movie!
I love the cover so it is definitely still on my TBR ❤️
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I think it’s called The Toll. That’s what it says on Goodreads at any rate but given there’s no cover or blurb it could be likely to change.
I haven’t seen the movie myself, but it’s a favourite of one of my friends and I tend to get swept away by hype even when it’s just for things other people love more than I do you know?
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Ahhhhh, this warms my heart to see two of my recommendations on your list, Beth, this makes me so, SO very happy ❤ I really loved these authors and I can't wait to read more from them ❤ I'm happy to see Adib Khorram on this list, too, I am definitely reading Darius The Great this year and I can't wait, I have a feeling I could love it 🙂
Wonderful list! ❤ ❤
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Oh you’ve recommended so many incredible books, it was inevitable a few would make it on my list! 😀
I’m sure you’ll love Darius the Great Marie, it was one of my favourite contemporaries of last year so I hope it will be one of your favourites for this year.
Thanks again. 🙂 ❤
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I hope so, I can’t wait to read it! 😀 ❤
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YESSS NORA SAKAVIC. I’m so happy All for the Game has been getting more recognition lately! I just finished Sadie a couple days ago (it was my first Summers book as well), and I loved it. It was so innovative, clever, and perfectly darkly emotional in all the right ways. I don’t think I could ever write anything like it. As for me, my favorite 2018 new-to-me authors would have to be Christina Lauren, Donna Tartt, and Amor Towles.
Eleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
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It seemed to have an underground following for a long time (based on what I saw) but I feel like more and more people are being convinced to pick the books up which is great to see. Oh Sadie was just brilliant, that ending ripped me to pieces. I don’t think I could ever write anything like that either but I wish I could. 🙂
Ohh, I think I read one of Christina Lauren’s books last year, it didn’t make this list but it was a close call.
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Really cool list of authors, Beth! I like that Katherine Arden is on here. Definitely an author I need to check out at some point. Same for Neal Shusterman! 😮
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Thanks so much Lashaan. Yeah I was late compared to everyone else when it came to discovering Katherine Arden’s books but she ended up being in of my favourite authors of last year. Neal Shusterman is a must as well. I feel like you’d really enjoy his books. 🙂
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You listed many authors I wanted to get to last year but I will definitely read some of their books this year. Great post!
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Well as they made my list this week they’re definitely authors I’d recommend. I hope you get to all of them this year, and I hope you enjoy their books as well. Thanks. 🙂
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Courtney Summers and Mary H.K. Choi were new to me as well in 2018. I was a big fan of Emergency Contact. I loved that story so much. (Didn’t care for Sadie that much.)
tiffanysbookblog.com
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They seemed to have a fair bit of hype, everyone seemed to be talking about those two books, but oh that’s a shame about Sadie. Was it just not your genre or was there something more specific you didn’t enjoy?
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So excited to read Winter of the Witch. It’s good when books live up to the hype. 🙂 My TTT
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I’ve read The Winter of the Witch, I actually finished it yesterday, and it’s incredible. That’s one series that definitely lives up to the hype, and exceeds it even. 🙂
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Yes, The Bear and the Nightingale was awesome.
This is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
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I loved it. Have you read the rest of the trilogy yet? I finished The Winter of the Witch yesterday and it was an incredible ending to what’s now a favourite series of mine. 🙂
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No, not yet! I’m hoping to this year, though.
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Well I hope you end up loving it as much as I did! 🙂
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