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Books I Loved in 2024 (and You Might Too!)
60
items A handpicked mix of stories that made me laugh, cry, think, and feel—shared in the hopes you’ll fall in love with them too.
Sections
13
Fabulous Fiction Finds
Mysterious Minds & Twisty Tales
Fantastic Fantasy
No Nonsense Nonfiction
Memorable Memoirs
Historical Fiction I Devoured
Fabulous Fiction Finds
Fantastic complex characters, family dynamics and muligenerational stories that absorbed my attention in 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I loved this book - it was my favorite read last year.
Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A deeply emotional exploration of family dynamics and resilience, with beautifully drawn characters.
Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I love a good multigenerational story and this one did not disappoint! It's a sweeping, heartfelt narrative that explored love, loss, and family through generations.
The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)
My best picks from my year of reading 2024
A Year in Books
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I was drawn into a richly detailed world, blending art, science, and personal growth in a way that feels both intimate and universal.
Wish You Were Here: A Novel - Jodi Picoult
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto is an absolute gem of a novel. From the first page, she pulls you into this unexpected hostage situation, and from there, you’re hooked.
Bel Canto - Ann Patchett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Ducks, Newburyport is an intense, sprawling journey through the mind of a deeply anxious protagonist whose thoughts are captured in an unfiltered, relentless stream-of-consciousness style.
Ducks, Newburyport
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Watch Us Shine is a beautifully written novel that explores family dynamics and self-discovery with depth and emotional richness.
Watch Us Shine: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story is poignant, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged, making it a compelling read from start to finish.
An American Marriage (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
Mysterious Minds & Twisty Tales
Twisty tales full of secrets, suspense, and just enough danger to keep me glued to the page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Reading my way through the Agatha Christie library.
The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One of Us Is Lying combines the intrigue of a whodunit mystery with the drama of high school life, creating a compelling young adult novel.
One of Us Is Lying
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A historical mystery. King's storytelling is rich and immersive, weaving together a modern-day cold case with the counterculture era of the 1970s.
Back to the Garden: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story revolves around three couples who share a rental house for a summer getaway, only to find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation when one of them turns up dead.
One Little Secret: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This ingenious narrative is further elevated by the superb narration of Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner, who bring the story to life with exceptional skill.
Magpie Murders: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This book shines a light on the early 20th-century technological advancements that dramatically changed global communication and the course of criminal justice.
Thunderstruck - Erik Larson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This book grabbed my attention with its intriguing plot, set in a spine-chilling, isolated location. It masterfully explores themes of survival, the secrets we keep, and the resilience of individuals.
The Stillwater Girls - Minka Kent
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫The story's a bit jumpy since it's patched up from short stories, which can make the mystery feel a bit like a puzzle with missing pieces—not exactly the usual Christie magic.
The Big Four - Agatha Christie
Fantastic Fantasy
These were the fantasy worlds I escaped to in 2024Spellbinding sagas filled with mythical creatures, epic quests, and worlds I never wanted to leave.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The world building is amazing and the characters rich in their complexity.
A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe, #1)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I needed an escape, and A Court of Thorns and Roses delivered. Sarah J. Maas creates a world so vivid and immersive that it feels like stepping into another realm
A Court of Thorns and Roses
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is a sweeping epic that pulls readers into a meticulously crafted world of magic, dragons, and political intrigue.
The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A classic. The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a gem of a story, blending adventure, romance, and humor in a unique and unexpected manner.
The Princess Bride: Classic Tale of Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer promises an enchanting blend of nostalgia, magic, and second chances, but ultimately falls short of its potential.
The Wishing Game: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️An absolute gem in the realm of fantasy and speculative fiction.
A Dead Djinn in Cairo - P.Djeli Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that captivates with its poetic prose and vivid depiction of Mars.
The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout is a breathtaking memoir that captures both the beauty and brutality of the human experience.
A House in the Sky: A Memoir
No Nonsense Nonfiction
Smart, straight-shooting reads that inform, inspire, and skip the fluff.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Bible is a curious book full of deeply flawed people and a God who refuses to give up on them. Don’t believe me? Look for yourself.
Curiosities and (Un)common Sense from the Bible: 60 Dev…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The book is always better than the movie!
The Perfect Storm: Men Against the Sea
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time is an extraordinary recount of the Dust Bowl era, providing a deeply moving and meticulously researched narrative of one of America's most devastating environmental disasters.
The Worst Hard Time: Surviving the Dust Bowl
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This compelling book is an investigative triumph, shedding light on the bacha posh phenomenon—girls raised as boys in Afghanistan.
The Underground Girls of Kabul: A Hidden Resistance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️David McCullough's The Johnstown Flood offers a captivating and thorough look at one of America's worst disasters.
Johnstown Flood - David McCullough
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Interested in New Hampshire true crime?This an incredible true crime story, David Faxon's Cold Water Crossing takes you deep into a gripping tale of resilience and tragedy tied to a real-life disaster in 1902.
Cold Water Crossing: Isles of Shoals Murders
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I was captivated by this INCREDIBLE true crime story.
The Art Thief: Love, Crime, and Obsession
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The book provides intriguing insights into Poe’s complex character, shedding light—albeit a flickering one—on the man behind the dark tales.
A Mystery of Mysteries: Edgar Allan Poe
⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fascinating account of the daring nineteenth-century women who moved to South Dakota to divorce their husbands and start living on their own terms
The Divorce Colony: Women and Marriage Freedom
Memorable Memoirs
Real lives, raw stories, and unforgettable voices that stayed with me long after the last page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery is a captivating audiobook that delves into the profound lessons learned from various animals.
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- for a debut memoir, it’s top-notch—intimate, funny, and full of emotional depth.
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True Story
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast is a captivating memoir that offers an intimate glimpse into the author's life during the vibrant and transformative 1920s in Paris.
A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A pleasant surprise. I thought this was a compelling and thought-provoking memoir that offers a raw look at the complexities of family, culture, and personal resilience.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family Crisis
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved Following Atticus. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves the outdoors, dogs, or simply a well-written and heartwarming memoir.
Following Atticus: 48 High Peaks & a Dog
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Norris navigates her tumultuous upbringing in Manchester, New Hampshire, with humor, chilling honesty, and raw emotion.
KooKooLand - Gloria Norris
Historical Fiction I Devoured
Gripping tales from the past that pulled me in, held me tight, and stayed with me long after the final page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️It's a beautifully told story of a woman’s life, highlighting themes of resilience and self-discovery.
The Boston Girl: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This isn't your run-of-the-mill novel. It's a masterclass in storytelling, echoing Dickens but with a twang that's all Kingsolver.
Demon Copperhead: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A delightful escape wiithout having to take the ferry - Best beach read in Historical Fiction
The Hotel Nantucket- Elin Hilderbrand
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Quinn’s masterful storytelling and meticulous research bring to life the remarkable journey of a woman who became a hero in one of the most brutal conflicts in history.
The Diamond Eye: WWII Fiction with Heroine
Small Stories, Big Impact
Brief but brilliant reads that hit hard, linger long, and prove less really can be more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a masterful collection of short stories that showcases her incredible ability to create complex characters and provide vivid snapshots of Indian life.
Interpreter Of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ a captivating collection of short stories that blend the fantastical with the everyday, offering listeners a delightful escape into realms of magic and wonder.
Selected Shorts: A Touch of Magic
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The selection of stories in this audiobook is a testament to Wilde’s genius in crafting narratives that blend fantastical elements with poignant, universal truths.
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for All Ages
Sorry For Your Loss
A collection of books and audiobooks that have helped me through times of grief in 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️An amazing audiobook about grief.
Sorry for Your Loss
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️An incredible story of love after an astonishing loss.
Here After: A Memoir
⭐️⭐️⭐️ A story about holding onto the past without being consumed by it.
Grief Is for People
Books That Bent the Clock
Mind-bending tales where timelines tangle, destinies shift, and the past is never quite done with you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer offers an intriguing premise, exploring parallel timelines in 1918, 1941, and 1985.
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Life After Life by Kate Atkinson presents a fascinating and imaginative concept that immediately captures the reader's interest
Life After Life: A Novel
Laugh-Out-Loud Lit
Hilarious reads that had me giggling, snorting, and occasionally wheezing in public (if I were ever out in public).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is a delightful and unique read that captivated me from start to finish.
Nothing to See Here: A Novel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ a refreshingly unique and humorous look at a young woman's life through letters from her family, friends, and even inanimate objects.
Nuclear Family: A Tragicomic Novel in Letters
Sci-Fi That Blew My Mind
Jaw-dropping journeys through space, tech, and twisted realities that had me questioning everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Quick Must read Sierra Greer's AnnieBot is a gripping sci-fi novel that captures the imagination with its compelling characters and eerily plausible AI-driven future.
Annie Bot: Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 beautifully written and contemplative, its slow-burning narrative may not fully capture the reader's heart until its final pages.
Never Let Me Go
Poetry That Spoke to My Soul
Beautiful, bold, and sometimes bruising—these poems hit me right where it matters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Flowers of Evil: A Selection by Charles Baudelaire is a haunting, hypnotic dive into the darker shades of human emotion and experience.
The Flowers of Evil / Les Fleurs du Mal
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran is a beautifully written exploration of life’s universal themes, from love and work to joy and sorrow. The poetic prose is both elegant and contemplative, offering moments of profound wisdom that invite deep refl...
The Prophet: 1923 Edition with Illustrations
Cozy Christmas Reads
Heartwarming stories full of snowflakes, second chances, and seasonal magic.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Christmas Cookie House by Jennifer Griffith is a sweet, cozy romance that was a nice escape during my busy December.
The Christmas Cookie House: A Holiday Romance