It’s that time of year again! This has become my favorite “recap” to do at the end of, or start of, every year. These are my top 14 books I read in 2024. Not all of them are published in 2024 but these are the ones I loved, that stuck with me, that I cried over, those I continually recommend, and just can’t get out of my head.
I’ll also be sharing fun bookish things I did in 2024 and links to where you can buy these books and support local bookstores at the end.
Enjoy my top 14 books of 2024!
In no order…
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
Description from the book: “Enid is obsessed with space. She can tell you all about black holes and their ability to spaghettify you without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps. At the same time, she’s trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unwittingly plunges into her first serious romantic entanglement, Enid starts to believe that someone is following her.As her paranoia spirals out of control, Enid must contend with her mounting suspicion that something is seriously wrong with her. Because at the end of the day there’s only one person she can’t outrun—herself. Brimming with quirky humor, charm, and heart, Interesting Facts about Space effortlessly shows us the power of revealing our secret shames, the most beautifully human parts of us all.”
What I loved about it: the humor, the fast paced writing and short chapters, the quirky main character who I was rooting for even though she kept making not so great decisions, the hope this offered even in the midst of heaviness. I would recommend this for fans of Eleanor Oliphant and quirky female main characters.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Description from book: “On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can’t help but find herself falling for.”
What I loved about it: The setting. It felt familiar like it could’ve been set in an actual time in history, yet unfamiliar because of the fantastical elements. I also enjoyed the unique magic system with the witches and witch hunters. The main character is a vigilante of sorts and I am always a sucker for a strong female lead fighting for others in a fantasy book. I’m excited for the next book in the duology that’s coming out this year!
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Description from book: “Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen–one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.”
What I loved about it: Martha is another badass female lead (are we seeing a pattern here?). This is a historical fiction novel based on a real person and that made Martha and the situations described in the book even more intriguing. I appreciated that Lawhon wrote a layered, complicated woman who we watch make mistakes and also take great care of the people around her. I enjoyed that this was a historical fiction novel and had a great mystery element to it. My book club read this for December and we all really enjoyed it! If you enjoyed the female badassery of Lessons in Chemistry, I think you’ll enjoy this too.
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Description from book: ” Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability. But be careful what you wish for. . . .Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.”
What I loved about this book: It was heartwarming and full of whimsy! This book, for me, captures the joy of what it’s like to fall in love with a book or series and have that series inform your childhood and love of reading. Not only was this book about the joy of reading and falling in love with a book, but the relationships in the book were really sweet too. The perfect mix of whimsy, magic, and warmth.
How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key
Description from book: One gorgeous autumn day, Harrison discovers that his wife–the sweet, funny, loving mother of their three daughters, a woman “who’s spent just about every Sunday of her life in a church”–is having an affair with a family friend. This revelation propels the hysterical, heartbreaking events in How to Stay Married, casting our narrator onto “the factory floor of hell,” where his wife was now in love with a man who “wears cargo shorts, on purpose.” What will he do? Kick her out? Set fire to all her panties in the yard? Beat this man to death with a gardening implement? Ask God for help in winning her back?Armed only with a sense of humor and a hunger for the truth, Harrison embarks on a hellish journey into his past, seeking answers to the riddles of faith and forgiveness.
What I loved about this book: I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed hearing it in the voice of the author. Even though this book describes a hard situation around cheating and forgiveness, Harrison’s voice imbued the perfect touch of humor. I found this book incredibly refreshing. It describes both the difficulty of marriage and radical love and mercy. The author’s Christian faith is mentioned and informs much of what he talks about here. To me, it’s done in a refreshing and appropriately cynical way.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Description from the book: “It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years–she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan–which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.”
What I loved about it: If I had to make a top three books of the year, this would be on it! I heard about this book for the first time on my favorite bookish podcast, What Should I Read Next. Anne, the host, describes books so well and the way she described this book made is sound incredibly intriguing. “A woman goes to stay at a hotel and she is the only person staying there who is not there for a wedding.” This book balances the beauty and difficulty of life so well. It’s all at once a beach read and a book that makes you reflect on your own life. I love the way the author describes emotions and circumstances that feel universal. The dialogue was funny. The characters, even with their quirks, were very likable. This book was both heartwarming and hope-filled!
Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson
Description from the book: “The very last person anyone should worry about is Emma. Yes, hi, she’s an alcoholic. But she’s officially been sober for one entire year. That’s twelve months of better health. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. It’s also been 365 days of not dating. And with her new dating profile, Emma, 26, of New York is ready to put herself back out there.Except–was dating always this complicated? And did Emma’s mother really have to choose now to move in with her new boyfriend? Being assigned to plan her office’s holiday party feels like icing on the suddenly very overwhelming cake until her estranged father reappears with devastating news. Icing, meet cherry on top. But then there’s Ben, the charming IT guy who, despite Emma’s awkwardness and shortcomings, seems to maybe actually get her? Sobriety is turning out to be far from the flawless future Emma had once envisioned for herself.”
What I loved about this book: I went into reading this not knowing what to expect. Based on the blurb, I expected it to be a women’s fiction, maybe some romance, and not super deep. While it is a fiction book based around a woman and there is a touch of romance, (though I would definitely not classify this as a romance) it was about so much more! I loved watching Emma grow into herself and stand up for what was best for herself and for her own healing and sobriety. This book contains a complicated father-daughter relationship which I found very sad yet beautiful. Watching Emma navigate healing was really cathartic. This book contains so much more depth than I expected and, overall, it was just a beautiful reading experience.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
Description from the book: “For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark. A sweeping love story that is at once lyrical and funny, airy and visceral, Shark Heart is an unforgettable, gorgeous novel about life’s perennial questions, the fragility of memories, finding joy amidst grief, and creating a meaningful life. This daring debut marks the arrival of a wildly talented new writer abounding with originality, humor, and heart.”
What I loved about this book: I’m pretty sure I’ve told everyone who will listen that this is my favorite book I read in 2024. I purposely shortened the description above because I don’t think you should you go in knowing too much about the plot. I do think that this is a “weird” book and you have to suspend some disbelief while reading. To me, this book paints an incredible picture of dealing with loss, grief, terminal or chronic illness and dealing with those things in the midst of a relationship. It covers broken dreams, finding meaning in your life, and so much more. This is another heartbreaking and sad yet incredibly beautiful book. The chapters were short and the voice is funny and poignant. Sad yet beautiful books are definitely a trend for me and this is, in my opinion, the best of the best.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
Description from the book: “Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers–a lonely yet charming old man–dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading.
But this is no ordinary book…
It is the Book of Doors.
Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them.”
What I loved about the book: I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book. It kept me guessing and the plot went to places I didn’t expect. This felt very much like a book you’d like if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. I enjoyed the bookish aspects, the magical world, and the time travel. It was unexpected and fun and kept me turning the page. Would recommend if you like urban fantasy and magical books!
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Description from the book: “Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.”
What I loved about the book: Abby Jimenez is an auto-read author for me at this point. My Spring/Summer reading season is always made better by her new releases. This was my favorite one so far. I am continually impressed with Jimenez’s ability to write characters who are dealing with real life hard things. This is a romance, don’t get me wrong, but the characters have to overcome difficult life circumstances and grow individually and together. All set in a beautiful summer lake setting. If you haven’t already, pick this up!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Description from the book: “When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide. Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances.”
What I loved about the book: I was hesitant to pick this up because I can’t do thrillers anymore. I am not into the booktok thrillers that are super psychological where everyone is making bad choices. This can be such a bummer because I really enjoy mysteries and it makes them more difficult to find. Mysteries are what got me into reading in the first place (i.e Nancy Drew, Mary Higgins Clark). It is difficult to come by a good, solid mystery with an awesome plot that won’t keep me up at night (in a bad way). This definitely falls into that positive category and I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance! I really enjoyed the setting and the cast of characters. This book, all at once, kept me guessing, and didn’t have a cheap, quick ending like some mysteries can. If you’re looking for a meaty mystery that you can really get lost in, I highly recommend this one.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Description from the book: “Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. Scruffy and chaotic–with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads–Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?”
Why I loved this book: Okay, I decided to give Emily Henry another chance!! I was quite disappointed with her last book, Happy Place. I LOVED Beach Read, her first romance, and have been wanting to recapture that joy ever since. Funny Story did that for me and I’m so glad! I loved the setting, Michigan in the summer. The descriptions of the place and the outdoor activities the couple did there were so idyllic and made me want to vacation there myself. Again, I loved the characters and their relationship. There was conflict, but the conflict didn’t make me want to roll my eyes. The couple had to go through real life difficulties and grow (similar to above). Overall, this felt like a vacation in a book and I am so glad I decided to give EmHen another chance!
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Description from the book: “For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and–thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing–septic too.
This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past–except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing–her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.
It’s one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.”
Why I loved this book: I was also hesitant to pick this book up because the protagonist is in a season of life that I’m just not. I was afraid it wasn’t going to be relatable so I wouldn’t enjoy it. I was very wrong! I loved that even though I couldn’t relate to Rocky’s life stage specifically, I can relate to being in “limbo” phase or “in between” time and the confusion and reflection that type of season inspires. I found the writing funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful. *Trigger warnings for pregnancy loss* I finished this book in 24 hours on my last day of vacation in August and have continually been thinking about it for the rest of the year.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Description from the book: “William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him–so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?”
What I loved about this book: This book was described as an homage to Little Women. While I can definitely see that, I don’t think you need to have read that book or be a fan of it to enjoy this one. This is definitely a sister story. This book shows a strong dichotomy of family members continually showing up for one another in life’s difficulties and family members abandoning each other in the midst of life’s difficulties. I really enjoy a complicated family saga so this was right up my alley. While many parts are sad, this book is a great representation of beauty in the midst of sadness; what makes life worth living in the midst of difficulty.
There you have it! My top 14 books of 2024! If you choose to read any of these, let me know! If you choose to buy them, I highly encourage you to buy from your local indie bookstore or from Bookshop.org is you like buying online. All the links attached to the book titles will take you to Bookshop.org where you can purchase and choose a local indie to support.
As you might’ve noticed. I received many of these books from a book subscription program called, Book of the Month. It’s a monthly book subscription service where you choose from 5-7 books each month and they’re delivered right to your door. It has exposed me to so many books I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise and contained eight of my favorite books this year! If you’d like to give it a try, I have a referral code you can use here where you can join for $5.
This year I also hosted my third full book club! I moderated another panel at the Tucson Festival of Books, too. I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for my reading life and bookish community. I will be continuing to share the books I love and I hope you enjoy reading them!
Thank you for reading my top 14 books of 2024! If you enjoyed this book, check out the post describing my favorite books I read in 2023.
