The Best Books I Read in 2024
This was a busy year of reading for me! I surpassed my goal of 110 books and read 130 books total, in a mix of formats (regular book, e-book, and audiobook). This was the year that I discovered the absolute delight of Emily Henry and realized that cozy mysteries and romances really just aren’t my thing, no matter how hard I try. I also discovered that I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to binging series, either as regular books or audiobook (see, e.g., the Celtic Blood series on KU I read in October and the All Souls audiobooks which dominated my November). I think I’ll increase my reading goal a little for 2025 and aim for 115, but I’m not positive yet. Basically, I’ve been staying up way too late reading lately and I don’t need to encourage that behavior. However, I do think that staying up reading is a sign of a great book, don’t you think? It’s always lucky when we come across books like that!
My 2024 Reading Stats
As I mentioned, I surpassed my reading goal of 110 books and read 130 throughout the year. Technically, I read 126 because I beta read my gym buddy’s book (and you guys it was fantastic — you should follow her on IG here!!). My most-read author was Julia Brannan (of the Jacobite Chronicles series, which I reviewed here), followed by Melanie Karsak (the Celtic Blood series and the Celtic Rebels series), Elsie Silver, and Emily Henry. Romance was my most-read genre, according to Storygraph, with historical, contemporary, and fantasy following right behind.
I also visited (at least?) seven independent bookstores throughout the year, including Tombolo Books and Book & Bottle, both in St. Pete, Writer’s Block in Orlando, Bear Pond Books in Vermont, and Virginia Highland Books in Atlanta.
This round up of my best books of 2024 is a part of my What to Read series, where I share themed reading lists and book guides based on genre, time period, theme, or author.
You can peruse more of my What to Read reading guides here!
Now, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my best books of 2024!
My Best Books of 2024:
HAPPY PLACE BY EMILY HENRY
5/5 Stars
I listened to the audiobook of Happy Place and then went out to pick up a hard copy of the book because I felt drawn to annotating it. I wanted a hard copy to hold in my hands because so many parts of this emotional story resonated with me. Happy Place follows a group of college friends as they spend one last week at their happy place — a vacation home of one of the friends that is being sold. There is a profound sense of loss throughout the novel, of losing a place that feels like home, which is entirely relatable, alongside the feeling that everyone is moving on and the fear of change.
Whether or not you see yourself in the characters or the situations, Emily Henry’s emotive writing and ability to put into words the absolute growing pains of your late twenties and early thirties are incredibly powerful. I went into this expecting a lighthearted rom-com, not a novel that would challenge me and help me through some of my own emotional turmoil. Honestly, a must-read.
Read my full review of Happy Place, along with some favorite quotes from the book, here!
Happy Place by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
BOOK LOVERS BY EMILY HENRY
5/5 Stars
My second Emily Henry novel, I picked this one up when I stopped at Barnes & Noble for the hard copy of Happy Place. The title drew me in and I read it as a bit of escapism on a flight earlier this month. In short, Nora, a dedicated (and potentially cutthroat) literary agent, is convinced into going on a trip with her beloved little sister, Libby. Libby and Nora lead very different lives (Libby is a mom with a growing family, Nora is resolutely childless) but they come together for a summer sisters’ trip.
There were so many moments that I was literally laughing out loud at this book, and then others when I felt tears stinging my eyes, and I enjoyed every minute of it. From the on-the-nose prologue poking fun of romance tropes to the love interests’ banter to the emotional moments of honesty between the protagonist and her sister, this book really has it all.
Read my full review of Book Lovers, along with some favorite quotes from the book, here!
Book Lovers by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
FUNNY STORY BY EMILY HENRY
5/5 Stars
Emily Henry’s newest release, Funny Story, was released on April 23 — conveniently coinciding with Taylor Swift’s new album release, which made for a fun reading experience (the overlap of Taylor Swift fans and Emily Henry fans is vast). Of the three novels by the author that I have read so far, this is far and away my favorite. And that is saying something, because I absolutely adore both Happy Place and Book Lovers.
This novel starts out with a jilted marriage, with protagonist Daphne’s fiancé leaving her for his childhood best friend. Daphne winds up moving in with said best friend’s similarly-jilted partner, Miles. What starts as a count down of getting out of the small (but beautiful) town of Waning Bay, Michigan, turns into a story of Daphne finding herself outside of her relationships (both romantic and familial). Equal parts entertainment and therapy session, Funny Story made me laugh and cry in comparable measure.
Read my full review of Funny Story, along with some favorite quotes from the book, here!
Funny Story by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION BY EMILY HENRY
5/5 Stars
As with any Emily Henry novel, I was sucked in right from the start. With a dynamic intro scene that introduces the reader to Poppy and Alex in an unusual way, I knew I would be a fan of this book.
Poppy is quirky, but not too far into the manic pixie dream girl archetype to feel cliche. Alex feels like a real person, he is written so lifelike and consistent. The layout of the book, with a series of alternating time jumps to previous vacations, could get complicated at times, but it all comes together beautifully by the end. Plus, it kept me reading because I wanted to know what happened next in the contemporary storyline!
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
JUST FOR THE SUMMER BY ABBY JIMENEZ
5/5 Stars
Justin and Emma are both “cursed” — anyone they date goes on to find their soulmates immediately after ending things with them. So, they come up with a plan: date each other and then break up to cancel out the curse. Seems simple enough, right? Anyway, I listened to this audiobook going to and from Orlando for Mother’s Day weekend and it made the drive so much more enjoyable, I was just smiling and laughing at so much of the story. This book reads like a rom-com — and a lot of it is! — but then it makes you think and feel and maybe even cry. I mean that in the best way; Just for the Summer was an amazing read and I cannot recommend it enough!
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is available from Amazon here.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
5/5 Stars
I had heard great things about this book for a while when it came up on my Kindle Unlimited suggestions. If you are a historical fiction book lover as well as a fantasy genre fan, this book is the perfect mix of both. With simple, expressive writing and a thoughtful storyline, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a masterpiece in contemplative contemporary fiction. The story follows Addie LaRue, who makes a pact with a mysterious god-like being to escape her provincial life in 18th century France, but is then cursed with being immediately forgotten by all who meet her. It was a strange storyline to enter into, and it took a little bit for me to really follow what was going on, but I realized later that that confusion was likely intentional, as the audience’s journey mimic’s Addie’s discovery of just what she has given up in her quest for freedom. I stayed up way too late multiple nights reading this because I simply could not put it down!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is available from Amazon here.
MARIA BY MICHELLE MORAN
5/5 Stars
I’ve been a fan of Michelle Moran’s writing since reading her Egyptian Royals Collection, a historical fiction trilogy about Nefertiti, Nefetari, and Selene. So, you can understand my excitement when I received an early copy of Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp to read! Maria by Michelle Moran follows the story of Maria von Trapp, the protagonist famously played by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. I was aware that I knew little of Maria or the von Trapps when I began the book, but I was shocked by the depth of the woman’s character, brought to life by Michelle Moran in her latest novel.
Read my full review of this novel here!
Maria by Michelle Moran is available from Amazon here.
LADY MACBETH BY AVA REID
5/5 Stars
I listened to the audiobook of this and it was so good! It is a totally unique origin story for Lady MacBeth, known most famously from Shakespeare’s play. Ava Reid does a great job with world building for his era, delving into Scottish history to orient the reader with the protagonist and her new husband. This Lady MacBeth has a special twist, though; her eyes induce madness in men. So, she becomes a pawn in her husband’s court, and she is feared because she is magical and dangerous.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid is available from Amazon here.
CHECK & MATE BY ALI HAZLEWOOD
5/5 Stars
I picked up Check & Mate by Ali Hazlewood on a whim over the holidays and I am so glad I did! I don’t know what I expected from a rivals-to-lovers romance set amongst high stakes chess tournaments, but it held me enthralled from start to finish. Mallory Greenleaf is a chess prodigy who has turned away from the game for good, partially in order to take care of her ailing mother and two younger sisters. She’s pulled back into the competitive world of chess after inadvertently beating the world champion Nolan Sawyer at a charity tournament. Family drama, romance, and comedy ensues.
Check & Mate is available on Amazon here.
TILL I SEE YOU AGAIN BY ANNIE EVERS
5/5 Stars
I don’t exaggerate when I say I devoured this book. The story was quick to get into and flowed well from the start. Evers is a great writer, combining wit, creativity, and historical knowledge into a dramatic and moving historical fiction romance. I appreciated the author’s attention to detail about the setting and history discussed throughout the novel, and found that she wove it into the otherwise contemporary storyline well. Definitely recommend checking this book out!
Till I See You Again by Annie Evers is available from Amazon here.
FEAR THE FLAMES BY OLIVIA ROSE DARLING
5/5 Stars
If you like anything Sarah J. Maas (especially Throne of Glass) or Fourth Wing from Rebecca Yarros, you’re definitely going to want to read Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling. The first in a new series, this book just came out as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed. This book has it all: displaced princesses, morally gray love interests, and dragons. Need I say more?
Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling is available from Amazon here.
KILT TRIP BY ALEXANDRA KILEY
5/5 Stars
A sweet little romance set in Scotland, Kilt Trip is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers story (that is a bit extreme) that will make you want to pack up and move to Scotland. Or maybe that’s just where my head is at all times. Anyway, it took me a little while to get through the book; the pace is a little slow at first. However, once the story gets going, I couldn’t put it down! Lots of personal growth for the main character, Addie, too, which I love to see. Definitely gave me some inspiration for honeymoon planning!
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley is available from Amazon here.
THE TOWER BY FLORA CARR
5/5 Stars
In The Tower, Flora Carr turns the often-overlooked period of Mary’s fall from power into a dramatic tableau. Focusing in the deposed Scottish queen and three of her maidservants, the book manages to craft a veil around Mary the way one imagines the real Mary attempted to maintain. The women allowed to care for her actively vie for the queen’s affections, unsure of their standing, especially compared to Seaton, one of Mary’s famous “Four Marys” who served the queen from a young age. The novel is as much about these women and the dynamics between them, along with their motivations in staying with the fallen queen, as it is about Mary Stuart herself.
Read my full review of Flora Carr’s The Tower here!
The Tower by Flora Carr is available from Amazon here.
THE STATIONeRY SHOP BY MARJAN KAMALI
5/5 Stars
A poignant story of lost love, The Stationery Shop follows a young Iranian woman, Roya, who falls in love with a boy, Bahman, who dreams of revolution. Class struggles and dysfunctional family dynamics challenge their relationship, and after a violent coup that helps split the couple up for good, Roya leaves for the United States to go to college in California with her younger sister. There, she meets another man and finds herself living a whole new life in New England. The novel follows her life and acclimation to the United States, and the struggles she faces as an immigrant in her new country. Happenstance brings her and Bahman back together, sixty years later, and Roya battles with competing desires for both closure and answers to why he left her so long ago. It sounds bleak, and a lot of the story is rather heart-wrenching, but it’s beautifully written and incredibly moving.
The Stationery Shop is available from Amazon here.
WHEN THE MOON HATCHED BY SARAH A. PARKER
5/5 Stars
First things first, I read this 600-plus page book in one evening. Not even one day — one evening. So, when you open the book to find a ridiculous number of pages with definitions and character names, remember that the book is actually really good and worth your time. I don’t know why they put this entire list of at the beginning — it’s overwhelming and almost made me stop reading myself, but I’m so glad I kept going. The start of a new fantasy series from Sarah A. Parker, When the Moon Hatched is a must-read for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Renee, and adult fantasy in general.
When the Moon Hatched is available from Amazon here.
CARRIE SOTO IS BACK BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID
5/5 Stars
I have loved every Taylor Jenkins Reid book I’ve read, so it should be no surprise that I enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back. I’m not a big sports person, but I played tennis as a kid. Even still, I was a little worried about getting into the book since it’s so focused on the sport. However, Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote about the game in an incredibly accessible way. I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend, and enjoyed every minute of it!
Carrie Soto is Back is available from Amazon here.
DONE AND DUSTED BY LYLA SAGE
5/5 Stars
Oh, I love an ADHD heroine! With realistic representation of a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis (it’s me, hi), Lyla Sage has crafted a heartwarming story about a twenty-something equestrian woman, Clementine, who returns to her family’s ranch after a bad fall from a horse. Facing a new fear of riding, Clementine has to figure out who she is without racing — and whether she wants to get back on a horse at all. It’s a sweet cowboy romance, with all the family drama you might imagine from such a plot, and it’s the start of a series, which is always a plus!
Done and Dusted is available from Amazon here.
SWIFT AND SADDLED BY LYLA SAGE (REBEL BLUE RANCH BOOK #2)
5/5 Stars
After absolutely loving Done and Dusted, the first book in Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, I had high hopes for Swift and Saddled. Unsurprisingly, this book met and even surpassed my expectations! A sweet, quick read, this cowboy romance novel features a strong female main character and a thoughtful love interest with healthy relationship expectations.
Like with Done and Dusted, Lyla Sage touches on topics of mental health here, focusing mostly on depression (whereas book one featured a main character with ADHD). I just love Lyla Sage’s writing style, and it has been so fun to see how much bookstagram has loved this series — makes me even more excited for book four in the series (and a tv series!? What!? So exciting!!).
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage is available from Amazon here.
LOST AND LASSOED BY LYLA SAGE (REBEL BLUE RANCH BOOK 3)
5/5 Stars
I cannot tell you how excited I was to get Lost and Lassoed as an advanced reader audiobook! I have loved the first two books in Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series and was eager to delve into the third chapter of her small town romance series. This book focuses on Teddy Anderson, the best friend of the main character in the first book in the series, and her relationship with Gus Ryder, said best friend’s brother. A total opposites attract romance, I kept finding reasons to do chores around the house, go for walks, or run errands, just so I could keep listening to the audiobook. If you loved the first two books in the series, this one will not disappoint.
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage is available from Amazon here.
The Knockemout Book Series by Lucy Score
5/5 Stars
Includes: Things We Never Got Over, Things We Hide from the Light, and Things We Left Behind
This three-book romance series covers three couples in the small town of Knockemout, Virginia. Like with Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, there is a continuous and overlapping cast of characters, so one book more or less picks up where the previous left off with a different perspective. The covers make them look lighthearted and whimsical, and there are certain moments of whimsy, but it is a pretty serious series, so bear that in mind. Lots of great banter throughout all three books, which I love!
Lucy Score’s Knockemout series is available from Amazon here.
THE FAMILIAR BY LEIGH BARDUGO
5/5 Stars
This book was all over Instagram a few weeks ago and I can totally see why. A gripping historical fantasy novel set in the Spanish Golden Age, The Familiar was an incredibly unique novel, so unlike anything I’ve read before. It had all the hallmarks of great historical fiction and fantasy. This was the first book of Leigh Bardugo’s I’d read, and it makes me want to read more!
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is available from Amazon here.
HAUNTED EVER AFTER BY JEN DELUCA
5/5 Stars
For fans of rom coms who also love the paranormal, Haunted Ever After is the perfect read. I knew I would enjoy the book since the protagonist is from Orlando (my home town) and there are lots of great native Floridian references that made me laugh. Beyond that, though, I genuinely enjoyed the story and found the audiobook’s narration to be very engaging. Set in a small coastal town of the paranormal persuasion, aptly called Boneyard Key, there are plenty of great Florida-based Easter eggs that appear while the main character navigates (unknowingly) moving into a haunted house. Rom com cuteness ensues.
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca is available from Amazon here.
WHALE FALL BY ELIZABETH O’CONNOR
5/5 Stars
A short but powerful read, Whale Fall tells the story of a young woman on a remote Welsh island, where a dead whale washes up on shore, a folklore-based potent of doom. Manod, the protagonist, is faced with staying on the island or leaving for the mainland, two options that offer their own benefits and risks. She then gets a taste of the mainland, when two English scientists arrive to study the island and its inhabitants. Manod is torn between her devotion for the sheltered community and her drive to see what exists beyond the water. The novel is lyrical and emotive, beautifully written and full of the human experience. I highly recommend checking it out!
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor is available from Amazon here.
The Shepherd King Book Series by Rachel Gillig
5/5 Stars
Incudes: One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns
Described as a lushly gothic fantasy series, this duology follows protagonist Elspeth Spindle as she navigates life with a Nightmare daemon trapped in her head. Book one does a good job of laying the foundation and world building, while the second book really takes off, in my opinion.
Rachel Gillig’s Shepherd King book series is available from Amazon here.
THE GOD OF THE WOODS BY LIZ MOORE
5/5 Stars
A robust mystery novel surrounding two disappearances in the Adirondack mountains, The God of the Woods truly kept me guessing until the end. With multiple timelines and a large cast of characters, I found the audiobook a bit confusing at times, but came to think that was Liz Moore’s intention — to really get the reader into the headspace of the characters trying to figure out just what happened to the two missing persons. In all, it was a fascinating read and it is clear Moore did extensive research on the region and forests in order to craft this novel. I definitely recommend picking it up!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is available from Amazon here.
THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE BY KIRSTY GREENWOOD
5/5 Stars
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while and finally downloaded the audiobook when I was looking for something light at the beginning of the month. With a delightful mix of rom-com, magical realism, and dry humor, this is a great read for anyone who theoretically likes cozy love stories but can’t handle anything overly-saccharine. The audiobook was great, and the narrator did a great job really hitting the sarcasm and humor throughout, as the excessively-introverted protagonist attempts to navigate a second chance at life after making a deal to get out of her excessively embarrassing accidental death. That’s a pretty convoluted sentence, but it’ll make sense when you read the book. Just pick it up; you won’t regret it!
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood is available from Amazon here.
THE ALL SOULS SERIES BY DEBORAH HARKNESS
4.5/5 Stars (overall)
Includes: A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, and Time’s Convert
Originally, from what I can tell, this series was supposed to be a trilogy, so books 1 through 3 really go together and book 4 feels more like a spin-off. Still, I’m reviewing them together because I listened to the audiobooks back to back and read like one long book, more or less.
Having watched the TV series when it came out, I was interested in seeing more detail and depth to the storyline in the books, and they certainly did not disappoint. The All Souls series is incredibly well researched and reads like a magical history book in the best way possible. Following protagonist Diana Bishop as she develops her dormant magic skills alongside a 1500+ year-old vampire love interest, the reader is taken on a wild ride through history and lore. As much as I enjoyed the storylines, I think I loved the books for all the historical detail they had even more!
The All Souls series is available from Amazon here.
Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley
5/5 Stars
Following Alexandra Kiley’s Kilt Trip, this book tells the story of Jack Sutherland (brother of the male protagonist in Kilt Trip — I am really loving these little book universes!) and Brooke Sinclair, friends-to-lovers-to-enemies who went to the University of Edinburgh together. The book picks up seven years after their relationship bottomed out and Brook’s life path of promising author took a drastic turn for the worst. Paired up on an important project for someone they both care about (his aunt, her mentor), Brooke and Jack are forced to traverse the rugged Skye Trail for the sake of the memoir they’re both working on. Forced proximity ensues, along with delightful descriptions of Scotland, and a number of insightful lines about how life doesn’t exactly go as planned.
As much as I enjoyed Kilt Trip, Scot and Bothered is definitely my favorite of the two. And that’s saying something, because I truly enjoyed the former! Brooke’s struggles with her own writing and creativity (and the nuanced insights Kiley sprinkles in throughout) definitely hit home with me, making it a deeper reading experience. Really, it makes me even more excited to follow Kiley’s writing and see what she creates next!
Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is available for pre-oder from Amazon here. It comes out March 4, 2025.
Shop My Best Books of 2024
What were your best books of 2024?
Let me know in the comments so I can add them to my 2025 TBR!
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*This post was originally published in December 19, 2024. It was most recently updated on December 29, 2024.
