My theme for 2024 books is no theme. I wanted to read whatever interested me, old or new, adult or young adult. I often worry about reading the “right” books, but I spent this year reading whatever interests me. Check out my 2024 book overview to inspire your 2025 reading habits!
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Favorite of 2024
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
This book has so much to love. I checked it out from the library on a whim because I’m trying to read more Indigenous authors. But the story is part bildungsroman, part murder mystery, part romance, and part poetry. Just when I thought I got to the best part, I’d encounter another plot twist or banger quote and would have to put the book down and pause.
Do you ever do that? Set the book down and think about how great it is for a moment before continuing? I did that a lot in Boulley’s extraordinary novel, making it my favorite read of 2024.
Honorable Mentions
The Women by Kristin Hannah
This is my second Kristin Hannah book after reading The Nightingale several years ago. I remember The Nightingale being extraordinary, but emotional, so I’ve been cautious about letting Hannah hurt me again. But I did, and I’m glad for it. The only reason it isn’t my favorite book this year is because it is a tragic and truthful portrayal of our country’s treatment of Vietnam vets and women in general.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
I think I found this book on a “If you love Stephen King, try these titles” list. And wow, it did not disappoint. This year I read two Stephen King books AND The Exorcist, and this was still the most deliciously scary book of them all!
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
I chose this book because I was intrigued by the social mix of African Americans and Jewish cultures in the plot. I like books that teach me things without making me feel stupid, and I McBride has that narrative gift. I loved this book and promptly put it on my AP Lit independent reading bookshelf.
Series I’m Obsessed With
The Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman
These books are AMAZING!!! The stories are set in a dystopian future where humans have conquered death. To keep a level of order, officials called scythes “glean” humans every day, killing them in the way that they choose. Despite being a young adult novel, the story’s conflicts and personalities are incredibly relevant to today’s political landscape. I heard a rumor they’re developing the series into a movie and I’m hopeful for a good adaptation.
Biggest Disappointment
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
I was compelled to read this book after enjoying the Netflix adaptation starring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke. But I have to say, it was the longest jumble of plot nonsense and vocabulary condescension. The reviews on Goodreads generally agree with me too. Trust me and stick to the movie!
Best Audiobook
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
This work of historical fiction follows the lives of two African American women living in Philadelphia. Ruby, a fifteen-year-old, is academically gifted and working towards a scholarship. Eleanor is equally gifted and enrolled in at Howard University. Their lives become intertwined by the choices and sacrifices they make for their futures. I listened to this on a road trip and the time passed blissfully!
Best ReRead
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
This is my favorite of the Bridgerton series, which I read last year. I re-read this in preparation for the new season featuring Colin and Penelope’s romance. As expected, the book is better than the show.
Favorite New Author
Freida McFadden
Just this month I started reading Freida McFadden’s works and I can’t stop. I read The Housemaid in less than 24 hours and quicky read through the rest of the Housemaid series. McFadden specializes in page-turning psychological thrillers, so her books are hard to put down. Even more impressive, she’s also a practicing physician specializing in brain injury—and only 44 years old!
Best Historical Fiction
Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler
I had the pleasure of meeting Isabelle’s mother through social media, who connected me with this book. Since reading it, I’m making it my personal mission to get it in the hands of as many people as I can. I love Lady Macbeth and have so many questions about her life and choices that preceed Macbeth. Schuler’s text explores Gruoch’s (Lady Macbeth’s) choices and ambitions before she meets the thane of Fife. And for teaching materials for the Scottish play, check out this resource!
Best YA
House Arrest by K.A. Holt
This book could also win for best poetry, as it’s a novel-in-verse. I haven’t found many novels in verse featuring a male voice, but Timothy is a lovely boy who has really bad luck. I passed this book onto my son when I finished, and he recommends it too!
Best Nonfiction
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
I’m intrigued (and enraged) by the opium crisis and the evil family behind Purdue Pharma. I’ve watched Dopesick and The Pharmacist and thought I should read some nonfiction on the subject as well. I tried to read Dopesick by Beth Macy but couldn’t get into it. Empire of Pain studies the Sackler family members and the choices they made to lead us here.
Other books of 2024
The Tommyknockers by Stephen King 1.5/5
Even Stephen King hates this book. It wasn’t bad, just not very fulfilling for being almost 1000 pages long.
Happy Place by Emily Henry 4/5
I adore Emily Henry, but this was my least favorite of her romantic comedies.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins 4/5
This juicy retelling of Jane Eyre was a delight!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys 4/5
I read this after loving Between Shades of Gray last year. I didn’t connect with this one as much as Shades of Gray, but it’s still an excellent and empathetic read. Many of my students read this for independent reading in AP Lit as well!
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 2/5
I read two Liane Moriarty books last year and loved them, but the two I read this year were not as good. This one was bleak and kind of depressing.
The Storm Blitz by Lane Walker 2.5/5
This was a chapter book I read alongside my nine-year-old son. He loves reading, but his comprehension is weak in chapter books. He asks me to create reading questions for him in preparation for AR tests he has to take for school. Nonetheless, if you have a sports-loving child in upper elementary grades, I’d recommend this book!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 4.5/5
I’ve always been intrigued by Sylvia Plath and wanted to hear her voice in prose. Despite the difficult material in this book, I loved it.
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty 3/5
This book was stressful! That’s really all I can say, lol!
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty 4/5
This was not what I expected! I still haven’t seen the controversial and terrifying movie, but the book was an interesting narrative of this famous incident.
Funny Story by Emily Henry 5/5
Honestly, the only reason Emily Henry’s books didn’t rank higher in my year-end review is that I read them in January and have forgotten most of what I read. But I love them all and will probably re-read them next summer!
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn 4/5
This final installment of the Bridgerton series gives one last chapter to each child and a narrative devoted to Violet and her husband. I loved it, obviously!
The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (DNF)
I should have read the reviews before trying to read this. They were awful, and so was this.
Kala by Colin Walsh 3.5/5
This was a unique murder mystery set in coastal Ireland. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, but the plot was twisted and compelling.
The Running Man by Stephen King 4/5
I heard they’re remaking this book into another movie starring Glen Powell, so naturally I wanted to read it. It was great and would pair well with dystopian short stories like “Harrison Bergeron” or any Ray Bradbury text.
In the Woods by Tana French 2/5
I remember seeing this cover EVERYWHERE many years ago when this book came out. I finally bought it and was looking forward to reading it—but the plot goes absolutely NOWHERE.
A Mystery of Mysteries: The Life and Death of Edgar Allan Poe by Mark Dawidziak 3/5
I read this as research for this year’s one act, a narrative of Poe. It was interesting, but I got the impression it is less based on research and more based on an alternative way of looking at Edgar Allan Poe
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark 2/5
Oh nostalgia. MHC was my favorite author as a teenager and sparked my love for reading mysteries. However, she definitely has a writing formula, which allowed me to guess the ending long before I finished.
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger (DNF)
The narrator in this book is a helicopter parent and I couldn’t hang. It has great reviews, though!
Zero Days by Ruth Ware 3.5/5
I love Ruth Ware but some of her books are kind of meh. This one had an interesting plot, but the narrator made choices that frustrated me a lot.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 5/5
I adore A Muppet Christmas Carol but have never read the original text. After reading it, I was so impressed with how accurate the Muppet version is!
Have you read any of these books and agree or disagree with my rankings? Let me know in the comments!
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