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Looking back on the books I read throughout the year is always something I look forward to, especially when it’s time to reflect on the ones that left a lasting impression. In 2024, a few books truly stood out — making the task of choosing favorites less daunting than usual.
Selecting favorite books can sometimes feel like picking a favorite child, but these titles captured my heart and mind in unique ways, making them clear winners.
Here’s the breakdown by genre:
- Literary fiction (2)
- Fantasy (1)
- Historical Fiction (5)
- Thriller/Mystery (2)
If you haven’t had the chance to dive into any of these, I wholeheartedly recommend them. And if you’ve already read some, I’d love to hear your thoughts — did they resonate with you as much as they did with me?
Let’s dive in!
My 12 Favorite Books of 2024
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
- This might be my favorite book of the year. This is definitely what you would call compulsively readable literary fiction.
- Monica Wood struck the perfect chord for writing a book that is both character and plot-driven.
- In this book, you get an older couple romance, a beautiful redemption story, and characters you will be rooting for. And, yes, there is a book club in this book.
- This book centers around a retired English teacher who leads a book club at a local women’s prison. My favorite moments are during the book club sessions. I love the very real and raw conversations.
- Read my full How to Read a Book Review.
- Genre: Literary Fiction
- Pub Year: 2024
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
- I decided I wanted to start reading more fantasy this year, which used to be a favorite genre when I was younger.
- One of the authors I was interested in reading is Brandon Sanderson, but he has written more than 30 novels, so I wasn’t quite sure where to start. In a video I found, he says to start with Tress of the Emerald Sea. Since it’s also a standalone novel, I decided to go for it.
- This book sucked me in from the first chapter and left me with a decent book hangover when it was over.
- I loved the very innocent and naive Tress, who decided to go on a dangerous adventure in her dangerous world. This book left me wanting to read more Sanderson and more cozy fantasy novels.
- Read my full Tress of the Emerald Sea Review.
- Genre: Fantasy (Cozy Fantasy)
- Pub Year: 2023
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird in 10th grade, but I remembered so little about it that I decided this book deserved a re-read. (Do books we read in school even count?)
- (I also needed a book to read that was published in the 1960s for the Reading Through the Decades Reading Challenge.)
- So many people call this book one of their all-time favorites, and now I know why. This book is sooo good!
- This is one of those books where you fall in love with all of the main characters, from Scout to Jem to Atticus and their cook, Calpurnia. I think Harper Lee does such a good job showing how children think and feel.
- I also now understand why so many people literally name their kids after Atticus. He might be one of the most noble literary characters.
- Genre: Historical Fiction (Early 1930s Alabama)
- Pub Year: 1960
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
- I think Lynn Austin is an underrated Historical Fiction author. Her writing and storytelling are sooo good.
- I highly recommend this book for fans of Downton Abbey. Imagine what it would be like if Lady Mary and the child of one of the servants became best friends.
- This book is about a friendship between two very different girls — Eve and Audrey.
- This is World War II historical fiction that tells the story from before the war to after the war. It shows how the war broke down the class differences (and how it didn’t). You get such a good picture of what life was like in England during this time — very nerve-wracking. I also like seeing how the English women played a role in the war.
- Austin is a Christian author, but she’s never preachy and she does such a good job of incorporating Christian themes into the story in a very organic way.
- Eve and Audrey are both very flawed in very real and relatable ways, but Austin shows how there is grace for both of them. Very beautiful.
- There’s a sequel to this book, which I actually read first, called The Wish Book Christmas. That book made me want to go back and read this one. (I actually re-read this one in December.)
- Read my full If I Were You Review.
- Genre: Historical Fiction (World War 2 England)
- Pub Year: 2020
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
- If you want to know what the opioid crisis is like for those who live with it (and fight against it), this book does a great job of pulling back the curtain.
- The story follows Mickey, a Philadelphia police officer, and her sister Kacey, a drug addict, as they navigate opposite sides of the city’s opioid crisis.
- Mickey gets involved in a potential homicide while her sister seems to have gone missing.
- Through alternating timelines between past and present, the book reveals the sisters’ complex family history and the events that led them down different paths in life.
- The novel addresses broader themes, including police corruption, sexual abuse, community dynamics, and survival.
- Despite being on the longer side (500 pages), the book maintains momentum throughout the novel.
- Read my full Long Bright River Review.
- Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Literary Fiction
- Pub Year: 2020
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
- I love it when a historical fiction novel takes you back to a particular time and place and makes you feel what it was really like for the people living in it. That’s exactly what this book does, along with really good characters you fall in love with. This book definitely lived up to the hype for me!
- This book left me with a serious book hangover!
- The story explores complex social issues, including race relations, anti-semitism, and class struggles, exploring how these challenges intersect in the characters’ lives.
- And it’s all combined with an interesting mystery and more!
- Genre: Historical Fiction (1930s Pennsylvania), Mystery
- Pub Year: 2023
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
- I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to start reading Amor Towles, but I’m glad I finally did.
- This is Amor Towles’s first full-length novel.
- This historical fiction book follows two young women living in New York City in 1938 — Eve and Katey. Eve is a bit of a free spirit, while Katey is the boring but responsible one.
- Their lives are forever changed when they meet handsome banker Tinker Grey on New Year’s Eve in 1937. The book tracks their lives over a one-year period.
- This book explores themes of class, honor, integrity, contentment, friendship, and love.
- While I loved how the book explored the complex relationships of all of the main characters, the book also explored what it took for a woman to have professional success in the 1930s.
- Genre: Historical Fiction (late 1930s New York City)
- Pub Year: 2011
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
- Ann Patchett has become one of my go-to authors, but there are still quite a few of her backlist titles that I have yet to read. This was one of them.
- Bel Canto takes place entirely within a single house, where terrorists crash a birthday party hoping to kidnap the president of a South American country.
- The party’s guest of honor is a Japanese businessman, and the evening’s entertainment features a renowned opera singer performing for the distinguished guests.
- When the terrorists discover their target – the president – isn’t present at the party, they decide to hold everyone hostage until their demands are met.
- What begins as a tense hostage situation evolves into something unexpected as terrorists and captives develop close bonds while living together over several months.
- Like Patchett’s other works, Bel Canto demonstrates her gift for storytelling as she weaves together an unlikely tale of friendship and romance blooming in the most extraordinary circumstances.
- Genre: Literary Fiction, light-thriller
- Pub Year: 2001
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
- This might have been one of the most fascinating books I read this year. My question: For those who know dogs, do you think dogs really think like this on any level??
- I chose this book for the Reading Through the Decades Reading Challenge for books from 1900 to 1909. (Even though this book is more than 100 years old, it’s written in such simple language that it is so easy to read.)
- The funny thing is that this was required reading in third or fourth grade, but I while I remember reading it, I can’t imagine an eight or nine year old really understanding it. (I know I didn’t.)
- Buck, a domesticated dog from Northern California, is stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Thrust into this harsh new environment, Buck must quickly adapt to survive among the sled dogs and challenging conditions. - Throughout his journey, Buck transforms from a pampered house pet into a resilient creature who learns to thrive both in service to humans and in the wilderness.
- His interactions with various humans – both kind and cruel – offer fascinating insights into human nature as he navigates relationships and survival in this unforgiving world.
- Genre: Historical Fiction (turn of the century), Adventure Story
- Pub Year: 2001
The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald
- I adored this book, and I am really surprised it didn’t receive more accolades last year.
- The book tells the story of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial through the eyes of Annabel Craig, who is native to Dayton, Tennessee, where the trial takes place.
- Lisa Grunwald throws you right into the middle of Dayton, and you feel like you are one of its blessed citizens as the world descends on the small town.
- It’s also very much a coming-of-age story as it shows Annabel go from a small child to a young woman trying to find her way in the world.
- I’ll be honest: I thought because it deals with the topic of evolution that it was going to be very anti-religion, but it really isn’t. Although it does explore the supposed conflict between religion and science.
- Genre: Historical Fiction (1925 Dayton, Tennessee)
- Pub Year: 2024
Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez
- I loved Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez, and I thought it was that perfect summer romance novel.
- I love a romance novel that has more going on than just the romance. I also love it when a romance novel has fun banter. This book definitely delivered.
- Even though this book is a romance novel, I wouldn’t exactly call it a light read. This book explores some heavy topics, but it also had me literally laughing out loud at the same time. (I don’t know how Abby Jimenez pulls that off, but she does!)
- This book is open door, but there really aren’t that many sex scenes.
- Read my full Just for Summer Review.
- Genre: Romance
- Pub Year: 2024
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin
- I really love this series by Megan Goldin. Dark Corners is the second installment in the Rachel Krall series. (The first one is The Night Swim). Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster with a journalism background.
- What I love about the way these books are written is that they alternate between the story, and Rachel’s podcast. I find that her commentary helps with processing what is happening in the book.
- Thrillers by nature can be a bit stressful to read, and her “podcasts” offer a respite that slowly help to tie things together.
- I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but I picked up one by Megan Goldin a couple of years ago, and I have since gone on to read almost all of her titles.
- The Rachel Krall series is great on audio! The podcast portion really sounds like you are listening to a podcast. They even have a different narrator doing this portion of the book.
- Genre: Thriller
- Pub Year: 2023
Honorable Mentions:
- Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
- Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin
- You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles
- A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
- The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
What were your favorite reads of 2024??
