2024 Bookish Year in Review

The good, the bad, & the zany of my reading life in 2024

Last year I did a summary of my year of reading and really enjoyed looking back on all the books I read. Last year was also a banner year for my reading, since I read 47 books, the most I’ve ever read in a year. (I realize for some of you that 47 is a small number, but for me it’s a big accomplishment. Humor me.) Naturally, this year I decided to increase my goal to 45, and of course I failed miserably in my attempt to hit that target. But given the fact that this year was incredibly difficult on multiple levels¹, I’m still glad I read 31 books (4 of which I read in the last week of the year).

The types of books I gravitated towards this year were primarily fiction and specifically of the mystery/suspense/thriller type. I am sad to say I only read 4 nonfiction books, but that’s pretty standard, honestly. I would like to challenge myself to read at least 10 nonfiction books this year. I am such a fiction lover, but I would like to work on stretching myself and reading more books that will enrich or educate me.

Favorite Reads of 2024

When thinking about my favorite reads of the year, I consider the following: Did it leave a lasting impression? Did it make me feel deeply? If it’s fiction, did I like the ending? (Endings can make or break a book for me!) Did it make me want to start reading it over again immediately after I finished? A book can end up a favorite for me even if it’s not the most well-written book, as long as I can answer those questions with a definite “yes.” So, in no particular order, here are my top favorites from this year²:

1. How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key. I had high expectations for this book because everyone I knew who had read it raved about it, and my expectations were exceeded. I don’t know how Key managed to insert so much humor into a book about his wife’s infidelity, but he did. I am not sure if I cried more or laughed more. It’s a very honest, poignant look at a marriage and how it’s revived, and I highly recommend it.

2. The Women by Kristin Hannah. I am embarrassed to say that I knew very little about the Vietnam War before reading this book, and I knew even less about the women who were on the frontlines caring for wounded soldiers. This story of 3 women who become friends while serving in the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam was very hard to read because of all the suffering described in its pages, but it had me thinking about it for weeks after I finished.

3. Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. Reading this book with a friend helped me to read it slowly enough to fully digest its truths. I didn’t particularly want to read this book. A friend asked me to read it with her at a time when my frustration and anger with God were high, but I said yes because I knew I needed to read about God’s sovereignty and goodness during a time when I was questioning both. I am very thankful to have read it, and I highly recommend it.

4. Drowning by TJ Newman. This book is a bit of an outlier compared to the others, but this thrilling story of a commercial plane crashing into the Pacific Ocean with passengers trapped inside was moving in a way I didn’t expect. I loved the relationships depicted in the story, and while some of the plot requires a good deal of suspension of disbelief, it was worth it.

5. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. Listen, this book is dark and twisted. It is not for the faint of heart. But man, the plot was masterfully crafted, and it has been a long time since a book left me completely flabbergasted when I finished. (Trigger warnings galore.)

Worst Reads of 2024

I know the word “worst” is completely subjective and recognize that you might love a book I have on this list, and that’s fine! It takes all kinds of readers to make the world go ‘round. But here are the books I really didn’t like this year:

1. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. This is not only the worst book I read this year; it’s one of the worst books I’ve read in several years. It’s truly amazing how the author wrote a book in which NOTHING HAPPENS for chapters and chapters and yet managed to still make it completely disturbing. (So, kudos?) The only reason I finished is because it was for book club, and admittedly, I was SO curious to see if it would redeem itself at the end (it did not—not even close). Steer clear, friends!

2. The Inmate by Freida McFadden. Many people seem to love everything McFadden writes, but this is the third book by her that I have not enjoyed, so maybe she’s not the author for me. The premise is what inspired me to read it, but the execution left much to be desired.

3. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica. This book had a lot of potential, and the beginning had me turning the pages quickly to find out what happens to the women who go missing in an affluent town. However, soon the plot goes off the rails, and there were too many implausible situations and twists for my liking. Plus, the author was inordinately fond of short, choppy sentences.

Books with the Zaniest Plots

Last year I had a category about books I didn’t finish, but this year several books I read had such odd plots that I wanted to cover a few here.

1. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. I’m honestly surprised at myself for even deciding to read this book about a young married couple whose lives are upended when the husband begins to morph into a shark (yes, really). But I kept seeing so many people gushing about this book that my curiosity got the best of me. I don’t often go for books with this type of magical realism (and I’m not completely sure that aptly describes what’s going on in this book), but I did get sucked into the plot quickly. The main characters were endearing and likable, and I thought the writing was solid. I didn’t love some of the structural choices, but overall, this book was a pleasant surprise.

2. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. This the first book I read in 2024, and what a way to start the year! The story begins with two authors who were sort of friends/frenemies in their writing program. One author, Athena, becomes a huge commercial success, while the other one, June, flounders. One day, June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident in her apartment. But instead of calling the police and grieving and moving on, June decides to call the police and also steal Athena’s newest manuscript and pass it off as her own. Naturally, complications ensue, with one crazy thing after another happening. I enjoyed parts of this book even though I didn’t like any of the characters, but the ending disappointed me.

3. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This is another book in which one of the main characters is an animal, and this time it’s a charming, giant octopus. (Yes, the octopus really is charming. I loved the parts of the book narrated in his voice.) It took me a while to get into this because, well, I tend to enjoy main characters that aren’t animals, and I didn’t love it nearly as much as others seem to, but it was definitely unique.

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Now it’s your turn! What books did you love or hate or find absolutely bonkers in 2024?

1. I do plan to write more about the difficult parts, especially why I’ve been absent from this space for over 2 months. I just need to find the right words.

2. All Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission when you purchase through my link. Thank you for your support!