Today I’m sharing a list of the best books I read in 2024.
My reading life this year, like my real life, was a bit all over the place. I read a handful of super long mystery novels in the spring, had a dry spell in the early fall (I think I DNF’d four books in a row), and in general spent more time on my laptop in my evenings than I care to admit.
In the end, I landed at 27 books for the year–lower than the window I typically shoot for but still enough to make this list nearly impossible to narrow down.
The Best Books I Read in 2024
Fiction:
The Whalebone Theatre – Joanna Quinn
If you are into historical fiction, I simply must insist you put this on your list. Set first on the coast of England and then in the throes of World War II, this story follows the quirky and bold Cristobel Seagrave from childhood through adulthood. I found myself absolutely enamored with the characters, setting, and writing. It’s the perfect winter read.
Sorrow and Bliss – Meg Mason
Tyler and I went to see Ann Patchett speak at an event last year, and she gave a few book recommendations at the end of her talk. She said that Sorrow and Bliss was the one book she recommended to everyone who came into her bookstore during their COVID reading ruts. Needless to say, I ordered it immediately and, not surprisingly, ended up loving it. The book’s protagonist Martha has just turned 40 and begins to reflect on the mess she’s made of her life. This book provides a beautifully compassionate view of a mental health battle and is, in my opinion, so important.
Foster – Claire Keegan
This is a stunning story about a little girl in rural Ireland. The child belongs to a huge family and goes to live with another couple one summer as a way to relieve her struggling mother. Claire Keegan’s writing is breathtakingly succinct. At just 90 pages long, this is a wonderful “in one sitting” type of book, a true treasure.
The Likeness – Tana French
One of my best friends, Kate, introduced me to the Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series this past year. These are sort of sprawling crime novels set in Ireland. So far, I have read the first two in the series–The Likeness and In The Woods–and loved them both. These are longer and more complex than your typical thriller but well worth the time. I found myself seriously invested in the cases and the wellbeing of the detectives working them.
Bye, Baby – Carola Lovering
Bye, Baby is a nice, juicy, easy-to-read thriller–the type of book that just belongs in a beach bag. I brought this to Spain in May and finished it before we even made it to our second stop of the itinerary. The book opens with an eerie scene: Billie West wakes up in an apartment to hear her best friend Cassie screaming for her missing baby, just one floor above her. Billie looks down to find the baby nestled in her arms. The rest of the book retraces Billie and Cassie’s friendship, an unbelievably fascinating round of “how did we get here?” This book was so interesting because it makes something so unrealistic slowly start to seem plausible. I couldn’t put it down.
The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
Speaking of literary thrillers, The God of The Woods by Liz Moore was one of my favorite reads of the year. The novel is set in the woods of Upstate New York and flips back and forth between the stories of two mysterious disappearances: 13 year old Barbara Van Laar in 1975 and that of her brother, Bear Van Laar, who vanished at the age of 8 in 1961.
It was hard for me to not compare this to Long Bright River, also by Liz Moore, which happens to be one of my favorite books of all time. In the end, I decided that The God of The Woods had a more interesting plot line, but I didn’t connect to the characters in the same way I did with Long Bright River. Both excellent, perfect reads though.
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguoro
Now this is a weird one, lol. I have been meaning to read Never Let Me Go for years and finally picked it up over the summer. I don’t want to spoil much, but this novel takes place at a very special boarding school in the English countryside. If you’re in the mood for a ride, I definitely recommend it.
You Are Here – David Nichols
My heart. You Are Here filled the void that most rom coms have left for me over the past few years. The book follows a grumpy and unlikely pair–Michael and Marnie–who have found themselves on a 10 day walk across England. This was just cute, cute, cute. A moody setting, witty dialogue, and lovable characters? You can’t ask for a better pick-me-up than that.
All the Colors of the Dark – Chris Whitaker
All the Colors of the Dark takes my number one slot this year. This was just insane. The novel begins in 1975 in Monta Clare, Missouri when a teenage girl is almost abducted but saved at the last second by a local boy. The novel follows the aftermath and the mystery surrounding the event in the following decades.
I recommend this book with the caveat that it does take a certain amount of focus. Some of the writing can be a bit abstract, so I had to go back and reread to make sure I understood what was going on. I could see it being difficult to follow via audiobook. If you are aware of that going in, I think this book is 1000% worth the effort and time. The story is beautiful, and the ending is astonishing. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
The Wedding People – Alison Espach
Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island (I can’t not picture Holiday House) in an emerald green dress and a plan to end her life. After years of infertility, her husband leaving her for their coworker, and, finally, her cat dying, Phoebe’s had enough. Upon checking in, she happens to meet the bride of the wedding happening at the Cornwall that week. Lila, the bride, is a little lost herself, and the two end up forming an unlikely and hilarious bond. Per Lila’s request, Phoebe puts her plans on hold and joins the wedding party. I loved this book. It is entertaining, well-written, and a great little escape after a year of somewhat heavy reading.
The Frozen River – Ariel Lawhon
File under: not boring historical fiction. The novel takes place in a small town in Maine in 1789 and centers around the town midwife, Martha Ballard. One freezing winter morning, a body is discovered beneath the ice in the river. Martha is called to examine the body and determine the cause of death, and the victim turns out to be a man who is accused of rape by a local woman.
I really enjoyed this book. It was another great winter read. However, I am issuing major trigger warning for rape which they do describe in detail. I skimmed/skipped that part, but please proceed with discretion.
Non-fiction:
Mindset – Carol Dweck
This book was recommended by Char’s kindergarten teacher who, by the way, started her career in neuroscience. This book walks through the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and how these mindsets can impact every area of life. The way we VIEW our abilities, propensities, and potential directly impacts our success in work, parenting, and relationships. Fascinating, right?
I have known about the idea of fixed vs. growth mindset for a while but haven’t been able to really internalize it. This book has been SO helpful for me. I have found that reading and ruminating on the concept of growth mindset has helped me process and apply it throughout the day.
Upon Waking – Jackie Hill Perry
One of my best friends, Hannah, sent this to me for my birthday this year. This is a 60-day devotional that is actually based in scripture and not full of personal stories (Would love to hear about your neighborhood pot luck or son’s soccer game but just not in my morning devo, please). Jackie Hill Perry’s writing is just prolific. I loved every single one of the devotions in this book and plan to go through it again at some point this year.
Looking for more book recs? Check out my year-end lists from 2022 and 2023, or head to my “bookshelf” page for my list of mood-based reading recommendations and all of my quarterly roundups.
I would also like to take this time to direct you to my Friday morning newsletter. I send these out every week–they are a true labor of love! These are very much not spammy, I swear. I share whatever book I’m reading that week, products or ideas I’m obsessing over, and the links to any recent blog posts. I’d be honored to have you!
