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2024 READING ROUNDUP
After a bit of a sabbatical, I lurked in the shadows, while life got away from me a little. What better reason to kick start my journey in the literary blogging world with renewed vigour than the old adage of the New Year Resolution?!? To keep on top of the blogosphere! And to share my favourite books of 2024.
Although I've been quiet from a blog perspective, I have remained completely in love with reading, and have continued to gobble up books from as many genres as I could in the latter half of the year. I'm feeling invigorated and motivated, everything has a way of working itself out so I will be starting 2025 with my ultimate lowdown of the books I have read and loved in 2024. I'll share my overall top ten picks of 2024, along with the books that were my funniest, grittiest, darkest, spiciest, and most emotional. I'll break down my favourite books of 2024 in some of my more popular genres to read and, of course, let you in on my number one book of the year.
First, the elephant in the room :)
"YOU READ HOW MANY BOOKS?"
One hundred and six. 106. Over a hundred. About two a week.
They weren't short books either (although I did read The Velveteen Rabbit which is for young children and is about 20 pages!!) with 19.5k pages, roughly 53 pages per day. I also absolutely smashed audiobooks out the park - if I am driving, I am listening to a book. My driving hours went off the charts especially towards the middle of the year, giving me just over 604 hours of listening time, over 1.5 hours a day on average.
However you look at it, that's a metric sh!t ton of reading. I often get asked how I read so much but I have to admit, the speed at which I read a book vastly depends on my mood, and strangely, my connection to the story. I read in all formats and see reading books or consuming knowledge as an important part of my self-care routine and life! Audiobooks are also sped up, I read at about 1.7x speed, so the actual number of hours that I physically listened to them is almost half of what my tracker thinks :)
My previous blog post (which you can read here) fits nicely with this topic, check it out for some of my best tips for finding time to read (and therefore being able to read more!).
That said, the number of books a person reads is actually irrelevant. It's not a competition (although I often compete with myself and set myself targets and goals to stretch my comfort zone!). If reading brings you joy, whether you read a single book a year or 300, if you enjoy, then you have won!
Now for the fun part, a breakdown of my best reads of 2024! For a full list of everything I read in 2024 click here. There are also links to my reviews (if available!!) - if there are any on there that I haven't reviewed yet and you'd like to see my take on it, let me know in the comments and I'll get to it as quick as I can!
Comedy Gold
I read a lot of very funny books in 2024. Some were geared that way, and some were more subtle and funny in a more relatable, self-depreciating way. Here are some of the standout comedy masterpieces I read in 2024.
Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I love a book filled with sarcasm and wit, often finding language and conversation more humourous than physical comedy. This is especially the case with audiobooks, a good narrator can really inject the right tone in, as though the words are just falling from their own mind. This was by far the most in-your-face funny of the books on my comedy list. It's pun-tastic, very quick-witted, sarcastic, and genuinely good fun. I also thoroughly enjoyed the story and how well it's stood the test of time to be just as relevant now in shining a light on (and making a bit of fun at) human nature.
Bella Mackie, What a Way to Go
I loved the style of Bella Mackie's debut, How to Kill Your Family and this most recent release lived up to my expectations. Add some hilarious streams of consciousness, some light supernatural touches (which are also beautifully and pointedly jabbing at society), and mix together with a decent, suspenseful plot, characters you love to hate, and some dialogue dripping in wit and dark humour, you've got yourself an easy to digest, engaging and laughter-inducing read. If you like dark and twisty that is!
C.J Skuse, Sweetpea
Another sarcastic inner monologue, a murderously endearing main character, and a story that falls gloriously into that grey area between REALLY dark and DELIGHTFULLY funny!
Dark and Gritty
Changing direction at breakneck speed, let's have a look at some of the darker, grimier books I got my teeth into in 2024.
Ania Ahlborn, The Devil Crept In
This book is one great big creepy vibe, with two converging stories to keep the reader guessing. Without giving too much away, let's just say there are creepy kids, creepy cottages, creepy towns, creepy pets, and one particularly creepy infant.
Edgar Allan Poe, The Complete Audio Collection
This book was a huge time investment, with 44 hours of prose, short stories, and verse. Anyone familiar with Poe (even just from a pop culture perspective like me!) knows that his work focusses on the dark and macabre. There's lots of discussion on death, loss, murder, mystery, and everything in between. I was completely captivated by the style and the vividness of the worlds he created, especially in the longer pieces of work. While it is dark and ominous, I also found it beautiful. Even if you don't want to dabble in all of his work, or all at once, Poe should be on the list of authors to read.
Robert Rand, The Menendez Murders
For obvious reasons, this one was gritty and dark from start to finish. It's a true (or as true as possible based on the trials and testimonies) account of the Menendez Murders, which have been brought to the forefront recently following on from the viral Netflix show. This book shed light on the case, and gave more context and insight to what was depicted in the show but given the nature of the crimes and allegations, there were moments of uncomfortable reading.
Twist and Shout
I LOVE a story that surprises me, thrillers are one of my favourite genres because they so often ecorporate big reveals and twisty twists, so there's no surprise that thriller/mystery was my most read genre of 2024. There's no better feeling than the moment of dawning realisation, when the pieces suddenly fit together and you recognise how masterfully the story has been woven and built up to a real rollercoaster. Here are my favourite twisty books of 2024 (with no spoilers!).
Cara Hunter, Murder in the Family
The true crime documentary style of the book really allowed the author to lean into the art of surprising the viewer/reader. Every chapter had a new big reveal or cliffhanger question and intricately linked everything together through subtle foreshadowing and a really ingenious mode of delivery in terms of the story. Even though I guessed the "big" twist quite early on, this book was straight out of the top drawer!
C.J Cooke, I Know My Name
Dual timelines allow the author to pace the story brilliantly in this twisty mystery. C.J Cooke lets you in just far enough to make you think you have it all figured out but subtly hides tiny easter eggs throughout to give a very satisfying reveal at the end. This book added C.J Cooke to my list of default authors, and I haven't been let down once. Rugged and harsh surroundings, and some great subject matter around motherhood and mental health.
Stephen King, You Like It Darker
Most of the short stories in this Stephen King compilation have a twist or two, and it makes this book a real contender for one of my favourites of the year. There's also a real message of hope and of looking forward to the future, as well as lots of introspection, dalliance into thoughts of getting older and what happens next, along with the master's usual sucker punches of plot twists. On more than one occasion I had to pause the audio to soak in what I had just experienced, take a breather, and ready myself before I could move on! Stephen King really can weave a tale!
Sugar and Spice, and all things nice!
To say that I popped my dark romance cherry in 2024 is an understatement. The levels of spice in these books are off the charts. Be aware that if you decide to read them, they're not for the faint of heart so read the trigger warnings if you need to! Here's the spiciest books I read in 2024...
L.S Hilton, Maestra
This is the book that popped my cherry :) I had no idea what I was in for and read the first spicy scene in what I now believe is a state of shock. I didn't know where to look! There are scenes involving multiple people, multiple places, many different things being done, all in the midst of a very good thriller story!
H.D Carlton, Haunting/Hunting Adeline & Satan's Affair
These books are not only spicy, they are DARK. The spice goes a little (or alot, depending on your viewpoint!) beyond what most folks would say is "vanilla" and deals with characters' proclivities that are a little out there, along with themes that are pretty uncomfortable. By the later parts of the book, I was starting to find some of the characters a little annoying and two dimensional but there's definitely plenty of spice through them all and the thriller storyline holds its own.
Scarlett St Clair, Hades/Persephone Series
I read the first two of the Hades Persephone series this year and in all honesty they were probably my favourite spicy romances. Greek Mythology is so cool anyway, so having the legends being retold, and brought into a contemporary setting was enjoyable. The specific Hades Persephone story was pretty hot, with some fairly, erm, descriptive, spice. Not for listening to in the car when you're taking your mum to Tesco that's for sure!
Tear Jerkers
A book that delivers a sucker punch to the emotions is often one that will stay with you. Whether it's joy, sorrow, hope, or misery, it takes a skilled author combined with characters and plots that are just right. Sometimes it's expected, and sometimes the emotion simmers beneath the surface, boiling over in the right way at the right time. While I am not often one for actual tears when reading, these are the books I read in 2024 that really took hold of me emotionally.
Yomi Adegoke, The List
This book got me in the feels, across my entire spectrum of emotions. The subject matter was incredibly topical, with discussions of race, mental health (particularly men's mental health), cancel culture, the toxicity of the internet, and the Me Too movement all intertwined in one captivating story. The storytelling was thought-provoking and the message was intense while still feeling relevant. What hit the hardest is that, none of the situations being depicted are out of the realms of possibility for any one of us, our friends, co-workers, or peers. That's what makes it so real, and therefore so raw on the emotions.
Kristin Hannah, The Women
I listened to this audiobook and was intensely invested from start to finish. This book leaped to the top of my emotional charts in one, very specific, moment. I had my headphones on. I was cleaning the bathroom floor, on my hands and knees, scrubbing away like Cinderella in full automatic mode, intently engrossed in the story. There's a scene in this book (again, no spoilers) that screams solidarity and sisterhood, involving a medal. This scene, no word of a lie, had me lying on my bathroom floor, WAILING and ugly crying for at least 10 minutes. Powerful. Wow.
Chris Brookmyre, The Cut
Ok, hear me out. While on the surface, this book looks to be a bog-standard thriller. Some murder, some crime solving, sleuthing antics, you know the drill. But. For some reason, the two main characters were told with such charm and relatability that there were some key moments (no spoilers, but if you have read it you will know!) that were fraught with emotion, sadness, relief, guilt and vulnerability. The best thing about it was, my affinity to the characters crept up on me, I didn't realise I felt so connected to them until my eyes were welling up as I realised the depth of the situation.
Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain
Powerful and captivating with vivid imagery and real raw emotion. This book was a difficult read, very gritty, like an open wound. I felt a little broken when I was done, but in a way that made me ultimately feel hopeful and grateful. Masterfully written, facing directly into the difficult and very real topics of sexuality, poverty, broken homes, and family ties.
Top 10 Books of 2024
It's only right that I finish by counting down my top ten books of 2024. Deciding which books to place in my top ten was hard and the entrants have changed multiple times while writing this post! These books excited me the most, and I recommend them instantly when asked for a suggestion of a book to read. I'm not a book critic in the sense of looking at the structure, imagery, symbolism, or underlying meaning with any great depth or focus so I am not saying that any one book was written any better than another. There's a feeling that comes with finishing a great book, it's hard to describe. Completion. Satisfaction, Elation. Like feeling the need to clap at the end of a great movie. These 10 gave me that feeling!
Cara Hunter, Murder in the Family - See above for why! The twists were just SO GOOD!
Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden - I adored this book as a child and it brought me a sense of nostalgia and hope, still just as great as I remember! A delightfully gorgeous story of friendship and family. Heartwarming from top to bottom!
Kristin Hannah, The Women - Made me ugly cry, it's got to be up there!
T.J Klune, Under the Whispering Door - a bit of magic, with a bit of a Christmas Carole vibe, some amazing loveable characters and a beautiful found family story. Incredible!
Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain - such a hard-hitting and poignant read, I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.
Andy Weir, The Martian - The fact that sci-fi has made it into my top ten has amazed me, Andy Weir does an amazing job of making very dull things (in my opinion!) seem interesting, and telling a story mainly from the point of view of a solitary character without things getting boring is a real testament to the writing style!
Stephen King, You Like It Darker - Every story here packs a punch. Whether it's a straight-up PLOT TWIST, or a thought-provoking consideration of life and what's important, the interweaving themes and imagery are perfection!
Rachel Gillig, Two Twisted Crowns - The conclusion to the duology was incredible. The world-building is enhanced further, with a new romance (a better chemistry in my humble opinion!) and a gorgeous finale.
Amy Tintera, Listen for the Lie - Similar to Murder in the Family, the way this book has been set up, placing the reader into the position of live podcast listener, is a fun and interesting way of controlling the narrative. This was a fun and enjoyable read!
Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None - I listened to this in one sitting, it isn't a long book, but every single part is masterfully crafted. It stands the test of time and really is a litmus test against which all locked room mysteries can be compared. This one got a physical round of applause from me when it was done. Beautiful.
Here's to another year of great reading!
Well, there you have it, a snapshot of the books I read and loved in 2024. Check out my complete list here. Did you read any of the same books? What were your standout books of 2024? Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to FOLLOW MY BLOG to stay in the loop with new reviews and bookish content. Thanks for sticking with me, happy reading!!
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