Books of the Year 2024
My picks for books of the year are based on what I enjoyed so much I couldn’t put down and loved so much I either read them a second time immediately or have been itching to. I also likely wanted to talk about them so much that they became my full personality. I have my top 2 in each category and then several honorable mentions! I did not read any Pulitzer Prize winners this year and this list reflects that. If I were to make a list of the best books ever written, it would probably look differently. But here are my favorites that I am grateful I read this year!
Book of the Year
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, the final book in Throne of Glass series
Across all genres I read this year, this is the one that blew me away the most. This was everything Game of Thrones wishes it was! This is the only series to truly stick the landing in an epic and satisfying and also emotionally impactful way AND made sense without mounds of plot armor AND all the while not extremely depressing. It towed the line with all of those pieces really well. There’s not 1, not 2, but THREE incredible FMCs! It’s an incredible conclusion to the already amazing Throne of Glass series
2. The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen, book two in The Bridge Kingdom series
This was a very close second place for favorite book I read this year. I couldn’t put it down and finished in 24 hours and as soon as I finished reading it, I immediately re-read it again! Lara is my #2 favorite FMC of all time. She’s a badass and also the most complex female character I’ve ever read and yet you still root for her even when she makes bad choices. Amazing main couple chemistry- the best I’ve ever read! The heist rescue mission was a lot of fun and Lara’s sisters were the icing on the cake. I would read a book about every single one of her sisters. The audiobook is also amazing.
Series of the year: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
This was the year that I learned A Court of Thorns and Roses is in fact not the best of SJM… it’s Throne of Glass. I also learned that patience really does pay off. If I had abandoned this after the so-so first book (NOT the prequel, The Assassin’s Blade, because that’s amazing; but book 1) then I would have missed out on what is now my favorite series of all time. This would make an epic HBO show, and the story has the emotional impact where if it’s done and cast well, it would win a lot of awards.
Favorites of romantasy/fantasy, outside of the previously mentioned top 2 books of the year:
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Incredibly moving story of grief. One of the longest books I’ve ever read (second to Kingdom of Ash) and yet one of the fastest I’ve ever finished a book.
The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
This was beautiful. I've never read a story like it nor a character like Mische. Typically in romantasy, we have a fierce FMC who takes no shit and is a grand warrior, which, don't get me wrong- I eat that up, but Mische was unique. Mische is kind, compassionate, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent but isn't a Mary Sue simp and still has a full personality. She's a top tier favorite FMC for me now. She and Asar are also a top 5 favorite couple! Asar is a grumpy marshmallow of a sweetheart, and he and his dog's friendship was such a sweet addition.
A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson
I keep thinking about this one! Also very unique and didn’t expect that ending! Really enjoyed the FMC and the romance didn’t follow the usual beats.
Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
Talk about surprising ending and love story not following the predictable plot! This was the most suprising read of 2024. I still need to re-read it to fully understand what happened.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Honestly, this story is kind of mid but I still really enjoyed it. What felt unique about it was the love story felt earned and wasn’t insta love. I also liked that the FMC had a romantic history and didn’t just fall for the first guy in the story. Also, the fact that her ex turned out to be a great friend and was a great side character and not a villain was refreshing!
The Inadequate Heir by Danielle L. Jensen
I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did since the first two books about Lara and Aren blew me away so much and I wasn’t sure about this POV switch but this was such a good story. It’s more of a forbidden love story between two people of rivaling regions but with lots of stakes and great side characters.
Mistborn (original trilogy) by Brandon Sanderson
This is probably the most well written, executed and thought-out books I’ve ever read.. but I’m not sure that I can say that I enjoyed it because it was so sad. The ending was free of plot armor, was expertly thought out.. and was deeply depressing and bleak. This is one of those books that I would say is one of the best, but not my favorite. I like to walk away from books feeling like it was a fun vacation, and this was definitely not that. I am here for ups and downs with characters, but I don’t like feeling bleak. I utilize reading as a form of self-care and to give me hope when real life feels like it’s too much!
Favorites of regency romance:
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
I seriously adored this book. I kept wanting the rest of my regency reads to be like it but just nothing was quite as charming as this.
The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean
There’s sometimes an issue with regency romances that stay too true to the time period- which typically include blurred lines at best and lack of consent at worst and general misogyny. This book is set in the 1800s but the modern female characters take on gender inequality. This is such a fresh, modern and feminist regency.
Unveiled by Courtney Milan
I think it’s the best written regency romance I’ve ever read. It was my first book by Courtney Milan and now I want to read all of her books. Her style reminds me of Jane Austen in that not a lot happens in the story, and it is really focused on the characters, but with a more contemporary spin.
Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy
This was such a wild ride, ESPECIALLY for a regency romance! There’s a letter writing scandal but that’s far from the craziest thing that happens in the book. This is Jane the Virgin meets Bridgerton, and I was here for the twists and turns.
Favorites of romance:
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
I’ll admit, that I was initially drawn by how pretty the cover is, but I quickly appreciated the pages within. The way it’s written drew me in from the first page. The story itself is fluffy and light but the characters and writing are bubbly and rich, making it so much more. To know Anna is to love her and that extends to the reader. Her personality was bright colors and a big hug. I read this 6 months ago and I keep thinking about how much joy it brought me the rest of the year.
Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
Holiday books typically don't fully capture the festivity of the season other than just mentioning hot cocoa and that there's pine trees around and often they don't hold my attention. But this had the charm of Emily Henry's writing style, lovable characters and several moments that made me laugh out loud! They're also set in Ireland which I really enjoyed. Feeling very festive after reading this.
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
Friends to lovers isn’t typically my favorite trope but I really loved this one! They had great banter and I was rooting for them the whole time.
Variation by Rebecca Yarros
Idk what sorcery Rebecca Yarros imbeds in her writing but it’s addictive to me! This is the fourth book I’ve read by her that had me hooked until I finished! It’s some crazy melodrama but I loved every second of it.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
I really enjoyed this but also felt that it got a lot of hype. Personally, it wasn’t a top 3 romance for me this year but I did still really enjoy it. Both main characters were genuinely kind and they appreciated the small moments together and didn’t sweat the small stuff. They really appreciated each others differences and didn’t want to change each other. I loved Daphne’s love of books and Miles’s appreciation for food and taste of things in general. They weren’t flashy or melodramatic. They’re two kindhearted people who appreciate even life’s smallest joys and that radiated to me as a reader.
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
I didn’t expect to enjoy this but I kept thinking about it after I was done! A curse breaker and an archaeologist are working on site a Scottish ruin and the castle has a mind of its own. So fun and cute.
Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
This was a warm hug of a book. It's Schitts Creek but make it Hallmark and add a potty mouth parrot and a country star FMC.
Favorites of Audiobooks:
A lot of good graphic audios this year!
Iron Flame graphic audio narrated by full cast
The graphic audio totally enhances the story, especially part one of the book. Part one can be frustrating with some of Violet’s hardheaded stubbornness and choices, as well as some of her and Xaden’s fights. But Khaya Fraites and Gabriel Michael 100% bring nuance and humanity to the characters which made those issues that previously frustrated me, feel like natural steps in their character growth.
House of Earth and Blood narrated by Elizabeth Evans
Elizabeth Evans expertly conveyed the depth of the character with her narration. I could not stop listening!
Fourth Wing graphic audio narrated by full cast
The voice performances in the graphic audio, particularly for Violet and Xaden just further enhance their chemistry and relationship. That death is also that much more devastating by the power of the performances.
Mistborn graphic audio narrated by full cast
The different voice actors and sound effects made a book that otherwise would have been too dense for me completely doable! The stellar performances wound up making the already sad ending to this series even more extremely depressing but that also speaks to how well the story was told that it affected me so deeply.
The Traitor Queen narrated by Lauren Fortgang and James Patrick Cronin
This already amazing story is taken to the next level with the duet narration and sound effects. It’s not a full-on graphic audio, but the performances of the main characters totally elevate it.
Quicksilver narrated by Stella Bloom and Anthony Palmini
This book is pretty mid without the audiobook. The duet style and the caliber of the performances of the main characters take this pretty standard story to the next level for me.
Books I’m most looking forward to in 2025:
Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth book 2)
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia 4)
A Vow of Fallen Embers (The Eye of the Goddess book 2)
Metal Slinger book 2 which has been confirmed to be a duology but no date yet
The Bridge Kingdom 6 which also has been confirmed to be a duology but no date yet!
Here’s to hoping that A Court of Thorns Roses book 6 will be announced!
