As I went again and seemed on the book-related weblog posts and e book evaluations I shared 2024, I discovered myself remembering wonderful plot strains, inventive twists, stunning writing, fantastic escape novels and thrilling excerpts that saved me studying late into the night time. Under you’ll discover the highest 10 books I learn final yr and so they fall throughout a myriad of genres — every part from suspenseful thrillers and fantasy novels to breezy reads and historic fiction. I hope just a few of the books I’ve highlighted beneath discover their manner into your fingers in 2025 and that you simply love them as a lot as I did final yr!
Observe: Two of the books beneath I listened to as audiobooks and I’ve famous this beneath, as I do suppose listening to a e book versus studying it may well change the reader/listener’s expertise.
High 10 Books I Learn in 2024
Style: Thriller/Drama
My score: A
All of the Colours of the Darkish is just not solely among the best books I learn in 2024, it’s simply among the best books I’ve learn ever. The writing is so gorgeous and it’s the type of e book that makes you wish to write down sure passages as a result of they’re so superbly poignant. It’s a thriller not like another thriller I’ve learn with a lot depth. It’s additionally very uniquely unpredictable and when you end up approaching the ultimate third of the e book, simply go forward and clear your schedule or anticipate to be up waaay previous midnight studying as a result of a lot is revealed and also you will be unable to place it down. It’s a protracted novel however I completely adored this e book from begin to end and located it so immensely inventive. Additionally, you already know these books you learn the place you end up pondering the creator could also be some type of genius? I believe that’s the case with Chris Whitaker. The best way he so expertly wove the story collectively over the course of many years blew me away and I beloved it when a little bit snippet he talked about earlier within the e book resurfaced on the finish in essentially the most transferring manner. That is a kind of lengthy haul learn that’s value each single minute you spend curled up with this novel in your fingers.
Style: Historic Fiction
My score: A
There’s a motive everyone seems to be recommending this novel proper now. It’s superbly written, tragic and informative and, actually, it felt like an necessary learn. Whereas I’m somebody who admittedly loves historic fiction novels, I hadn’t learn one which befell through the Vietnam Warfare earlier than The Ladies.
I used to be fully captivated by Frankie’s story from begin to end. I fiercely rooted for her and was heartbroken many times each by the horrors of Vietnam and by all Frankie was compelled to endure (again and again… severely, the lady simply couldn’t catch a break). And I additionally beloved the best way the creator wove twists into the story… some I noticed coming however one I undoubtedly didn’t and it was the type of twist that made me wish to throw my e book throughout the room.
I additionally can not say sufficient good issues in regards to the creator’s writing. She clearly pours immense effort and time into her analysis and paints essentially the most vivid photos along with her phrases. She always references music everyone knows from the time interval, in addition to hair kinds, standard trend selections, automotive fashions and extra to assist transport the reader to the late Nineteen Sixties and ’70s.
Synopsis
This novel begins within the mid Nineteen Sixties when nursing scholar Frankie McGrath attends the send-off get together for her brother earlier than he leaves to combat in Vietnam. Having grown up in Coronado Island, California, Frankie is used to a rustic membership life-style the place the main target of most younger girls is on marrying properly and having kids. It isn’t till her brother’s finest pal tells her “girls could be heroes, too,” at her brother’s goodbye get together that Frankie realizes she will be able to additionally play a component within the struggle. Intrigued and impressed to make a distinction, Frankie indicators as much as be a part of the Military Nurse Corps.
She arrives in Vietnam overwhelmed and undertrained however she is dedicated and decided and shortly turns into probably the most expert surgical nurses alongside her roommates-turned-friends, Ethel and Barb. The three girls see tragedy after tragedy and Frankie experiences love, heartbreak, trauma, grief, shock and hope as she continues to be taught and supply the absolute best care to everybody in her path.
As her time in Vietnam involves an in depth, her emotions about leaving the struggle behind are blended. Regardless of letters from residence telling her how about anti-war protests, Frankie is unprepared by simply how unwelcome she feels when she returns to California. Nobody needs to listen to about her time in Vietnam and she or he struggles with feeling each happy with her service and, someway, ashamed. Whereas the struggle wages on, Frankie realizes she has her personal battle to face at residence as she tries to search out her manner in her previous life when she’s anybody however the girl she was earlier than the struggle.
Style: Thriller, Suspense
My score: A
WOW. This e book. Phew. What a learn. I’m unsure why however a lot of These Silent Woods made me consider The place the Crawdad’s Sing. Maybe the best way the e book emphasizes nature? In the event you favored Crawdads, I’d undoubtedly give this one a strive! These Silent Woods follows a father and his 8-year-old daughter dwelling in isolation within the woods within the Appalachian Mountains. The writing is stuffed with essentially the most stunning prose about nature coupled with heart-pounding suspense. It’s completely different than your typical thriller novel because it’s stuffed with coronary heart and depth, love and tough choices. It’s additionally written in a manner that made me wish to spotlight or write down sure passages as a result of they felt so uncooked and pure and human. I cared deeply for the characters. And the ending was sudden in a manner that ripped my coronary heart open however felt extremely satisfying, too.
Synopsis
Cooper and his daughter Finch ran off to the woods of the Appalachian Mountains when Finch was a child the place they’ve lived off the grid for eight years. With a lot to cover, Cooper is decided to maintain them unseen, one thing that’s changing into more and more onerous as Finch will get older, extra curious, and extra unbiased. Aside from Cooper, within the eight years Finch has lived in a distant cabin along with her father, she’s solely met two folks: Her mysterious neighbor Scotland and Jake, her father’s finest pal and the person accountable for outfitting them with mandatory provides yearly. When the same old date of Jake’s go to comes and goes and he doesn’t present, every part begins to vary, placing the easy life Cooper has labored so onerous to create for his daughter into jeopardy.
Style: Dystopian Fiction, Younger Grownup Thriller
My score: A
The Grace Yr got here extremely advisable to me by my pal Macie who claimed the e book was her favourite learn 0f 2023. Macie is an avid reader like myself. So when she mentioned it was the perfect e book she learn final yr, I knew I needed to dive in. When it grew to become obtainable by means of my native library, I started studying it. And I just about didn’t cease till I used to be completed.
It’s a darkish dystopian novel that roped me in instantly and saved me studying late into the night time. I learn it in two sittings, staying up hours previous my typical bedtime. As a result of I couldn’t put it down. It’s thought-provoking, immensely inventive and fully enthralling. It’s additionally horrifying and maddening. And The Grace Yr takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of hope and hopelessness, heartbreak and love. I discovered myself fiercely rooting for the primary character within the novel.
Synopsis
The Grace Yr is a time period when the younger girls of Garner County are banished from the city throughout their sixteenth yr of life. It’s believed this time of their lives that they arrive into their magic and have the flexibility emit an influence that lures the boys of their city into their beds. It is just by means of the time they spend banished within the woods through the grace yr that they’re able to rid themselves of their magical powers and return purified and prepared for marriage. Solely not everybody returns. What occurs through the grace yr isn’t talked about once more.
Because the grace yr approaches for 16-year-old Tierney James, she has her personal plans for her life. Decided to by no means marry and reside her life on her personal phrases, Tierney is shocked when her grace yr begins with an sudden reveal. As she heads into the woods with the opposite grace yr women, Tierney rapidly realizes the risks they face alone within the woods might not come solely from the poachers decided to hunt the women for his or her youthful powers. It might come from the very girls she should lean on to make it to the opposite aspect of the grace yr alive.
Style: Ladies’s Fiction, Humor
My score: A
What a gem of a e book! I majorly lucked into this one. Once I was searching for a brand new novel to learn and sorted my Libby app by “obtainable reads,” this one caught my eye. So I downloaded it to my Kindle understanding nothing about it and dove in. Don’t Overlook to Write immediately charmed me and made me snort. I’d file it beneath the “enjoyable seaside reads” class and beloved it from begin to end. The e book is a lighthearted novel set within the Nineteen Sixties that facilities round two likable characters.
Synopsis
Don’t Overlook to Write begins when Marilyn Kleinman sneaks off and is caught kissing a rabbi’s son in the midst of service. Her mother and father are mortified and, not understanding what to do with their rebellious daughter, ship her to her nice aunt Ada’s home in Philadelphia for the summer season. When Marilyn arrives, she isn’t certain what to make of the strict girl identified to most because the premier matchmaker within the space. Ada is wise and assured and doesn’t appear to overlook a factor. She has an consideration to element that makes Marilyn surprise if she’ll be capable to get away with something throughout their time collectively.
Ada quickly informs Marilyn they are going to be spending most of their summer season on the Jersey Shore. And Marilyn will assist Ada in her work as a matchmaker. Although Marilyn will help discover matches for Ava’s purchasers, discovering a match for herself is strictly off limits. Will Marilyn give you the option to withstand the temptation round her and fall in step with her mother and father’ and society’s expectations? How will she deal with Ada and her many guidelines? Is there extra to Ada than meets the attention?
Style: Sci-Fi Thriller, Thriller
My score: A
Darkish Matter is a kind of books you need everybody round you to learn so you’ll be able to speak about it continuous. It’s immensely inventive and twisty with depth and sufficient intrigue preserve you totally gripped to the pages the whole time. It’s a sci-fi thriller so there’s a hearty dose of science sprinkled in. And also you’ll be suspending your perception lots however not in an eye-roll inducing manner. It’s darkish and thought scary and probably the most distinctive novels I’ve learn.
Synopsis
Darkish Matter begins when Jason Dessen is knocked unconscious and kidnapped. He awakes to search out himself in a world he doesn’t know, talking with a smiling scientist welcoming him again and speaking to Jason as if he’s identified him for years. On this new world, Jason’s life is just not his life and every part he’s ever identified and beloved — his spouse, his son, even his job as a university professor — stop to exist. On this new life, he’s a world-renowned scientist and a genius who achieved every part he ever probably might’ve imagined reaching. However is it actual? Is is a dream? And if it’s not actual, how will Jason ever discover his manner again to actuality?
Style: Thriller
Improper Place Improper Time was an audiobook hear for me and you already know an audiobook is sweet when you end up trying ahead to end-of-the-day family chores so you’ll be able to pop in an earbud and get misplaced within the story. You instantly should droop your sense of disbelief because the premise of the novel entails a foremost character who finds herself waking up the day after she witnesses a horrible crime. She’s confused and overwhelmed and in addition relieved. Did the crime probably not occur? Is that this some type of a do-over? When Jen continues to get up additional and additional again in time, she’s unsure what to do however slowly begins to uncover details about the sufferer of the crime and the involvement of these closest to her.
It’s so uncommon for me to discover a e book that features a twist I didn’t see coming, however on this case, I used to be shocked and shocked in one of the simplest ways. It’s a twisty novel and immensely inventive and one I wished to take heed to continuous, particularly as I discovered myself additional and additional invested in determining the whos and the whys behind the thriller.
Style: Fantasy, Romance
My score: A
This e book! The ending! What a trip. I waited months for Iron Flame to turn into obtainable at my native library (I all the time have 1,000,000 books on maintain and sometimes simply learn no matter turns into obtainable first) and dove in when the audiobook model grew to become obtainable first. I listened like loopy throughout any obtainable second. And was all-in for all 28+ hours of this audiobook. Iron Flame is a rollercoaster of a novel and simply as intense and gripping as Fourth Wing, the primary e book within the sequence.
Synopsis
Rebecca Yarros has a expertise for writing novels with no downtime or boring pages, that’s for certain. I additionally adore her secondary characters (actually, I like them greater than her foremost character) and the best way she throws in sudden twists all through the novel. (The most important one got here on the very finish for me!) I don’t wish to share an excessive amount of when it comes to a plot abstract about this novel since it’s the second in a sequence. And something I write right here would spoil the primary e book. However if you happen to’re in any respect intrigued by a fantasy novel that can have you ever speed-reading like loopy, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame have to make it in your must-read checklist.
Style: Fantasy
My score: A
After loving the ACOTAR sequence by Sarah J. Mass, I had a few the extra sequence written by the creator on my radar. I used to be instantly hooked by Throne of Glass and completely flew by means of the primary e book. (I actually favored the primary e book on this sequence greater than the primary e book in ACOTAR, although books 2 and three in ACOTAR the place the place I actually fell in love with that sequence.) The e book is stuffed with motion, relationship intrigue, twists, assassins, warriors, secrets and techniques and a contest to turn into the King’s Champion that saved me flying by means of the pages.
Synopsis:
The e book follows murderer Celaena Sardothien after she’s captured and spends a yr in a jail demise camp. She’s launched upon the orders of the Crown Prince who needs her to compete as his champion in a contest organized by his father, an evil king who needs a “King’s Champion” to serve him and kill anybody he needs. Celaena agrees to compete, understanding it’s her solely probability at ever leaving jail and regaining freedom, and embarks on a sequence of challenges meant to check her and the opposite 23 champions to their limits. As a few of her opponents are discovered lifeless earlier than the varied competitions, Celaena begins to surprise if the actual hazard she faces is perhaps lurking contained in the fort.
With the Crown Prince insisting she win and rooting fiercely for her and the Captain of the Guard assigned to guard her, Celaena ought to really feel secure, however her work as the highest murderer has taught her to by no means let her guard down, one thing that turns into more and more difficult as she grows nearer to the 2 males and the princess she befriends who’s as intriguing as she is mysterious.
Style: Fiction / Science Fiction
My score: A-
One in all you extremely advisable The Measure, touting it as among the best books you learn in 2024, so my hopes have been excessive after I started studying. Once I inform you this e book consumed my ideas, I imply it. I learn it in two nights as a result of I used to be so invested within the characters, the plot and the end result.
The Measure begins when containers are delivered all around the world to each single individual. Everybody awakes to discover a string inside their field, a string they rapidly understand is meant to inform them the size of their life. The e book follows a handful of characters with completely different string lengths and completely different approaches to their strings and the best way they select to reside their lives. The Measure wasn’t suspenseful or mysterious or something like that however it was gripping in the best way it made me take into consideration how I might deal with the state of affairs the characters discovered themselves in all through the novel. It was the type of e book I discovered myself wanting to speak about continuous!
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Query of the Day
What was the perfect e book (or just a few of your favourite books) you learn in 2024?
