2024 was a pretty good reading year! I ventured into new genres (I’m looking at you, One Piece), explored new topics, and made a dent in my physical TBR. I was home a lot this summer while my mother recovered from surgery, so that allowed ample time for reading.
Almost all of these books were recommendations from friends and family. I’m so grateful for the recs, but even more grateful to have people in my life who are able to pick my reads better than I can myself.
#5 – Mercury by Amy Jo Burns
This was one my first reads of the 2024. I had contemplated this as my Book of the Month pick but was trying to start the year off my being more responsible with my book purchases. I quickly regretted it, put myself on my library’s waitlist, then purchased it the following month.
I love books like this. The plot wasn’t overly exciting, but I enjoyed the story and growth of the characters. It was slow and thoughtful with a slice of life. I’m a sucker for books centered on dysfunctional family dynamics and this one did it so well.
#4 – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This book had been on my TBR for years. A good friend of mine recommended it and I trusted her opinion so much that I needed to pick this up at the perfect time. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. I struggled to put it down, partially due to having read it at the right time.
I was disappointed to see that this is the only book by Gail Honeyman. I would have loved to have read another.
#3 – Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
When this book was selected as a buddy read on Discord, I didn’t have any major intention of getting around to it given the long waitlist at my library. It came through on the last day of the read but I went ahead and picked it up anyway as I was more or less housebound with my mother. By chapter three I ordered my own copy.
I didn’t read it in time to discuss it with the group, but I had such a great time with this and ended up suggesting it to a friend and by the end we were reading it together. I am super picky with romcoms but this one was a winner for me. I loved how realistic this relationship felt. The romance was set in regular, messy life without unrealistic and over the top romance novel moments. I’m almost hesitant to backtrack in the series because I cannot see myself enjoying another romcom as much as I enjoyed this one.
#2 – The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
This book was such a wonderful surprise! The same friend who encouraged me to pick up Mercury recommended this one to me. I need to just hire her to select all of my books from now on.
Though this is definitely middle grade, it was such a sweet story of an unlikely friendship with incredible character growth and themes of found family. Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed that while the synopsis sells this as a novel of Chernobyl, it’s merely a catalyst to get two of the three main characters out of the city. Still, I wouldn’t trade this read for anything. It tugged my heart in all of the right places.
#1 – Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Honestly, I surprised myself by choosing this as my favorite read. I can’t say I enjoyed the story itself more than some of the other books on this list, I can say this was the most meaningful and memorable reading experience.
My grandmother loved anything Don Quixote related and toward the end of her life we’d started to bond over books. I regretted not reading this in her lifetime. I picked it up off and on for five months, not wanting to rush or pressure myself given how wordy it is. Through reading, I feel as though I came to know her a bit better. For that, I consider it my favorite of 2024.
What were your top five reads of 2024?
Happy New Year!
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