I’m back with more books I loved in 2024. On Friday I shared the fact that almost all my 5-star favorite books for the year were backlist, but I still wanted to give a shoutout to this wide variety of new releases I thought were wonderful. Each provided me with the escape I wanted in a year that was a lot to handle.
Mysteries and thrillers came on strong for me this year. I’m not usually a fan of too much plot in my fiction, but I loved all the twists, surprises, and drama in each of these novels. All qualify as ‘can’t put down’ reading.
The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni
Published by Random House
Publication date: October 08, 2024
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The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Published by Riverhead
Publication date: July 2, 2024
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The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication date: May 7, 2024
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The Best Lies by David Ellis
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication date: July 23, 2024
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2024 was not a big year for nonfiction for me, but I’m still thinking about these three powerful memoirs.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
Published by Crown Publishing
Publication date: October 1, 2024
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Rabbit Heart: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Story by Kristine S. Ervin
Published by Counterpoint LLC
Publication date: March 26, 2024
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Coming Home by Brittney Griner, Michelle Burford
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Publication date: May 7, 2024
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I’m always up for an unusual story line, an outsider’s perspective, or a quirky protagonist. Done right, novels that break out of the box and well written are some of my favorites. These three were a delight, even when they were off-putting or extreme.
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Published by William Morrow & Company
Publication date: June 11, 2024
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You'd Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace
Published by Penguin
Publication date: September 21, 2023
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I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
Published by William Morrow & Company
Publication date: May 21, 2024
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Three vastly different pieces of historical fiction with two covering deeply troubling times in American history (slavery and the Vietnam War).
James by Percival Everett
Published by Knopf Doubleday
Publication date: March 19, 2024
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Jackie by Dawn Tripp
Published by Random House
Publication date: June 18, 2024
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The Women by Kristin Hannah
Published by St. Martin's
Publication date: February 6, 2024
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That’s all for 2024, readers. Thank you for your support. The year ahead holds a great deal of uncertainty and a fair amount of dread. How this will impact my ability and desire to write reviews is unknown. I hope that 2025 is more positive than negative and more calm than chaotic for you and your loved ones.
This post contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org which means if you click on a link and make a purchase of any kind, I get a small commission (at no cost to you).
Many of my 2024 faves here. God of the Woods and Margo’s Got Money Troubles are among them.
Margo was a wildcard for me because I almost DNFed it. The OnlyFans stuff was not my cup of tea, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. I loved her father.
I liked James and The Women too and have read the God of the Woods which I thought could’ve been cut (i liked the female detective). But what next? Maybe The Puzzle Box? Rabbit Heart looks a bit scary or unsettling. We’ll need plenty of escape reads in 2025! Keep the resistance going.
Rabbit Heart is dark. Puzzle Box is a wild ride- a great escape.
At this point, I’m hoping Canada will invade WA and we’ll become Canadians.