The Best Books I Read in 2024
A little early, BUT there's free shipping on Bookshop.org right now so... let's do this.
Surprise! My second-annual best books guide is here—early! Bookshop.org has free shipping for the rest of today (sorry, sending this a bit later than expected!). I love using Bookshop.org for all my book shopping because it’s an online book retailer that genuinely cares not only about books but also indie bookstores.
Plus, it’s gift-guide season, and while this isn’t technically a gift guide, many of these books would make fantastic gifts for the readers in your life.
So, without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2024! 🎉
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
BREATHTAKING | SUSPENSEFUL | QUIET
This was one of the best books I’ve read this year (maybe ever?). It takes place in 1960s Amsterdam, and a woman named Isabel must welcome another woman, Eva, into her home at her brother’s request. The two despise each other at first, but that quickly changes as Isabel learns more about the guest, and about herself. It’s sexy, sapphic, tense, and beautifully written, and there’s a twist toward the end that blew my mind. I wish I could read it over and over. Truly, a rare and perfect book.
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
ACADEMIC | SATIRICAL | PLOT-TWISTS
Not only smart and hilarious (an incredible combination, if you ask me), this book is also one that keeps you turning page after page, needing to know what happens next. It’s satire. It has a messy main character. It looks at power and privilege in academia, but it also follows the protagonist’s journey inward, discovering her own relationship to identity, relationships, academia, and more.
They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey
ARTSY | FAMILY-DRAMA | BEAUTIFUL
This is a thoughtful and poignant story about the AIDS epidemic in NYC, complicated family relationships, ballet, and what it means to be an artist. I was entranced by the writing, the story, and the characters, and this is one I absolutely need to read again.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
SEXY | ENTERTAINING | MOUTH-WATERING
Bisexual exes run into each other in Europe four years after breaking up. Amidst the insanely romantic landscapes and delicious food around them, they challenge each other to a little competition to see who can sleep with the most people in Europe. But, ya know, they don’t seem totally over each other either. Obsessed.
HEALING | METICULOUS | COMPLEX
This novel is about three sisters who are coping with the loss of their fourth sister, while also working through their own struggles with relationships, addiction, and more. I cried, I laughed, and I’m still thinking about it all this time later. Mellors has such a way of crafting characters, and no detail is missed.
HOT | QUICK | NOSTALGIC
Political strategist Maya finally gets a new job after a big scandal with her ex husband, and she’s try to start anew with a fresh candidate and a low profile. Then she meets her teen boy band crush… and maybe it’s more than a crush now?! So good. This scratched an itch I forgot I had… for One Direction fanfic.
The Most Famous Girl in the World by Iman Hariri-Kia
HILARIOUS | TWISTED | CAMPY
Journalist Rose Aslani wrote an article that exposed scam artist Poppy Hastings a few years ago, so when she finds out that Poppy is being released from prison, Rose can’t believe Poppy’s become the most famous girl in the world, an influencer and celebrity, after all her horrible crimes. So Rose is determined to expose Poppy for who she really is. It was hilarious and so entertaining. And the ending made me scream.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
FUNNY | SMART | REALITY-CHECK
This novel follows a 35-year old comedian whose girlfriend breaks up with him, and he has to deal with the aftermath largely along. All the while, he’s trying to figure out why she broke up with him—not to much success—and discover who he is in the world now that he’s single. It’s a really interesting read that examines masculinity and the difficulties of navigating a breakup when you don’t have the tools to deal with your emotions. It’s entertaining, funny, and definitely worth a read.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING | EMOTIONAL | MEMORABLE
Lamya, a queer Muslim immigrant, tells her story of coming of age and coming into her own queerness, using stories from the Quran as reflections of her own stories. The juxtaposition is beautiful and brilliant. And her storytelling was intimate, introspective, and expertly crafted. It’s incredible.
Honorable Mentions:
✨ The Debutantes by Olivia Worley
✨ Hardly Strangers by A.C. Robinson
Blue Sisters is on my list!! I loved Good Material and Three Women!