A recap of my reading journey for 2024
Let’s just say 2024 was not my banner year for reading. Compared to the literary marathon of 2023, this year felt more like a leisurely stroll with way too many snack breaks (I'm cutting back on those this year). I didn’t read nearly as much, and to be honest, the books I did get through weren’t exactly mind-blowing page-turners. But hey, I powered through them like a champ—some because I was genuinely curious, others out of sheer stubbornness (I paid for it, so I will finish it). While this year’s reading list may not have been award-worthy, it was still full of enough highs and lows to make it worth recapping. Let’s dive in!
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know the drill: every time I finish a book, I post a snapshot of it in my stories. It’s not a review, not even a hot take—just a quiet little moment of “Hey, I finished this one!” I like to keep it that way because, honestly, I’m not ready to unpack how I feel about most books right after I close the last page. Instead, I save my thoughts for the end of the year, when I can look back and see the real impact these stories had on me. There’s something so satisfying about revisiting each book and realizing which ones lingered, which ones inspired, and which ones…well, didn’t. It’s my favorite way to reflect on how much I’ve read and grown, one story at a time.
★ indicates my favs of the year ★
Non-Fiction
I didn't read any non-fiction books this year! What is wrong with me? I have a history degree and completely abandoned my love of real life this year, apparently. I do have Educated on my TBR list for 2025!
Fiction
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake - ★ This the third in her Bright Falls series and I really enjoy her writing. I read her other 2 books in 2023 and I've read 2 of her books this year. I look forward to her 2025 release!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I know most people have either read this one or have it on their TBR. I enjoyed it. I don't think it's one of the greatest books ever written, but I did like the many storylines with all the different partners in her life.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry - This was a book that interested me because it's all about finding a long lost sister, felt a bit True Crime(y) in a sweet and historical (WW2) storytelling way (not dark True Crime). I enjoyed the book and do recommend. (As I'm typing this post, I realized I read one of her books last year and did NOT like it, interesting, lol)
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - ★ In 2022 I read her book In Five Years and I really enjoyed that one, so I picked up One Italian Summer and once again, really enjoyed it! I love a book with a some twist that has some whimsy. I read 2 of Rebecca's books this year and she is on my TBR list for 2025!
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston - ★ I read 2 of her books this year and I started with her book, The Dead Romantics, last year. I made sure to have her on my TBR in 2024, and hopefully she has more coming out this year because I like her books a lot. Like Rebecca Serle's books, they have a whimsy touch (Poston's books are a bit lighter than Serle's and I love that lightness). I'm also going to go back and read some of her other books!
You, With a View by Jessica Joyce - I really wanted to like this one as a "star" level like, but I didn't love it. It was good for an easy read, and I was bummed I didn't love it because it is about a photographer and researching her family history, but I did like it, lol. If it's available at the library, I say have fun-ish with it.
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner - It was good, I really enjoyed the book I read by her last year, The Lost Apothecary, more, but if it's available for a read at your library, I recommend it. I like books that go between different time periods in hopes to solve a mystery, so this book itches that scratch.
Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck - Oh wow... if you've read this far down my list... skip over this book and maybe even my review of it, haha. The beginning of the book was good. I liked the mix of sci fi(?) and modern storytelling, but the end, I hated. Sometimes I wonder if I did like the book, because while not a happily ever after book (which I'm good with), it is somewhat interesting. My review is as confusing as the book. I'm going to stand by this: The beginning is good with good writing, and the second part, not so much. Weirdest book though, so if you want weird... pick this one up... look how much I've written about it, so obviously thought provoking. It's weird and beautiful, and honestly... would be a good book club book because I'd love to hear what people have to say.
The Little Village of Book Lovers by Nina George - This is a beautiful book. The setting and the story idea. I do think it is a book that goes with another that Nina George has written, but that didn't affect my enjoyment for the story.
The Love Plot by Samantha Young - My least enjoyed book of the year. The cover and the plot scream "Sabrina would enjoy this," but the enjoyment was NOT there. I think I had a "did not finish for the year", but I can't remember what it was... this one was only finished because I didn't have another book at hand. (Sorry Samantha)
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan - This is a popular book and I should have liked it because it has all the makings of a book that I would enjoy... 1) teenage love stories in books is not my cup of tea as I'm officially old and 2) I hated the who-done-it. I guessed it from the beginning and it is such a bummer.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree - I think I would like this book, maybe. It is so different! It's up my dungeons and dragons nerd life, but I didn't read this one, I audio booked it. This book made me realize that I am not an audio book person (I'm also not a kindle reader). Maybe I'll pick this book up down the road and retry it, but with a physical book.
The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson - ★ I recommend reading this one if you see it. Another small mystery over time, making friends with someone from another generation. It's a sweet storytelling book. Freya's book The Last Chance Library is on my TBR list for 2025.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna - Fun, cute, enjoyable. Not the most descriptive feedback, but it was a nice quick read.
Save What's Left by Elizabeth Castellano - This was a quirky read and it was quite fast and enjoyable. It was nice to read a main character that wasn't a young, perfect bodied human, but a flawed and regular woman going through a life change. It was funny and I'd recommend this one, apparently more than people on Goodreads do.
Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein - I picked up this book because of the cover. During the spring, it was put out on the front table of the library for all covers that had florals (must've been a floral theme for spring). I didn't even read what it was about (I seldom do when I see flowers), and definitely didn't notice it was actually a young adult novel (nothing against them, but once again, I'm older now and just feel weird reading teenage books now). HOWEVER, I really liked this book and recommend it for both young adults and old ones too. A young woman's trip to scatter her grandmother's ashes, lots of learning about herself, her family, and others.
Happy Place by Emily Henry - Like all of her books, they're easy summer reads with a feel good story and I enjoy them, recommend them for an easy, lighthearted reading time.
Happy Medium by Sarah Adler - I enjoyed her first book, Mrs. Nash's Ashes (read last year), more, but this was a nice little read to get some pages in. I'd recommend reading it if you need some easy reading.
The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary -★I really like her writing. She's an English author with dry humor and understanding. This author is on my TBR for 2025.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle - ★ My second of Rebecca's books for this year and I recommend it! I love when an author is creative and makes you think a little, about the book and about your own life.
The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers - Definitely a puzzle of a book. Another story with a little mystery to solve through familial exploration. The main character is likable and he makes mistakes along the way, but is a warm hearted person. I really enjoyed it.
The Bright Spot by Jill Shelves - I really wanted to like it, but I didn't enjoy it. While the cover says "novel", I see that is part of a series called Sunrise Cove... and it's book #5. I don't think it matters because it tells the story pretty clearly, but I just didn't love the characters. They made things way more complicated than they needed to be. I wouldn't recommend (sorry Jill), but maybe some of her others are better.
Funny Story by Emily Henry - Like I said about Emily Henry's other book above, it is a lighthearted and easy read that I really enjoyed, even more so than the Happy Place book.
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochran - Predictable, but fun. Heartwarming and frustrating. Sometimes you just want to yell at the characters to just be honest with each other, but then it wouldn't be a story. I'd recommend it for some romcom reading.
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields - I wanted to love it based on the cover (I know, I know, don't judge a book.... blah), I didn't even read what it was about. It literally says "honey" and "witch", so those two words sold me. It is based on the time period like Bridgerton and is similar to the show in a way (I never read the books, but the way people complain about the show vs book, I'd say it's more like the show), except for the whole witchcraft part. I should've loved it, but I sadly did not.
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston -★ My second of Poston's books for this year and I really liked it too!
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - Another one that I should've loved... bc the cover is so dreamy and it's obviously about witchcraft, which I love magical stories. Now, I did like it, it just took me a VERY LONG time to finish.
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake - ★ Another of Ashley's books that I read this year and it was a fun romcom for the holiday season. I don't usually read holiday books, but I gave it a try this year and enjoyed it, luckily this one was by a favorite author.
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone - This book I got from one of those blind date books. I picked it because it said it had a plus sized main character, romcom, and a holiday story (like I said above, I knew I probably wouldn't have read it before because I don't normally read holiday themed books). I did not like the book. I tried!!! It's very spicy, but not in a fun way, it was over the top. The main character was a porn star (no judgments here, you do you, but I felt like that was the only reason the guy actually liked her). He totally messed up at the end (like all characters do), but I didn't think he actually deserved her. Meh, I'd skip it.
