Well well well, here we are again. Did I write any other blogs in last year? No. Am I here again with only a book list? You bet.
I might be the only person with a new year’s resolution to read less this year.
In 2024, I read 69 books. Let me add some context: for 6 months of the year, I lived on the East Coast away from most of my friends and family and was in 4 book clubs (yes, four); for 3 of those months I also lived alone; the last 6 months I lived in a new town with no friends. I also finally figured out how to get e-books from the library on my kindle (I know! How did it take me so long??). So while some might be impressed with the amount I read, all I see from the number is wow, you need to get out of the house, Krysti.
But! I read some great books. So buckle up, because there are a lot of ‘best of’ this year.
Best Fiction
- Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi | If you know me, you might be thinking Krysti? This has been on your list before..? Multiple times? YES, yes it has – but I was lucky because my book club wanted to read it early this year and who was I to turn down a chance to re-read one of my all time favorites?? This time I did the audio book – and it was splendid. 5 million stars, this book holds up every time.
- Tom Lake, Ann Patchett | This was a polarizing read at my book club, but I adored it. It feels like a calm black and white film from the early days of Hollywood… while trading between a story that actually involves the early days of Hollywood and life on a sweet farm. This was my first time reading anything by Patchett and I’m hooked.
- The Wedding People, Alison Espach | I don’t really know how to describe this one because it’s not a rom com (but it kind of is) and it’s not a drama (but it kind of is) and it’s not a coming of age (but it kind of is). I found it so quirky and endearing and, what I think is hard to do in 2024, completely original. Don’t expect a novel all about a wedding (except, it kind of is).
- Funny Story, Emily Henry | All hail every book Emily Henry writes, amen. Personally this was my favorite out of her recent books!
- The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer | This reads like a charming children’s novel (about children’s novels!) but has enough fun and mystery to not just be a children’s novel. It’s a thriller without actually being scary and a perfect book to curl up with on a rainy weekend. 10/10 for originality.
- Apples Never Fall, Liane Moriarty | Another author I will forever and always cherish. This one, like most of Moriarty’s books, keeps you guessing till the end. The TV show adaption is fun, but – as always – never as good.
- Goodbye for Now, Laurie Frankel | Why does every book Frankel write feel like a warm hug?? Somehow she will make you cry but also make you happier for it. This one is especially fun if you work in tech.
- Real Americans, Rachel Khong | I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one, but it pulls you in from the very first page. Khong does such a beautiful job of generational story telling. I read this early in the year and immediately knew it would be one of the best books of 2024.
- Good Material, Dolly Alderton | Another quirky comedy-drama that was endearingly original. I felt like I was watching a show instead of reading this (in the best way).
Best Non-Fiction
- The Wives: A Memoir, Simone Gorrindo | A friend texted me about this coming out and I responded with something like “lol looks too triggering” and WOW, WAS I RIGHT. A memoir of an Army wife who never wanted to be an Army wife and her friendships with other wives – I read this in 24 hours because I couldn’t stop. I’m not sure how it would be reading as a non-military spouse, but as a Navy wife (whose spouse was deployed at the time), this was a balm I didn’t know I needed.
- Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Irin Carmon | I am a hardcore RBG fan girl and am not exaggerating when I say I am often brought to tears when I think of everything that woman did for women in America. I listened to this audio book and it was wonderful. RBG’s story feels like something of folklore – sometimes I can’t believe she was a real human being.
- I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy | Everyoneeee was talking about this last year and I thought, “it can’t possibly be that good” – but I was wrong. It is. Reminds me a lot of The Glass Castle or Educated – memoirs that read like fiction because it’s hard to believe they are real, and also memoirs that are so beautifully written it’s hard to fathom the authors really lived through that kind of trauma. Kudos to McCurdy, who already grew up in the limelight, to open up her private life even more with this book.
- The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country, Helen Russell | This is a great read for the new year (or anytime you are looking for a reset). A Brit moves to Denmark and tries to uncover the secrets of happiness – it’s funny, it will give you things to think about, and it will make you glad you live anywhere with sunshine.
- The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, Amanda Montell | This was so interesting but SO dense. It took me a while to get through, but I appreciated how each chapter delves into its own modern irrational theory. (Note: it will not help you stop overthinking, which is what I was hoping for when I bought it.)
- Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show, Bethany Joy Lenz | If you, like me, live inside the Venn diagram of people who grew up obsessed with One Tree Hill AND people who grew up watching Psalty the Song Book – this book was made for you. I would say its 20% One Tree Hill content and 80% cult content – which I 100% loved.
- Places I Stopped on the Way Home: A Memoir of Chaos and Grace, Meg Fee | In a serendipitous moment, a dear friend gifted me this book right before our move and I was shocked to find out I had put it on my ‘to read’ list on Goodreads way back in 2018. It was SO LOVELY, especially before a big move.
Best Poetry
- A Bit Much, Lyndsay Rush | I guess I needed to read more poetry, but also I love that this was my only and my absolute favorite this year. I’ve been a longtime fan of @maryoliversdrunkcousin on Instagram and was so looking forward to this book. It exceeded my expectations in many ways, but I especially loved finding out she, too, is a former Christian school kid. Her thoughts on faith were so comforting and I absolutely love that she randomly started posting poems on Instagram one day, then casually published a book and had her first kid a year later at like 38. #badass
Special Mentions
- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry | While it wasn’t the best book I read this year – as a Friends super fan, I enjoyed this. It’s hard to say ‘enjoyed’ when most of the book was about him battling various addictions and/or in the hospital due to his addiction… but I learned a lot about Perry I didn’t know before. It was really sad to read posthumously.
- Lyz Lenz – God Land and This American Ex-Wife | I was a long time Twitter fan of Lenz and recently rediscovered her on Instagram (RIP Twitter, X will never be the same). She’s a great journalist and I’m not sure why it took me so long to pick up her books. Personally I liked This American Ex-Wife better, but both books are impeccably researched, well written, and have her lovely snark throughout. She reminds me a lot of Rachel Held Evans, but less pastor-y and more politico-y, which we all could use more of.
- Rebecca Yarros – Fourth Wing and Iron Flame | I am adamantly, ADAMANTLY not a fantasy girlie and I refused to pick up Fourth Wing for so long – but I can admit when I was wrong. Fourth Wing is the perfect mix of Harry Potter and Hunger Games. I loved it. I even caved and bought Iron Flame because the library hold line was too dang long. I am already stressed about how long it will take for me to find a copy of Onyx Storm because I hate buying new books.
- Sally Hepworth – The Good Sister, The Soulmate, and Darling Girls | While I am not a fantasy girlie, I AM a thriller girlie and Hepworth was a pleasant discovery this year. I first got her newest through Book of the Month and then immediately got my hands on everything else my library had. I’m looking forward to reading more of hers!
A new category this year, because I know most of us are just waiting for another Taylor Jenkins Reid or Emily Henry novel (or is it just me?): All of these were a solid 4 stars and while not quite on the level of our patron saints of female literature, they fit the vibe
- If you loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – try The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, Natasha Lester
- If you loved Daisy Jones and the Six – try The Villa, Rachel Hawkins
- If you loved People We meet on Vacation – try PS: I Hate You, Lauren Connolly
Full list:
- God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America, Lyz Lenz | discussed above
- My Absolute Darling, Gabriel Tallent | Takes a while to get into, but brutal & beautiful
- Beautiful Ugly, Alice Feeney
- The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book, Taylor Swift | LOL there were like 500 words total but you know I read the entire thing in one sitting
- Argylle, Elly Conway | I am oh so confused how this got a movie before it was even published? But its a fun read
- Swiped, L.M. Chilton | Very fun!
- PS: I Hate You, Lauren Connolly | discussed above
- Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show, Bethany Joy Lenz | discussed above
- Goodbye for Now, Laurie Frankel | discussed above
- The Last Anniversary, Liane Moriarty | All of hers are great, but going back and reading her older stuff makes you realize how truly great her newer books are!
- Sex and Vanity, Kevin Kwan | I actually hated this
- The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, Amanda Montell | discussed above
- Dearest, Jacquie Walters
- A Bit Much, Lyndsay Rush | discussed above
- This Summer Will Be Different, Carley Fortune
- The Wedding People, Alison Espach | discussed above
- The Running Grave (Cormoran Strike, #7), Robert Galbraith | Yes, I still feel conflicted about reading J.K. Rowling; yes, I still get these from the library; yes, they are always a tad too long and so damn good?!
- Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2), Rebecca Yarros | discussed above
- This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life, Lyz Lenz | discussed above
- The Paris Wife, Paula McLain | Fun read if you’re a Hemingway fan!
- Deeper Than the Dead (Vera Boyett, #1), Debra Webb
- Monica’s Story, Andrew Morton | Apparently I am an Andrew Morton fan girl now. This is an interesting read, especially 25 years after the scandal
- Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1), Rebecca Yarros | disuccsed above
- Like Mother, Like Daughter, Kimberly McCreight
- The Newlyweds, Nell Freudenberger | This had so much potential and kind of flopped
- The Villa, Rachel Hawkins | discussed above
- Husbands & Lovers, Beatriz Williams
- You Shouldn’t Be Here, Lauren Thoman
- I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy | discussed above
- Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi | discussed above
- The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, Natasha Lester | discussed above
- The Divorcées, Rowan Beaird
- The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs, #2), Lisa Jewell
- Places I Stopped on the Way Home: A Memoir of Chaos and Grace, Meg Fee | discussed above
- Honey, Isabel Banta
- Meet Me at the Lake, Carley Fortune
- Good Material, Dolly Alderton | discussed above
- The Wives: A Memoir, Simone Gorrindo | discussed above
- I Will Find You, Harlan Coben
- The Golden Doves, Martha Hall Kelly
- Funny Story, Emily Henry | discussed above
- The Good Sister, Sally Hepworth | discussed above
- The Soulmate, Sally Hepworth | discussed above
- Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth | discussed above
- The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer | discussed above
- Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout, #1), Lucy Score
- Tom Lake, Ann Patchett | discussed above
- Listen for the Lie, Amy Tintera
- Our Missing Hearts, Celeste Ng | Everything Ng writes is magic, but I didn’t love this one as much as her others
- How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures, Sabrina Imbler
- The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides
- Apples Never Fall, Liane Moriarty | discussed above
- The Heiress, Rachel Hawkins | discussed above
- The Helsinki Affair, Anna Pitoniak
- Finding Me, Viola Davis | Do the audiobook! Viola is amazing.
- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry | discussed above
- Drunk on Love, Jasmine Guillory
- Social Engagement, Avery Carpenter Forrey | This was unique and fun, but not quite 5 stars
- Conversations with Friends, Sally Rooney | I DO NOT GET everyone’s love for Sally Rooney. Make it make sense.
- Real Americans, Rachel Khong | discussed above
- Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, Bushra Rehman
- Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III, #1), Harlan Coben
- Penelope in Retrograde, Brooke Abrams
- No One Can Know, Kate Alice Marshall
- The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, Nadia Hashimi
- The Wife Between Us, Greer Hendricks | This was good, but personally I did not get the hype
- The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country, Helen Russell | discussed above
- Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Irin Carmon | discussed above
I am still such a fan of Book of the Month for a new read each month – but I also discovered the lovey World of Books for used books this year! (This is how I justified purchasing Iron Flame.) Especially great for any cult favorites from a few years ago you are just getting around to – they are always running a buy 3, get 1 free deal. Bargains and books?! My love language. As always, please please pleaseeee support your local library and if you are going to buy new online – consider using bookshop.org instead of Amazon! It’s the little things.
Find me on GoodReads and let me know your favorite reads of 2024!