Many individuals view New Years as a time of new beginnings and resolutions. Finding ways to improve and do away with bad habits seems to be popular around the end of the year. But what if New Years is not just a time to set new goals? What if it is also a great time to reflect on accomplishments made in the last twelve months?
A personal goal that I set for 2024 was to read more books, and now that the year has officially ended, I can say that I definitely achieved my objective. Throughout the year, I tracked my reading through goodreads and found that I read forty-two books, which added up to just under fifteen thousand pages. But out of all of them, a select few definitely stood out from the rest. From there, I looked back at what I read and compiled a list of my top ten favorite books from 2024.
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1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Taking place in Mississippi in the 1960s, The Help is a historical fiction that follows Skeeter Phelan as she attempts to pursue her dreams of becoming a journalist. Skeeter needs an interesting story, but her hometown in Mississippi seems to lack excitement. After much consideration, she decides that her best option is to interview several of the African American maids who spend their time working for wealthy families throughout Jackson. However, if she gets caught, Skeeter will have to face the scrutiny of some of her closest friends and family. With the help of two maids, Aibileen and Minny, Skeeter works day and night in an attempt to tell the stories of those who spend their lives taking care of others, only to be treated unfairly and get nothing in return.
When this book was first recommended to me, I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to like it very much considering it is historical fiction. However, once I actually gave it a chance, it quickly became one of my favorites. As the book goes on, each chapter is told from a different perspective, which really helps the story come together as a whole. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, and especially to those who believe that historical fiction just is not for them.
2. The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Published in April of 2024, The Reappearance of Rachel Price was definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year. Having read and loved Holly Jackson’s other novels, I was beyond excited to have yet another one of her stories to read. In this mystery-thriller, readers get to watch as Bel Price, daughter of Rachel Price, agrees to work on a documentary about her mother’s mysterious disappearance. No one has much of an idea as to what happened to Rachel, which only makes things more confusing when she suddenly reappears during filming. Rachel begins to tell her story from that day sixteen years ago, but Bel is not quite sure that she’s telling the truth. From there, readers learn what truly happened to Rachel on the day she disappeared and the cause of her reappearance.
If you are a fan of suspense and plot-twists, this book is without a doubt for you. At first, the story starts out at a slow pace, but after a while it begins to pick up and move fairly quickly. The last few chapters are filled with so many twists and turns, making it incredibly difficult to put down. The ending is also very unexpected, which is a great quality to have in a mystery.
3. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
The Summer of Broken Rules is a fantastic summer read for anyone who enjoys a little bit of romance. The story is set on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, just off the coast of Massachusetts. We follow our main character, Meredith Fox, as she travels to her family’s farm on the island for her cousin’s wedding. When she arrives, it is revealed that many of the wedding-goers, including Meredith herself, unknowingly signed up to play a game of assassin throughout the week. To win the game, players must eliminate others using super soakers, with the ultimate goal of being the last one standing. Determined to be the victor, Meredith begins to wonder if an alliance could be the key to her success. From there, readers watch as Meredith befriends one of the groomsmen and they work together in an attempt to be the final players and win the game.
This book is very lighthearted and captivating, as I had to stop myself from finishing it in one sitting. The imagery painted a beautiful picture and made it feel as if I really was sitting on the beach in Martha’s Vineyard, which is pretty impressive considering I read this book in December. Throughout the entire novel, there are several nods to Taylor Swift, making it the perfect read for anyone who enjoys her music.
4. Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
Family of Liars is a prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, We Were Liars. The story takes readers back in time to the 1980s where a young Caroline Sinclair spends her summer dealing with the loss of her younger sister. Throughout the novel, readers watch as Carrie grieves, falls in love, and works to uncover family secrets. With many parallels to its sequel, Family of Liars does a great job providing insight to the scene originally set in We Were Liars.
More often than not, I feel like prequels tend to be a bit of a letdown, especially if they follow a strong standalone. However, Family of Liars was the exact opposite for me. When I first read We Were Liars, I had a hard time understanding why it was so popular. I personally thought that it lacked much of a plot, leading me to be extremely underwhelmed. Yet, I still wanted to give its prequel a chance, and I’m so glad that I did. Family of Liars has elements of mystery, loss, and romance, making it an interesting story with lots of twists and turns. For those who originally enjoyed We Were Liars, this book is extraordinary. And for those who didn’t, Family of Liars will go well beyond your expectations.
7. As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
As the third book in one of my favorite series, I had high hopes for As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. This particular book wraps up the story of Pippa Fitz-Amobi and her investigations of several mysteries in her hometown. After solving her last case, Pip swears that she’s done with everything related to crime. But when signs of a stalker begin to appear, she decides that maybe it’s time for one final case. However, Pippa has to work fast because if she can’t expose who is out to get her, she will be the next small town mystery.
This book was one of the first that I read in 2024, and it was easily one of the best. Every chapter ended in a way that made me want to keep turning pages. While all of the characters were the same, there were so many plot twists that gave this book a completely different feel compared to the rest of the series. The ending was completely unexpected and left me thinking about it for days after I finished it. I highly recommend the entirety of the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, but this book has to be my favorite of them all.
6. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
In this middle-grade novel, readers get to watch two fifth-graders, Leslie and Jess, become best friends shortly after becoming neighbors. Together, the two create Terabithia, an imaginary kingdom in the woods behind their neighborhood. The only way to access the kingdom is to swing across the creek using an old rope that is tied to a tree. Jess and Leslie never travel to Terabithia alone, that is until one day Leslie decides to cross the creek alone and a tragedy occurs.
From friendship to heartbreak, Bridge to Terabithia truly has it all. This book had originally sat on my shelf, half read, for quite a while. That was until I picked it up over the summer and decided to give it another chance. Considering it is less than two hundred pages, I finished it pretty quickly, and when I did, I was in a puddle of tears. Even though this book is geared towards younger readers, it deals with themes of grief and friendship that is very well written, making it very appealing to all ages
7. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, best known for its Netflix film adaptations, is an adorable, lighthearted romance that is perfect for anyone who wants a quick and easy read. The story follows Lara Jean Song Covey, a teenage girl who writes love letters to her crushes as a way to say “goodbye” to her feelings. No one is meant to actually read the letters, so they stay hidden in an old hat box, tucked away in her closet. But one day, the letters somehow get mailed out, and Lara Jean’s life begins to spiral out of control. Over the course of three separate books, Lara Jean’s life changes drastically, all thanks to her love letters.
The plot, overall, is pretty well thought out with very few dull moments. I personally find it difficult to really dislike any of the characters, which only makes these books more enjoyable. However, it definitely feels like there could have been a bit more effort put into the actual writing itself, which is why these books are not as high up on my list. However, Jenny Han did a fantastic job with these books, and they are a great option for those who enjoyed the movies.
8. When We Collided by Emery Lord
When We Collided focuses on two teenagers with very opposite personalities, Vivi Alexander and Jonah Daniels. Vivi just moved to Verona Cove with her artist mother, who decided that the move was necessary to get some inspiration. Unlike Vivi, Jonah isn’t new to town. He’s spent all of his life in Verona Cove, taking over his mother’s duties of caring for his younger siblings. They’re both struggling in their own ways, but when their worlds collide, it almost seems like they were meant to find each other.
I finished this book pretty quickly, finding it almost impossible to put down. The relationships between all of the characters were so strong, which only made the entire story so much more loveable. With themes of family, grief, love, and so much more, When We Collided is the perfect young adult novel for anyone who likes a little bit of romance.
9. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Taking place in Tuscany, Love and Gelato is a super cute summertime book that follows Lina Emerson as she fulfills her mother’s final wish to venture to Italy for the summer. The last thing Lina wants to do is spend her summer in another country with her father, Howard. However, once she arrives, Lina finds her mother’s old diary. Full of photos and stories, the journal quickly becomes Lina’s main focus. And with the help of Lorenzo, a local boy who’s determined to show her as much of Tuscany as he can, Lina’s summer immediately becomes one to remember.
If you were to take Mamma Mia and change the setting from Greece to Italy, you would basically have Love and Gelato. Getting to watch Lina set off across Tuscany and see the region through her mother’s perspective gives a very unique feel to the story. The setting adds a magical element to it all, which draws readers in and keeps their attention throughout the entire novel. Seeing how the characters’ relationships grow is by far one of the best parts of this book, which makes it the perfect read for those who admire strong bonds between well-developed characters.
10. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The Twilight Saga is often criticized for its predictable plot and one-dimensional characters, and before I actually gave it a chance, I couldn’t help but agree with the critics. The first book in the series focuses on Bella Swan, a young, teenage girl from Arizona. When she leaves her home in Phoenix to live with her dad in Forks, Washington, Bella starts school and quickly becomes curious about her mysterious biology partner, Edward Cullen. From there, Bella goes on to learn about Edward’s true identity whilst falling in love with him.
Even though Twilight receives very little praise, I actually found it very enjoyable. Some individuals like to argue that the series is poorly written, but I personally think that there’s nothing wrong with Stephenie Meyer’s writing style. While certain parts of the book may be a bit cheesy, I found that the writing itself was actually pretty good. From describing scenery to narrating action-packed scenes, Meyer knows what she’s doing. And even if the book wasn’t considered “great,” it was definitely good enough to keep my attention and inspire me to read the rest of the series
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Overall, for many people, 2024 was filled with new experiences and opportunities. Along with the new year comes plenty of chances to push yourself to new limits. There’s always a chance to discover something new, even in your day-to-day life. Setting goals is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself to new limits, even if it’s something as simple as reading a new book or two.
