Best Books of 2024
Out of the 115 books I’ve read this year these were my favorite. In no particular order and not necessarily all even published this year. These are just the best I read in 2024. Based on my biased opinion and backed by no one!
Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls by Alissa Nutting
I’m not normally a short stories person. I’ve even been tricked into reading a book of short stories only to get halfway through and realize that none of these stories were ever going to come together. However I KNOWINGLY picked this book up and it might be my favorite read of the year (almost…). I don’t know what the fucks in Alissa Nuttings head but I love it and I want to be in it. I read this in January and there are still a few of these that I can’t stop thinking about and want more of. Deliverywoman and Porn Star were my two favorites while Ant Colony will haunt my dreams forever.
Genre/Notes - Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Magical Realism, will haunt you
I Who Have Never Know Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Looking back now, I can quite simply state that we found ourselves plunged even deeper in the absurd.
Such an incredible read. I’m usually not wow’d by fully character driven books but this was something else.
Genre/Notes - Science Fiction, Dystopia, Horror, Feminism, will haunt you
Love & Curse Making by Kelly St. Clare
First two books made you think I was going to be some smart ass into nose turned up literary masterpieces. Wrong. Boring. This book was fantastic. This whole series was fantastic. It was lighthearted and fun and frankly the world building that it did do was great.
Billy wasn’t my least favorite type of date, but the ones who detailed their entire medical history straight out the gate were high up there. A surprising number of people did it, and I had to wonder if they ever scored a second date.
Genre/Notes - Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, easy fun read
An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka
This was so absolutely unbelievably up my alley that I would venture to say its the perfect book (for me). So perfect that I stopped what I was doing and read ALL 12 of his other series - Alex Verus because I needed more Jacka magic in my life. This book made me ugly cry and will make you ugly cry too. Killer magic system without being so overly complicated that my eyes glaze over.
Genre/Notes - Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, animal abuse
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
This was a lovely, hilarious and way WAAAY too on the nose for my own life to not be an easy 5 star read. I truly couldn’t believe how relatable this book was for me.
Genre/Notes - Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Irish, Coming of Age
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
With the upmost respect to Kliewer - fuck this book. Fuck this book so hard. I never want to read it again. It was too scary and it stayed with my way to long after. I will not be seeing the movie. 5 STARS.
Genre/Notes - Horror, Mystery Thriller, super fucked
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
This is a very long book (608 pages) but if you can get through it, its absolutely beautiful. I mean its not really, its kind of about murder and kidnapping and a terrible man told over a lifetime. Friendships torn apart. Madness.
Genre/Notes - Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Romance, not an easy read
The September House by Carissa Orlando
Fuck yes to the September House. I don’t think there is enough horror comedy out there but Orlando nailed it with this one. Its funny enough that even if you’re too scared to read horror you can read this one. Cozy horror? But with some of the most gruesome deaths you’ve ever read.
Genre/Notes - Horror, Paranormal, Domestic Violence, creepy ass children
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
Truly one of the most original contemporary fantasies I’ve read in awhile. A bit hard to get into but once you’ve let go and decided to go on a ride with Kelly Links mind get ready for some great one-liners to cackle on.
Genre/Notes - Magical Realism, Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, not an easy read
Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn
When looking back on all the books I read in 2024 I was actually pretty underwhelmed with most of them. Tune in Tomorrow is one of the last books I read this year and I pulled me out of my slump it was so funny and original. More people need to read this book! I’m putting it as my personal favorite of the year.
I CAN ONLY KILL ONE PERSON A DAY. TODAY’S NOT YOUR DAY AND YOU BETTER HOPE TOMORROW ISN’T EITHER.
Genre/Notes - Urban Fantasy, Comedy, Reality TV, super fast read