One of the things I love doing towards the end of each year is reflecting on all the great books that came into my life in that year. So, as 2024 winds down, I thought it would be fun to take stock of some of my favourite books I read this year, and share them with all of you!
Now, these aren’t necessarily all books written in 2024, they’re just some of the ones that I read for the first time this year. I’ll be the first to admit I’m usually a little behind the times in keeping up with recent publications, but nonetheless these books each made an impact on me in their own particular ways. Since there is nothing I love more than discussing great books, I am excited to share my thoughts, reflections and impressions of these books with you. Here we go!
1. Yellowface
First up, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. I devoured this book in a single day. That’s right, I started reading it over my morning cup of tea, and I did not stop until I read the last word later that evening. In fact, if not for my lovely husband’s care and attention, I might have forgotten to eat or drink anything besides that first cup of tea for 12 or more hours. There were so many things I adored about this book, from the unvarnished look at the seedy side of the publishing industry to the raw emotional breakdown the reader witnesses in the protagonist, June, throughout the course of the story.
This book asks some fundamental questions we all face at certain times in our lives, though perhaps not to the same degree as June. What would you do to achieve your dreams? How far would you go to ensure you became successful, and remained so? And what do “right” and “wrong” mean to you? So many of us have a guilty pleasure in scrolling on social media, and Kuang uses that to great effect in this book. Mixing character reflections with social media drama makes this book feel like you are actually watching the plot unfold on your platform of choice. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Yellowface, and settling in with a blanket and your favourite hot beverage for a day of fabulously entertaining reading.
2. One by One
Alright, let’s talk about One by One, by Ruth Ware. This was the first book of Ruth Ware’s that I had ever read, but I have quickly become a fan! I am a long time lover of Agatha Christie, the original master of the closed circle or locked room mysteries with a limited number of suspects. One by One is very reminiscent of those sorts of stories, with a modern twist. So, if that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I definitely suggest checking this one out!
I really enjoyed the build up to the climax in this book, and the underlying, hidden conflicts amongst the cast of characters. I also loved that Ware chose to tell the story through two different characters’ points of view. Not an easy thing to do well, but she does it to great effect here, which really adds to the building of stress and nerves as the story progresses. I was able to guess “whodunnit” about half way through the novel, but there were enough twists, turns and tension all the way up to the end that I did not mind at all. In fact, part of the fun in this case was knowing who the killer was while the rest of the characters were still in the dark.
3. The Hapless Milliner (Miss Austen Investigates #1)
Anyone who knows me in real life will be completely unsurprised by my third pick for my favourite book of 2024. It has to be The Hapless Milliner by Jessica Bull, the first in the Miss Austen Investigates series. As I mentioned above, I absolutely adore Agatha Christie. I also pretty much idolize Jane Austen, with Pride and Prejudice being my all time favourite book, and one I re-read annually. In the Hapless Milliner, Bull expertly blends the world of Jane Austen with an Agatha Christie style murder mystery. The end result is a perfectly satisfying cozy mystery with a little romance sub-plot mixed in.
I can say with complete honesty that I can hardly wait for the second in this series to be released. I will be waiting eagerly to pre-order this one! I genuinely can’t wait to read more about the Austen family, their friends, and any mysterious activities that may take place in their neighbourhood next time. If you also enjoy Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and/or cozy mysteries in general, this book has to be on your reading list for 2025.
4. I Only Read Murder (Miranda Abbott, #1)
Last but not least, I can’t forget to include I Only Read Murder, by Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson. This was one of the first books I read in 2024, and it was the perfect way to start the year. This is a witty mix of comedy and mystery set in a small village in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. On that note, the setting reminded me a little bit of old Murder She Wrote episodes, which I loved.
At first I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Miranda, the main character. She was aggravating and annoying, and completely out of touch. But at the same time, little glimmers of her humanity poked through – just enough to keep me reading and to make me start to really care about this character and to root for her happiness! Miranda’s efforts to remain relevant in a quickly evolving entertainment industry reminded me of the struggles to stay up-to-date most of us face as we get older. I must also hand it to the Ferguson brothers for creating a cast of unforgettable, quirky characters that I am looking forward to reading more about in future books. As well, they kept me guessing (incorrectly) all the way to the end!
So, there you have it! Those were my favourite four books in 2024, though truth be told, it was not easy to settle on just four. There are so many wonderful books being written all the time. I suppose that is a very high quality problem to have, though! I encourage you to check these books out if they interest you, and to remember to keep reading what you personally enjoy!