Top 10 Books of 2024
I made a video on my top 10 books of 2024 over on Instagram, but I thought it might be helpful to put together a post with the titles and some quick thoughts on them so you can skip to the book you want to know about! I organized my ‘Top 10’ not in order of preference, but in chronological order of when I read them in the year.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Reading dates: 8 July 2023 – 1 January 2024, so it technically counts as a 2024 read!
Genre(s): historical fiction, urban fantasy, magical realism.
This book touches on a lot of themes that I’m very interested in or passionate about, like language, culture, colonization, translation, and academia, so it would’ve been weirder if I didn’t like it.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschotts
Reading dates: 17 January 2024 – 19 January 2024
Genre(s): superheroes, sci-fi, urban fantasy
I listened to the audiobook of this largely on a plan home from visiting my friends in England and was completely obsessed. I am still waiting very (im)patiently for news of the sequel!
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson
Reading dates: 28 January 2024 – 4 February 2024
Genre(s): sci-fi
This is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tie-in novel and if you liked that series at all then you should read this book! Specifically if you liked the character Garak, played by Andrew Robinson himself. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and it was such a fun experience as he brought a lot of Garak’s mannerisms back for the audio recording.
Leeward by Katie Daysh
Reading dates: 6 February 2024 – 10 February 2024
Genre(s): historical fiction, naval fiction
No one can ever make me shut up about this book. The sequel would’ve made it into the top 10 as well if I hadn’t given myself a ‘no sequels if the first book is on the list’ rules for this top 10, since if you take my advice and read this then you’ll absolutely read the sequel immediately. If you’re a fan of shows like Black Sails, then this will be a great fit for you!
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Reading dates: ???? (officially: 4 February 2024) – 11 February 2024
Genre(s): sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mystery
I make the note of the mystery start date only because I know I read the first hundred pages or so last summer and then put it down, only to pick it up and devour the rest in February. But I had deleted my history, so I don’t know when that was. This is definitely a book you should be ‘in the mood for’ as it’s pretty dense with worldbuilding and has some heavy themes, but it’s just as good as everyone says it is.
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
Reading dates: 12 February 2024 – 16 February 2024
Genre(s): contemporary fiction, romance
This book made me cry for all the right reasons! If you want a coming of age style narrative staring a newly retired postman in his 60s trying to find and reconnect with a lost love, and himself, then this is absolutely a book to pick up.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Reading dates: 27 March 2024 – 30 March 2024
Genre(s): sci-fi
I listened to all of the Murderbot Diaries on audiobook this year, narrated by Kevin R. Free, and absolutely recommend those for an extremely fun listening experience. I knew of Kevin R. Free prior to these books, as I’ve been a dedicated listener to Welcome to Night Vale since 2012 and remember his debut as Kevin!
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
Reading dates: 4 July 2024 – 7 July 2024
Genre(s): horror, mystery
I love Chuck Tingle and I loved this book! A (critical) love letter to Hollywood with creative monsters and engaging solutions. Love is real!
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
Reading dates: 15 September 2024 – 22 September 2024
Genre(s): contemporary fiction, romance
This book made me absolutely crave a European food and wine tour, so if you catch me posting from an Italian vineyard next summer, mind your business.
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
Reading dates: 22 December 2024 – 23 December 2024
Genre(s): historical fiction, romance
I listened to the audiobook of this one and, despite not liking the narrator, I was obsessed with this book. I wasn’t originally on my top 10, as I made the graphic for that before the 20th of December, but it was so cute and fun that I immediately knew it had to replace something on this list.
Honourable Mentions
Murdle: The School of Mystery by G.T. Karber (puzzle book, mystery).
Wrong Norma by Anne Carson (poetry).
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer (sci-fi, romance, mystery).
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx (western, romance).
Women’s Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery (historical fiction).
The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian (historical fiction, romance, mystery).
I made a video on my top 10 books of 2024 over on Instagram, but I thought it might be helpful to put together a post with the titles and some quick thoughts on them so you can skip to the book you want to know about! I organized my ‘Top 10’ not in order…