I’ve been picking audiobooks randomly to listen to off of Libby without any prior knowledge of them, so this is definitely not my usual read, but, dang, it ensnared me. This book read like an echo of some of my own college experiences and just hits hard in such a poignant way, moving quickly and taking me along with it for the whole heartbreaking ride. There were some plot points that didn’t fit as well for me, and the ending didn’t have as much impact on me as I thought it would, but the writing style was lovely and flowing and the characters felt so utterly real. Definitely makes me want to read more outside my comfort zone.
I think I originally said 4.5, but I’m still thinking about this one, so I’m upping it to 5.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honestly, sometimes you don’t even know the type of book you need to read next.
I love T. Kingfisher’s voice, but this one didn’t make the top three for me on her list. It’s a solid read with great narration, but the pacing was a little on the slower side, and I think I was hoping for more character development by the end. I can’t shake the feeling it didn’t quite pack as much punch as it could have. Recommend for readers looking for a solid fairy-tale retelling in class fairy-tale setting.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Still a huge T. Kingfisher fan and have more of her books on my TBR!
This was an interesting, fast-paced read. I liked the premise and the characters, but I had the distinct feeling it read like a screenplay adapted quickly into a novel. Though everything was easy to visualize, I feel like the characters and their relationships didn’t quite have the depth that I’m used to. And although it was a fun ride and sets up for a sequel, at the end, I just found myself not really satisfied.
At the 90% mark, I felt like I should be approaching the halfway mark rather than the end, and at the end, I feel like the characters’ development hadn’t made the significant strides I would’ve expected. I also felt like the audiobook narration read a little mechanically so I’m not sure how that affected my experience either. But if you’re looking for a plot-driven, fast-paced thriller with a fantastical edge, this might be for you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kept me turning pages, and I think I’d def still recommend it to sci-fi fans. I’m def curious to see what my husband thinks of it.
This was such a fun audiobook listen! It reminded me of a sci-fi version of The Selection. Though the world here firmly carries us into the far future with spaceships and a prince from another planet, the tech and language come off as very accessible with the narrative emphasis on The-Bachelor-style competition and the relationships between the characters. Though it doesn’t read as a stand-alone, the story is fast-paced and ends on a satisfying note. Recommended for fans of the Selection who want to travel to the stars. Thanks to the author for the audiobook copy, and you can grab your own here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’m always here for some gameshow dating shenanigans.
I haven’t finished an unputdownable book in a while so this was so refreshing. I’ve never read a why-choose romance, but the voices & relationships of the characters felt so real, and the background of political intrigue was fantastically woven. I honestly wish we had picked this one for our romantasy book club, but I’ll definitely be recommending it to all of them! Can’t wait for the sequel!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The sequel comes out this fall and I’m pumped for it!
Loved this read! The voice was fun, the tension was tight throughout, there’s a seed of romance, the narration was amazing, and I honestly didn’t know who did it until the end. Honestly this may be my favorite read of the year so far, and I highly recommend for anyone looking for a fast-paced whodunnit!
My 7-year-old and 9-year-old were having a discussion about why books are banned, so we listened to this audiobook (which is delightfully narrated by Neil Patrick Harris), and which is also banned in an adjacent county. I’d actually read it to them when they were younger and we found it on their daycare shelf, but they don’t remember.
It’s an adorable, charming book with sweet pictures that they enjoyed when they were young. As older children, discussing why someone would want to ban this book (and others) was invaluable. Highly recommend.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And just in case it needs to be explicitly said, our family stands passionately against book banning.
I read this aloud to my 7-year-old and 9-year-old on our vacation, and they both said they “loved it.” (The highest praise on their 3-star scale.) I will admit the sheer number of clever turn of phrases in this book is wild, and they enjoyed the silliness of Milo’s wacky adventure. Though the tension isn’t as high as in some of the other books we’ve read together, they were both still asking for more chapters each night. I imagine a watch of the movie is in our future and highly recommend for a read aloud with elementary schoolers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Credit where credit is do. This one is *chef’s kiss.*
I read this one aloud to my 7-year-old and 9-year-old on our vacation. There was lots to discuss and learn about the Holocaust, WWII and what it means to be brave. They kept asking me to keep reading and in the end, they both said they “liked it.” (My kids rate books on a 3-star scale: I loved it, I liked it, or not for me.) It was a super fast read that kept us turning pages, and I definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a read-aloud historical fiction that kids will both understand and want to talk about.
So far in 2024, I read (and by read, I mean, mostly listened to, as I’m primarily an audiobook listener) 82 books! Like last year, I scrolled through my Goodreads reviews and tried to pick out the reads that were a cut above the rest, and tried to bin them in a genre.
For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for. This year, I feel like my 8 favorites were all over the map.
Without further ado (and in no particular order):
Favorite Middle Grade read
So I read a lot of good middle grade this year, but this one was truly just a magical, cozy adventure. This book started me on T. Kingfisher reading binge, and I absolutely just adore the way her characters pop and her unique stories unfold. Can’t recommend this one enough. Full review here!
Favorite Young Adult Read
The show was amazing, and yet the graphic novel was somehow better. This series sucked me in so much I basically put everything else on hold so I could devour them. The characters are lovely, the art is fantastic, and the story just feels so poignantly YA, it’s really just jaw-droppingly good. I blew through the first five books, and you can find the full review here!
Favorite Fantasy
This one was so completely atmospheric and transportive. The writing was fantastic, the characters were delightful, and months later, I’m still thinking about this book. Quite frankly, this may have been one of the best fairy tale retellings I think I’ve ever read. And this was her debut!?! Seriously, I can’t wait for more from Poranek. Full review here.
Favorite Series
I’d file this under: books I didn’t know I needed in my life. Apparently this a LitRPG, and six audiobooks later (each of which are about 20 hours long), I still can’t get enough. Action-packed, hilarious, and with incredible world-building, if this series could actually never end, that would be awesome. Impatiently waiting for the seventh audiobook in 2025. Full review of books 1-6 here!
Favorite Children’s Book
I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, so I have read *a lot* of picture books in the last five years, and it’s very rare that one sticks out. Really have to give it this one for being the full package with lovely illustrations, writing, and message. Full review here.
Favorite Horror
This was my first read of 2024, and I knew pretty much immediately that it would make this list. Hilarious, disturbing, and deep all at once, with turns that keep you guessing, I basically ran to recommend this to my friends. I definitely need more smart horror like this. Full review here.
Favorite Romance
This one legit jumped out of nowhere at me. Like seriously, I think I was aimlessly scrolling through the Libby app when I stumbled upon it. But it was just a such a sweet romance (with a little spice), I can’t even. I get a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it! Full review here!
Favorite Paranormal
I read a *lot* of books that didn’t live up to the hype this year. This was not one of them. Ali Hazelwood books have been hit or miss for me, but this was a big hit. A vampire, werewolf world with the feel of a romcom? Um, yes please. Fingers seriously crossed for a sequel. Full review here.
2024 was another fantastic year of reading! I’m still catching my blog up on my Goodreads reviews, but if I missed some of your favorites from this year, definitely drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews to spread the word about their amazing books, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊
Cheers to a 2025 filled with even more awesome books!
Hayley Reese Chow 