Chapter Five: My Favorite Books of 2024 (So Far)
And why I loved them
The end of June both terrifies and excites me because it means that we’re somehow already halfway through the year. On one hand, I could panic about everything I haven’t done yet this year and all the goals I haven’t accomplished. Or I could gush about all of the amazing books I’ve read so far this year and remind myself that 2024 has already been a pretty fantastic reading year. So that’s what I’m choosing to do today!
These are all the books I’ve rated 5 (or 4.5) stars this year and have stuck with me long after turning the last page. I’m pretty picky about 5 star ratings, so I’m honestly impressed that I’ve already read so many in 2024 and am even more hopeful for the second half of the year. These books made me gasp, cry, and think more critically and empathetically as a reader. They’re the books that I won’t shut up about and will recommend to friends over and over again, and each one offers something special and unique. It’s an eclectic mix of genres and writing styles, but I’ve organized them into some categories that I hope will be helpful.
What are your favorite reads from this year so far? I’d love to hear about them (and the books you’re most excited to read in the next six months!).
Modern Classics
*All three of these books contain heavy and upsetting topics, so I would make sure you’re in the right headspace before reading.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This book was my first read of 2024, and it’s already in line to be my favorite read of the year. It contains some of the most gorgeous, visceral, and devastating writing I’ve ever read, and I was completely captivated by this reading experience. It’s a heartbreaking but stunning read that covers so many different topics (the mother/son relationship, an immigrant experience, intergenerational trauma, first desire and love) yet still seems intimate at the same time.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead is an incredible writer, and I think only he could pull off the premise of this book. He imagines if the Underground Railroad actually was a network of trains moving through connected tunnels, as he chronicles one woman’s escape from slavery and her journey north. It’s undeniably hard to read, with such extreme violence and brutal realities of slavery, but it’s necessary reading, especially if you live in the United States.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I first read this book a long time ago (maybe in middle school?) but rereading it as an adult was somehow an even better experience. It’s an earnest and heartbreaking coming of age story told in an epistolary format, set against the backdrop of teenage angst and high school drama. Even though it’s 25 years old, the themes of friendship and identity are still so relevant today.
Books That Defy Genre
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
I didn’t expect to love a high-concept, dystopian murder mystery, but I’m so impressed by Stuart Turton’s mind and storylines. This book is set on an island that holds the last inhabitants of Earth after a deadly fog killed the rest of humanity, and the islanders only have 107 hours to solve a murder before the fog overtakes the island. The immersive setting and twists will suck you in, and it’s best to just jump right into this book!
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
This book won’t be for everyone, but I love Kiley Reid’s writing style and her incredible characterization and dialogue. Her characters act and speak like real people, and you feel like you’re right there in the room with them. While this book is difficult to classify because it doesn’t really have a plot and is quite chaotic, it’s a blend of literary fiction, a coming of age story, and a campus novel, set in 2017 at the University of Arkansas.
Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis
Set mostly in the 1970s and 80s when Uruguay was under a dictatorship, this book tells the story of 5 queer women who search for home and community outside of their restrictive city lives. In a time when homosexuality was a dangerous transgression, their very existence and joy was revolutionary, and this was a part of South American history I knew very little about. It’s gorgeously written, and I recommend to anyone who loves character-driven novels that span decades or historical moments that aren’t often represented in literature.
Books That Made Me Cry
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
I read this book for my food + travel book club, and it’s a devastating and emotional novel of the Syrian revolution. Written from the perspective of a young pharmacist who becomes a doctor to the rising number of badly injured civilians, it’s both a coming of age and love story. But it’s also a heartbreaking look at the mental impact of trauma and fear and a stark reminder of the human cost of war and violence, particularly in our current global moment.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
This book forced me to think more deeply about my own life and the impact of fate and our own decisions. It imagines a world in which every adult is given a box containing a string, which directly correlates to the length of your life. Would you want to know how much longer you have to live? I’m so impressed by the author for not only coming up with this premise but really digging into the implications of what this would do to us as a country and a global community. It definitely hits differently after living through a pandemic.
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
This quietly beautiful book examines everyday life after loss—it’s not only about grief and regret but also hope and new beginnings. Though it has a slower start, I was hooked after the first quarter and stayed up late to finish it. There are some books that just make you appreciate the people and things in your life a little bit more, and this is one of them.
Love Stories & Family Dramas
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
I adore Alison Cochrun’s romances not only for the love stories but for all the other topics she covers: family dynamics, friendships, and self-growth. I especially appreciate her nuanced writing about mental health, and I have seen parts of myself represented in each of her books. This book is a fun friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance set on a cross-country road trip, but it’s also a tearjerker about found family, navigating terminal illness, and reclaiming lost love.
On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
I highly recommend reading this book with someone else because it deals with really heavy topics like addiction, heavy drug use, rape, child abuse, and extreme violence. The writing is so compelling and vivid, but there were scenes that were so difficult for me to read that I had to set the book aside a few times. It’s a heartbreaking account of how cycles of addiction can be perpetuated within families and communities, but it’s also a tremendous feat of storytelling that restores humanity and dignity to groups and people we don’t often read about.
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
Since I don’t often read romance, I wasn’t expecting to love a book with an unexpected pregnancy at the center, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Set in New York City, it’s heartfelt and lovely and gave me all the spring vibes. While there are some spicier moments (and the most adorable male love interest), it also examines friendship, big life changes, and standing up for yourself.
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns
Part coming of age story and part family drama (with a hint of mystery), this book forces you to consider how far you would go for your family—and how much of yourself you’re willing to lose in the process. I was completely drawn into this small Pennsylvania town setting and was both intrigued and annoyed by the flawed Joseph men at the heart of the story. Once again, the characterization was both realistic and very well done.
I hope these recommendations give you some inspiration for your next read! All of the links in this post will take you to my Bookshop.org affiliate page, and if you choose to shop my listings (and support local bookstores in the process), I can earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Wishing you all the five-star reads,
Katherine
These are awesome!!
Great list!