Recapping 2024 Books Read

2024 was probably the best year of reading I’ve had… maybe ever. I set a reading goal of 40 books and blew it out of the water. I actually completed 61 in the calendar year. The goal for 2025 is 70 books.

I think I am hesitant to get started on my 2025 list because last year was just so amazing. There is a little fear that this year will not measure up. It’s already the 9th of January, and I have yet to complete a single novel.

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Let’s go over some data. I am nothing if not a huge nerd.

Of the 61 books, every single one was written by a woman. Apparently, 2024 was my girliest year to date.

According to my GoodReads account, I averaged 4 days per book.

Romance and Fantasy were the two most popular genres (no surprise there).

Meghan Quinn (10), Sarah J Maas (8), and Kerri Maniscalco (6) were my most read authors.

Most of the books I consumed were in the 300-499 page range, totaling 54%. Books over 500 pages equaled about 34% of the year’s total.

Isn’t that fun?

Here are the books I absolutely devoured and will continue to recommend: (each pic is linked to Amazon for purchase, most are available on Kindle Unlimited)

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2024 Best Reads

You know how sometimes you get a book-hangover? I have been in a big one since Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline. Even though I read 6 books after those, I haven’t been able to shake them. They were mind-altering.

My top pick for the year was Lights Out. While I was more affected by others, Lights Out was easily the most entertaining and fun read of the year. I laughed so often. It was a completely unexpected journey for me, and I loved every second.

Kerri Maniscalco’s Kingdom books really jump started the year of obsessive reading. The first Kingdom of the Wicked book had been chilling on my bookshelf for a few years. I didn’t know much about it before cracking it open. I bought it really because the cover looked like my vibe. I was nearly instantly hooked. I tore through this trilogy and then read Throne of the Fallen (#1). The second book in that series came out in the fall of 2024, but I have not purchased it yet. It’s on the TBR for 2025.

The Ruinous Love Trilogy, well the first two anyway, falls in line with Lights Out for me. I liked Leather & Lark better than Butcher & Blackbird, but they were both a really good time. I have discovered that I quite enjoy the journey through comical dark romance. I am also a big fan of the forced proximity and fake marriage tropes. And obviously, touch her and die ranks real high on my list of yes please. The final book in this trilogy is set to release on June 10, 2025.

Another surprisingly good time came complements of The Serpent & the Wings of Night and The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King. These are the first two in a four-book series called Crowns of Nyaxia by Carissa Broadbent. The Serpent & the Wings of Night had been on my shelf for while. When September rolled around, I was looking for something with vampires. This was like if the Hunger Games hooked up with True Blood. I was here for it.

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Now do you see my hesitation and nervousness for beginning this year’s list? I am going to change things up a little this year. The goal is to have a little more variety in the 70 total. I am beginning the year with Eruption. My son Riley gives me a book for Christmas, and it is my first read of the following year. This year, he gifted me Eruption. So already we are slightly more diverse than last year… since this one was penned by two dudes.

Until next time, happy reading!