Happy New Year, My Lovelies!
Did you read any good books this year? It was a very good reading year for me. Due to travel, copious numbers of appointments, and Mr. Bookish watching several history documentary series, I've had abundant opportunities to read. In this post, I'll share with you my Goodreads statistics and my favorites from 2024.
I admit that my daughters greatly influenced what I read last year.
I prefer and read lots of fantasy. However one reads lots of romance, and the other one only reads mysteries, suspense, and true crime.
As much as I love my daughters, and I also appreciate their willingness to share their books with me, I will not be bullied influenced into reading as many of their recommendations this year because I have a goal to read more classics and nonfiction. I'm not annoyed with them because they are part of the reason my reading year was so wonderful!
More than half the books I read last year was from our local library. A few were sent to me by publishers or lent to me by my daughters. The rest I purchased mostly from Indie bookstores. I also had three book subscriptions, but now I only have one from Wildflower Books.
The one subscription I'm keeping is the Fantasy selection from Wildflower Fiction. The bookstore's owner Bayleigh is very good at selecting them, and most of them are from either independent publishers or are self-published. All have been new, so there has been no concern about already owning a copy.
One of the blind dates made my best of list.
Lovelight Farms was also purchased from Wildflower Fiction. It was the best Christmas romcom I read this year.
I liked it so much that I ordered the three other books in the series, and they will probably be the only romances I read this year. All are set in the same tiny Maryland town, and each one features a different season. My goal it to read each one during the season it's set in.
Below are my favorite books from 2024
Top to bottom, left to right:
If you could bake-up a book and mix together Brigette Jones' Diary, Beetlejuice, and Never Been Kissed, then you would get The Love Of My After Life. It was very funny in spite of several cringe-worthy, socially awkward scenes.
The Wishing Game is about a wealthy, reclusive writer who invites contestants to his private island to compete for a very large, life-changing prize. It contains a favorite trope of mine (found family), and it has all the feels.
Ruthless Vows is part of a dystopian duology that has compelling characters I rooted for until the very end. This a very well written YA romantasy.
Apprentice to the Villain is the laugh out loud sequel to Assistant to the Villain. Morally gray characters, grumpy/sunshine, and a frog named Kingsley who communicates with tiny signs make this series so much fun. I can't wait for the final installment to this trilogy. Read my full review HERE.
You Deserve Each Other is probably the best romance I've ever read. Sarah Hogle is a very popular writer on BookTok and Instagram, and I can see why.
The two main characters in this book hate each other and are trying to get out of their engagement by trying to force the other to break it. (I know,,,,where is the romance in this one?)
The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me reading way past my bedtime. Read my review HERE.
A Curse For True Love is part of a YA trilogy, probably my favorite since The Infernal Devices Series. If you read this series and don't fall in love with Jacks, then you are heartless. Truly, go to Oz and buy yourself one.
Below are my Top Four excluding Number One.
Emily Wilde's Map Of the Otherlands is the second in the Emily Wilde series. Emily is a neuro-spicy academic studying fairies during the Victorian Era, and her fiancé is an Irish fairy prince. This is the best of all the cozy fantasies I've ever read.
Bound By Gravity is more high fantasy, and it was also one of the Wildflower Fiction's Fantasy Blind Dates With a Book. It was the biggest surprise of the year, and I was shocked by how well-written it is. Jenny Hickman is a very creative and talented writer, and she definitely knows how to world-build. You can read my review HERE.
You don't have to be a gamer to love Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. This book lived up to the hype, and although it was published in 2023, I didn't get around to reading it until last year. I highly recommend it. Read my review HERE.
My favorite book of 2024:
Do any of these books appeal to you? What was your favorite book of 2024?
Here's to hoping that 2025 will be as good of a reading year as 2024!
Until next time...
Happy New Year!
Ricki Jill
Wow, you are a prolific reader, Ricki! I love when you share your lists, because I use them to shop for my daughter. So far everything you've suggested has been a huge hit, so thank you! Off to send her your post so maybe she can pick up a few of her own!
ReplyDeleteYou are so good a making sure you enjoy and read as much as you can. I am still working on a book from the summer! I should try and make more time for a good book. Have a great new week ahead. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteI’m so impressed, 77 books! I love to read and but I don’t think I’ve ever read that many in a year. I need to keep a list of your reads for selecting my books. Stay warm this week, so cold here. HNY
DeleteI know you love to read, and I enjoy seeing your lists! I get all the books I read from the library these days, and read them with Libby. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteWow, 77 books RJ, that is amazing! I love to see what my friends are reading and read their reviews. I'm not a fan of fantasy, my favorite genre is cozy mysteries. This is a perfect week for curling up with a blanket and a good book! Happy. reading~
ReplyDeleteJenna
I"ve saved this post to get ideas once I finish all my Christmas gift books. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteRemarkable statistics, Ricki Jill -- I am impressed! I always enjoy seeing book selections -- ones I would read and ones, maybe not but still interesting. The Unmaking of June Farrow does sound intriguing. Thanks for the recommendation!
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