Books I Loved In 2024

Reading is one of my favorite things to do. I always make time to read. Anyone can make time to read. I hate when people are like, "I just don't have the time." You do. Stop scrolling social media and there's the time right there. 

I always like to share books that I enjoyed throughout the year. These are the books that left an impression on me and are in no particular order. Click the book title link in the descriptions to purchase! 

Vivian's husband just died in the assisted-living facility. With Covid looming, she knows if she stays she'll be on lockdown soon and doesn't think she can handle that. She meets Luna, a nursing assistant, who is facing eviction. She is a single mother to 2 kids. Vivian decides to move back into her house and invite Luna and her children to live with her. Will it all work out? Morning In This Broken World by Katrina Kittle was a nice read--it gave me flashbacks to the lockdowns, yikes. I thought the book was well-written and enjoyed the characters. As you can see, Plops the Cat approved as well.

A nanny is dead. New mom Tash wants to figure out why. She's a freelance journalist and hopes to find a riveting story. Sure she loves being a mom, but she knows there is more to life. She decided to join a group of other mothers who seem perfect. Then another woman is found dead and Tash is convinced that something is not right. But what? Do the mothers she has befriended have a dark side? The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner kept me wondering what was going on. 

It's 1789 and Martha, who is a midwife and healer is called to check out a body that is found frozen in a river. The body is that of a man who was accused of raping a woman. Martha is sure the man was murdered, but the town doctor insists he is not. Martha decides to figure it all out on her own. She records all her cases in a journal and goes over everything searching for answers for the trial. But will anyone listen to a woman? I love historical fiction and The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was a fantastic read. 

I like a good chick lit book so I was hoping I'd like Next Of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young. I did! It's about Chloe, who discovers her irresponsible mom has had a baby and cannot care for it. Chloe doesn't want her sister to go into foster care so she volunteers to be the guardian. It's easier said than done as Chloe is young and broke. Thankfully CPS has a new program where 2 potential guardians can live together so they can succeed. Chloe is paired with Warren, who wants custody of his fifteen-year-old brother, who is deaf. Warren comes across as moody and Chloe is worried it will not work--but as time goes on, she gets to know Warren, and her opinion begins to change. This is a feel-good story!

If you want a book to keep you reading, pick one up from Freida McFadden. I read The Teacher and wanted to know what on earth was going on. It's about Eve, who is married to Nate. They both teach at the High School. That same High School had a scandal the year before that involved a student named Addie. Eve thinks Addie lies and is dangerous. But is she? And when her husband begins taking an interest in Addie, will her husband get in trouble? In Freida's books, you think you know what is happening and then there's another twist to change your mind. 

As I mentioned, I love historical fiction, so I was excited to read The Women by Kristin Hannah. She has so many wonderful books, so you must read those too! This is her latest, and it's about Frances "Frankie" McGrath, who decides to become a nurse in the Vietnam War. She is horrified by what she sees over there and it's even worse when the war ends and she returns home. No one seems to appreciate anyone who served over there. She has to deal with PTSD and cruel comments from others. Will life ever be normal for Frankie ever again? My Mom is a retired Colonel in the Air Force, so I always love to read about women who have served. 

What if whenever you started to date someone, you get a piece of paper with a number on how long the relationship with last? This is what happens to Daphne. She isn't sure how or why this happens, but it does. She starts dating a guy and the paper shows up. They've always been correct. She meets Jake, and this time the piece of paper arrives blank. Does this mean Jake is The One? This was another fun click lit! It's Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. If you like Hallmark movies, you'll like this!

When Ethan was a little boy, his friend Billy was kidnapped in his backyard during a sleepover. The case never was solved. Ethan returns to his mom 30 years later and still has bad dreams from that night. Then weird things start to happen and he keeps thinking he sees Billy in his backyard. But that's impossible. Billy has never been found. Ethan decides he's going to solve the case and find out what happened to his friend. Will he succeed? Middle Of The Night by Riley Sager will keep you guessing. I thought I figured it out but then realized, nope, never mind. 

I read another book by Freida McFadden called Never Lie. I have liked all the other books I've read from her and this one was no exception. It's about Tricia and Ethan, who have recently been married. They are searching for a home and think they've found an amazing one. The estate used to belong to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a famous psychiatrist who went missing. They find themselves trapped in the house when a violent storm comes through. Tricia discovers taped sessions from Dr. Hale and begins to listen--and realizes Adrienne might have been murdered. I read this book in two days because I needed to know what was going on!

Emily Giffin is another author I've been reading for a long time. I read all her books! The Summer Pact is about 4 friends who meet in college--they are from different walks of life but bond. Sadly, years later, one of the friends struggles and takes her own life--this brings the rest of the friends together. This is a lovely book about friendship and reminds you what is important in life. 

I do love a good Rom Com. The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center gave me that same feeling. It's about Emma, who wants to be a screenwriter. She gets a chance to co-write a script with famous screenwriter Charlie Yates. He has written many blockbuster films. He's also moody and not interested in writing with someone else. He eventually agrees, but things aren't exactly smooth. He doesn't think Emma has what it takes--so Emma will have to prove him wrong. And along the way, maybe feelings will emerge..

Was Shakespeare's works written by him? Or a woman? This is what young playwright Melina Green wants to find out. She has written a play about her ancestor named Emilia, who was alive with Shakespeare was. Emilia was also a gifted playwright but she's born in a time where women are not taken seriously--heck, even in Melina's time it's tough to make a break as a woman. The only way Emilia can get her works published is to do it through a man--and that's where Shakespeare comes in. By Another Other Name by Jodi Picoult is told in different timelines and it's is compelling. I have always wondered if Shakespeare actually wrote his poems and plays. I wouldn't be surprised if a woman actually did it. Read the book and let me know what you think!

It's the 90s and teenager Amber Young is a gifted singer--she's asked to join an all girl group. She agrees and meets other talented people her age. She even meets Wes, who is part of the popular boy band ETA. As time goes on, she goes solo and gets pretty famous. But fame isn't all it's cracked up to be. Honey by Isabel Banta was an entertaining read. I loved that it was set in the 90s and 2000s. 

I was highly amused by the premise of The Love Of My After Life by Kirsty Greenwood. Delphie has just died after choking on a microwave burger. In the after life she meets a handsome stranger and they connect--but then someone comes running in shouting that there has been a mistake and the stranger is sent back to Earth. Delphie is upset! Not only is she dead, but she also found the man of her dreams and he's gone! Then she's given a deal: if she can find the man on earth in a certain amount of time, she can live again. Delphie agrees--but when she find the guy? This is another fantastic read! 

In High School there was a tragic accident, so Helen hates Grant. Thirteen years go by and Helen is a bestselling author who is having one of her books turn into a show. She's able to join the writers' room and there she sees Grant, who is a screenwriter. She's not sure how she can possibly work with Grant after what he did in High School. Will it all work out? As you can probably tell from all the books I shared, I do enjoy a good love story. This one was no exception. So pick up How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang. 

So have you read any of these books? Is there one you'll be picking up?