One of my 2024 goals was to read 24 books. I have read so many books on this journey that have pulled me into a new world. Some books were funny, some sad, and some were terrific true stories. I want to share my favorite books for 2024 and prepare myself for the next goal of 25 books for 2025!
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
This autobiography, written by one of the stars of iCarly, tells the story of her struggles with the world of entertainment, her relationship with her mom, her body, and how they all tie together. It was phenomenally written and truly eye-opening to see what children in the entertainment industry go through.
Solito by Javier Zamora
This book is the true story of a boy sent on a journey from El Salvador to the United States. It explains the hardships of the trek, relying on coyotes, and making it to the United States. More importantly, he shares the relationships he made throughout the journey. I couldn’t put this book down. It was extremely well-written, heart-wrenching, and happy.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This book was a fun comedy about a group of elderly people living in a senior care neighborhood who love murder mysteries. So when skeletons are discovered on the property, this group of riled-up seniors takes it into their own hands. This book had me laughing the entire time!
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
My former high school theater teacher loaned this book to me. It is a fantastic story that covers the difficulties of identity. It takes place in 1954 in San Francisco. The main character, Lily, is Chinese-American and has to navigate the Red Scare's hardships. She is also coming to terms with her sexuality and spends time at a place called the Telegraph Club, where people can feel free to be themselves
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
This rom-com had me laughing and crying the whole time! Yinka is a 31-year-old British-Nigerian woman constantly questioned about her marital status due to her age. She has to navigate the cultural differences that separate her from her family and learn to love herself.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. This is the story of a debutante who desires to become a journalist. She is challenged to find the infamous mob boss, the Mayor of Maxwell Street. There are a ton of twists and turns that keep the story moving quickly.
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
This book was not what I expected, but it was phenomenal. Essentially, this is a book about two serial killers who kill criminals who fall in love. It is highly graphic in both the violent and spicy scenes, so beware!
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
This book surprised me. It was about a vampire named Misery who is forced to marry the leader of the werewolves for political peace. She goes on a journey of discovery about mysteries of her past and the conflicting emotions she has towards politics in this fantastical world.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book enraptured me. Evelyn Hugo gives an exclusive interview about her life and all the hardships and high points she experienced. However, there are ulterior motives. The woman is an enigma, and you’ll have to read to find out her incredibly wild story!
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
I love a good mystery! This book is about three girls who are “sisters” as they lived in the same foster care home for years, dealing with an abusive foster mom. They have to return to their childhood home when they learn that bodies have been found buried under the house. They are forced to relive their childhood traumas while trying to figure out who buried those bodies under the house. It will keep you on your toes!
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Another great mystery! In this book, Evie Porter, a con artist, is hired to infiltrate the life of a businessman whom she dates to get closer to him. The story has many layers of mystery and has some great twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Cortland
This book brings together five criminals from different regions to take down an authoritarian king. These strangers have to adventure together, building relationships along the way. Each has a motive for killing the king, but are they all telling the truth?
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better by Gretchen Ruben
This book explains how everyone has a tendency when it comes to meeting internal and external expectations. I learned a lot about myself, my tendency, and the tendencies of people around me that have helped my relationships. Knowing how someone acts regarding meeting expectations has helped me keep myself on track by using the tips and tricks in the book.
Honey by Isabel Banta
This book was so relatable. It was a coming-of-age story about a girl with a beautiful singing voice and how her career launched her into adulthood from a young age. While she is famous and many of her experiences are related to fame, the struggles she faces about her body, relationships, friendships, and more are very relatable.
Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, A Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by Michelle Kuo
This memoir hit me close to home as a former classroom teacher. I could relate to Kuo as she told how she impacted a group of kids that people gave up on. There are definitely things I disagree with in this book, but it is a beautiful story of the bond between students who need support and the teachers willing to give them that support.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This book was fantastic. It tells the story of Achilles through the lens of Patroclus, his best friend. The book takes a stance of the men being partners, a long debated topic. I was on a journey because I knew little about Achilles’ story or the Trojan War. I read this with my dad, who knows more about Achilles, and he got to see the story from a new angle. Both of us had different experiences, but we both enjoyed the story.
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
Post-election, I needed to learn more about authoritarianism, and this book was recommended to me. This is essentially a guide to surviving authoritarianism using lessons from tyrants from the 20th century. It is short but powerful.
Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
This book taught me a lot about history that I didn’t know. Heather Cox Richardson is a historian who focuses on US political history. She is also a college professor! This book was phenomenal, and I learned more about how we got to where we are today.
Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
I’m currently reading this book, and it is incredibly eye-opening. It goes through various aspects of strongmen leaders, starting with Mussolini, and covers authoritarians until our present-day authoritarians. It is pretty thorough and informative.
