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Top Must-Read Books of 2024

Updated: Nov 26, 2025

In a fictional universe rich with limitless possibilities of worlds, storylines, and plot twists, we often seek inspiration and guidance on the best books to escape reality. Regardless of your preferred genre, there is always something available for everyone to enjoy. This post presents a curated list of must-read books for 2024, catering to a variety of genres and styles, offering you a brief respite from reality and a chance to immerse yourself in another world. We welcome open discussions.


I have compiled a selection of books from the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards that I have either read or plan to read, along with my thoughts on each.


Eye-level view of a cozy reading nook with a stack of lifestyle books
A cozy reading nook inviting readers to explore endless possibilities.


#1 - The Wedding People by Alison Espach - Fiction



Good Reads Synopsis:

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.



In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.


Thoughts:

  • I haven't personally read this book, however after reading the synopsis i think i will give it a go as it sounds interesting and I do love a bit of Drama.

  • Goodreads reviews confidently state, "I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I am so sad it’s over" and "Words cannot do justice to how brilliant this book is." However, others have different opinions: "There’s absolutely no feeling and emotion in this novel" and "Did not finish." Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, which is why if I believe I would enjoy a book based on its description, I will at least give it a chance.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:





#2 - The Women By by Kristin Hannah - Historical Fiction


Good Reads Synopsis: 

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women―at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.


Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.


As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.


Thoughts:

  • Although I do not typically read historical fiction, "The Women" seems to explore the Vietnam War and the main character Frankie's perspective on the situation while serving as a nurse.

  • Goodreads reviews confidently state: "Expected far more from my very first Kristin Hannah book. Loved the intent, found the content so-so", and "Too cutesy and romance focused." Others appeared to enjoy it saying "I love a book about strong women" and "Kristin Hannah certainly knows how to take a sledgehammer to your heart and she is NOT afraid to do it."


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#3 - The God of the Woods By Liz Moore - Mystery & Thriller



Good Reads Synopsis:

When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide.


Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.


As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances.


Thoughts:

  • Although I have not read this book, I do enjoy Mystery/Thriller genres and the various emotional or shocking situations in which the characters find themselves. This would be a book that i would definately read.

  • The journey of searching for a missing child and piecing together the puzzle as you progress through the narrative can be both unsettling and intriguing.

  • Good Readers have expressed: "I feel compelled to evaluate, define, proclaim, and thoroughly engage with this book beyond conventional terms," "I believed I would excel as a detective until I read something like this, realizing it would lead to an immediate reassignment to traffic," and "The setting is rich and vivid, particularly in the scenes set in the woods surrounding Camp Emerson."


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#4 - Funny Story By Emily Henry - Romance


Good Reads Synopsis:

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.


Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it... right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.


Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.


Thoughts:

  • This appears to be a classic romance novel featuring the theme of opposites attracting, where a childhood best friend evolves into the object of Peter's affection. Based on the description, it promises to be a whirlwind of drama and seems like it would be an engaging read.

  • This book has a 4.19 rating on Goodreads, with varied opinions from readers. Some describe it as "GIRL DINNER", while others express sentiments such as "I went in expecting to dislike it but ended up having a really great time" and "Came for diabolical vengeance and steam but got a boring, watered down therapy session". Additionally, one reader simply states, "all I am going to say for now is that I am disappointed".


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:





#5 - House of Flame and Shadow By Sarah J Maas - Romantasy


Good Reads Synopsis:

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.


Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.


Thoughts:

  • This book is on my to-be-read list, and I have been advised that it will be more comprehensible if I read "Throne of Glass" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" before this series.

  • I am presently engaged in reading the "Throne of Glass" series and have reached "Crown of Midnight." Thus far, I am enjoying the series, although I find "Throne of Glass" to be somewhat of a slow burn, as the initial stages appear to lack significant activity. 

  • I'm uncertain if this is widely known, as I've been somewhat out of touch over the past few months due to personal matters. However, I've recently discovered that the "Throne of Glass" series is best read with "The Assassin's Blade" placed in the third or fourth position. Additionally, you can perform a tandem read of the last two books, for which a guide is available here: https://bookishgoblin.com/tandem-read-throne-of-glass/

  • This book has a 4.22 rating on Goodreads, with varied opinions from readers. Some describe it as "I did not want this to end, I could still read another 500 pages of this beautiful book", while others express sentiments such as "When you manage your expectations by being realistic and enjoy tf outta this masterpiece" and "Overall, this book felt sloppy.". Additionally, one reader simply states, "Erm, it’s no from me".


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:

(all of the Above is also in my Good Reads TBR)




#6 - Somewhere Beyond the Sea By T.J. Klune - Fantasy


Good Reads Synopsis:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade. Featuring gorgeous orange sprayed edges!


An enchanting residence. A hidden history. A call that has the potential to alter everything.


Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.


He is the head of an unusual orphanage located on a remote and distinctive island, and he aspires to become the adoptive father to the six magical and potentially dangerous children residing there.


Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a compelling narrative of resilience, thoughtfully depicting the challenging journey of striving for and maintaining the life one desires.


Thoughts:

  • Based on the above, this appears to be an intriguing read. Themes involving magic and secrets consistently capture my interest. I have added it to my to-be-read (TBR) list.

  • Goodreads Reviews: "This book gave me everything I wanted—and then some! I loved every bit of this story."and "My heart has been melted by this book". Others state: "I hate to rate this so low but after the first book which I adored this book fell extremely flat" and" This was okay. I bought it. I read it. I didn't love it. It entertained me. Was it worth $15? Questionable."


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#7 - The Ministry of Time By Kaliane Bradley - Science Fiction


Good Reads Synopsis:

A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.


In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.


She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.


Thoughts:

  • I have not yet read any science fiction books and have been seeking a suitable starting point. The title of this book has piqued my interest along with the synopsis.

  • Goodreads Reviews: "I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was humorous, charming, poignant, and intelligent" and "I loved this. I particularly appreciated her exquisite turns of phrase and her skillfull writing of dialogue". However, you cannot have the positive without the negative. "This was quite unusual, and I'm uncertain about my feelings towards it" and "It was a compelling story, although I somewhat disliked the narrative style and a few of the characters."


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#8 - You Like It Darker By Stephen King - Horror


Good Reads Synopsis:

'You like it darker? Fine, so do I', writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel 'the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind', and in You Like it Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.


King's ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.


Thoughts:

  • I find the concept of a book containing numerous shorter stories particularly intriguing for a horror genre. Initially, when I saw the title, I anticipated it would be a traditional storytelling book filled with twists, turns, and suspense. However, after reviewing the comments, it seems to be more of a compilation of short stories, which I personally have not encountered before.

  • Goodreads Reviews: "I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse selection of thrills and chills." and "These twelve short stories (some of which are quite lengthy) begin with the excellent 'Two Talented Bastids,' a delightful blend of small-town life and science fiction." However, some readers did not share this enthusiasm, noting "Did not finish. I was unexpectedly disappointed." and "In my opinion, his weakest collection of short stories."



Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:





#9 - How to End a Love Story By Yulin Kuang - Debut Novel


Good Reads Synopsis:

Two writers with a complicated history end up working on the same TV show... Can they write themselves a new ending? A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover from brilliant new voice Yulin Kuang.


Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.


Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She’s even scored a coveted spot in the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer’s block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there.


Thoughts:

  • This book has been on my to-be-read list for some time, and revisiting the synopsis has reignited my interest in it. The themes of enemies to lovers, drama, and a cozy read align perfectly with my preferences. Occasionally, a lighter read is exactly what one needs, provided it remains engaging enough to ensure completion.

  • Goodreads reviews vary widely, with some stating, "I've confidently included this book in my top ten best romances of 2024 due to its intense, emotionally charged, high-chemistry, trauma-bound enemies-to-lovers dynamic and its quirky writer protagonists." Others remark, "While many describe this story as trauma bonding, I consider it a therapeutic coincidence," and "I should have reconsidered when I learned it was written in third person; it only declined from there." Additionally, one review notes, "In my view, this is not a romantic book. It depicts two characters engaging in trauma bonding and labeling it as love." If you are not fond of third-person narratives, you may want to skip this book. However, if you find yourself intrigued, it might be worth exploring. You may not regret it.



Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:





#10 - Ruthless Vows By Rebecca Ross - Young Adult Fantasy


Good Reads Synopsis:

Torn apart by war. Reunited by love?


Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.


Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again – but this time for the enemy.


When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious… and strangely familiar.


As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.


Thoughts:

  • From the entire list, there is another war story I am eager to read. I am particularly drawn to the narrative of two individuals separated by war, yet ultimately reunited through love.

  • I recently completed a contemporary spin-off of "Romeo and Juliet" titled "These Violent Delights." While I found it enjoyable, it did not quite reach the level of being extraordinary. The book's description evokes the theme of "Romeo and Juliet," as the characters risk their hearts and futures in an attempt to alter the course of war. It could prove to be an intriguing read.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#11 - Heartstopper: Volume Five By Alice Oseman - Young Adult Fiction


Good Reads Synopsis:

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork.


Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house... but with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?


By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.


Thoughts:

  • I am genuinely pleased to see that there are books available that encompass a wide variety of topics, and it is gratifying to see that some of these include LGBTQ+ themes.

  • This book seems to be a classic narrative with fluctuating dynamics, where the outcome remains uncertain due to unfolding events that could alter the course of the story. The question arises whether everything will resolve positively or if circumstances will change, affecting the characters' ability to spend time together.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#12 - The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness By Jonathan Haidt - Non-Fiction



Good Reads Synopsis:

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book of 2024 • A Washington Post Notable Book • A New York Times Notable Book • The Goodreads Choice Award Nonfiction Book of the Year


A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.


“With tenacity and candor, Haidt lays out the consequences that have come with allowing kids to drift further into the virtual world . . . While also offering suggestions and solutions that could help protect a new generation of kids.” —Shannon Carlin, ,i>TIME, 100 Must-Read Books of 2024


After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why?


Thoughts:

  • As someone recently diagnosed with generalized anxiety, I find this topic intriguing. The connections between mental health and daily activities Involving phones and social media are significant. It's evident that individuals reflect what they are exposed to. For instance, constant bullying on social media, whether by strangers or acquaintances, can lead to depression. This is a common theme in many articles about children in schools who are frequently on social media. Additionally, personal insecurities can arise from the constant comparisons facilitated by these platforms.

  • With the growing accessibility of phones, iPads, and social media among younger individuals, I find the resulting issues to be concerning. As discussed in this book, there appears to be a pattern linking the rise in mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, to increased indoor time and reduced social interaction. Consequently, a growing number of people are being diagnosed with these and other related ailments.

  • It may be a generational phenomenon, but when I was younger, I spent time outside playing with other children in the street and making mud pies. We would visit our friends' homes to see if they wanted to join us. I have observed that this is less common now, as technology and gaming have become increasingly popular.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:




#13 - The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir By Kelly Bishop Amy Sherman-Palladino - Memoir



Good Reads Synopsis:

After more than a half century in show business, Kelly Bishop has stories to tell.


From her Tony Award-winning performance in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line, to playing Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing, to her iconic role as matriarch Emily Gilmore in the groundbreaking television classic Gilmore Girls, few actors have enjoyed such long-running success—and even fewer can claim the adoration that this legendary actress has cultivated over her many working years. Kelly's instantly recognizable voice has echoed through theaters and living rooms for decades.


For the first time, Kelly opens the door into her own life. She retraces her steps from Broadway to Hollywood and everywhere in between, reflecting on her decades-long career and sharing some of her greatest memories and the lessons she learned along the way. From her early days as a dancer at Radio City Music Hall in the '60s, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to her time as a burned-out Las Vegas showgirl, nothing is off-limits. She takes readers behind the scenes, from how she helped create a role in A Chorus Line, what it was like having Ed Herrmann as her TV husband and Lauren Graham as her TV daughter, and working with some of the biggest names in showbiz. The result is an enchanting celebration of a fearless and versatile performer whose talent and spirit have earned her an enduring place in the hearts and homes of millions.


Thoughts:

  • I find that I need to be in the right mindset to read this genre, as my preferred genres are fiction and fantasy, where I enjoy the storytelling aspect more than narratives based on real-life events. My interest would likely depend on the subject of the book and its content, which could make me more or less intrigued.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:





#13 - The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore By Evan Friss - History & Biography



Good Reads Synopsis:

An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations


Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see those stakes: what has been, and what might be lost.


The Bookshop is a love letter to bookstores, a charming chronicle for anyone who cherishes these sanctuaries of literature, and essential reading to understand how these vital institutions have shaped American life—and why we still need them.


Thoughts:

  • As previously mentioned, I have not read this book as it is not something I would typically gravitate towards. However, I am impressed that, despite the technology available today and the widespread access to various e-readers, libraries and bookstores continue to thrive globally.

  • There is a unique pleasure in visiting a bookstore, whether it's engaging in a conversation with someone browsing the same aisle or discovering a remarkable special edition book. The joy of exploring bookstores, and indeed any establishment that offers books, is immense. I particularly appreciate those long-standing stores that continue to thrive today.


Additional books nominated for the Goodreads 2024 Choice Awards include:

  • Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age By Kathleen Sheppard

  • Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum By Antonia Hylton

  • When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day By Garrett M. Graff



We encourage you to participate in the comments section with your recommendations or discussions. Please share your favourite book, explain why it is your favourite, and let us know what you voted for if you Voted during the Goodreads 2024 Choice awards.

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