2024 Reading Wrap-up
I am closing out 2024 with a hefty list of books. Some of these stories you know—maybe you loved or hated them. This reading wrap-up is my honest opinion and experience with these stories. While writing this post and reflecting on this past year's book picks, I am pleased to announce that I enjoyed *most* of the stories I read.
What changed?
In 2024, I gave myself grace when I needed to DNF (did not finish) a book. I finally stopped feeling guilty over putting down books I wasn’t enjoying. There are a plethora of stories I intend to read and I don’t have time to waste on a bad book.
Let’s dive in!
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Astonishing X-Men: Gifted
Prose Novel by Peter David
★★★★★
I listened to this book in one day while traveling back home after spending the rest of the holiday season with my family. It was the perfect way to start a year: this audio production is outstanding. They have a full cast narrating, which gives the experience such dynamic range. As far as the story, it was one of my favorites of this year. I loved the character development and the themes woven throughout. It’s well worth listening to!
Summary: The X-men members Cyclops and Emma Frost reform the team to astonish the world, but when the mutant gene is compromised, people demand a “cure” once and for all.
The Club
by Ellery Lloyd
DNF
Sadly, this book was my first DNF of the year. I couldn’t for the life of me get into this story. The characters didn’t grab me. This novel’s trope is the classic mystery who’d done it like the famous game, Clue. And while they can be done well, it seemed like the author didn’t quite grasp how to juggle such a large cast while keeping the reader invested. Therefore, I had to put the book down.
Summary: A group of wealthy individuals are dying to gain membership in an exclusive club. When they make it in and arrive at the Island Home, secrets deepen and tension arises, now they regret becoming members and want nothing more than to get off of the property. However, they soon find out that you can't once you’re on the list.
Upstream: Selected Essays
by Mary Oliver
★★★
I had been looking forward to this book for a long time. While it was good, it left me a little underwhelmed. I can’t help but wonder if I had too many expectations going into it. There are a handful of worthwhile pieces within this book of essays, but more of them just didn’t hit the mark. It’s definitely worth reading as Oliver is a masterful word wizard with powerful imagery skills.
Summary: A collection of essays musing about classic poets and nature.
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams
★★★★★
This is Adam’s debut and it was powerful. I absolutely LOVED this book. As I’m reflecting on this book, it still lives vividly in my mind—that’s when you know you’ve just read a good story. It’s about finding friendship through books. It’s about grief and getting through everyday troubles with the power of stories and community.
Summary: Aleisha and Mukesh’s lives weave together as two lonely souls finding companionship and connection through books.
One Last Gift
by Emily Stone
★★★★★
This was another book I adored last year. It’s the perfect tale to read around the Christmas season. The story is heavy since there are multiple deaths, but it has such a cathartic ending that it’s worth all the heartache.
Summary: Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age. Then, she loses Tom. Cassie has never felt more alone but soon discovers her brother left an envelope for her to work through the biggest scavenger hunt yet. Can she find the will to finish it?
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★
Personally, I felt this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling— except with fae creatures. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this one, maybe it’s because I love the classic fairytale, but Maas introduced this world well and kept me invested in the characters.
Summary: Feyre kills a wolf in the woods which turns out to have drastic consequences. She is taken to pay for her crime and discovers that he isn’t just a wild animal but a faerie. Now she must navigate this strange new world as she grows feelings for one of the fae creatures Tamblin, but danger lurks on their land and they must find a way to stop it before it’s too late.
Spider-Man: Blue
by Jeph Loeb
★★★★★
This Spider-Man graphic novel was wonderful. It was emotional and the story unfolded with great mystery and intrigue. This is a story about love and grief.
Summary: Peter Parker is remembering his long-lost love, Gwen Stacy.
Beach Read
by Emily Henry
★★★★★
This is my second reading of Henry’s work. It’s official— I truly enjoy her storytelling and style. I loved my time with this book— it was funny, emotional, and uplifting. It’s a story about friendship and romance. Beach Read is also about two writers, which makes me a biased reader, but I loved it.
Summary: Two writers are polar opposites, but they strike a deal to write a novel within their opponent's genre and discover more about themselves than they could have ever imagined.
The Keeper of Happy Endings
by Barbara Davis
★★★★
A heartfelt book about the magic of true love. This story is wholesome and each character has a satisfying arc. I enjoyed my time with this book and appreciated the happy ending.
Summary: Soline Rousell comes from a line of bridal workers, and within that needle and thread holds the power of true love. But, the same could not be said for Soline, through tragedy and pain, she boxes away her gift and becomes a recluse. Then she meets Rory, who discovers more about Soline than she could have ever imagined.
Like the Flowing River
by Paulo Coelho
★★★★★
Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite storytellers. This book is a reflection on life that was so powerful to me. It’s a book that can be reread over and over for inspiration and motivation. I highly recommend this book!
Summary: A collection of various stories, ideas, and musings Paulo has throughout his life. Each one has a nugget of caution, truth, and soul within it.
Invisible Monsters
by Chuck Palahniuk
★★★★
This was my first experience with Palahniuk’s work and I somewhat knew what I was getting into. I’ve watched and loved Fight Club, and heard this novel is the women’s version of that story. I don’t quite agree with that statement. However, Invisible Monsters was incredibly disturbing and thought-provoking. This novel is dark and twisted, by the end of it you’ll wonder if you just computed what you read—at least I did.
Summary: A beautiful fashion model has everything she could ever want— a career and a handsome boyfriend. Then, she befalls an accident, leaving her deformed— invisible, casting her once spotlight presence into the shadows. Then, when Brandy Alexander enters the scene, all is not what it seems. She teaches that you can reinvent yourself— even your past, and she’s one surgery away from becoming a real woman.
The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing
by Lara Love Hardin
★★★★★
Wow. What more can I say about this novel? I loved every moment of this book. I laughed, cried, and was incredibly angry. Hardin’s journey was not easy to read. In fact, many chapters are difficult to read, but if you seek to read stories about real human growth, this is the book for you. Hardin’s writing is conversational. It’s poetic. I couldn’t put it down, even when every fiber in me wanted to out of anger. I was honestly sad when this book was over.
Summary: Lara is your regular cul de sac soccer mom, except she has one big secret— she and her husband are addicts who will do anything to get their next high, even if that means robbing their neighbors and losing their kids. In this tragic story of addiction, we find redemption through Lara’s journey to sobriety and motherhood.
The Hemingway Stories
by Ernest Hemingway
★★★★★
Honestly, Hemingway is one of my favorite classic storytellers. I thoroughly enjoy falling into every world he creates. His style and diction are comforting while his themes are highly poignant.
Summary: This book encapsulates various short stories Hemingway wrote over his lifetime.
The Swimmers
by Julie Otsuka
★★★★
I went into this story blind. I picked it up when I was studying various writing styles. This book is narrated in 2nd person. The story begins using the collective pronoun, “we” and then shifts to “you”. I found this story interesting. It’s not like a typical narrative yet still embodies theme and character development. I enjoyed this book and it’s a short read, so I flew through it.
Summary: At a local community pool, the regular swimmer's lives are turned upside down when a crack in the pool keeps them from its water. While under construction, they must find other ways to occupy their time. Of these swimmers is Alice, an elderly woman losing her memory to dementia. Without her routine or her pool, she’s forced to recall her devastating past.
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
by Lisa Cron
★★★★★
If you’re a writer, seeking a book on writing— this is the one for you! Cron is a master of the craft and exemplifies that through this book. She uses a story example alongside the guide for the reader to get a clear understanding of how to apply what she’s teaching. I highly recommend this book if you’re struggling with outlining and writing scenes. Cron has helped me sharpen my own storytelling capabilities, and the beauty of owning this book is that you can pick it up every time you need it.
Sea of Tranquility
by Emily St. John Mandel
★★★★★
I don’t read Sci-Fi often enough and this book proved that to me. I loved every moment of this book. Again, I was studying various writing styles and this one was such a wonderful surprise. The 3rd-person narration was fascinating and the way this author wove time travel with the rest of the themes was outstanding. It’s a story that twists through time while exploring humanity. I will read anything by this author and I highly recommend this book!
Summary: Edwin is shuffling through an airship terminal when he hears the violin strings, transporting him to another time and space. Two centuries later, a famous novelist is on tour for her new book; she wrote about those same violin stings within its pages. Detective Gaspery-Jaques is hired to investigate this anomaly and discovers more than he thought imaginable.
Ruthless Vows
by Rebecca Ross
★★★★★
Ruthless Vows is part two of the Divine Rivals series. I absolutely fell in love with this world. When I finished the first novel, I was eager to dive into the second book and it did not disappoint. Ross does a wonderful job of worldbuilding and crafting characters that we grow to love. Because of this series, Ross is an author I will read anything she publishes.
Summary: Iris is bruised and worn down after returning home from the front lines. Losing Roman in the fields nearly destroyed her. But there is more work to be done. With Decre moving in on the cities, they must continue reporting on the situation. On the other hand, Roman woke up—alone and without any memory of who he is. Decre is using Roman’s words to report against the other side, but will Roman’s memories come back, and will he fight against the man who saved his life?
Unclutter Your Soul: Overcome what Overwhemls You
by Trina McNeilly
★★★★
This reflective book gives insights into biblical and practical practices to move through one’s anxious and overwhelming thoughts and fears. Trina gives her own life experience battling these negative emotions which helps the reader apply these practices for themselves. I found this book when I needed it. Although most of her advice was generic and not as deep as I had hoped for, I still felt she was sincere in her words and advice.
Summary: Author Trina McNeilly is reflecting on her own life and how she found strength through God’s words to move through her chronic stress, internal thoughts, and fears.
The Housemaid
by Freida McFadden
★★
This book got so much hype that when I read it, I had to wonder if I was reading the same book everyone was talking about. First, I’m not huge on thrillers, so there may be a slight genre bias here. But truthfully, what kept me from loving this more was the writing. It’s poorly written. Luckily, it’s pretty short and I read it quickly, but that’s mostly because the author doesn’t leave any interpretation to the reader. Everything is presented for the reader, making the prose not challenging whatsoever. (In other news: the film adaptation is coming soon and I’m conflicted about whether or not I’m going to watch it.)
Summary: The Winchester’s hire a maid but nothing is quite what it seems from either side. Nina Winchester is an abusive and defunct human while her husband waits on her hand and foot. But that’s not the only strange aspect of this household, and things get even worse the longer the maid stays in that house.
When You Trap a Tiger
by Tae Keller
★★ DNF
I wanted to love this more. The story had so much potential for greatness but the author allowed their political views to cloud the story, and for that, I had to put the book down. If any of you have been around here for a little while, you know how quickly any author’s injected political propaganda in fiction will automatically become a DNF for said book.
Summary: Lily is a scared and lonely child. A tiger straight out of folklore prompts Lily with a deal to keep her grandmother healthy. But tigers are tricky creatures and not everything is what it seems. Lily must learn how to be brave, even against a tiger.
Emma
by Jane Austen
★★ DNF
I have officially given Jane Austen everything I could. Emma makes the third of her novels I have read— and I officially couldn’t get through this one. The prose is so rigid, overwritten, and stuffy. It was a relief to DNF this book. Like any other reader, I turned to its film adaptation, which I also couldn’t finish. It was so comically bad. I am through trying to read Jane Austen novels. I know enough about her writing style and storytelling capabilities to have the firm stance that her books just simply aren’t for me.
Summary: Emma plays the town matchmaker. While pairing her good friend Harriet with a suitable match, Emma realizes that she knows less about love, and her meddling needs to stop.
The Keeper of Stars
by Buck Turner
★★★★
This book was so wholesome and lovely. It’s akin to a Nicholas Sparks romance novel. Sometimes you just need a good sappy romance and that’s exactly what I got.
Summary: Jack and Ellie meet at the edge of a deck over the water one glorious summer. But time and age tore apart their perfect love story, quite literally— Jack wrote their love story and as Ellie relives it, she can’t help but wonder what would have been. So when her aunt gets sick, Ellie finds herself going back to the water and to Jack.
The Women
by Kristin Hannah
★★★★
This book was my first experience with Hannah’s work and I was quite pleased with the results. Although this book was gigantic— it didn’t ever feel overwritten. Hannah does a great job writing about the historical past of the Vietnam War and the characters within that time period with such reverie. You can tell this story was one close to the author’s heart. I am excited to read more of this author’s work.
Summary: Frankie has always wanted to do the right thing. When her brother ships out to the Vietnam War, she feels she must help. So she volunteers and becomes a nurse. Not only was the war devastating to endure, but the true shame and pain came when the war was over and all the veterans were discriminated against. Frankie finds it hard to adjust back into society not only as a Vietnam veteran but as a woman veteran seeking support and finding none.
Home Before Dark
by Riley Sager
DNF ★★
I’m already not a huge fan of ghost stories, but this was another DNF because of political propaganda jargon. Any author that uses the word, mansplain is not my kind of storyteller. Also, this story felt like it was trying and failing miserably to be The Shining.
Summary: Maggie Holt is used to the abrasive questions about her childhood and that house. But what she didn’t know is that inside of it, there are more secrets about her life. And when she becomes the homeowner, she can’t help but ask questions.
It Ends with Us
by Colleen Hoover
★★★★
This book was the most shelved book on Goodreads— according to Goodreads. We all know why: the film release. Initially, I was looking forward to watching it but never did because of Blake Lively and the director. Overall, I did enjoy this story. I felt like the author did a great job portraying a woman trapped in an abusive relationship.
Summary: Lily has lived a checkered path. Growing up in an abusive home, she never thought her life would mirror her mother’s. But when she spreads roots with Ryle: a handsome neurosurgeon who is afraid of commitment, that’s all she can see. But when he reminds her of her past, she can’t help but resurrect other elements of her childhood, like Atlas. Her first love and kindred spirit.
First Lie Wins
by Ashley Elston
★★★
I was highly entertained by this one. I neither loved nor hated it. I found the mystery in this book so good, and I was shocked by the plot twist at the end!
Summary: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. With her new identity, Evie believes she could stay under this alias and craft a new life— a happy one. But life as a spy isn’t black and white, and Evie’s looking to get out one day. Until the identity she’s tried to keep for herself walks right into town. Mr. Smith is always one step ahead, and Evie can’t afford to mess up this job.
Batman: A Court of Owls: An Original Prose Novel
by Greg Cox
★★★★★
This book is truly masterful. This is my first experience reading Batman as a novel and Greg Cox’s storytelling is pristine. The pacing within this novel is flawless, I couldn’t put it down.
Summary: Batman is on a mission to rid Gotham of the Court of Owls, a secret society that turned nursery rhyme. Around the same time every year, people begin feeling feverish from the inside only to combust. This oddity has gone on for centuries, leading back to Gotham’s influential families. It’s up to Batman to rid Gotham of this fever.
The Days I Loved You Most
by Amy Neff
★★★
I was so excited to read this story but sadly it fell flat. I hated the female main character the entire book. She constantly complained and was a whiny woman. It was hard to root for her when she wasn’t deserving of her husband who did everything for her, even when she was cruel. The flashbacks didn’t help her case either; she hated her entire life and their romance. Yet, we were supposed to root for their romance?
Summary: We witness a lifetime of romance between Joseph and Evelyn, who has now fallen ill with Parkinson's disease. The two of them cannot live separately, even in death, so they make a pact to die together and now they must tell their children.
Meet Me at Christmas
by Jenny Hale
★★★★
This was the perfect book to read leading up to Christmas. As the bustle of a busy season surrounded me, I found a few moments to listen to this cozy Christmas story about remembering who you are and romance.
Summary: Stella finds herself back home for Christmas as she helps her mother get through the holiday since her husband’s passing. The last person Stella thought she’d run into was Henry Dutton, the man she left behind. But his dismissive behavior is more than just from a broken heart. As Henry tries to remember who he is, he gets closer every time he’s around Stella, but she’s not telling him the whole truth, and she’s not sure she can.
The Collected Regrets of Clover
by Mikki Brammer
★★★★★
This was another one of my favorite books of 2024. I have a soft spot for quirky, socially awkward, introverted main characters. This book had me moving through the whole gambit of emotions, but more so grief.
Summary: Clover has always felt comfort in death. She watched her teacher die in front of her Kindergarten class, and her parents never returned from their cruise soon after. Because of her attitude towards death, she was labeled strange. And when she grew up she became a death doula. Her best human connections are when she’s ushering people from this life into the next. But Clover has spent so much of her life with the dying, that she doesn’t live. She’s forced to examine herself and her life choices so she doesn’t leave this one with only regret.
The Liars’ Club
by Mary Karr
★★★★★
This book took me a while to get through but not for lack of desire, it’s just so heavy. I got through half of this book over the summer and then never picked it back up, only to finish it a few days after picking it back up. I loved this book. Mary Karr is a terrific writer; she can make you laugh and cry all within the same chapter. Truth be told, this is a highly emotional book. It’s about Mary Karr’s life and the pain she endured in her upbringing. From her troubled parents to strange men, and multiple sexual abuses later… she is a truly resilient soul.
Summary: Mary Karr grew up in East Texas from a bordering psychotic mother and an alcoholic father. The dysfunction that surrounded Karr bled into her life in every way imaginable as she retells the tragedy of her childhood, and how she has chosen to live with resilience.
The Hundred Loves of Juliet
by Evelyn Skye
DNF ★
The tone and writing in this story were far too juvenile for my taste. I couldn’t take it seriously and therefore couldn’t get through it. I understand it’s a YA novel, but if you’re retelling Shakespeare, it should be deeper, right? Maybe I’m wrong but I felt duped. This is a spin-off of the famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.
Summary: A writer longs to get away so she heads out to Alaska. Only when she gets there, she notices a man who looks exactly like the character in her fiction. How could this be? Sebastian recognizes her too because she’s his long-lost Juliet. She wasn’t supposed to find him, yet here she is again.
The Little Italian Hotel
by Phaedra Patrick
DNF ★★
I got through a good chunk of this book, it just sadly couldn’t keep me hooked. I found myself not caring what happened to the characters and decided to put it down. Also, the narration was so comically bad; the Italian accent sounded more like Count Dracula—I couldn’t take the book seriously.
Summary: Ginny planned the perfect holiday for her and her husband, only he’s not going. Instead, he wants a divorce. So famous radio host Ginny invites four lucky winners to go to Italy with her. There, they discover more about themselves and each other than Ginny thought.
We Redeemed the Rain
by Ashely Dill
★★★★★
Wow. This book was so powerful. I loved every moment of this story. I was so sad when it ended but very grateful that there’s a second installment coming soon. Ashley Dill wrote such a heavy topic with grace; she captured real people within these characters. I laughed and cried with this one!
Summary: Singer-songwriter Bea Thompson is fed up with the music industry that’s trying to change who she is. She takes a respite to a childhood ranch that birthed a powerful friendship, she just hopes he still lives there. What she doesn’t know is that he has a life of his own and a lot of buried traumas he stuffed away long ago, along with their friendship.
Before We Were Strangers
by Renee Carlino
★★★★★
This was an unexpected last-minute read. I was knocked down sick shortly after Christmas and into this New Year, only able to listen to books in the dark as I healed. I tore through this one in about three days. I loved this story; it’s sappy and sweet. But I mostly felt that it was honest. I loved weaving through this love story and these character’s lives.
Summary: Grace and Matt are young lovers who fall hard and heavy in college only to be torn apart. 15 years into the future Matt sees Grace and tries to patch up the past and reconnect. Only a lot has happened in 15 years, and maybe some things can’t be fixed.
That’s it! 35 books later!
Serena’s 2024 Goodreads Books
Oh, what a wonderful year of reading! I’m filled with nostalgia and joy upon reflecting on the stories that molded my year. That’s what good stories do! They influence, inspire, and motivate us to live better and stronger lives through each character’s journey. I’m so grateful for this year’s stories, but I have some adjustments to make in the new year!
Let me share some new reading goals for 2025.
Goal 1.) I am delighted to say that this new year, I will be reading more indie author’s works. This shift is for a multitude of reasons. For one, just because an author is indie, doesn’t mean they don’t have one hell of a story to tell; in fact, I find they dive into more honest situations and emotions than what’s published by the big five. Second, I am an indie author and want to fully support those on a similar path. Three, we are a small press full of editors who work with indie authors to help them edit their stories to their full potential, so we want to support indie books!
Goal 2.) I am going to dive back into classic literature this year. In 2021, if you recall, we had a book club that focused solely on classics. I learned so much as a writer while studying those stories, and I have since put classics on the back burner. I have a handful of classics sitting on my shelf that I will dive into this upcoming year.
All that to say, I will still read modern books published by the big five—just significantly less. Truthfully, unless it’s required by my book club or a story I’ve been looking forward to, I will be focusing on indie authors and classic literature in 2025. I’m excited about this new chapter and can’t wait to share my reading experience with you all next year!
Tell me what your reading goals are for 2025 in the comments below!
