Best Reads of 2024 So Far
Click the image to be taken to the blog hosting Top Ten Tuesday
Not feeling particularly inspired by the topic this week, so I’ll talk a bit about my favorite reads of 2024 so far instead.
- A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos #0) by Samantha Shannon – prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree – both fantastic fantasy reads;
- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton – a bit of a different read / genre for me but I’m glad I gave the author another chance after not really liking The Luminaries (another book by this author before);
- Part of Your World (Part of Your World #1) by Abby Jimenez – my highest rated contemporary romance read of the year so far;
- The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike #6) by Robert Galbraith – possibly my favorite book in the Cormoran Strike series, very suspenseful and long but worth a read;
- Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang – a fantastic fantasy book and the best I’ve read in the genre in a while;
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell – how have I not read this sooner? The story of a great horse and much more;
- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson – my first and definitely not last Larson read. The story of the sinking of the Lusitania portraying characters on the crossing itself but also other related characters;
- Notes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson – I love Bryson’s humor and find his books hilarious most of the time. I have read several this year and this is my highest rated one;
- Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree – a cozy, low stakes fantasy is all you need sometimes;
- The Jade Setter of Janloon (The Green Bone Saga #0.5) by Fonda Lee – a short story I hadn’t realized I’d missed reading. It was so good to be back in the world of Janloon albeit via a short stories. I’m looking forward to reading whatever Lee writes next.
Not all of these are five stars, in fact, only 1 or 2 of them I’ve actually rated 5 stars but they are the best of the 80 books I’ve read so far this year. Putting this together, I was a bit surprised no historical fiction has made an appearance but I’ve not read much historical fiction anyway. I seem to be in a fantasy / memoir / contemporary romance books for the time being.
It’ll be interesting to see which of these will make my favorite reads of 2024 list.
Have you read any of these? Leave your thoughts and TTT in the comments/./
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It sounds like you’ve had a good reading year so far!
I need to get to Part of Your World soon.
Oh I loved the Green Bone Saga! I haven’t read this one, I usually ignore the side stories but it sounds really good so I might read it anyway.
Black Beauty was one of my childhood favorites. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that book.
Ahh, gotta love Travis Baldree’s work! I liked Legends & Lattes a little bit more, I think, but I really enjoyed both.
My TTT.
Part of Your World is my favorite by the author. Glad you love it too <3
I love Bill Bryson! All his books are so great.
I enjoyed DEAD WAKE too. It’s fascinating!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
That cover for Blood Over Bright Haven! Love it! Have a great weekend.
Awesome list! It makes me realize that I seriously need to read an Erik Larson book already, since I keep adding them to my TBR but haven’t read any yet. You listed so many great books, but I fully agreed with your feelings about The Jade Setter of Janloon – I missed being in the world and loved the short stories. And Black Beauty was my favorite growing up! I have a really beat up copy floating around the house somewhere.
I’m a Stranger Here Myself is probably my favorite of Bryson’s book but that is subject to change on any given day. Erik Larson is another good author. I need to continue the Cormoran Strike books. They’re just so long! Enjoy your week!