The Best Books I Read in 2024
Need some reading recommendations for the coming year? Here are the best books I read in 2024…the ones that stayed with me long after I read the last page. Give them a try!
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Over the past several years, I’ve made an effort to make reading more of a priority. It’s something I’ve always loved, but sometimes all the demands of life and parenting make it hard to squeeze in time to read. Thanks to the magic of audiobooks and the encouragement of my amazing book club, I managed to read 51 books last year!
While some were forgettable (and a few didn’t make it past the first few chapters), others were absolute gems. I discovered some amazing stories, learned about historical eras I’d not previously explored, and challenged myself with new ideas.
Since I love hearing about others’ favorite reads, I’m sharing my top picks from 2024 below. I’ve included fiction and non-fiction, as well as everything from picture books to hefty novels. Something for everyone! Hopefully, these books will inspire your own reading this year.
Happy Reading!
My Favorite Books of 2024
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay. This year accidentally became my “Berlin Wall” year, and I’m not mad about it! I picked this book up after reading Tunnel 29 (see below) because I was so intrigued by the Berlin Wall era. I’ve been a Katherine Reay fan for years, but this was my first time reading her historical fiction, and I was impressed! The story jumps between the 1960s, when the Berlin Wall went up, and 1989, when it came down, weaving together the stories of the family members that escaped…and the ones that stayed behind. I loved it!
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I was sold on this book from the moment I learned it was about a friendship between a cleaning lady and an octopus, in which they work together to solve a mystery (sort of). Weird concept, but wonderfully enjoyable. I read it for my neighborhood book club and everyone loved it, especially the chapters narrated by the snarky and insightful octopus, Marcellus.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer. There are so many WWII stories out there, so I am pretty picky about which ones I recommend. This one makes the cut. The story focuses on the experiences of a family in Nazi-occupied Poland, and it was interesting to see the war from the perspective of this community near Auschwitz. It’s another dual-timeline story (like The Berlin Letters), and even though there are some truly heartbreaking moments, the story has an overall positive and hopeful message, so it’s not overly heavy. It’s a book that stays with you; I’m still thinking about it weeks after finishing it.
All it Takes is a Goal by Jon Acuff. I loved Jon’s book Soundtracks, so I took a chance that his newest book about goals wouldn’t just rehash the same old advice I’ve heard for years. It didn’t! This book is more than just a pep talk. Jon walks readers through a new approach to goal setting where you test out micro-goals, and then work your way up to bigger goals for the things that you realize you actually DO want to accomplish, allowing yourself to let go of the goals that don’t make the cut. If you can, listen to the audio version…he narrates it himself, and it’s borderline stand up comedy.
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour. My oldest turned twelve this year, and let’s just say I can use all the help I can get navigating this new stage of parenthood. He’s a great kid, thankfully, but parenting adolescents is a whole new ball game, and I’m still trying to get my bearings. Anyone else? This book has helped me feel so much better educated about what’s normal for adolescents, how NOT to take their “prickly” moments personally, and how to nurture a stronger relationship with my kids as they get older. If you’re riding the parenting-an-adolescent rollercoaster, too, and feeling a bit lost or overwhelmed…I highly recommend this one!
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This is one of those books that I think EVERY parent and educator should read…seriously. I talk about it to anyone who will listen, willingly or not. In his follow up to The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt explores the concerning results of two major societal trends: the decline of the “play-based” childhood, and the rise of the “phone-based” childhood. Lest you be concerned, it’s not a “no-one-should-ever-use-technology” manifesto. On the contrary, he presents ALL the data, good and bad, and gives specific, actionable advice for how parents, schools, and governments can make changes to create a healthier, happier rising generation. If you read only one non-fiction book in the coming year, let this be it.
Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman. This book was completely fascinating! It’s a stranger-than-fiction story about a group of students who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall to help people escape East Berlin during the Cold War, and it’s absolutely unbelievable…except that it’s all true! There are brave young heroes, daring adventures, near-death experiences, a spy who almost ruins everything, and even a love story. It was my favorite book club pick of the year!
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This one was a hard read in some ways, but I kept thinking, this is so important for people to think about. Most of us don’t love thinking about getting old, but we are all mortal, and this book brings up a lot of critical discussion points. Written by a practicing surgeon who is all too aware of both the amazing capabilities…and the limitations…of modern medicine, this book will make you consider what you can do to live your best life, right up until the end.
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon. I’ve casually followed Sharon from Sharon Says So for several years, and I was intrigued by the title of her recently released book. Her message is powerful: that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks. Sharon knows her stuff, and her storytelling is riveting…this is no boring history book. I learned so much about some incredible individuals, and the book left me feeling so inspired to do my small part to leave the world better than I found it.
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat. We listened to this one on a roadtrip in the spring, and we almost didn’t want to stop when we got home! All Thirteen, by the same author, was one of my favorite books of 2023, so I was excited to give this one a try. It’s a Thai-inspired fantasy adventure about a mapmaker’s young assistant and their voyage beyond the known world to search for the dragons of legend. It did have a bit of a slow start, but once we got into it, we couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next!
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus. I read this book back in March, and I could not stop laughing out loud. Edmund is just the best (I was getting Narnia vibes from him). The story is about (two brothers and a sister) who are evacuated to the English countryside during WWII, and it’s just so charming. I liked it so much, in fact, that now I’m having my kids listen to it as our bedtime read. If you loved The War That Saved My Life, this one’s a must-read.
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt. This was such a fun read! It’s a modern twist on the Hercules myth, following a boy who takes on his own “labors” as part of a school project. Despite the fact that the plot is completely unrealistic, the characters are so relatable and the emotion underneath the story is real. It’s funny, heartfelt…and it got me a bit teary a couple of times.
Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle is a clever, funny, and sneakily educational gem perfect for preschoolers (and big kids, too!). Written by the same team behind See the Cat, it invites readers to join a playful letter-sounds scavenger hunt. I discovered it a couple of months ago while shopping for a baby shower gift, and after reading it in the store (and trying to stifle my giggles), I immediately added it to my cart. Bonus: it might just inspire your kids to create their own “Go and Get” game!
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood. Every once in awhile I discover a book that completely surprises and delights me. THIS is one of those books. I discovered it on the new releases shelf at the library one day, and it immediately became a family favorite! The story is clever, the writing is snappy, and the illustrations are so delightful. I don’t want to give away too many details on this one. Just grab it from the library, and thank me later!
Ploof by Ben Clanton. This fun, interactive book is perfect for wiggly young readers who have a hard time sitting still for storytime. The narrator invites kids to come play with Ploof, a friendly little cloud with a big imagination. If you’re a fan of the classic Press Here, you’ll love this one! My boys giggled through the whole thing and just couldn’t get enough of it!
The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson. I found this book by best-selling author Brandon Sanderson on the same baby-shower shopping adventure as Go and Get with Rex (it was a successful outing!), and I immediately knew my boys would love it. If you only read the text of this book, it is indeed quite boring. BUT, when combined with the action-packed, fantastical illustrations the real story comes alive and makes for a pretty epic adventure! Especially for older kids who can appreciate the humor and irony, this book is a great lesson in the power of imagination!
Now I’d love to know…
What books did YOU love during the past year?
Want more book recommendations? Try these!