no. 54: 2024 in books

the best books I read this year, plus my 2025 to be read list

as with other recommendation heavy round-ups, this is a longer one! for the best experience, you may need to open in the browser, on desktop or in the substack app. happy reading!

I’ve written before about my journey as a reader; for the uninitiated, I went from childhood bookworm to an early adult with three figure late fees at the Los Angeles Public Library (lord forgive me) to someone who regularly reads more than 30 books per year. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy, and has been the genesis for some of my most successful posts here (y’all looooooooove a good, extremely specific book recommendation!).

I’ll spare you more preamble, and will instead happily present my 2024 Year In Books. This year I read 37!, and the selection is once again extremely me, heavy on literary and speculative fiction, and complex or thought-provoking narratives that emphasize character development, psychological themes, and innovations in genre and style (but with plenty of what I like to call “no thoughts just vibes” books for multitasking magic too).

A quick by the numbers:

• Average length: 350-400 pages

• Completion rate: 84%

• Published in the last 5 years: 70%

• Books by Female Authors: 85%

• Themes by Frequency:

  • Human Relationships & Complexity: 80%

  • Social and Environmental Commentary: 40%

  • Escapist and Fantasy Worlds: 30% (we all need a break!)

Here’s hoping that something jumps out at you, from my list into your 2025 to be read.

Okay that’s all, love you!

Xx

Note: links here are from bookshop. All proceeds from Bookshop affiliate links in 2025 will be donated to Reach out And Read, a Washington state nonprofit focused on providing education about reading at pediatric checkups to drive early literacy and language development.

Regardless of genre, topic or subject matter, these were my top reads of the year:

• Real Americans by Rachel Khong. In a three-way tie for my favorite book of the year, Real Americans is an intergenerational story of a Chinese American woman, her son, and her mother grappling with questions of identity and self-determination. I found the story, spanning nearly 80 years, propulsive and immersive. The kind of novel that makes you mourn its ending (while grappling with your own envy over the way it is written).

• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I have recommended this character driven mystery that chronicles the disappearances of two siblings (years apart) on their family’s summer camp estate in the Adirondacks to anyone who would listen. It’s a fast paced, compelling mystery, but the magic is in the way the mystery also uncovers and examines relationships: between spouses and siblings, parents and their children, the people who “summer” in a town and the community who lives there.

• The Overstory by Richard Powers. If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love love love a story that weaves together many seemingly unrelated storylines and characters. (Think: Sea of Tranquility, Candy House, The Mick Riva Extended Universe, etc). The magic is in the effortlessness: in slowly, carefully constructing a world around you without you noticing. The Overstory does just that, drawing you in with short, engaging tales. By the time you notice each has a significant experience with trees, you’re in too deep: by the time you realize that the trees are actually the main characters, you’ve already suited up to join the trees (and the incredibly endearing characters you’ve collected along the way) in their war against a timber company. A sweeping, captivating novel that humanizes and makes tangible the devastation of climate change.

• The Will of The Many by James Islington. I finished this book in about a week, obsessively needing to know what happens next. I particularly enjoyed the three act structure and the complex, nuanced world-building for a semi-dystopian novel that could be described as The Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing meets the Roman Empire. Especially right after the US election in November, the examination of political power and the role of the people in accepting rule from unworthy leaders was nothing less than timely.

• Trust by Hernan Diaz. Another thing you should know about me: I love it when a story makes me think about the macro mechanics of how it was constructed. Trust does this brilliantly, telling the story of a New York financier and his brilliant, troubled wife in the 1920s. But the frame soon shifts, and the story changes, again and again over the course of a century. You’re left with a stunning, striking picture of how money and power bend reality and truth, obscuring the truth and making you doubt everything you thought you knew.

• This is How you Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar. One of the shortest works on this list, this novella chronicles two rival agents in a war spanning time and space. Written as missives from one agent to the other, the story is part pining, longing romance novel and part genre bending science fiction. The plot, world building and innovative science fiction elements are exceptional, second only to the almost unbearably beautiful construction of the sentences that create them.

My personal favorite genre of books. I have a type!

• Intermezzo by Salley Rooney. I loved Intermezzo (and generally love Salley Rooney) and it would have made my top list had I been willing to expand to seven. This one examines love and loneliness for two brothers following the passing of their father, and reader it’s a tear-jerker.

• The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. A scullery maid in the Spanish Inquisition finds herself in the middle of a mystical contest as powerful people around use her talents to her vie for power and influence. I love Bardugo’s other works (especially Ninth House) and this has extremely similar vibes in an entirely new way.

• State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg. A surreal one! A virtual reality company is linked to the disappearance of a writer’s sister in a swampy Florida town. The writer is dragged into a strange multi-dimensional experience, complete with cults, long lost step sisters, and a myriad of other strange and unsettling experiences.

• Hope by Andrew Ridker. A doctor in an open relationship fabricates research to support his aging, manipulative mother. The novel chronicles the decisions leading up to and resulting from the fall out over the course of the year through the perspectives of different members of his family. The novel is quick and funny, and surprisingly optimistic for a story of a family that seems bent on self-destruction and bad decisions.

• Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin. Told in three parts, Scaffolding tells the interconnected story of two young couples living in Paris in the same apartment fifty years apart, examining physical desire, the male gaze, and the ethics of sex and fidelity, childbearing and feminism. A psychoanalyst on leave from seeing patients after her own miscarriage languishes in a state of paralysis until someone unexpectedly reenters her life. Form mirrors function in this sprawling, stream of consciousness-esque novel that is heavy on the psychological references and ennui.

In previous reading round ups, this was largely part of the DW&TP category. I read so many of them this year it needed to be its own thing. Consider it an overlapping venn diagram- we support women’s rights (and wrongs) here at earlybird!

• Same as it Ever Was, by Claire Lombardo. A chance encounter at the grocery store and changing family dynamics sends a middle aged woman spiraling into the events of her past, exploring identity, motherhood, infidelity and the complexities of multi-generational family relationships. The descriptions of emotion and internal experiences are so, so striking.

• The Body In Question by Jill Ciment. A photographer becomes entangled with another juror during sequestration for a sensational murder trial. The short novel in two parts (“before” and “after”) tackles deceptively profound questions of human life, meaning and mortality through mundane court procedures and hospital interactions. One of the most thought provoking I read all year.

• After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell. Shifting time periods and viewpoints tell the story of three generations of women, their lives and loves. The individual stories build on each other, lending context and nuance to what came before with surprising depth and gorgeous, vibrant imagery.

• Exhibit by R.O. Kwan. A short, surreal novel about a photographer navigating her changing desires and her evolving relationships. It reads more like poetry than prose with highly sensory (and sensual) language and content (and decidedly NSFW). I’ll be honest: this one took me forever to get through. Not a quick read, despite its short length.

• Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. An American spy for hire infiltrates a French commune intent on ecological terrorism. Scheming, doublecrossing, and ruthlessness ensure.

As a former psych major with a deep personal interest in cultural commentary, and a long history of Taking Things Seriously, if this category is ever missing from a round up, please check on me!

• Liars By Sarah Manguso. A woman becomes (and then unbecomes) a wife. This stream of consciousness novel is a striking, critical look at the modern institution of marriage and motherhood (so much so that a major section inspired my most recent personal essay)

• Whoever you are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood. A stagnant 20-something living with an elderly roommate is fixated on the perfect girlfriend of a tech entrepreneur. An uneasy examination of perfection, identity, femininity, performance, desire, companionship (and artificial intelligence).

• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. I absolutely love speculative fiction as a genre, and this year I seem to have found a particular appreciation for time travel elements. MOT follows a first gen civil servant tasked with helping “expats” from history adjust to the 21st century. The plot and characters are extremely compelling, but I particularly appreciated Bradley’s turns of phrase and ability to weave major philosophical themes into mundane musings. The result is a page turner that has you questioning the nature of time (and other casual undertakings).

• Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. A senior resident assistant is swept up into the (lightly unethical) venture of a visiting professor, uncovering the drama, privilege and scandal of her residents as a way to make money. Like the author’s first novel Such a Fun Age, class, race and financial status are central to the plot and power dynamics at play.

• Wellness by Nathan Hill. Another example of the kind of book I wish I could write that leaves me stunned on the structure, in addition to the story. This one features a young creative couple’s journey from early infatuation to middle aged ennui, centering a conflict around their as-yet-unbuilt dream condo and the implications of what design decisions mean about who they are. It’s got an elaborate backstory driven plot that intertwines past and present, and a “bottle episode” chapter about how social media algorithms work that I still think about.

• Bear by Julia Philips. Two sisters struggle to get by taking care of their dying mother on Washington’s San Juan Island until their daily grind is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a bear. The sister’s opposite reactions to the bear propel them through a dark fairytale journey.

Sometimes, you need a palate cleanser. I’m fairly light on the frothy rom-coms or beach reads on this list, but these are about as close as I personally get.

• Honey: A Novel by Isabel Banta. A refreshing, optimistic take on the early 90s, late 2000s entertainment industry follows a young woman finding her way and her voice as a young (clearly Britney-inspired) musician.

• I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. A biting, cringe-inducing look at office culture, featuring passive aggressive responses to stupid co-worker’s emails, mandatory HR training, and an unexpected bug that gives the protagonist access to everyone else’s inboxes. It’s unexpected

• Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks. An aspiring writer unexpectedly lands a job working for a beloved lifestyle influencer and uproots her life to drink the kool-aid. The author *actually* worked for a very famous, very controversial influencer IRL, which makes this even more of a fun, if ultimately predictable read.

• Disclaimer by Renee Knight. You might not think that a thriller about a grieving father on a quest to hold someone accountable for his son’s death in the most maniacal, convoluted way ever would be pleasant (and you could be wrong). If you like a thriller, this is an easy, (albeit lightly predictable) one.

I love this category, and I don’t mean the title in a derogatory way. I have an extremely active mind, and personally prefer to multitask (think: watching a show while cooking). I found romantasy books on audiobook are a near perfect format – don’t require exacting attention, pronunciation is never exactly what you think it will be, and it makes dull or mundane activities go by more quickly. Perfect for our near daily outdoor walks around the lake by our house, driving, making dinner, or loosely supervising and engaging during independent toddler play without scrolling on a phone (or bored out of your skull).

These books in particular were generally interesting and lend themselves well to the audiobook lifestyle.

• Fourth Wing & Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. My sister got me Fourth Wing for Christmas last year – I read all 400+ pages in about three days, and did about the same with Iron Flame. I’ll liken the experience to eating popcorn or cotton candy: it is extremely easy and addicting to consume A LOT in a very short period of time, but you’ll find yourself looking up at the end without much substance to show for it (and possibly feeling a bit ill). Will I read the forthcoming Onyx Storm? Yes, but I won’t be happy about it. (pro-tip: The audiobook narrator does not do the characters any favors, and it actively detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Stick to the ereader / hard copy!)

• Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, & Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas. I read the entire ACOTAR series in 2023, but my foray into the Throne of Glass series was derailed by my library’s extremely long waitlist for the rest of the series. I finally picked up where I left off early this year and happily made my way through… MANY hours of audiobook. While I do think it dragged a bit in the middle, I enjoyed the series as a whole more than ACOTAR, and particularly loved the addition of Manon and the Thirteen.

I’m only an occasional re-reader but revisit a few a year for nostalgia purposes.

• Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff. One of my all time favorite books, which I personally love to re-read every few years.

• Florida by Lauren Groff. A short story collection I had on my shelf and didn’t remember if I had ever actually finished, so I picked it up for a summer trip and I’m so happy I did. This is just such a wonderful one (and one of my favorite stories inspired Florence and the Machine’s verse on Taylor Swift’s song Florida. You’ll know it when you see it!).

• Harry Potter Fanfiction: There is something to be said for the ease and comfort of returning to a known literary universe, and in the spirit of not supporting JKR’s open and unapologetic bigotry I’ve generally stopped re-reading the original series. I have been surprised and delighted by the prowess of the fanfiction community to build on the existing HP universe, frequently rectifying some of the most irritating plot holes or character developments, or building canon adjacent stories that are much more satisfying. . A lot of them are… spicy… in nature, and I highly recommend looking into the tags for content warnings before diving in if you aren’t familiar. I’m trying to have some decorum and not air out the entire list on the internet, but if you’re interested in recommendations, let me know!

(DNF = did not finish) It used to be fairly rare that I didn’t finish a book, but because I have limited time and attention, I’ve gotten quicker to just decide when things just aren’t for me. Some might have been format related (I’ve found some books are great on audiobook or ereader while some simply demand to be held) and some were decidedly topic related.

• The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft - a translation, this book hits all the marks of one that I would love (translators for a popular writer are trapped in isolation working on her most recent book). I made it about 30% of the way through before deciding that it would be better to read as a hard copy (vs. audiobook) due to the footnotes and other stylistic elements that didn’t translate well to audiobooks. I’m on hold, hoping to get my copy in a few months.

• Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Nine strangers are brought together at a “wellness” retreat, where they are met with unusual methods for transformation. This was very pleasant but I was always more excited to read something else and my renewals eventually ran out.

• The Girls by Emma Cline. Sometimes it’s okay to just admit that it’s not going to happen. The Girls, (a novel about girls who join a Manson-esque cult in the 1060s) was on the DNF list in 2023 as well, despite it being highly recommended and being a topic I would have historically enjoyed.

• The Fraud - Zadie Smith. I’ll be honest: I’ve been working on this one forever, and probably will be for all of 2025. A historical novel tackling a 19th century London criminal trial, and covering social controversies all over the English countryside. The story itself is extremely interesting (as are the parallels to today’s social and political climate) but the hackney-esque accent deployed by the audiobooks narrator has made this one that I can only focus on for short periods of time. I’m about 56% through, and am dyyyyyyyying to cross this one off.

• Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. There is absolutely no reason I haven’t finished this novel about three sisters reuniting after their fourth sister’s death except that it seems my household is conspiring against me. Every time I pick up the hard copy, someone needs something, I get distracted, or I fall asleep. Consider it a New Years resolution, or so help me!

• Colored Television by Danzy Senna. A writer struggling to make it finds herself attempting to break into TV writing after her novel is rejected by her publisher. I’m about 4 pages into this one and cannot wait to dig deeper.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey, Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Girl, Woman, Other by Benadine Evaristo, The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves & China Miéville, Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner, Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte, James by Percival Everett.

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