Top Reads So Far This Year?!

[amyjcaz]

Here are my top years so far this year!!!! I would love to hear a few of your favorites in 2024!!!

https://i.imgur.com/bWz9lh5.jpeg

[Brendazzle]

I just went and added two of these to my library wishlist so thank you!

I have read a ridiculous amount this year but if I had to choose two, I'd pick The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer and Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. Two very different stories (fantasy vs western) but both made me delay bedtime for both myself and my son to keep reading.

In the same vein as Upright Women Wanted is Lucky Red by Claudia Shaffer. I read A LOT of enjoyable fantasy this year so trying to pick another standout is super hard.

[AmieN1]

BEST convo starter!! ;) Oh and a couple I haven't read! I definitely agree with The Women & Listen for the Lie. A few others that got high 4 or 5 stars from me so far this year were:

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstin Miller
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
After Annie by Anna Quindlen
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenenz
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
Maybe Next time by Cesca Major
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn
The Dinner List by Rebecca Serl

[carrie1977]

I haven't read in a while but I have listened to a few books on Audible.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
It Starts With Us and It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Teacher by Freida McFadden

[lovely1m]

My 5 star reads of the year are:
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Martin, Madeline
The Last Restaurant in Paris by Graham, Lily
Light from Uncommon Stars by Aoki, Ryka
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Hosseini, Khaled
Lessons in Chemistry by Garmus, Bonnie
The Covenant of Water by Verghese, Abraham
The Marriage Act by Marrs, John
One True Loves by Reid, Taylor Jenkins

[lm44west]

Thanks for all of these recommendations.

[lizziej]

I have so many books on Kindle! I tend to read older books. My favorites so far this year are the 7 books in the Detective Madison Harper mystery series by Wendy Dranfield. Book 8 comes out on Monday, and my friend at work and I can't wait!
I also read the 11 books in the South Carolina Sunset Series by Rachel Hanna. They are clean romance books.

[amyjcaz]

I just went and added two of these to my library wishlist so thank you!

I have read a ridiculous amount this year but if I had to choose two, I'd pick The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer and Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. Two very different stories (fantasy vs western) but both made me delay bedtime for both myself and my son to keep reading.

In the same vein as Upright Women Wanted is Lucky Red by Claudia Shaffer. I read A LOT of enjoyable fantasy this year so trying to pick another standout is super hard.

The Wishing Game is SO good! Love that one as well. I will have to look into Upright Women Wanted! Thanks!

[amyjcaz]

BEST convo starter!! ;) Oh and a couple I haven't read! I definitely agree with The Women & Listen for the Lie. A few others that got high 4 or 5 stars from me so far this year were:

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstin Miller
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
After Annie by Anna Quindlen
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenenz
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
Maybe Next time by Cesca Major
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn
The Dinner List by Rebecca Serl

Amie I haven't read a single one of these! Great now my list of TBR is just getting huge! Thank You! :p

[amyjcaz]

I haven't read in a while but I have listened to a few books on Audible.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
It Starts With Us and It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Teacher by Freida McFadden

I own all those but have yet to read them! I am actually quite proud to say that every single one of these books I found at a thrift store!!!

[amyjcaz]

My 5 star reads of the year are:
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Martin, Madeline
The Last Restaurant in Paris by Graham, Lily
Light from Uncommon Stars by Aoki, Ryka
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Hosseini, Khaled
Lessons in Chemistry by Garmus, Bonnie
The Covenant of Water by Verghese, Abraham
The Marriage Act by Marrs, John
One True Loves by Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Oh! A few of these I am not familiar with! Thanks so much!

[amyjcaz]

I have so many books on Kindle! I tend to read older books. My favorites so far this year are the 7 books in the Detective Madison Harper mystery series by Wendy Dranfield. Book 8 comes out on Monday, and my friend at work and I can't wait!
I also read the 11 books in the South Carolina Sunset Series by Rachel Hanna. They are clean romance books.

You can NEVER go wrong with a good clean romance!!!!

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

It's been a couple of weird reading years. I used to read a book a week (sometimes more). My mother was sick with liver cancer in 2023 and passed away in March 2024. I spent a lot of time in conversation with her and family in 2023. When I did have down time, I found I had a hard time reading. I'm still struggling to read as fast as I used to. My mind just wanders . . . BUT I did manage to read a few. Here they are:

https://i.imgur.com/oEiNpl9m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Qvdcmthm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/DfWrDjKm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oLSaKPGm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oHwFSkEm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/9KFAY5Lm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/9nGC5UDm.jpg

And I'm currently reading:

https://i.imgur.com/CLTLPbpm.jpg

[LauraOD]

The Women and Lula Dean were also faves for me this year.

Also loved:

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

[amyjcaz]

It's been a couple of weird reading years. I used to read a book a week (sometimes more). My mother was sick with liver cancer in 2023 and passed away in March 2024. I spent a lot of time in conversation with her and family in 2023. When I did have down time, I found I had a hard time reading. I'm still struggling to read as fast as I used to. My mind just wanders . . . BUT I did manage to read a few. Here they are:

https://i.imgur.com/oEiNpl9m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Qvdcmthm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/DfWrDjKm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oLSaKPGm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oHwFSkEm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/9KFAY5Lm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/9nGC5UDm.jpg

And I'm currently reading:

https://i.imgur.com/CLTLPbpm.jpg

I have been wondering if I should pick up Holly and I have never seen Long Lost!!!! That book looks amazing! - Because of course I do judge a book by it's cover!

[amyjcaz]

The Women and Lula Dean were also faves for me this year.

Also loved:

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

How are there so many amazing books that I have never even heard of!? Thank you!

[nowens]

Dark Matter was sooooo good!

My top reads so far this year:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Whispers by Ashley Audraine


I am clearly bad at choosing favorites, and I could talk books forever! :)

[KristinCB]

I listen to audiobooks and have not had the best year with them - I tend to not even rate my books as much lately (amie you know i feel bad about this.. hahal) i've mostly just listened to a lot of fluff.. adding a lot of these to my TBR though!

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

I have been wondering if I should pick up Holly and I have never seen Long Lost!!!! That book looks amazing! - Because of course I do judge a book by it's cover!

Long Lost was a digital library loan. And it was a great read. And yes, I judged this book by its cover and I wasn't disappointed.

Holly was also good if you are keeping up with the series. I mean, I think it could standalone, but probably better to know the background because of references.

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

Dark Matter was sooooo good!

My top reads so far this year:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Whispers by Ashley Audraine


I am clearly bad at choosing favorites, and I could talk books forever! :)

A Little Life was an amazing read!

[kristalund]

This might be my fave thread yet!!
I recently read three 5 star books:

The Five Year Lie
The Night We Lost Him: A Novel
The Memory Library

[stephc777]

I just finished the Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. It was a fast good read!

[AlyciaIN]

I read a lot of books, mostly checked out from our local library and on my Kindle. Here are some I've really enjoyed so far this year:

The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Banned Book Club by Brenda Novak
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber (anything she writes is always excellent and very clean romance, her Cedar Cove series is particularly good)

I also enjoy reading Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense novels, especially their K-9 Search and Rescue and other series books

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance-Snowstorm Christmas series and Icicle Christmas series by Clara Pine (clean romance novels)

The Seven Sisters series of romance novels by Hope Holloway (family centric, no swearing, no graphic content)

Several books by Pamela Kelley: The Fifth Avenue Apartment, Nantucket Summer House series, Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series, The Nantucket Restaurant series. Also looking forward to her newest books: The Christmas Inn and Nantucket Summer House.

Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache Novels

Looking forward to Debbie Macomber's A Christmas Duet and a host of other Christmas themed books coming out soon.

Also looking forward to Louise Penny's The Grey Wolf coming out at the end of October, #19 in her Chief Inspector Gamache Novels which are amazing mysteries.

[Brendazzle]

Holly was also good if you are keeping up with the series. I mean, I think it could standalone, but probably better to know the background because of references.

This! I started the year on a Stephen King binge (after devouring The Dark Tower last October for my birthday) and was so so so happy to get more Holly Gibney.

They made The Outsider into a mini-series on HBO Max and I'm trying to rope my husband into watching it with me. I'm so worried they won't do justice by the character and I love her so much.

[Kimberly27]

Books are my favorite thing ever!

My faves lately have been
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Only If You're Lucky Stacy Willingham
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner***This was an amazing read!!**
The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin (I have loved all of her WW2 books)
Queens of London by Heather Webb
Think Twice by Harlan Coben
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
Listen for the Lie, The Women and Four Winds are all faves of mine. I have so many more... :) Thankfully I have a hubby that loves to read too. We love to just sit and read at night. Sadly he doesn't share my hobby of buying books. He prefers digital. :)

[amyjcaz]

Books are my favorite thing ever!

My faves lately have been
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Only If You're Lucky Stacy Willingham
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner***This was an amazing read!!**
The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin (I have loved all of her WW2 books)
Queens of London by Heather Webb
Think Twice by Harlan Coben
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
Listen for the Lie, The Women and Four Winds are all faves of mine. I have so many more... :) Thankfully I have a hubby that loves to read too. We love to just sit and read at night. Sadly he doesn't share my hobby of buying books. He prefers digital. :)

HOW did I not put God of the Woods on my list?!?! It was so so good! Loved it! Do you subscribe to the Book of the Month Club? Because your list looks like what I have ordered each month... except The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern--which my mom got, and LOVED, so I will borrow hers!

[amyjcaz]

I read a lot of books, mostly checked out from our local library and on my Kindle. Here are some I've really enjoyed so far this year:

The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Banned Book Club by Brenda Novak
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber (anything she writes is always excellent and very clean romance, her Cedar Cove series is particularly good)

I also enjoy reading Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense novels, especially their K-9 Search and Rescue and other series books

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance-Snowstorm Christmas series and Icicle Christmas series by Clara Pine (clean romance novels)

The Seven Sisters series of romance novels by Hope Holloway (family centric, no swearing, no graphic content)

Several books by Pamela Kelley: The Fifth Avenue Apartment, Nantucket Summer House series, Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series, The Nantucket Restaurant series. Also looking forward to her newest books: The Christmas Inn and Nantucket Summer House.

Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache Novels

Looking forward to Debbie Macomber's A Christmas Duet and a host of other Christmas themed books coming out soon.

Also looking forward to Louise Penny's The Grey Wolf coming out at the end of October, #19 in her Chief Inspector Gamache Novels which are amazing mysteries.

I wish I was good at checking out books... I love to own it, hold it and have it with me forever. LOL

[amyjcaz]

I listen to audiobooks and have not had the best year with them - I tend to not even rate my books as much lately (amie you know i feel bad about this.. hahal) i've mostly just listened to a lot of fluff.. adding a lot of these to my TBR though!

I would LOVE to hear more! I HATE HATE HATE giving books a rating! I am terrible at it... awful! Even after I made myself a guide to follow... nope can't do it! I have a super hard time pin pointing a number to a book that I invested so much time into! My friends laugh at me because I give so many 4 and 5 stars because I just can't make up my mind and I second guess myself. It seriously stresses me out and causes me major anxiety. And who says FLUFF is a bad thing? :p

[amyjcaz]

I just finished the Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. It was a fast good read!

I will have to remember that... I have stayed away from Rom Coms lately and leaned toward thriller, historical fiction, fantasy, romantasy... well pretty much everything else. LOL

[amyjcaz]

Dark Matter was sooooo good!

My top reads so far this year:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Whispers by Ashley Audraine


I am clearly bad at choosing favorites, and I could talk books forever! :)

A Little Life has been sitting on my shelf, mocking me, for several months. I have to find the right time to knowingly place my heart in an emotional vise... or so I have heard.

[amyjcaz]

This might be my fave thread yet!!
I recently read three 5 star books:

The Five Year Lie
The Night We Lost Him: A Novel
The Memory Library

Thank you! I can't believe how many favorites are listed that I have never even heard of! Loving these!!!

[carrie1977]

A Little Life has been sitting on my shelf, mocking me, for several months. I have to find the right time to knowingly place my heart in an emotional vise... or so I have heard.

Same! I've had it in my Audible library for months and I can't bring myself to start it.

[Kimberly27]

HOW did I not put God of the Woods on my list?!?! It was so so good! Loved it! Do you subscribe to the Book of the Month Club? Because your list looks like what I have ordered each month... except The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern--which my mom got, and LOVED, so I will borrow hers!


Yes, Book of the Month has introduced to me to a lot of great books.

[nesser1981]

I've read more this year than I ever had and listened to more audiobooks.

Last count I think I'm around 40 books I've read and just over 60 I've listened to.

Here are 10 favs, 5 in each category. Bottom is audiobooks, top is ones I've read. HIGHLY recommend listening to Remarkably Bright Creatures.

https://i.imgur.com/swSCuCY.jpeg

I've been keeping track on pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/nesser1981/books-2024/) and goodreads, (https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/50380513) I've been curious how much I'm reading each month, that's why I've been using pinterest.

[KristinCB]

I've read more this year than I ever had and listened to more audiobooks.

Last count I think I'm around 40 books I've read and just over 60 I've listened to.

Here are 10 favs, 5 in each category. Bottom is audiobooks, top is ones I've read. HIGHLY recommend listening to Remarkably Bright Creatures.

https://i.imgur.com/swSCuCY.jpeg

I've been keeping track on pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/nesser1981/books-2024/) and goodreads, (https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/50380513) I've been curious how much I'm reading each month, that's why I've been using pinterest.

If you haven't read it yet, read "big sexy love" by kirsty greenwood! I loved it SO much and it's so funny (and heartwarming). British romcom authors are my favourite.

[nesser1981]

If you haven't read it yet, read "big sexy love" by kirsty greenwood! I loved it SO much and it's so funny (and heartwarming). British romcom authors are my favourite.

I’ll add it to my list.

[karlimarie]

Here are my top years so far this year!!!! I would love to hear a few of your favorites in 2024!!!

https://i.imgur.com/bWz9lh5.jpeg

Dark Matter and House on the Cerulean Sea were 5 stars for me too. Have you read anything else by those authors? I haven’t found one of theirs that I haven’t liked!

[karlimarie]

I have been wondering if I should pick up Holly and I have never seen Long Lost!!!! That book looks amazing! - Because of course I do judge a book by it's cover!

I accidentally read Holly first and then realized she had a whole rich backstory :glare: naturally I had to go back and read the whole Mr. Mercedes trilogy, The Outsider, and I have If it Bleeds on hold. I’ve been on a bit of a Stephen King kick this year.

[karlimarie]

Here are my five stars so far for this year. I’m most of the way through the Red Rising series, but I can’t image that the next two will be anything but stellar. I overall enjoyed the ACOTAR series, but Mist & Fury and Silver Flames were my favs.

https://i.ibb.co/jR2yxyJ/IMG-6757.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/cY5smwM/IMG-6758.png
https://i.ibb.co/v1XJxFS/IMG-6745.png
https://i.ibb.co/FqcG6FL/IMG-6740.jpg

[TraceyM]

The more recent one's I can think of...
https://i.imgur.com/BdMsHPT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tWnmQ1dm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xrk4Momm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ffSIEPjm.jpg