My Books in 2024 – Ratings and Review

Here I am again with my yearly Books ratings and reviews. In 2024, I read / listened to almost 75 to 80 books and I feel blessed that I got to experience or live so many stories. I started the year with Rebecca Makkai’s “I Have Some Questions for You” and it was a literary genius. It was a long book but how beautifully she narrated Bodie Kane’s school days and her current life. After Paul Murray’s “The Bee Sting” (2023) and Makkai’s “I Have Some Questions for You” (2024), I have now developed a liking towards immersive storytelling where you just go with the flow and the story keeps developing.

After “I Have…” I read Kate Atkinson’s “Case Histories” and Julie Clark’s “The Ones We Choose” and I was surprised by the variations in the stories. I have now become a Kate Atkinson fan esp. of her Jackson Brodie series. Again, she writes long stories with interesting characters with individual separate plots that come together in the end and her sense of humor is at different level. I ended up listening to three of Kate Atkinson’s novels and I plan to continue to read her more. Other favorites this year were two Australian authors who also write long immersive novels – Liane Moriarty and Kate Morton and I now want to read all of their work. Writers like Kate Atkinson, Liane Moriarty, and Kate Morton don’t just write stories, they create a web of interlinked stories with such interesting characters that you don’t care about the length of the novels. You just don’t want their stories to end.

To balance out my immersive reading, I often pick soft, light-hearted novels that are not very long and have a single plot. My love for murder mysteries and psychological thrillers is still intact but my reading choices have become more refined. The kind of books that I used to find interesting 3-4 years ago, are no longer in my library now.

The first thought about my reading experience of 2024 was – my selection of books could have been better. At one point, I bought books that I simply could not read or listen to because of poor writing or dull plots. I ended up returning many books after reading just one chapter. During this time, I discovered three authors and I ended up reading almost all of their work – Tim Sullivan (DS Cross series), Anthony Horowitz (Hawthorne series) and Benjamin Stevenson. If you enjoy short, light-hearted and interesting detective series, read Tim Sullivan and Anthony Horowitz. And if you wish to go a notch higher and read about murder mysteries with interesting storyline and a great twist in the end and above all, with good humor, read Benjamin Stevenson.

Other additions to psychological thrillers this year were Nicci French and Freida McFadden. I found their books interesting. I want to read more from Nicci French but I am not so sure about Freida McFadden. Alice Feeney continued to disappoint me this year too. So much so that I had to return one of her books. But her latest novel “Beautiful Ugly” gave me some hope. I continued reading Gillian Flynn and Keigo Higashino this year but their books didn’t make into my top 5 or even top 15.

A special mention is necessary for a novel by Sarah Manguso – Liars. It is in second place in my list but it is the best book I read this year. The only reason why “The Push” by Ashley Audrian is in the first place is because the storyline of “The Push” simply blew me away. Probably, the only novel in the entire year that was so captivating that it gave me goosebumps. Coming back to Liars – This novel is not for everyone. I would suggest, read it only if you are a woman and if you are 45+ and you have the maturity and sensibility to go through the emotions and rage of a woman going through her marriage and subsequently reaching a breaking point. The language is extremely angry and cathartic and may not be understood and appreciated by many.

And the novel that comes in the third position is Exit by Belinda Bauer. As compared to “Liars” and “The Push”, this book is funny, sweet, witty, and an absolute gem in terms of plot and narrative. While reading this book, you will chuckle, you will smile, or may be you will put the book aside and roll on the floor laughing and in the end you will end up falling in love with the 70 years old Felix Pink. Read it!

To me, finding a good book is like finding a treasure and one of the treasures that I found in 2024 was “The Plot” by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Having an ambition of becoming a writer one day, I deeply love the novels based on writers, plots, storylines, editors, and publishing houses. This novel is so beautifully written that you don’t mind its length and twists in the story never stop coming. I am sure there will be more Jean Hanff Korelitz in my 2025 list.

Since 2022-23, I am seeing more and more books on the subject on Parallel Universe and of course, this can be a very interesting plot for a good story. That’s where come May be in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

I also read some beautifully written, feel-good novels and I have put them in a different category because these novels do not necessarily fit into any other category. Such novels have their own fan following and you pick these novels when you want to believe in human kindness, spread love in relationships, and just want to become a better person. Strangely, you will find many books by Japanese authors in this category 🙂

I cannot end this blog without mentioning “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins and “How to Stay Married” by Harrison Scott Key. “The Let Them Theory” will help you release the baggage you carry of other people’s criticism, judgmental and bad behavior. And what can I say about “How to Stay Married”? Harrison Scott Key has poured out his soul and has been so honest in writing about his marriage. It has humor and delicate moments of reflection, and I was happy to see a man writing about marriage.

Let’s take a look at all the book lists now. The numbers in the list represent the ratings.

Excellent Reads – Unique, Quality Writing, Interesting Plot

Good Reads – Books that were worth it

Good Reads – Feel Good Books

Good Reads – Non-Fiction Books on Mental Health and Relationships

Average Reads – Books that were almost there

Books that Disappointed Me

2024 was a mix of surprising discoveries and disappointing expectations, but every book added something to my reading journey. In 2025, I hope to continue exploring immersive storytelling and thought-provoking literary fiction.

Happy reading and happy new year to all of you!

Thanks Azraa for sharing your thoughts! I hope we continue to read more such interesting books this year.

I too, greatly enjoyed ‘The Measure’ and ‘The Housekeeper and The Professor’.

Thanks for your comment. I completely understand your point.

A hoarder is someone who cannot get rid of anything. They have a mental issue where they feel a loss…

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