As always, time flies! It’s time to talk about the best books of the year so far now that we are more than halfway through 2024. (Even though it feels like I just wrote about my most anticipated books of the year.) You’ll find a nice mix of crowd-pleasers, so let’s get literary!
Best Books of the Year 2024 So Far
I have read dozens of books so far in 2024, most of which were published in 2024. I placed only a few of those at the top so far.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
In The God of the Woods, it’s August 1975, and a teenager disappears from her Adirondack summer camp, throwing the camp and the surrounding community into turmoil.
As the daughter of the camp’s wealthy owners, her disappearance stirs up old wounds, mainly because her older brother vanished under similar mysterious circumstances fourteen years earlier. The ensuing search reveals hidden secrets and tensions within both the affluent owners and the working-class locals employed by the camp.
I read its nearly 500 pages in two days. It’s fast-paced, completely immersive, and oh-so-twisty. Short chapters with cliffhangers are a bonus!
Additionally, the characters are nuanced, and the narrative has much to say on several themes, from class to gender, survival, and so much more. I woke up early just to finish it, which was the most indulgent feeling.
Related Post: The God of the Woods Book Review | Ending of The God of the Woods
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Just For the Summer proves that Abby Jimenez’s books can continue to deliver everything her readers love.
Justin feels cursed. Every woman he dates finds her soulmate just after breaking up with him. In a twist of fate, he meets Emma, who is similarly “cursed.” Together, they create a plan to date each other and break up so they can go on to live happily ever after with someone else.
Emma and Justin connect deeper than expected over their “mommy” issues (trigger warning), and they just may be the perfect pair. But, the chaos left by Emma’s mom seems too complicated to make the plan work.
This book features my favorite couple in Abby Jimenez’s books. They are quirky, loveable, have great chemistry, and support each other through difficult life issues. There is also one spicy scene for steamy romance lovers! It’s one quick and very enjoyable romance read that I haven’t stopped thinking about.
Related Post: Just For the Summer Book Review
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is not just one of my favorite books of the year but also one of my favorite audiobooks (narrated so realistically by actress Elle Fanning). It’s about a college student who drops out after being impregnated by her teacher. To get by, she starts an Only Fans account and lets her former pro wrestler dad into her life.
Thorpe is one of my favorite writers, so I had high expectations for this novel, and it delivered. This book says a lot about modern motherhood while never being too preachy. I devoured it.
Fun Fact: Audiobook narrator Elle Fanning is set to star in the adaptation, and trust me when I say this screenplay will write itself. This book is perfect for film!
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns
Have you ever heard the advice not to blend family and work or love and work? The Joseph family broke all these rules in Mercury, and the tensions simmered like a pressure cooker about to pop throughout this dramatic and intricately woven tale.
In the 1990s, a teen named Marley and her single mother roll into the Rust Belt town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. There, she begins to date the oldest of the three Joseph brothers, Baylor, but when the relationship goes sour, she turns to his younger brother, Waylon. This act changes the family forever.
The Baylor family is spearheaded by Mick, a hardheaded, selfish roofer, who insists on his boys joining the flailing business, and Elise, who’s lost herself in her roles as wife and mother. The eldest Joseph brothers are constantly at odds, and the youngest, Shay, struggles with self-acceptance. Marley’s own role in the family is… complicated.
Did I mention there’s also a dead body?! Early on, a dead body is found near the roof of the town church, and there’s an ominous sense there’s much more to the story and the Josephs’ connection to it. This mystery works as a great thread for the overall narrative, which centers on how this family got to this point, why, and where they will go from here.
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand (her final novel) introduces an extravagant new couple, the Richardsons, to Nantucket. But before summer’s end, their flashy multi-million dollar estate burns to the ground, and their personal concierge goes missing.
I always find stories that begin with a house burned to the ground immensely propulsive, and this one certainly did not disappoint. Elin Hilderbrand blended everything her readers crave into one final narrative: characters we know and love, Nantucket references, pop culture references, summer fun, drama, romance, mystery, and “rich people problems.”
In addition, she incorporated the most extravagant parties I’ve ever read about. The pink and white party absolutely blew me away as a reader!
Reading Tip: The final chapter was especially exquisite. I’m tearing up just thinking about the last few sentences!
Related Posts: Swan Song Book Club Questions | Elin Hilderbrand’s Best Books | Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order | Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket Series of Books
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
The Wedding People brings together two unlikely women at fancy Rhode Island nuptials. Phoebe, the only hotel guest not attending the wedding, is there to end her life after a terrible divorce. The problem is that this imposes on spoiled Lila’s perfectly planned day.
Lila and the other guests begin to confide in Phoebe, which thwarts her plans. While this may sound sad and depressing, it’s not! This book is so sharply written, and the cast of wedding guests is a joy to get to know.
It has so much humor and heart alongside its contemporary takes on life and love.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Women is a Vietnam War story about women’s experiences during and after the War. It’s one of Kristin Hannah’s best books to date. Readers can expect the same blend of historical fiction, strong female leads, and emotionally charged events she so often gives us.
In The Women, Hannah excels at covering just about every major issue surrounding the Vietnam War. She does this through the eyes of Frankie, a duty-driven young American woman who enlists as a nurse.
There, the realities of war are more horrific than she could have imagined. Back in America, however, not only is she not deemed a hero but she’s also discarded and mistreated as a veteran. This affects her physical, mental, and emotional health and demands a reckoning.
The reader walks away with both a comprehensive understanding of the controversial nature of this War and a profound respect for the women (and men) who served in it. Not just beloved by me, it’s easily been one of the most popular and beloved books of the year globally so far.
Reading Tip: The audiobook version, read by the beloved narrator Julia Whelan, was an especially immersive experience. It brought the reader closer to the action and Frankie’s emotions about her shocking experiences.
Related Post: The Women Book Club Questions
What’s Popular in Books in 2024
The most popular book in 2024 so far is Kristin Hannah’s new release, The Women. This Vietnam War story follows a female nurse during and after the War. It’s been well-liked by countless readers worldwide.
In 2024, everyone is also reading books like The Covenant of Water and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, which each topped the rare one million sales mark. Fantasy romance series are trending, and readers can’t get enough of popular titles like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing, which are extremely popular on social media.
Recap
The best books of the year so far include an array of popular new fiction. It’s hard to narrow them down, but right now my top pick is the mystery book The God of the Woods by Liz Moore because I couldn’t put it down!
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
