This is one of those posts that does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a list of all the books I managed to read in 2024. There were four I had to give up, right at the beginning of the year – I just couldn’t get through them and was afraid I had to pick them up night after night – so my total tally would have been slightly higher had I stuck with them, but it was still a relatively fruitful year of reading.
I usually make very short notes after I finish a book – just three or four words to jog my brain to remember if I really liked something or was disappointed – so I thought I’d include these too. They’re not reviews and weren’t noted with any intention of sharing publicly, but I thought they’d add a splash of color and personality to an otherwise pretty boring list.
So there you go. I haven’t included the abandoned books because it seems like a bit of a diss and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings…
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My year of rest and relaxationOttessa Moshfegh: buy here*
(Loved this! Cracker idea. Brett Easton Ellis vibes. Messy.)
AntarcticClaire Keegan: buy here*
(11/10. There are three of the short stories I can’t stop thinking about. It changes the mind.)
So late in the dayClaire Keegan: buy here*
(WTF why is it so short, brilliant, but it could have been a pamphlet.)
10 minutes 38 seconds into this strange worldElif Shafak: purchase here*
(Sad. Beautiful. I got through the first half, the second half I found myself skipping pages!)
Another Life, Jodie Chapman: buy here*
(Another knockout! She writes so well I could read her shopping lists.)
The Mad Women’s BallVictoria Mas: buy here*
(Ah, amazing! Too short.)
Strange flowers, Donal Ryan: Market here*
(Awesome. Another Tee** winner. Couldn’t love it more.)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s NestKen Kesey: purchase here*
(Read again. Don’t remember this being so sad and monstrous, everyone should read it.)
The Child’s Child, Barbara Vine: buy here*
(Break that up, it was over too quickly at the end. 4th Vine book and not sure it’s for me!)
Rogue’s ManifestoColson Whitehead, buy here*
(I loved the first in this trilogy, it was so impressively detailed but I found it very difficult.)
The MinotaurBarbara Vine: buy here*
(Got back in. Creepy and kept me hooked, but the ending disappointed me.)
sociopathPatric Gagne: buy here*
(Interesting as a subject but repetitive.)
All my wicked sorrowsMiriam Toews: buy here*
(Beautiful! Opening chapters some of the best I’ve read. Made me feel hopeless though.)
All My MothersAugusta Hope: buy here*
(Great first half. Got a little poetic for me. Great cover design.)
I who have never met menJacqueline Harpman: buy here*
(Everyone should read this. Put on the school schedule! Absolutely 11/10.)
Long IslandColm Toibin: buy here*
(Just amazing. I couldn’t remember what happened in Brooklyn, but never mind.)
Everything I know about loveDolly Alderton: buy here*
(He made this up. I felt young but it was funny and so readable.)
My favorite mistakeMarian Keyes: purchase here*
(Easy holiday read, great dialogue. Must read more MK.)
In memoryAlice Winn: buy now*
(Sad and brilliant. There were tears. Underground tunnels: hard no.)
IntermezzoSally Rooney: buy now*
(Emoji of a party popper.)
Still lifeSarah Winman: purchase now*
(Glorious. Best characters, totally alive for me. Spans decades and is just beautiful.)
Fair RosalineNatasha Solomons: buy here*
(Dark, twisted rewrite of Romeo + Juliet. Loved. The ending got messy.)
RabbitsHugo Rifkind: buy now*
(Easy pace, dark story.)
Blue SistersCoco Mellors: buy here*
(Why did people complain about this? The thought was brilliant.)
All fourMiranda July: market here*
(Shit crazy. The ending tried me, but the rest was an absolute hoot.)
JamesPercival Everett: buy here*
(Pick of the year? felt all the feels, great writing.)
TerritorialTom Cox: buy here*
(Book marathon. So detailed and complex! Good SOH.)
Our life in LondonChristine Dwyer Hickey: buy here*
(Currently reading: so far so good!)
**Tee is a friend who has the most impeccable taste in books. I mean really. I get all my best recommendations from her and in turn pass them on to you, but she really should start her own book blog. And a blog style. And generally tell everyone what to buy in life.
