The Best Books I Read in the First Half of 2024
At the beginning of the year I set a bit of an, ahem, audacious goal. I wanted to read 100 books in 2024. Even typing it out sounds absolutely insane. The year I was pregnant with Jackson, I set a goal to read a book a week all year long and was so proud of myself when I did it. But, last year I managed to read more than 50 books without really even putting a ton of effort in, so I figured it was possible. Hard, but possible.
So, I decided to go for it. We’re officially halfway through the year and so far, I’m still on track!
I often get questions about what I’m reading, how I get my books, and more. So today, I’m answering the most-asked questions about this little goal of mine!
Where Do You Get Your Books?
I read probably 90% of my books on the Libby app on my phone. I’ve connected my library card to it and that’s where the vast majority of my books come from these days. I also love using Prime Reading – it’s a free service for Amazon Prime members. There are tons of books you can borrow at no charge! I have found some really great books this way. It consists mostly of books I’m unfamiliar with, but I just look for books with lots of positive reviews and stay open to trying new things! I’ve discovered a few favorite authors this way, and I’m rarely disappointed by a book I try.
Finally, at the beginning of every month, Amazon releases what they call First Reads. It’s also totally free for Prime members. They offer a selection of new releases, and you can choose one to download (and keep!) for free. I get a First Reads book every single month, and love getting to discover new authors that way, too.
Between those three methods, it’s really easy to have a never-ending supply of books to read! Of course, I usually also have a hefty stack on my nightstand of books I’ve grabbed in Target or been gifted. So, let’s just say I’m never short on reading material!
I’ll also note that I’ve been doing a lot of audiobooks lately (also through Libby). I don’t think I could get 100 books in without them! I listen while I’m driving, cleaning, or going on walks!
The 10 Best Books of 2024 (So Far)
Now, let’s get to what you’re really here for – the 10 best books I’ve read so far this year!
- Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington – This is one of those books I flew through and I thought about it for weeks afterwards. It was a little over-the-top in the best possible way, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was just such a fun ride.
- Maame by Jessica George – I listened to this on audiobook, and I LOVED it. It’s a compelling and heartfelt story and I found it to be so engaging from beginning to end. I fell in love with the main character and her journey, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
- House of Flame & Shadow by Sarah J. Maas – This is book 3 of the Crescent City series and it wrecked me in the best possible way. I couldn’t possibly have loved it more. I’d been waiting for this book’s release for two years and it was worth every second of the wait.
- The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas – Alright, it’s a bit of a cheat to put an entire series into one slot, but it’s my list and I make the rules. This wasn’t my first time reading through this series, but it didn’t make it any less enjoyable. I have zero shame about it – Sarah J. Maas is my favorite author always and forever and every single book she writes is my favorite.
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – I didn’t know anything about this book going into it (which is how I prefer to dive into books). I loved it so much and it’s one I still think about regularly. I absolutely flew through it, and I can’t wait for the movie adaptation.
- The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand – I don’t read a ton of light, easy books. I tend to gravitate to either fantasy or really twisted, dark novels. But every once in a while, something light and easy just really hits the spot. This one was so enjoyable! It’s a perfect beach read, especially if you want something that isn’t heavy on the cheesy romance.
- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This was the first audiobook I (ever) listened to, and what an experience! It’s so beautifully done, the story is so compelling, and I loved absolutely every single second of it.
- The Women by Kristin Hannah – I’d been hearing rave reviews about this one for a while before I got to reading it, and it didn’t disappoint. It had me hooked from the first chapter! It’s definitely a heavier read, but absolutely worth it. The story is heart-breaking and beautiful and maddening and everything you want in a historical fiction. I loved it so much!
- Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent – I didn’t know anything about this book heading into it, but I devoured it in about 2.5 days. It was so, so good. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing – this poor girl so far removed from general society and struggling to find her place. It was so incredibly compelling and I couldn’t stop reading.
- The Teacher by Freida McFadden – Ok, I debated loooong and hard about if I should include this book or not. In fact, I had already made the graphic for this post and went back last minute to edit it! This book gave me so many icky vibes (as I’m sure you can guess by the title, it’s about a teacher who has an affair with a student). It’s horrifying in so many ways. But also? The twists and turns were so shocking that at the end of the book I exclaimed out loud and dropped my phone. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. And any book that makes me feel that much deserves to be on the top 10 list!
And those, my friends, are my top 10 books of the year so far! Can’t believe I’m already at (over) 50 books. I’ll circle back at the end of the year with the favorites from the second half, so stay tuned!