Top Reads of 2024
It’s not a secret to anyone that follows me that this girl here reads a lot. And when I say a lot, I really meant it. This year I tried to slow down thou because I feel like I’m running out of options, and the consequence is that I’ve been reading LOTS of craps, and and it’s getting me really cranky and even picker— if that’s possible 🤭— with my reads. However, I still managed to read 285 books this year, which is still quite a lot, I know 😩 but this girl here also has no shelf control at all 🙈
It wasn’t a hard task, to be honest, to narrow down the best reads of 2024. All novels on this list have received 5-star ratings from me this year, or very very close to it. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of these. Even if you don’t love them as much as I did, which can happen, I am sure you will, at least, have a good time with them. Enjoy! 💋
POWERLESS
by Lauren Roberts
The Powerless Trilogy #1
- Young adult romantasy
- 1st person dual
TROPES:
- enemies to lovers
- forbidden love
- forced proximity
- royal hero
- magic
- slow burn
THOUGHTS:
I LOVED IT SO. MUCH!! The writing is smart and sassy. The tension between Paedin and Kai is hot and electric. The ending broke me. This romantasy was enthralling and addictive.
MAYLUNA
by Kelly McNeill
- contemporary romance
- 1st person dual pov
TROPES:
- celebrity romance
- rockstar hero
- second chances
- nontraditional hea
THOUGHTS:
Mayluna was so heartbreakingly-beautiful. It has Daisy Jones vibes all the way and I was instantly hooked. I was just not expecting that ending! 😭
RECKLESS
by Lauren Roberts
The Powerless Trilogy #2
- young adult romantasy
- 1st person dual pov
TROPES:
- enemies to lovers
- betrayal
- forbidden love
- vengeance
- tortured heroine
- magic
THOUGHTS:
Okay, I am going to be brutally honest, although I really enjoyed the banter, I think the whole back and forth went on for a bit too long. Starting to feel a bit like a filler and I believe it was, maybe because she wants three books and not two. But dang! Their chemistry is out of this world!! Sooo good. And that ending??? Totally unexpected!! Omg! I’m still reeling about it. In the end, I cannot but give this all the stars!!
PHANTASMA
by Kaylie Smith
Wicked Games #1
- romantasy
- 3rd person FMC’s pov
TROPES:
- forbidden romance
- forced proximity
- phantom x necromancer
- morally grey hero
- touch her and die
- trials/battle
- cinnamon roll hero for his heroine
- gothic
- New Orleans
THOUGHTS:
Phantasma was wonderfully written, and descriptive in a way that draws you in and wraps you tightly into its dark and delightfully delectable, sexy and sinful world. The spicy scenes are SPICY and are perfectly balanced by a well thought out plot and excellently developed characters. The burn was slow but SO worth it. I haven’t been this enthralled with a book in a very long time.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE
by Alison Espach
- women’s fiction
- third person, dual pov
TROPES:
This book deals with infidelity; infertility; unfulfilling job; divorce; suicide; depression; death/grief. Don’t read if any of these is a trigger for you.
THOUGHTS:
I loved the colorfully, well developed characters and the astute, sometimes painful, often cleverly funny observations of life, family and relationships. Phoebe, was one of thee smartest characters I’ve encountered in a while. I was so touched by the story.
FUNNY STORY
by Emily Henry
- romantic comedy
- 1st person FMC’s pov
TROPES:
- roommates
- opposites attract
- forced proximity
- friends to lovers
- sort of fake dating
- exes getting revenge
- found family
THOUGHTS:
I loved the tension and butterflies in this book. The banter was delightful. The side characters were really fun. But the bound and the intimacy that grew within Daphne and Miles friendship was what really got me. Breathtaking beautiful.
BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN
by Sara Goodman Confino
- women’s fiction
- 1st person FMC’s pov
TROPES:
- workplace
- revenge
- jewish representation
- female empowerment
- humor
THOUGHTS:
In Behind Every Good Man Confino weaves humor and play effortlessly with heartbreak and the reality of what it is like to be a woman in the 1960s. You really feel like you were living back in that time. You feel all the struggles of being a women in the 60’s.
THE HATE MAIL
by Donna Marchetti
- romantic comedy
- 1st person dual pov
TROPES:
- enemies to lovers
- pen enemies
- it’s always been you
- funny
THOUGHTS:
While I did see the twist coming a mile away it was still reeeally fun to see how it all unfolded. It was so so good! I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved the hate mail penpal relationship. The characters were fun. This was the CUTEST book I’ve read in a while. These two hit to my favorite couple’s list.
IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER
by Laura Nowlin
If He Had Been With Me #2
- young adult
- 1st person multiple pov
TROPES:
- depressingly sad
- suicide attempt
- cheating
- depression
- pregnancy
THOUGHTS:
When I picked this one to read, I knew I was going to be on one hell of an emotional ride. I just was not expecting it to be through Splash Mountain at Disneyland. Holy hell, this book hurt. It hurt A LOT. I loved it and I hated it! And you will see why. But do not read this if you don’t want to feel blue. This is a very very sad book.
NOTHING BUT IT ALL
by Adriana Locke
- contemporary romance
- 1st person dual pov
TROPES:
- marriage in crise
- small town
- second chance romance
- meddling family
- old mature characters
THOUGHTS:
This one really hit home for me and in a way that was a little too real and stirred up all the feels. I felt EVERY-STINKING-THING
ALONE WITH YOU
by Aly Martinez
- contemporary romance
- 1st person dual pov
TROPES:
- single mom
- tortured hero
- two timelines
- second chances
- military rep
- emotional
- angst
- mature characters
- suspense
THOUGHTS:
Alone with You was very much a second chance romance with a unique storyline. It was powerful, emotional and truly heartbreaking. It’s not all sadness though, there is some comedy relief and spice that was placed well. Please check the TW as there are many.
LOST AND LASSOED
by Lyla Sage
Rebel Blue Ranch #3, interconnected series
- contemporary romance
- 3rd person, dual pov
TROPES:
- single dad
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town
- cowboy hero
- western romance
- little sister’s best friend
- enemies to lovers
- nanny x boss
- forced proximity
- sass and banter
THOUGHTS:
Can I just say cowboys are the best… especially grumpy single dad cowboys 👀 This book left me feeling warm and fuzzy and it’s my favorite in the series so far. The chemistry between Teddy and Gus was so palpable, the tension was hot fire and their banter was everything! Everything!! 🤌🏻
SUNDAY MORNING
by Jewel E Ann
Sunday Morning #1, interconnected series
- contemporary romance
- 1st person, dual pov
TROPES:
- age gap
- virgin heroine
- small town
- cowboy hero
- military
- bad boys
- cheating
- forbidden love
- taboo
- love triangle
- boyfriend’s older brother
- western
- religious
- Footloose vibes
THOUGHTS:
I am not usually a fan of cheating in books and it makes cheating 10X worse when it comes to someone so close to you. Specially a brother! So I was constantly repressing myself for being enjoying this so much, but I just couldn’t help myself. Even knowing that everything I was reading was so damn wrong I was still glued to the pages like there was no tomorrow. Damn you, Jewel E Ann for having written something so wrong but also SO GOOD.
THE DIXON RULE
by Elle Kennedy
Campus Diaries #2, interconnected series
- new adult
- 1st person, dual pov
TROPES:
- fake relationship
- college sports romance
- hockey
- sassy heroine
- enemies to lovers
- frenemies with benefits
- next door neighbors
THOUGHTS:
I love some good banter and Elle Kennedy did not disappoint with this one. I loved the banter between Shane and Diana. I really felt the connection between these two. Seeing their relationship change over the course of the book was so fun, and really really cute.
BRIDE
by Amy Hazelwood
- romantasy
- 1st person, dual, but mostly female pov
TROPES:
- alpha male
- possessive hero
- virgin heroine
- arranged marriage
- slow burn
- werewolves
- vampires
- fated mates
- funny
THOUGHTS:
Good pacing, great banter, funny FMC, enjoyable plot twists and steamy! I ate this up and left no crumbs. I only wish there was more of the guy POV but no matter what it was great.
THIS COULD BE US
by Kennedy Ryan
Skyland #2, interconnected series
- contemporary romance
- dual, 1st person pov
TROPES:
- single mom
- single dad
- mature characters
- brother’s best friend
- small town
- mistaken identify
- meet-cute
- love after divorce
- he falls first
- death/grief
- closed door
THOUGHTS:
Such a heartfelt and relatable book. One that made my heart full… There’s something about the way Annabel Monaghan writes that is so unique and it just pulls you in every time. Even though this is a lighthearted story, it still covered grief, depression, complicated family dynamics, divorce, and motherhood. I’m always amazed by how this author manages to cram so much plot and heart into a few pages.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LAKE
by Vi Keeland
- contemporary romance
- 1st person, dual pov
TROPES:
- grumpy vs sunshine
- small town
- opposites attract
- next door neighbors
- meet cute
- 3rd act breakup
THOUGHTS:
This small-town romance was packed with the perfect amount of chemistry, angst, and Fox! You can’t help but love him and all his grumpiness. I was hooked within the first few pages. The side characters, including a snippy duck & gave a wonderful fullness to this story. The small town gossip was hilarious. Definitely a must read!
PLAYBOOK
by Rebecca Jenshak
Jo Holland Brothers #2, interconnected series
TROPES:
- fake dating
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- reformed playboy
- found family
- sports romance
- football.
THOUGHTS:
This book was so good! London and Brogan have one of the best meet cutes I’ve read in a while. The chemistry was felt from the start. The storyline was captivating, with well-developed characters that drew me in from the very first page.
THE TRAITOR QUEEN
by Danielle L. Jensen
The Bridge Kingdom #2
- romantasy
- 3rd person pov
TROPES:
- arranged marriage
- enemies to lovers
- slow-burn
THOUGHTS:
I picked up this book based off a recommendation and it did not disappoint! Just ignore the cover, it certainly doesn’t reflect the grit, the passion, and the beauty of this book.
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2 Comments
Alison
You had a great year of reading!
shesaidyestobooks
Not that great but I’m really glad I still managed to read great books 🙌🏻