Tag: book-review

Hi all, welcome to What I Read in 2024. I didn’t do monthly breakdowns this year, but I thought it would still be worthwhile to share what I read this year. However, because it’s a lot, I told myself I didn’t have to put in the cover photos, because that’s a lot of formatting work. So, my apologies that this isn’t visually stimulating, but I suppose it helps if you endeavor to not judge a book by it’s cover. This post is dedicated to Zach.

1. The Memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos
2. The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos
   • Unfortunately these last two books in the Mirror Visitor series left me confused and dissatisfied. I coudn’t wrap my head around the echoes nor the God figure, and I kept wanting to leave the new world, and yet the majority of these books took place there.
3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
   • Such a good book. Surprising wit, and I love the idea of the night with the poison and half the country not eating the dinner. This book made me feel solidary with women despite the perceived differences between our time and the years the book took place.
4. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
   • I loved this book. It wasn’t scary, but made me think about working with friends and how disastrous that would be. This has come up multiple times for me this year, so I’m very grateful for the warning. Plus the Italian setting was very comforting.
5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
   • I’d tried to read this a few years ago and it was too dark. We read it for book club, and while it wasn’t life-changing, I respected the ending, and I think it’s an important frame for people who are feeling a little stuck or lost.
6. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
   • I enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t my favorite. I think I might find it more engaging on-screen, but I haven’t decided to go watch it.
7. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
8. Husband Material by Alexis Hall
   • Boyfriend Material was super fun and I loved the self-deprecating tone. The Drag Race references were a riotous surprise, as I would read a name and crack up when I realized where it came from. The first book was great, though I found the second more of an effort to continue the story without adding anything new. It wasn’t as good to me. Overall, I remember when the main character’s friends came to help him clean his apartment, and I thought that was a wild definition of friendship, as I don’t think I would ever think to ask my friends to do that, but I would like if they were the type of friends that would if I did ask. That specifically made me consider a few things about my own friendships.
9. Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
10. Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli
    • I loved these. The first one was surprisingly nuanced, though I found the challenges themselves a bit lacking. I immediately (borrowed/found/bought) the second, and enjoyed it as well. Unfortunately I read these in January and the third book didn’t come out until October. I still haven’t read the third because I would likely have to reread the first two, and I haven’t gotten to that yet, but I’m glad it’s out!
11. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
    • This was recommended to me by a family friend, and I really enjoyed it. It’s not my usual style, but it was about an actress which I enjoyed, and part of the book took place during the pandemic, where the main character is telling her story to her daughters. The family friend who recommended it is a Mom, so we texted about our perspectives, and that certainly made me enjoy the book more. An important women’s rights issue came up as well, and I really appreciated the inclusion. Later this year, Tom Lake the play was on Broadway, so the family friend and I (and her family) went to see it. I’m really happy that the book also turned into an experience, and I’m happy my family friend and I have started to share out book recs!
12. Outlive by Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford.
    • Wow. This book really made me think about my own health, as well as the healthcare system. Given the time I am writing this (end of 2024), it is even more apparent to me how fucked up healthcare is, and I am really happy to have read this book. It made me consider fitness in a different way, as when I am 80, I would like to be able to lift my carry-on suitcase into the overhead bin on a flight by myself. I think I’ll end up rereading this a few years too, as it is a good reminder to take care of yourself and work to improve my lifestyle.
13. Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
    • This was surprisingly good. It chronicled not only his time working on Harry Potter, but also some intense personal struggles. The authenticity was appreciated, and the candid conversation made me respect Tom Felton for his courage. I would argue that his attitude when writing was a bit groundbreaking, and I am glad he wrote his truth because I can only imagine how impactful that can be for some readers.
14. The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
    • I remember this being good, but I unfortunately can’t recall whether I finished it, or any other opinions.
15. The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
16. The Faithless by C.L. Clark
    • I enjoyed both of these, and the main character was refreshing. I remember enjoying parts of the word, though oppression and colonialism is not comfortable to read about, and parts of the power dynamics felt a bit outrageous and illogical. I wasn’t able to fully buy why certain circumstances couldn’t be talked through into a better solution. I didn’t end up reading the third book, but I can’t recall whether it wasn’t out, or if I just wasn’t interested enough.
17. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
18. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
    • These are so fun and comfortable. I adore the science aspects, and I wish there were more rom-com books with quirky scientists. I love every one of the STEM-Romances by Ali Hazelwood, and I wish there were more. They are absolute go-to’s and in addition to being warm and fuzzy they also address aspects of sexism in STEM, which is a delicate balance to achieve in a romance.
19. The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas
    • I was on a bit of a romance kick, and while I didn’t adore the Spanish Love Deception, I liked it, so I gave the American Roommate Experiment a try. I think I liked it a little better, though I will stick with the word like.
20. Queen Bee by Amalie Howard
    • A fun period book, which usually I stay away from. This felt more modern, and was enjoyable.
21. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
22. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
    • I really enjoyed a Discovery of Witches, but by the end (or middle, I’m not certain of finishing status) of Shadow of Night, the male main character was a drag, so I didn’t continue on with the series. I think I stumbled on these looking for book similar to Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series, or at least they feel similar to me. Turns out, A Discovery of Witches is a TV show, and I started it in the Fall, months after reading these. The show was pretty good, an interesting style, but then the plot diverged from where I thought it was going to go, and I ended up losing interest. I’m not sure if the plot remained true to the books, and I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the show again. But there was definitely potential in both the books and show. My app says I borrowed the third book, but I don’t think I ever started it.
23. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
    • This book was sweet, especially for being about undertakers! I enjoyed it and the world, and it wasn’t scary at all!
24. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
    • This was one of my favorite books I read this year, and It showed up on some of the NYPL 2024 round up lists as well. I’m not at all a gamer, and don’t really engage with that world, so I’m not certain what drew me to this book. Perhaps I was expecting something a bit more sci-fi, but I loved what it ended up being. I would recommend this to gamers and non-gamers alike, and I think it did a great job highlighting two completely different people’s life struggles, and took on the complications of enduring friendships and infused each aspect with raw feelings and truth. This was a beyond beautiful book, and I imagine it will be adapted to the screen shortly. Lastly, the gaming aspect was very well done, and it made me understand the world a bit more, on both the consumer side and the theory.
25. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
    • This was a good book, and I love a law office setting!
26. Bride by Ali Hazelwood
    • This was Ali Hazelwood’s first foray into a fantasy realm, and while I wasn’t immediately drawn to the plot, I think I liked it. Unfortunately, I do not recall any details, but I know I enjoyed it because my attitude towards Ali Hazelwood has remained incredibly positive! One of my favorite Youtubers had this book on her shelf too, so I think it was well-received.
27. You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
    • This was a beautiful story, and the settings and character development was very well done. I would recommend this, and it came up when I, later in the year, was looking for books like The Idea of You.
28. Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
    • I was really excited about this book, and that excitement remains. I find the concept of the sword catcher very interesting, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the future – re: tested loyalty but how exactly? I was a huge fan of Clare’s other fantasy series (with an urban fantasy feel), so I was a bit disappointed that this one was fully fantasy, but that did not take away from my enjoyment. Additionally, the orphanage set-up in the beginning is a plotline I look forward to see continued in a later installment. There was a really good set-up for future intrigue.
29. Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
    • This was a really fun Hunger Games-esque book, where the main characters were participating for political reasons. I liked that both characters were strong, and the body-jumping is a really cool power. It reminds me of the book Starters, and the rules were simple enough that you feel like you can think of how the characters will get out of situations. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the sequel. Would definitely recommend!
30. His and Hers by Alice Feeney
    • This was a book club book, and was a bit scary. I enjoyed it, while my two book club members adored it.
31. Meet Me at The Lake by Carley Fortune
    • This was a good book, and I would recommend. It’s a bit of a beach read, but I remember loving some parts (a dock/canoeing scene maybe?)
32. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
    • I knew what this was about going into it (though I haven’t seen the film). The book was beautiful and sad, and made me consider what we would do or consider doing for the people we love.
33. Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
    • This was a cute book that reminded me of this book The Postcard that I read when I was young enough to not fully understand it. Regardless, I want to find a secret wooden duck.
34. Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood
    • Yay Ali Hazelwood, and the chess aspect tied it to the TV show Queens Gambit for me, so I liked returning to the world of chess.
35. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
    • A friend said this was their favorite play, so I read it. I will now understand references to it, and I enjoyed the play through a feminist lens where the women knew how they were perceived and acted accordingly to manipulate those around them as best they could in the given circumstances. However, I don’t think Blanche was crazy. I’m not sure what the general opinion of this was
36. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
    • This was a cool take on a murder mystery, and I like the way the true villain is revealed. This was a bit on the scarier side, and was a book club pick.
37. Renegades by Marissa Meyer
38. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
39. Supernova by Marissa Meyer
    • These were really good. I liked them more than Gilded and Cursed, and I like a good superhero world. It made me want to reread Powerless. Would recommend.
40. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
    • A reread, is still one of my favorite books – highly recommend.
41. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
42. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
43. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
    • A reread because I read this series often as a kid, and they held up this time around! It’s cool that she wrote The Villa, because those are so different. It really shows the range of human creativity to me.
44. Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
    • I don’t know Samantha Irby, but this was hysterical! Would recommend.
45. Pageboy by Elliot Page
    • This was a good book but very sad and slightly disturbing.
46. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Santez
    • One of my best friend loved this book in high school, so I finally read it, and I really liked it. A few months later one of my students had it for school, and it was sad because she didn’t like it. I would recommend, and it opened up a new side to the human experience for me.
47. Unfiltered by Lily Collins
    • I have to say, I expected more from this.
48. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
    • This is a spin off of the Hex Hall series, but I don’t remember finishing it as a kid. To me, Hex Hall is much better, but I still wish this series had been continued. This was a little scary, not gonna lie.
49. Galatea by Madeline Miller
    • Beautiful, but I have to say I was hoping for something much happier.
50. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
    • Yay, a STEM romance novel! I liked this one a lot!!
51. The Hotel Nantucket by Alin Hilderbrand
    • This was a fun read, and I loved all the characters who were so clearly defined.
52. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
    • This was by the same author as Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I liked this one a bit less, but it delivered a sweet and charming story about book lovers, with a bit of mystery thrown in. I like the nuanced cop character, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I recently (yesterday as of writing this) watched the movie, and it did a great job capturing the charm of the book. I liked seeing Lucy Hale’s portrayal of Amelia, and the Maya teenager was a good directorial choice.
53. Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo with James Patterson
    • This was a good book, though I unfortunately don’t remember much. I would recommend it.
54. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Santez
    • This was a good sequel!
55. The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
    • I was really excited about this book. While it did not disappoint, it was a bit darker than I’d anticipated. I also wish there had been more tie-in to today, and more about RuPaul’s husband and their relationship. However, I’m really glad this book was written.
56. Bossypants by Tina Fey
    • This was a great read, and I loved Tina’s tone, though every once and a while I couldn’t tell if something was a joke or serious. What stuck the most was when she wrote about her male SNL co-workers peeing in cups/bottles and leaving them in their office. That is so disgusting to me, but is apparently way more common that I would’ve ever conceptualized.
57. What The River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
    • This was a fun book, and I love Egypt so I wish there had been more on the archeological side. I enjoyed the way sexist was handled by the main character, and certain settings were incredible.
58. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
    • This was recommended to me by a friend, and it was just as warm as they’d said. The main character is a wonderful, loving perspective, and I enjoyed the way the plot was written, as I never got stressed while reading. I know there is a sequel out now, but I think I am happy with leaving this book’s memory untouched.
59. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
    • This was a book club book, and it was enjoyable. I really appreciated the best friend relationship, and the honesty in it. I think it’s valuable to reevaluate how you may be perceived from a friendship lens every so often, and this book offered a new perspective for me.
60. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
61. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
62. Kings Cage by Victoria Aveyard
63. War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
    • I had previously tried to read this series but had stopped when it didn’t feel original. This time I forged onwards, and made it to the parts that made me want to keep reading. I particularly enjoyed the consideration of when you give up on a loved one, though I never finished the last book (I stopped at 66%).
64. An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard
    • This book was fabulous. The magic was unprecedented, and I loved reading about Bethesda Fountain, and then surprise! running by it the next day, for the first time knowing it. That made the fountain have a special association to me, and I can only imagine what it would’ve been like to read the book as a kid, and growing up near a magical site. I love books set in New York with hidden magic, so this was a delight I sped through. Though while I say delight, I mean that more for the New York and magic, as the book is a bit dark, and not exactly full of delights.
65. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
    • A reread, possibly in response to or anticipation of the TV show, I cannot recall. Overall, I’d wanted to read a comfort book.
66. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
    • This was a book club book, and I enjoyed the main female character and her justification for her choices. I appreciated the characters, and this book made me greatly fear being a victim of a pyramid scheme. Would recommend!
67. The Partner Track by Helen Wan
    • I’d enjoyed the TV show, and when my friend told me it had been a book, I eagerly borrowed it. I really enjoyed the book, though I don’t recall one character being such a dick in the show. A really well done perspective on women and race in the workplace, which accurately captured feelings I have had (on the women side, though it can be applied to all marginalized groups).
68. Funny Story by Emily Henry
    • I really liked this one. At first I didn’t think I would, but once the characters did some growing up, I was rooting for them.
69. 10 Things that Never Happened by Alexis Hall
    • This was hysterical, and I loved the plot and characters. The plot was hysterical, and the characters were willfully flawed and it was really nice because they weren’t trying to change each other, more so approach each person with love. I thought it was a fun take on incompetent coworkers.
70. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
    • I’d loved Ally Carter’s books as a kid so I was excited for this. With spies, amnesia, and secrets and twins, this reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. Smith with a little luck thrown in, and it was really well done.
71. Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella
    • I liked this book, but haven’t ever been swept up by a Sophie Kinsella book. I know this is a movie now, and I think I’ll watch it someday!
72. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
73. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
74. The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
75. The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
76. The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore
77. The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore
78. United as One by Pittacus Lore
    • I always thought I’d love this series, though I was worried about a lot of death. The series was incredibly engaging and creative, and I liked most of the twists and turns there was a betrayal and two deaths that I thought could’ve been better differently, but I think, at least in the case of the betrayal, that that is what marks a good betrayal; when the audience wishes it wasn’t so. The fight with the big bad wasn’t as nuanced as I would’ve liked, though his revealed backstory was well done.
79. Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hanna
    • This was a great book, and made me think of how we as a society still don’t talk about nuanced sexism as much as we should. This was a great book, and made me consider my own identity and whether parts of it were right or wrong simply because they were impressed upon my by others. Highly recommend.
80. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
81. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
82. Requiem by Lauren Oliver
    • This was a great dystopian series, and I liked the premise. Later in the series, the love triangle isn’t as well done as I’d hoped, but the plot makes up for it for me. There is one incredibly unsavory character who I would’ve liked sanitized a bit because I don’t love reading about the terrible things one human can do to another.
83. A Court of Silver Flames by Sara J. Maas
    • A reread, one of my favorite books, and a kind of comfort read.
84. The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
85. The Prisoners Throne by Holly Black
    • This series was a great return to the world, and I liked the relationship between the two main characters. I do think the main character could’ve been flushed out a bit more, with stronger wants and needs in the beginning. I actually didn’t finish the second book, but I kept it on the list because it’s tied into the first one. I just think I wasn’t as invested in the outcome, because I could see the end working out.
86. The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
    • I really liked this Sophie Kinsella book. It was probably my favorite of hers, and this one was super fun because it talked about burnout which is very relatable. The main characters tries to do all these things that seem healthy and relaxing and they all kind of backfire, so it was a really funny read, and I liked that the solution wasn’t to change everything about yourself.
87. You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan
    • This was a fun, light book, that accurately captured expectations women face in the workplace. Would recommend!
88. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
89. Reckless by Lauren Roberts
    • This was a rather unique series in my opinion because the main character had a secret to hide in a way that made her really smart, and less of a victim. I liked her thought processes, and I liked that it was a reverse of the chosen one trope. Both of these books were really engaging, and I find myself once again frustrated because the third book wasn’t out when I read them, so I’ll have to go back to catch up at some point. However, I don’t think I’ll mind because the plot had a lot to it, not simple superior/inferiority. I liked that that was also kind of flipped too, where the powerless are dangerous in their own way. I’m curious to find out why the lie that is the social narrative came about.
90. The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch
    • This was a book club book, and I really liked it because I had never learned about the Russian Revolution in school. This was fun for me because of the sociological influences, and the mystery aspect was compelling. This was actually one of the only dual timeline books where I haven’t wanted to completely skip one of the timelines in favor of the more interesting one. I will say that the doll factor was kind of really creepy, though it was a great metaphor. I will say the ending of the present day timeline was a bit predictable, but the way that everything tied together was not. Would recommend.
91. A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
    • This was the first book in a series, though I never finished the other books. This was a rather light read, with the main character having very interesting powers. The romantic plotline left a lot to be desired because it was too predictable in my opinion. The politics were engaging, and I do wish I’d continued reading so I would know the ending.
92. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
    • This was a great book. I liked the plot, and the characters were compelling. the one thing that bothered me was (spoiler alert!) that the main character’s career ended up following the same path despite the implication that there may not be one sort of soul mate. So if there isn’t one soul mate, why aren’t there different careers? I liked it because it echoes our lives, like how people can date and marry and divorce different people while following the same career path, but to me the book could have maybe been just as, if not more interesting, if the relationships ended up changing the career paths too. In a way that represents how different partners’ different ways of supporting someone could have different effects on a person’s choices. I’m not sure if I would’ve liked that better but I do think it is something worth exploring.
93. The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
94. The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel
    • This series was a fun dystopian take on less grand future power struggles. I really enjoyed the way the main character found herself throughout the story, and there were a few plot twists that I really enjoyed. There was one scene in particular involving the neighbors and a roof that made me think about morals in a partner that I wish I would’ve had someone to discuss with.
95. Wicked Games by MJ Scott
96. Wicked Words by MJ Scott
    • This series is an Urban Fantasy gaming series, which I was drawn to in particular because I loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I had been looing for urban fantasy book sin particular, and this series was very promising. While I never finished the third book, the first two were enjoyable, and I enjoyed the way the tech world interacted with the magical world. Unfortunately the romantic plotline left more to be desired, and I wish we would’ve had more world building on the magical side. Either way, I enjoyed these and may return to them one day.
97. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
    • This was a book club book, and was pretty good, despite it not being my cup of tea. The heavy themes and unrelatable main character made it not my favorite, but the writing was good, and the plot was interesting. I also liked some of the characters, and the realistic portrayal of family dynamics.
98. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
    • I had read the back of this a while ago and hadn’t loved the idea, but for some reason I decided to pick it up, and once I did it was very hard to put down. The way parts of the middle and end of the story were hinted at kept me engaged, as I wanted to know how everything would shake out. I thought the story was quite beautiful, and I particularly enjoyed the depiction of fame, from a perspective that I had never considered/encountered before.
99. Younger by Pamela Redmond
    • After reading the Idea of You, I searched for similar books, and this was recommended on the internet. While I wasn’t as drawn into the world as in The Idea of You, and I found the romantic plotline completely barebones (there was barely any interaction or dialogue or thinking about the relationship, it just somehow seemed to become love?), I really liked the way the author tackled ageism, and I think the themes would resonate with almost all women. I think about this every so often, and I’m really glad I read it!
100. Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
     • I also found this through my search for books like The Idea of You. I enjoyed this one because of the main character’s journey, and all the characters were well done. Winnie, in particular I found, dropped incredible advice, and I have discussed it with many people. Overall, it was one of those mindsets where focusing on the good things that happened each day made you more aware of the good things in your life and thus made you happier. I think about this a lot, and I will one day watch the movie. However, there is a bit of sadness in this one that serves the audience well, but is unpleasant nonetheless.
101. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
102. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
103. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
104. Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi
105. Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi
     • I had previously tried to read this series, but hadn’t been able to get into it. After seeing a convincing meme/post on Instagram, I decided to give it a go again. I liked it a lot more this time around, and both times I loved the plot and the main character’s power. I enjoyed the writing style A LOT, and I think it’s very interesting that the series is so popular with such a bold choice. I liked the series and the character’s development, except for one character who was overwhelmingly good in the first book and later becomes a huge asshole. I thought it was a bit too much and unrealistic. I also would’ve liked a slower character development for one of the love interests, because it felt too easy in my opinion. However, I didn’t get far in the last book in the series, because the plot gets really dark. Spoiler Alerts!!!: What happened to the sister is too dark for me, and the villains’ motivation isn’t believable to me. Also, someone came back to life after being thought dead and I found that unreasonable too. Overall this series was really good, though not perfect. I have always been very fond of the covers though, and I have to say the art is incredibly beautiful.
106. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
     • Yay Ali Hazelwood! This one was a bit different from the usual STEM Romances, and I liked the way the characters grew from once sort of intimacy to another. The science in this one came in handy at a work thing, so I am grateful for the things I learned. I love how reading is so applicable to life, and I find that often, though usually on a less direct scale.
107. The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
     • I’m not sure what compelled me to pick this up, but I am glad I did. This is a very beautiful book, but it is also incredibly sad. It has gone into my mental pile of sad things, and I certainly cried a lot reading it. I would highly, highly recommend this book, and it is one of my favorite books I read this year. The love story was beautiful, but what really resonated with me was the discussion of boundaries. For example, one partner likes to do really big, romantic gestures like getting a dog or buying a house, but the main character didn’t like that, and felt like choices were being made for her. She would have rathered to be a part of finding the house, and getting to meet all the dogs before choosing one. She wanted to be a part of the experience, not just the outcome. I thought this was really interesting, and I’ve noticed this in media when a gesture is done that makes a choice for someone. I think it’s an interesting discussion of boundaries, in a way that we don’t really discuss often. There was also an interesting scene with intellectual property and boundaries, and it brought up how to consider the shared property of someone’s inspiring you.
108. The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel
     • I loved the science in this book, and that kept me the most engaged. The discussion of women in stem was also interesting, and there was a slight thriller element that kept me enthralled. The characters were a little weak to me, and their relationships could’ve been a bit better, but I really liked the environmental discussion, and this was a book I would recommend.
109. Uprooted Naomi Novik
     • I loved Naomi Novik’s Deadly Education series, so I was excited to pick this up. This book was incredibly different, though I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the book Gilded, and the base in Polish folklore was really interesting to me because it felt similar to some of the Czech stories I grew up with. I liked the main character, and her relationship with her best friend was really interesting to me. I though the romance could’ve been a bit more show don’t tell, but the plot was interesting, and the ending was satisfying.

Now we are a bit out of order due to different reading platforms, but I also read:

(also, sorry the formatting changed, wordpress isn’t that flexible!)

110. Crescent City House of Earth and Blood by Sara J. Maas

111. House of Sky and Breath by Sara J. Maas

112. House of Flame and Shadow by Sara J. Maas

113. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

114. The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

• These were really good fantasy books, that sort of mesh The Hunger Games and From Blood and Ash together. I might add a bit of the ACOTAR and Crescent City series’ in there too, and I really enjoyed the challenges and plot twists. Spoiler Alert, I didn’t love the twist with the father, though I know why it was necessary. The characters were really well done, and the world building didn’t leave much to be desired. Highly recommend.

115. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

116. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

• I had put off reading these for a long time because I wanted to hold out until the third book was out, but I was at a point where I wanted a good fantasy book, so I decided to go for it. I really liked the series, but I think it may have been too hyped up for me. I kept waiting to be blown away, but I kept getting a really good book, not something mind-blowing. In terms of the dragon trend, I think the Fireborne trilogy was better, certainly in terms of politics. I liked the romantic relationship, especially how it came to be, and I thought it was a fun set up right off the bat. Like, I knew they would end up together, but I had no idea how they were going to get there. There were some really fun plot twists, though I did see one coming spoiler alert: with the brother. Still, this was a good two books, and I’m looking forward to reading them again before the next.

117. Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth) by Kristen Ciccarelli

• I enjoyed the world of the book, and the way the main character works around the rules of the world in order to not get caught. I will say I was disappointed by the reveal of the villain, and it was something I had considered so it wasn’t a huge surprise, just a disappointing one. I also didn’t like the ‘best friend in love’ part, as I myself am so over that as a point of contention.

118. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J. Maas

119. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J. Maas

120. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sara J. Maas

121. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sara J. Maas

122. A Court of Silver Flames by Sara J. Maas

• I reread this series back in August, and the first three again in December. A comfort series, and I am always happy when a friend reads them for the first time!

In addition to these classic ‘books’, my friend also recommended a few book files to read, the first was The Right Thing to Do, which I adored. The other was Breath Mints and Battle Scars, which was also very good, but The Right Thing to Do was better. They both had great romance plotlines.

And that is what I read this year! I don’t think as much as last year, although this year had so so many books that I read 17% of or 38% or 55%. I just find myself getting frustrated easily, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. If something is too obvious or not well done, I do not want to keep going.

That’s all for now, but I will be back soon with the books I plan to read in 2025. Hope you all had a good year of reading, and feel free to send me any book recs!

Photo by Jonathan Francisca on Unsplash