At 23 books this past year, I had the slowest reading year since I started tracking my annual reading on Goodreads in 2015 (my second slowest was 27 books in 2016)… and 4 of those books were illustrated children’s/middle grade reads, 2 were romance rereads, and 1 was fanfiction LOL.
That said, things are looking up for 2025! This past November, I got a new Kindle case from Page the Shop, which has motivated me to read more. I am desperate to be in a constant state of reading just so I can whip out my Kindle anytime, anywhere. Nay, every time, everywhere! In fact, I want to be reading so much that I don’t even get the opportunity to whip out my Kindle because it’s already out!!
Top reads
The Night Parade by Jami Nakamura Lin: A memoir of grief, mental illness, and identity that plays with form and genre, and incorporates Japanese, Taiwanese, and Okinawan legend, as well as illustrations by the author’s sister! This book is art!! Honestly I was just immersed in this read and don’t have much of my own thoughts at the moment, but a reread is pending! I’m determined to formulate a proper review to spotlight this underrated book and sing its praises to anyone who will listen. Please give this book a try if you’re at all intrigued, but especially recommended for those who enjoy memoirs like Tiny Moons, Crying in H Mart, In the Dream House, or The Collected Schizophrenias.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck: A love story between a wife and a husband who is slowly turning into a shark — as much a story of loss as it is of love. I was a bit nervous that this book would be too weird for me, but I absolutely loved it. I spent a day at a cafe and read it all in one go. Wren and Lewis were two different personalities, but their love for each other was so tender, and their loss all the more heartbreaking for it. I kind of don’t want to say too much more about the book, because I think it’s one better experienced blind with an open heart. The story was so much more expansive than I expected. An absolutely sublime journey.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: A second-chance romance following Yasmen and Josiah as they navigate life after divorce. I loved Yasmen and Josiah. They were two people who were so clearly drawn to each other, but had stuff they needed to deal with and were just doing the best they could for themselves, each other, and the kids they co-parent. It was refreshing to see two mature characters in this genre with healthy boundaries and healthy communication. The book explores themes of grief, depression, and therapy, and is filled with yearning, not just in terms of the characters for each other and the loss of their relationship, but also for the selves they used to be and the healing they’re trying to find.
Honourable mentions
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due: A masterful blend of southern gothic, historical fiction, and horror set in Jim Crow Florida. Twelve-year-old Robbie is sent to a segregated reform school for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defence of his older sister Gloria, where he witnesses the horrors of racism and injustice for the living and the dead. This was a dark, gripping, haunting read. I was particularly invested in the chapters from Robbie’s pov in the reformatory, his interactions with the other kids, and the ghosts (Gloria’s pov focused on her efforts outside trying to get Robbie out). Horror isn’t just about shock or the supernatural, but a genre that can reflect the darkest realities of society, and this novel is a perfect example of that. Highly recommended!
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: Annie is the perfect robot girlfriend, designed to please her human owner Doug, but as her AI improves and she evolves to become more human, the further she strays from the perfect ideal she was created to be. The premise isn’t super novel, but the story was engaging all the same, and sometimes even felt like a thriller. It had me coming up with all sorts of directions for the story to go. I would have loved to explore various plot points and supporting characters some more, but I also think the way the story only touched on those aspects worked for the pacing and made the book more accessible. It was interesting to see how anxiety (and even trauma) manifested in this robot as she attuned herself to her owner, precisely gauging his displeasure and the pain it was designed to cause her, creating a constant undercurrent of tension.
Delay, Deny, Defend by Jay M Feinman: Why and how insurance companies avoid paying claims. A read influenced by our hero Luigi. This was a super enlightening read for me, as someone who doesn’t know anything about insurance or adult things haha. Though the examples in the book focus on home and auto insurance, the insights are extensible to the insurance industry as a whole, and I would be curious to read up on the finer nuances of health insurance. The book includes some history, some case studies, a whole chapter on Hurricane Katrina, and ends with actionable advice for consumers and proposals for structural changes in the industry. There wasn’t any filler, though the writing could be a bit more concise at times (just to make it super tight), but the writing was pretty standard for nonfic and it succeeded in making this overwhelming topic accessible.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo: A beautiful but vain china rabbit is adored by his owner but one day is lost and embarks on an unexpected journey. I did not expect this children’s book to hit so hard. It was an emotional journey — melancholic and sometimes downright hopeless, but also whimsical and redemptive. I was influenced to read this book after rewatching the kdrama You Who Came from the Stars lol.
The rest
Nonfiction
Quiet by Susan Cain: I usually avoid self-help books, but this one is constantly referenced and I’ve even had friends in my personal life recommend it, saying it helped them understand themselves better and embrace their introverted nature. So I finally read it and… it was just fine. Like most self-help books, it could have been condensed into a poignant essay or article. I didn’t find the anecdotal case studies very compelling, except for the one about Esther’s public speaking. Personally, I was most interested in practical examples and advice for the workplace. The book felt pseudo-scientific, and sometimes it felt like the author attributed certain observations solely to personality type without addressing whether confounding factors were considered. All that said, this book has clearly benefited many, so it’s a good thing a book like this exists.
Here After by Amy Lin: A young widow’s love story and memoir of grief. Lin’s writing brims with raw, heartfelt emotion as she navigates the overwhelming pain and grief of losing her husband. The death of a loved one is something no one ever really gets over, but the experience can be particularly lonely as a young widow. Through vignettes, the narrative alternates between the before and after of her husband’s untimely death. If you’re expecting a traditional memoir, this book may feel a bit incomplete.
Contemporary fiction
City of Night Birds* by Juhea Kim: Told in alternating timelines, a once-famous ballerina returns to the world of the Russian ballet two years after a devastating accident that stalled her career. This was my most highly anticipated read of the year, but unfortunately, that also made it a candidate for the most disappointing read of the year. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, least of all the protagonist Natalia. Everything just happened to her and she was just there. She didn’t seem particularly passionate about dance or struggle for what she achieved, not like her peers.
But there was so much potential for this book! There could have been much more tension built up between certain characters, more drama, more desire, and perhaps even an allegory to a particular ballet throughout the novel. Maybe it could have gone the route of something like Sirens and Muses.
This felt like a book the author loved to write because she loves ballet and could flex her knowledge of and vocabulary for the art, but if you’re not already in that world, the writing doesn’t do much to bring you into it. I had hoped that even if I didn’t connect with the characters or care about the plot, that I’d at least be immersed in the world of ballet atmospherically or aesthetically, but alas. I think people who love the ballet world would appreciate this book more.
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue: When an office worker gets caught sending hidden petty email postscripts in white font about her coworkers, she is assigned HR training and rigorous email restrictions, but an IT mix up gives her access to her coworkers’ private emails instead. The premise is hilarious and I thought Jolene’s cynical POV would feel cathartic to read, but it ended up feeling a bit miserable. I didn’t care for her complaints or the commentary on office politics. It took me awhile to get through the first third of the book because of this, but then it got juicy. I enjoyed the middle and the parts where she schemed ways to keep her job and one-up her colleagues. The end was super rushed.
Horror
The Eyes are the Best Part by Monica Kim: A girl becomes obsessed with the idea of eating her mom’s obnoxious boyfriend’s blue eyes. Recommended for those who support female rage and women’s wrongs. This story could have been even more compelling with stronger character development and understanding of character motivations. Without that, the plot sometimes just felt chaotic and with little intention.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova: A grieving mother cuts out a piece of her deceased son’s lung, which she nurtures until it gains sentience. The book is told in four consecutive POVS: that of Monstrilio’s mother, a family friend, father, and Monstrilio himself. Monstrilio’s mother’s POV was intriguing, especially as the story opened with her and there was the mystery and magic surrounding the lung that would become Monstrilio. The middle POVs were boring. Monstrilio’s POV was my favourite. His part of the story was the most dramatic plot-wise, and it was interesting seeing him contend with his nature, reminding me of Frankenstein’s monster.
Romance (and fanfiction lol)
Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter (reread): Liz the hopeless romantic enlists the help of her obnoxious neighbour Wes to get noticed by his best friend Michael, in exchange for the parking spot they’ve been feuding over. I loved this YA romance just as much on a reread as the first time I read it, and had the same thoughts and feelings — wholesome, sweet, giddy, even liked the third act conflict, only bothered (slightly) by the parts Liz was a bad friend to her bff. A must-read for anybody like me who grew up watching rom coms!
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (reread): Nemeses Olive and Ethan reluctantly go on an all-expenses-paid honeymoon together when the bride and groom (Olive’s sister, Ethan’s best friend) get food poisoning. I had the same thoughts on my reread as on my first read (fun banter and bickering, unsatisfying resolution of third act conflict), but it didn’t hit as much. Still a great fluffy romance that I’d recommend, but personally wouldn’t reread (well, not again haha).
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood: A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on Earth before ten days are up. It was kind of boring following Delphie chasing Jonah around the city in her search for him. She’s terrible at scheming, doesn’t understand subtlety, and is just a bit delulu. I’m not big on overdone grumpy/sunshine or unconvincing “enemies” to lovers. There were some sweet non-romantic moments though (particularly in the latter part of the book), and worthwhile explorations of fate and fighting it, and grief. Recommended for fans of The Good Place.
The Wedding Forecast by Nina Kenwood: At her best friend’s wedding weekend, Anna braces for an awkward reunion with her ex, but luckily she has the wedding photographer and a groomsman as a distraction. This was a solid adult romance that I read in one sitting. I loved the sisterhood between Anna, her best friend, and their moms. I wished there was more chemistry with one of the corners of the love triangle so that they could be evenly matched. I almost DNFed the book in the last five chapters — my romance girlies need to grow a spine!! Overall a fun read though!
The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori: I don’t even know what to say about this one haha. I’m sure you’ll like it if you’re into mafia dark romance. I’m not generally, but sometimes curiosity gets the best of me.
Manacled by SunLinYu: Dramione fanfic, soon to be traditionally published as Alchemised. In an alternate timeline where Voldemort has won the war and enacts a dystopian repopulation effort, Hermione, the Order’s last survivor, is kept alive in captivity as Voldemort seeks to break into her locked memories. Manacled is the first fanfic I’ve ever read. I was in a desperate reading slump, so I searched the top Dramione fanfic and this was the most popular one on Goodreads. I thought I was in for a romance, but I was terribly wrong. I wouldn’t even categorise it as dark romance so much as a dystopian war story and trauma porn. Hermione was routinely tortured and raped, her character was completely beaten down, and the golden trio was in shambles (before they died). Like, why am I reading this?? I read the whole damn thing! The war stuff was interesting but I could have done without the Dramione nonsense.
I think I may potentially prefer Alchemised — a version of the fanfic that will not be directly connected to the world of Harry Potter — because honestly, Manacled felt like a complete character rewrite. idk if that’s a common thing for fanfic tho. Maybe for some fanfic that’s the whole point — that is, rewriting as opposed to expanding on the world. Anyways, imma go read The Handmaid’s Tale now lol.
Middle grade fiction
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller: A wholesome middle grade chapter book sprinkled with little life lessons and Chanel Miller’s beloved illustrations. It follows ten-year-old sock detective Magnolia Wu, who is determined to return all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents’ NYC laundromat.
Garlic and the Vampire & Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen: A wholesome middle grade graphic novel series, perfect for the autumn and gardening vibes. Garlic and the Vampire explores themes of anxiety and bravery, while Garlic and the Witch explores themes of change and transformation. The first book was my favourite. Recommended for fans of the whimsical, cute-spooky aesthetic of Over the Garden Wall.
Classic
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: Two compulsively lying friends pretend to be the same fictional guy to escape social obligations and woo their love interests. I’ve previously read The Picture of Dorian Gray, and as someone who doesn’t usually “get” classics, I was surprised to find myself appreciating and enjoying the wit, humour, and drama. The Importance of Being Earnest was more of what I love about Oscar Wilde.
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*e/ARC gifted from publisher
What was your favourite read of 2024?
PS: all the books i read in the second half of 2023, all the books i read in the first half of 2023, 2022 in books, 2021 mid-year reading check-in, 2020 mid-year reading check-in, 2019 in books, 2018 in books, 2017 in books, 2016 in books, 2015 in books