Top 10 books of 2024

Last year was a great reading year – having read a total of 81 books. I could talk about them all in great detail but I thought I’d be concise and talk about my top ten.

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

It was hard to pick a favourite but Blue Sisters is one I’ve kept coming back to. This is a story of three sisters as they navigate the death of their fourth sister. It’s astoundingly beautiful and had a lasting impact. While it’s not the most lighthearted book, there are tender moments of kindness between the siblings as they learn to understand each other in grief and as they learn they can each have their own individualism while still having a special bond.

The family dynamics, individuality among siblings and accepting each other was something that really stood out and felt extremely realistic. I loved seeing each character, in their own cities, living their own lives, while navigating helping each other.

The Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe

There needs to be more hype around this book. It follows FeFe, in the summer of 1999, as she discovers her family home, in a high rise Chicago housing estate, is next in line to be demolished. The 12-year-old befriends another resident, Tonya, and her whole world changes as she sees the reality of life on the estate for other families and children.

This books is another emotional rollercoaster as we witness a lot of difficult events, including gang violence and drug addiction, through the eyes of a child. There are moments where adult FeFe looks back on the turbulent time in her childhood and gets to reflect on the grief of her past. This is also a book inspired by the authors own experiences growing up in the Robert Taylor Homes, so a lot of it is autobiographical.

Penance by Eliza Clark

The best advice I can give before you pick this up: do not read the blurb! For some reason the plot is spoiled slightly by the text on the back.

This is perfect for fans of true crime. The story sort takes a unique stance as it critiques those who get engrossed and obsessed by such gruesome and terrible acts of violence in society which are then made into documentaries to consume and enjoy.

The story follows a journalist who arrives to Crow-on-Sea to uncover what truly happened to sixteen-year-old, Joan, ten years ago when she was brutally murdered. This is quite a dark and somewhat different take on the usual crime novel.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

I devoured this book in one sitting. It was gripping from start to end. Set on the opening night of a countryside retreat, the rich clientele and new luxury establishment – complete with spa – causes a negative reaction from local town folk.

Multiple narrators jump back and forth from past, present and the future – making the whole experience quite trippy for the reader as the puzzle pieces for what happens during the retreat and the solstice supper start to fit together.

It’s quite a spooky story with a lot of paranormal elements. I would also recommend the audiobook for this one.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Being a bit late to the Cassandra Clare game, I decided to dive into the world of the shadowhunters and was pleasantly surprised. City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series where the author has created a unique magical system in a dystopian New York City.

The main character, Clary, witnesses a man being murdered one evening. She can’t do anything about it, or call the police because the body disappears into thin air. With the help of the shadowhunters, her new friends, she goes on a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about the dark secrets of the city and those she loves the most.

This was an addictive read, full of twists and turns and is perfect for urban fantasy fans.

Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna

Evenings and Weekends is set in London over the course of a weekend in 2019. The rising temperatures from a heatwave causes a tense atmosphere as secrets get unravelled.

The story follows a group of friends who are all about to embark on different paths. Maggie and Ed are expecting a child and have made the difficult decision to leave the city they love to be able to afford a home and have financial stability. Ed has a few secrets from his past that come to light as tensions increase. Phil, who knows about Ed’s past, is also trying to work out his own relationship with his roommate. He struggles whether to tell his best-friend, Maggie, about Ed’s big secret.

This book is like a love letter to London and Londoners. The city feels like a character in and of itself. The story has a character-driven plot with a lot of miscommunication.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

If you love Lisa Jewell, you’ll likely love this book too. It’s a suspenseful thriller, following a woman called Lucy who can’t remember if she killed her friend or not. She is discovered with blood on her hands but can’t remember anything about the night in question.

When a crime podcaster wants to uncover the truth, a year later, she discovers more about her past and what really happened that night.

There are chapters that are mainly podcast snippets which breaks up the structure of the story nicely. This is definitely an enthralling and addictive page-turner.

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Set on the Ghan sleeper-train in Australia, a group of writers set off on a journey through the outback to celebrate each other’s literary successes. There’s drama, fights and a murder along the way.

For me, this was a really fun read because I read it while on the Ghan so it felt very immersive.

The author talks to the reader throughout, guiding us with clues, hints and possible red-herrings which was a nice addition. It made it feel like the reader was also a part of the journey to uncover the crime. This is a unique take on a classic murder mystery.

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

If you want to start reading Greek mythology retellings then this young adult fantasy is a good place to start. It tells the story of Hades and Persephone through a modern lens.

Persephone runs away to the underworld to escape her father’s arranged marriage. Along the way, she finds friendship and love in the most unexpected of places. Most importantly, she discovers her true self, her powers and what she can bring to the world.

This was unputdownable. The characters, world building and the pace were perfection.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

A dark academia to sink your teeth into is Where Sleeping Girls Lie. This is a young adult story set in a boarding school, as the new girl – Sade Hussein – tries to uncover the mysterious disappearance of her roommate.

This is a fast-paced gritty novel filled with twists and turns. There are also a lot of unlikeable characters in this book which makes for a good time, especially in a psychological thriller.