reading recap 2024 - a guide to some of my favorite fiction novels
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If you are anything like me, and I’m guessing you are if you are reading this post, getting lost in a good book is the ultimate simple luxury. Unfortunately, when life gets hectic, it also seems to be one of the first to fall by the wayside.
This year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to join a book club (shout out to my BFFR girls). It has really helped me realize that allowing myself the time to do something purely for my own joy is not selfish, it’s invaluable.
When I posted about lowering the bar on my New Year’s goals and focusing on four simple things that I could do daily, several of you sent DM’s sharing that “reading more” was on your lists. This really made me realize that so many of us, especially women, put everyone and everything ahead of ourselves. Taking a little time out of our day to hit pause on the chaos and escape into a good book is a great way to get a break from the stresses of everyday life.
So, in the spirit of a little healthy escapism, I have compiled a guide of some of my favorite fiction novels, including several from my book club. I hope that you will enjoy these as much as I did and that they will help to remind you that reading is always worth the time.
I love Colleen Hoover. I’m sure most of you know her from It Ends With Us (which is an awesome book, too, by the way). Three of my other favorites from her are Regretting You, Verity, and Layla. Colleen Hoover's books are the perfect beach read, plane flight, or escape the pressures of the day kind of books. They are easy to read, always entertaining, and usually with a bit of spice to hold your attention!
Another favorite author of mine is Kristen Hannah. The Women is her newest novel, released this year. It is the gripping story of the plight of female nurses on the front lines of the Vietnam War. This book has it all - love, loss and the resilience of the human spirit. The intense story will have you hooked early on.
That said, my all-time favorite novel of hers is The Nightingale. Also historical fiction, it tells the story of two sisters in France during WW2 and the extraordinary (and often impossible) choices that they had to make to survive unimaginable circumstances. I truly had an emotional investment in these characters. This book has left a lasting impact on me.
Other great books that I read this year include -
Weyward - This is Emilia Hart’s first novel & a great debut. I like how it toggles between the stories of three generations of Weyward women weaving together a story of strength and courage and throwing in some supernatural to keep it interesting.
My favorite book that we have read for my book club this year - hands down - was All the Colors of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker. This is the first book that I have read by Chris Whitaker and I have to say, I really enjoyed his unique writing style (although it does take a chapter or two to get accustomed to it). The story is suspenseful, chilling, and haunting. This really is a great read.
Some other great reads that I highly recommend -
19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Layla by Colleen Hoover
The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea
The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory
