Beth’s Favorite Books of 2024!!!

I read a lot of good books this year. Like many of us, books were a much-needed respite from all the things going on in the world. So, I am forever grateful to all the authors who created the amazing worlds I visited this year.

In no particular order. Here are the books that I loved the most in 2024!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – This was such an excellent book. It was a tough read, I am not going to lie because I saw a little bit more of myself in the main character than I would care to admit but that’s a good thing. It’s good to be uncomfortable from time to time because that’s how you learn and ultimately grow. So yes, read this book. Especially if you are a liberally leaning white woman.

What the River Knows and Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez – These were a fun series. It really is a mix of The Mummy (1999 version) and Death of the Nile. I loved the dynamic between the main character and her love interest. It was a mix of adventure, romance and mystery. What the River Knows was so much fun, I had to immediately read the sequel Where the Library Hides. It just hit all the right notes for me.

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – What if you could become a character in your favorite story? Sounds like fun, right? It is, at least to me. Rae may disagree as to where she ends up at the end of the book, but it is so much fun. A lot of humor and all the fantasy tropes that readers expect. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out.

Assistant to the Villain and Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer – Both of these books were so funny. I think I picked this up on a whim because it sounded interesting, and I am so glad that I did. It is just the right kind of humor I like. It is so ridiculous I love it.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy – The only non-fiction title on my list. Okay, it might have been the only non-fiction book I read this year, but I digress. Jennette’s story is heartbreaking because so much of the pain in her life was caused by her mother. How she handling it all now is admirable. I only wish the best for her.

The Familiar – Leigh Bardugo – Magic, mystery, betrayal. It is all here. I loved the atmosphere of the story. Leigh Bardugo is such a great writer. She paints such great portraits in her books. If you are looking for a standalone fantasy novel, You can’t go wrong with this one.

Spoiler Alert, All the Feels and Ship wrecked by Olivia Dade – I love them all. The Spoiler Alert trilogy follows three different couples from a TV show. All of them are relatable and easy to cheer for. I also love the fan fiction part of the stories.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi – Another hilarious book. I have never read John Scalzi before but I might have to after this. The absurdity of the books is amazing. Like I need this to be a movie or TV show because it would be awesome.

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan – I was introduced to Sophie Jordan from her first dragon books, so I was happy she’s back to writing dragons. There are some similarities to the last series, but I am not mad about it. It was a very fast read, and I didn’t want it to end. It’s a good thing the sequel is coming out next year.

Those were my favorite books of this year. After going through my list, I see a theme of comedic books. I obviously needed the laughs, and I am probably going to need the laughs next year. What were your favorite books of this year?

Review: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

This was a fun book about court intrigue and magic. Luiza is a maid in a poor aristocratic families home. Her parents are dead and her only family is her Aunt who is the mistress to a very powerful man. Luiza has a secrets. Not only can she preform little miracles she is also Jewish. Both a dangerous things in Catholic Spain. Things start to change for Luiza when her mistress notices her magic and gets involved in a plan to earn the favor of Antonio Perez and the King of Spain himself. She just has to survive. Make sure that her miracles are seen as coming from God and that no one finds out about her Jewish blood. She meets Santangel, an immortal being to her Aunt’s lover who is to teach her to control her powers.

I do love Leigh Bardugo’s writing. Luiza is strong as I believe anyone has to be in her position. Constantly having to make herself smaller to go unnoticed but also never forgetting who she is. Santangel at first is weary as anyone would be who has lived as long as he has as a slave basically. He has to obey but the more he gets to know Luiza more of his humanity starts to return. It has became a worn trope that the protagonist must enter a dangerous contest to that threatens their life but if they win they get a prize but what can you do. Either than that, I really like this book and I’m okay that it’s a standalone novel. Not every story need to be told over multiple books.