In 2023, I only had a total of five five-star reads. But so far this year I already have eight and we recently passed the half year mark. It’s already faring to be a better reading year than 2023, but we’ll see how the second half will go. For today’s post, I wanted to talk about my five-star books so far in 2024 that I rated on Goodreads.
If you’re not familiar with Goodreads, it’s a platform owned by Amazon that is a registry that allows you to keep track of the books you read. You can also see what fellow readers have loved lately and get some recommendations. Since I’ve been a member of the platform in 2016 I’ve discovered quite a lot of books that I wouldn’t have picked for myself otherwise. Instagram also helped, but Goodreads is where most of my book recs come from.
All of these books hold a special place in my heart but they are all so different, as you will see shortly. One thing they have in common is that I recommend them wholeheartedly. As a side note, I will not review them again since I already did so previously for my monthly reviews.
Without further ado, let’s see which were my five-star books so far in 2024.
We Are the Brennans by Tracy Lange
I finally read this book in June of this year, after having it sit on my Kobo for a good couple of years. I liked The Connellys of County Down, the author’s most recent book that I read earlier this year, so I decided to pick up We Are the Brennans. And not surprisingly, I loved it. Although it’s Lange’s first novel, you’d never guess it was the author’s first published work. For fans of multi-layered family sagas, I highly recommend it.
Maame by Jessica George
Not only does this book have a gorgeous colorful cover, it is also a fun read. At first glance you will not notice the book was written by such a young person, and a debut novel at that. Maame is engaging and it introduces readers to Nigerian-British culture which is not represented enough in the literary world. If you’re looking for a fun and easy-to-read novel to get lost into, then push Maame up your list! Plus all the food references are great for the foodies in the crowd.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abby Waxman
I can’t believe I had this gem sitting on my shelves for over two years! I loved everything about this book, even the corny sayings and quirky characters! The book was such a treat, I tried to pace myself so I could savor every moment. But it’s so much fun and so easy to read, I devoured it in a couple of days. If you like contemporary fiction, by all means, pick this one up. Even though it’s a few years old, it’s still very entertaining and current today.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Ditto for this one! I bought this almost two years ago, in late summer 2022. And, although I heard good things about it, I never seemed to find the inclination to pick it up. But thanks to an Instagram clear your shelves challenge, it encouraged me to finally do so in 2024. And what do you know, I loved it! I actually loved it so much that I think teachers should recommend this one for their required reading in high school! Don’t sleep on this one guys!
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
This is the second book I read by the author in 2024, after I got a taste for Straub’s writing early on in the year. I actually had this book on my shelves for at least two years, like a couple of my previous novels and every year I would say to myself that I will read it. Fast forward to 2024, when I finally said that enough is enough! And I’m so glad I did! It is quirky, it is fun, and it’s an overall feel-good book. If you’re feeling down and in need for a book to lift your spirits, this one is it!
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
While this book is a mystery/thriller, it is different from the typical thrillers I enjoy reading. It is written with a sarcastic voice that spices the story up. Not as dark and atmospheric as many favorites of mine, Listen for the Lie is a great debut! You will enjoy the way this book is presented, plus the writing is above par. You can tell Tintera will become a favorite writer just by this awesome debut! This can be easily binged in a couple of days once you pick it up.
The Killing by David Hewson
There should be no surprise that this book was a five star for me. I watched the tv series first, both the American and Danish versions and loved them both. It is the typical Nordic Noir thriller that takes place in Denmark. And if i may say so, the book is even better. There are more details Hewson described than the tv adaptation could never properly capture, which makes it a must-read thriller in my eyes. If you haven’t experienced the genre yet, don’t let the hefty size of this book deter you. Give it a try, you might convert!
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
I picked up this book during the first week of January and it started off my reading year right. As the first book I read by the author, I enjoyed it very much. It had a bit of an alternate universe vibe to it. Although it wasn’t perfectly executed, it still deserves a spot at the top of my books of the year so far. I’ll be honest though, had I read All Adults Here first, I probably would’ve given it four stars. But as I was in the mood to be more lenient with my rating system early on in the year, I decided to give it five stars.
Concluding Words
This sums up my list of five-star books so far in 2024. I enjoyed them all so much, and they’re all contenders for top ten of the year. Unless, of course, the second half of the year will be even better!
Which books fall into this category for you so far in 2024? Let me know in the comment box below so I can add them to my tbr.
Until next time, keep reading fellow bookworms!
