From when I could first learn to read all the way up until the pandemic I had been a voracious reader, always a book in my bag, always in the middle of reading something, every free moment was consumed by a story.
Then, it wasn’t.
Adult life caught up to me, and I filled my free time with social media consumption instead of my beloved books. So, at the end of 2023 I finally caved and bought a Kindle Paperwhite, realizing I got most of my reading done while traveling or at the beach/near the water. It was INCREDIBLY beneficial for my reading journey, especially because most if not all of the eBooks I read were from Libby/my local library.
My goal for this year was to read 12 books, one a month if I could pace it out (spoiler alert: I did not pace it out but it’s fine).
Navigation:
These are all the books I read in 2024, in order of when I read them:
- Hooked, by Emily McIntire
- Defending Jacob, by William Landay
- Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson
- Funny You Should Ask, by Elissa Sussman
- What the River Knows, by Isabel Ibañez
- The Cloisters, by Katy Hays
- A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness
- The Familiar, by Leigh Bardugo
- Funny Story, by Emily Henry
- The Golden Spoon, by Jessa Maxwell
- Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness
- Where the Library Hides, by Isabel Ibañez
My normally preferred genres are fantasy, adventure, and mystery, but I love it when romance is incorporated into other genres rather than being a strict romance-only reader.
My Top 5 Books of 2024:
- A Discovery of Witches, By Deborah Harkness
- I loved A Discovery of Witches so much, not only am I reading an actual SERIES for the first time in years, I’m watching each season of the show as I finish the books as well. And I NEVER commit to TV shows because I never finish them. Not only is the story incredibly compelling, but I haven’t been this invested in a fictional couple since I was a teenager. Matthew Clairmont and Diana Bishop have had me hooked to their pages all year, and I don’t see that changing in 2025 as I read Time’s Convert and Black Bird Oracle.
- Tress of the Emerald Sea, By Brandon Sanderson
- This served as my first introduction to Brandon Sanderson’s works, and I could not have been more pleased with it. I was told it was inspired by The Princess Bride (another all-time fave of mine) and I said “say less”. This was the perfect adventure from start to finish, with a likable protagonist and cast of characters who felt real even within this stunning Cosmere.
- Funny You Should Ask, By Elissa Sussman
- This book felt tailor-made for me, not only because the main character was a writer and film lover but also because one of her favorite films is my favorite Old Hollywood film: The Philadelphia Story. Safe to say, I binged this book in two days and adored every bit of my time reading it. Hell, I might even read it again! I bought a physical copy on Thriftbooks for $4 so I can reread it as many times as I’d like. It definitely has the energy of a comfort book for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good rom-com to read.
- Defending Jacob, By William Landay
- As a lifelong Law and Order fan this was the perfect novel for me to get back into reading this year. The case is compelling and keeps you guessing the entire way based on the evidence as well as the actions of the characters within. If I can this year I’d love to watch the Apple series based on the novel–I’ve always been a fan of Chris Evans and I’d love to see how he brings Andy to life.
- What the River Knows, By Isabel Ibañez
- This was recommended to me by a friend because she saw it described as “The Mummy” meets “Indiana Jones” and immediately went “Ah yes, Hannah should read this”. I’m certainly glad I did! It paints a vivid picture of Egypt, and the main relationship kept me invested the whole way through. I’m also an absolute sucker for a society that blends the normal with the magical. My only quibble with it was it leaves things on SUCH a cliffhanger, and I hated waiting a year for the sequel (which was also good!)
Read This If…
You like grown up/darker retellings of fairy tales, read Hooked.
You love a great legal thriller, read Defending Jacob.
You adore a good cozy fantasty, read Tress of the Emerald Sea.
You love old Hollywood romances, read Funny You Should Ask.
You want the action and rom com vibes of The Mummy (1999), read What the River Knows.
You want chemistry that sizzles on the page, read A Discovery of Witches.
2025 Reading Journey
Want to keep up with my TBR progress this year? Find me on social media @HannahFictionista.
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