All the Books I Read in 2024
Shockingly I’ve read almost the same amount of books in 2024 as in 2023. If you’re interested in the books I read last year, CLICK HERE. There were a few months where I don’t think I read anything. I usually get my reading done before bed but I’ve been trying to stay off the computer and read instead. I’ve also tried bringing books with me when I know I’ll be waiting, like my daughter’s sports activities or the waiting room at doctor’s offices. It’s helped to read more books!
I have some books already selected for 2025 but I have been feeling a shift in the types of books I’d like to read. I’m not sure what those genres will be. I would like to read more stand alone novels too. I’ll keep you posted on my reading journey though. Until then, here are the books I read in 2024. Some of these books I totally forgot I had read. Have you read any of these?
All the Books I Read in 2024
Glass Sword, Victoria Aveyard
Mare is seeking to find other red and silver bloods before King Maven gets to them. She starts to get a little crazy and her army friends worry about her. There is still backstabbing and misleading but from what I remember she is mostly seeking others like her to build their army and defeat the Silvers.
Hashimoto Protocol, Izabella Wentz
Later in the year, I found out I have Hashimoto. My doctor recommended I follow the Hashi diet and read this book. It’s very informative with thorough explanations on how the thyroid functions, hormones, and foods that aid in healing the body and restoring thyroid and hormone health. I thought the diet was pretty restrictive, I almost felt sick cutting out most, if not all carbs, which included fruits too. Eventually, I realized the diet was more of a reset than how I was supposed to eat forever. The protocol is to allow your body to heal and discover what foods may be causing inflammation in the body. Izabella Wentz’s book is backed by her research and her personal experience with thyroid and health issues. This was a very vague description of the book but I did find a lot of my symptoms relieved. I found too much corn and white rice cause me extreme gas pains. So does some raw vegetables. After a while, I added foods back in. I do try to eat a high protein diet with fruits, veggies, and seeds/nuts. It’s helped with the bloating too.
City of Bones, Cassandra Clare
The book starts with Clary going to a club and witnessing a crime she wasn’t supposed to see. Her mother abruptly decides they are moving but shortly after, her mother ends up missing. Long story short, Clary learns she is a shadowhunter and she goes on an adventure to find her mother while uncovering lots of secrets.
Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
Wow, what a plot twist! I did not see the ending coming. The book switches back and forth between Amy and Nicholas. It starts with Amy’s journal entries which are quite funny. She goes on and on about how she met Nicholas and their life together. Then it goes to Nicholas’ perspective. The author does an amazing job switching between a male and female voice. But tet’s get back to the end! It’s juicy and kinda sick and twisted. It totally doesn’t even make sense. Amy and Nicholas agree that they truly make each other better versions of themselves (really?!) but they actually really hate each other.
The Cruel Prince, Book 1, Holly Black
The Wicked King, Book 2, Holly Black
This series was way better than Holly Black’s Modern Faerie Tale series. There is a lot of lies and backstabbing and two unlikely characters falling in love—a human and a faerie. It’s supposed to be unexpected but it’s an obvious enemies to lovers story. The high king is stepping down and has chosen his successor. The successor’s brother is upset he wasn’t chosen. He ends up killing his whole family except his younger brother, Prince Cardan. There’s a whole plot from Madoc to take over the high king position but everything unravels as plans are discovered.
Adrenal Transformation Protocol, Izabella Wentz
Hashimoto Protocol has a whole section on supporting the adrenals. After I read that chapter, it was a perfect segue way to reading Adrenal Transformation Protocol. She goes more in depth on how to support the adrenals. She focuses on the root cause and works on steadying blood sugar and eating a whole foods diet.
Gaia’s Garden
A gardening book that teaches how to work with your environment to create a successful garden. It talks about how to plant plants that will help each other thrive. It talks about ways to conserve water and how to create a self watering garden. It teaches composting and everything else related to permaculture. After reading this book, I was eager for summer to come so I could get to work! I’m in the process of turning my backyard into a cottage garden. I am still in the beginning stages but I get excited every year to garden again!
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Follows the same plot line as most Jane Austen books. Love lost and love gained. Women of influence lose their fortune. Marianne, her sister, Elinor, and their mother move to a cottage after their father dies. They are looking to regain their status and fortune. Marianne falls for Mr. Willoughby—a ding dong. And Elinor falls for Edward. The girls go on an emotional rollercoaster wanting these relationships to end in marriage. Marianne is so distraught over Willoughby even though he is a shallow dud. Elinor eventually does marry Edward. Marianne does marry too, but it’s not Willoughby.
The Woman in Me, Britney Spears
This book can be summed up in every article out there on the internet. I found there was nothing new or shocking or unknown that I hadn’t already read about. She talks about her life as a child, getting into the music/entertainment industry, her conservatorship, and relationships. If you are a die hard fan, you will probably love it because you love Britney. If not, just google Britney Spears.
Jurassic Park, Michael Crighton
One thousand percent different than the movie. There was so much science, graphs, math equations, and theory that was way over my head. Thank the Lord for the movie. It was the only way I could vaguely understand what the book was talking about. There’s no love story in the book. So if you love science, and dinos, and death, you’ll enjoy this book.
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir
Earth is about to be destroyed unless someone can figure out how to save the planet. Ryland Grace is a teacher who becomes one of three astronauts sent to save the world. Unfortunately he is the only survivor in space so it’s up to him to figure out how to stop Astrophage. Ryland meets a creature out there with the same mission—stop Astrophage and save their planet. They figure out how to communicate and they work together on this impossible mission. I read this book right after Jurassic Park and I think it was too much sci-fi at once. I hardly understood the science that was happening and felt it was heavy on scientific explanations. Science and complicated theories are not my jam. I understood just enough to get the gist of what was happening. The overall plot line was intriguing and I was a little sad about Ryland’s choice in the end. I think if I hadn’t been worn out on science from Jurassic Park, I would have enjoyed this book more.
Verity, Colleen Hoover
I said it once, and I’ll say it again. Colleen Hoover is the queen of plot twists. This book has TWO plot twists I did not see coming. Verity is unable to finish her book series so her husband, Jermey, hired a ghost writer, Lowen. Lowen goes to live in Verity’s house to get inspiration and the notes for the book. As she’s searching through Verity’s office, she finds a rough draft that’s full of dark secrets. Turns out the “rough draft” may have been a writing experiment. Once the “truth” comes out, Jeremy and Lowen decide to take out Verity. All this time, Verity has been “incapacitated” and doesn’t speak. Turns our she was faking it. In the end, Lowen and Jeremy end up together. Lowen discovers a letter in the floor boards. Verity’s letter explains everything.
Does that description even make sense? It was a crazy, mind game of a story.
CLICK HERE to see more reviews on Colleen Hoover books.
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
I didn’t realize The Boys in the Boat was based on a book until I watched the movie. The movie was so good. I highly recommend watching it! I got the book shortly after and I was a little taken aback because I thought it was going to be written as a story. It’s non-fiction and includes a lot of history about the culture and world events in the 1930’s. The Boys in the Boat is a true story about young college rowing athletes with no experience winning the 1939 Olympics in Germany.
CLICK HERE to see my review on The Boys in the Boat by James Brown.
The Power of Thank You, Joyce Meyer
The easiest read ever. Joyce Meyer uses scripture to demonstrate the huge effect thankfulness has on people and how important it is to express thankfulness and gratitude to others. Most importantly, we need to acknowledge our gratitude for Jesus and all that he has given us.
The Lifegiving Parent, Clay and Sally Clarkson
I did not like this book because it was so boring and highly unrelatable. If I am remembering correctly, the text is written mostly by Clay. The purpose of the book is to help parents raise their children in the faith. I am all about that, but I found it unrelatable for my family. Clay kept mentioning “the way” and I couldn’t help but constantly think of The Mandalorian, “This is the way”. I don’t want to be judgmental of their family because every family dynamic is different. I want to teach my kids the love of Jesus and I pray that they follow Jesus when they get older. I just didn’t vibe with this book.
Hopeless, Colleen Hoover
I felt this book was way too heavy to be put on to a seventeen year old character. Sky was kidnapped when she was a child. As she gets older she discovers who she really is when she runs into an unfamiliar, familiar face, Dean. Sky doesn’t realize she actually knows him until later. Turns out Sky’s aunt stole her from her brother (Sky’s dad) one day to protect Sky from her dad who is an inappropriate, disgusting abuser. I can’t even say it.
Book Lovers, Emily Henry
Book agent, Nora, and editor, Charlie, end up falling in love in a tiny town in North Carolina. Charlie is there to help his family run a book store and Nora is there because her sister, Libby, begged her to go. What are the chances? They seem to always run into each other. Mostly because they are both in the book world. They go through their rivalry not realizing they are actually falling for each other.
Beach Read, Emily Henry
January’s dad passes away and she is left to deal with the mess he left behind. She goes to Michigan to take care of her dad’s beach house. Low and behold right next door is Gus, who was her hot-guy writing nemesis. January and Gus also seem to be in a writing rut so they make a deal to teach each other about their genres and then they have to write a new book within that genre. Their learning sessions are more like dates and they end up falling in love.
Maybe Not, Book 2, Colleen Hoover
Maybe Now, Book 3, Colleen Hoover
I felt obligated to finish the series. This series was not my favorite. I felt Sydney’s character was so unrealistic. The first book she was a major hypocrite and cried all the time. In Maybe Now she is so "understanding” and always says the right thing and knows exactly how to explain what everyone is feeling. Barf. It made her even more annoying.
The second book, Maybe Not, is more of a short story written about Bridgette and Warren. I feel for Bridgette. She didn’t have the best upbringing so I can understand why she doesn’t trust anyone and is mean as a defense mechanism. However, their whole relationship is being mean to each other as an act of love. That’s sad.
CLICK HERE to see the review for Maybe Someday.
That’s the list! I kinda dabble in all genres. I really enjoyed reading Gone Girl and the plot twists in Colleen Hoover’s books are so mind blowing. I never see them coming!
This past year I’ve done some reflecting on the types of books I am reading. I’ve been feeling conflicted, convicted, questioning, whether I should continue reading books along the lines of Colleen Hoover. As much as I love her plot twists, I’m starting to realize most of her books contain really graphic descriptions of sexual interactions. God calls us to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2) and to be careful how we think, our life is shaped by our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23). So I think I know what I gotta do.
If you have any book recommendations that don’t have explicit sexual content or too much sci-fi, please drop them in the comments!
