Kim’s Best Reads of 2024
I’ve read so many great books this year, so it’s hard to pick and choose the “best.” Here are some of the ones that stand out for me.
1 THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE — Matt Haig. I adore this book. It resonates with me on so many levels. There’s an extraterrestrial involved (we all know how I like that sort of thing) and exactly the kind of “magic” I enjoy in a book. Also, Haig creates such wonderful characters. I enjoyed the time spent with the MC, Grace Winters, so much, a retired math teacher who is left a rundown house on Ibiza by a long-lost friend. Vicariously visiting Ibiza is something I’ve never done before. Extraordinary things happen in this book, and they work seamlessly within the story world. Haig has a way of diving deeply into the human experience that I find enlightening.
2 THE SPY COAST — Tess Gerritsen. This is the first Gerritsen book I’ve read, and I could not be more thrilled to discover this writer. The MC is a woman who has retired to a small town called “Purity” in Maine. She’s a former CIA operative, and so are several of her local friends, who have retired there as well. I love the MC’s voice and the way not much ruffles her feathers … until the shit hits the fan. Her responses are very real, not at all James Bond-ish. When a dead body lands in her driveway, she realizes the past has come back to haunt her.
3 LEGACY OF STARS — Tyler Bowman. It’s not likely you’ve heard of this author, but I recommend this book highly. It’s his debut, he’s incarcerated, and I had the pleasure of being his editor. Bowman’s creativity and natural propensity for storytelling impresses me at every turn. His main character, Captain Joxy, is honorable, full of personality, and the leader of a crew of space bandits. When the love of Joxy’s life falls deathly ill, she’s offered a way to retain his consciousness. “All” she has to do is complete a perilous mission that will put her entire crew in danger for the leader of a possibly evil empire. Joxy’s smart, savvy, well-respected, and someone you’ll root for all the way to the end.
4 THE HENNESSY LIE — Annette Masters. This YA thriller offers layer upon layer of intrigue. It’s a story about family secrets, found family, and inheritance all happening while Piper (the protagonist) struggles to stand on her own two feet. It seems Piper may be heir to the Hennessy fortune, but she’ll have to find her father’s hidden will to prove it. An award-winning author, Masters weaves a complex tale, and you definitely don’t have to be a YA to enjoy it. Expect more great books to come!
5 ARTIFICIAL CONDITION (Murderbot series Book 2) — Martha Wells. Murderbot has captured a piece of my heart. Yes, he’s an extremely dangerous SecUnit who has gone rogue and possesses the ability to kill an army of people in the blink of an eye—but he cares very much about the humans he works with. He’s a protector who’s willing to put himself in harm’s way. And he’s funny. He binge-watches television shows whenever he gets the chance. I’m hooked on this series of novellas and ready to read the next one. Book 1 is simply called All Systems Red.
6 OLYMPUS BOUND — Zoe Routh. The Gaia Series is made up of a prequel and two novels, the third to publish in 2025. Each book is even better than the last. I couldn’t put Olympus Bound down. A catastrophe occurs on a groundbreaking moon base, and Commander Xanthe Waters must steer the crew through their darkest hours. Everything is life or death when you live on the moon! The pacing is warp speed and will keep you turning pages late into the night. Can be read as a stand-alone.
7 THE IMMORTALISTS — Chloe Benjamin. The author’s storytelling swept me away. It begins with four siblings in New York, children who visit a woman rumored to know the future. More than that, she can foresee the exact date a person will die. Each child is told when they will die, and having this information will affect their lives in serious ways. The book splits into four parts, one part per sibling. Each character’s story is very different from the others, and the author dives in so deeply that I came away feeling like I knew and understood all of them. A great read.
8 THE MOUNTAIN IN THE SEA — Ray Nayler. Ever since I watched the My Octopus Teacher documentary (unforgettable and heartbreaking!), I’ve developed a keen admiration and interest in the intellectuals of the sea, aka the octopuses. This debut novel is described as a near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness. If you like the idea of an animal species learning to communicate and using their new skills and culture to advance their species—and defend it—then this is for you. The science, futuristic detail, and fast pacing add up to a wonderful read.
9 Last but far from least, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES — Lucy Maud Montgomery. How did I not read this as a preteen? Oh, that’s right, I didn’t do much reading as a teen because books seemed so loooooog to me. What a heartwarming and amazing coming-of-age tale! Anne and her zest for life will make you see the good in people and nature and the world as a whole. Thanks to my sister, who recommended that I read it (I listened to the audio version read by Rachel McAdams), this classic has become an all-time favorite for me. I may have to read it annually from now on.
What were your best reads of 2024? Give me your recommendations!
