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I found myself back in my reading era this year. Don’t really have an explanation for it. I guess I just was really enjoying having time to read. Or rather, taking the time to read.
Maybe TikTok/BookTok had something to do with it. Who knows? All I know is that I have really enjoyed some of the books I’m about to share with you. I didn’t like a lot of them too.
That being said, I thought I would bring a little of TikTok over to the blog, and instead of just doing a boring ‘ol roundup of what I read this year, I would switch it up a bit and do a yes, no, maybe of all 31 and a half books I read in 2024.
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross*
This is the second in the Divine Rivals Duology, so I don’t want to give anything away by telling you what this is about. Just know that it continues the story.
I would say maybe read if you read Divine Rivals and wanted more. I personally thought it fell flat.
Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt*
This follows Farley Jones as she climbs the standup comedian ladder. She is asked to go on tour with some other prominent comediennes and asks her old manager Meyer to come with her.
This is a wholehearted yes from me. It’s so cute and to think I just picked this up on a whim.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid*
This follows Carrie Soto as she tries to revive her tennis career.
This is a no for me. I just really didn’t like how toxic Carrie was throughout the majority of the book.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston*
August finds herself falling in love with a girl she sees on the subway every day. Said girl is Jane who is stuck between times.
I give this one a no. I didn’t really enjoy it.
Beach Read by Emily Henry*
January Andrews is a romance writer in the middle of a bout with writer’s block. She decides to spend some time in her deceased father’s summer house. This is where she encounters someone from her past, Augustus Everett. Also an author. They decide to switch genres so they can both relieve their writer’s block and in the process fall in love.
This is a hard yes! This was my first Emily Henry book and boy am I glad I picked it up. She is now an auto-buy author.
The Improbable Meet-Cute Series (Valentine’s Day novellas; If you have Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited, you can read these for free.)
1. The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
A typo in an email pushes two random people together.
A hard no.
2. Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
Holly is taking care of her dying grandmother and dealing with a bad breakup. She finds a note on her car that wasn’t meant for her.
Another no.
3. Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne
Rosie Whittaker and her sister spend Galentine’s Day at a spa where she gets stuck in one of the flotation tanks. The firefighters are called and the one that saves her keeps her calm. She believes he’s the one.
No. Just no.
4. Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory
All Daisy Murray wants to do is watch rom-coms all day, but an earthquake traps her in a bakery with the head baker who isn’t so friendly.
Again, no.
5. With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
Audrey Love is cursed. Every person she kisses ends up finding their true love afterward.
No.
6. Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
Princess Ilaria is tired of being in the public eye and just wants to be normal. She trades places with her assistant and goes off exploring and living a “normal” day. She meets a Scottish photographer and sparks fly.
Also no.
Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain by Helene Sula*
This is Helene’s debut memoir about her travels around the world, travel blogging, and finding your purpose.
Maybe if you know who Helene is and follow her over on Instagram.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton: Penelope & Colin’s Story by Julia Quinn*
It’s all in the title.
Yes, yes, and yes!
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen*
Freya is a shield maiden blessed by the Norse gods. She is betrayed by her husband and is sent to fight the region’s jarl’s son Bjorn.
Yes if you like Norse mythology and romantasy.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston*
Shara Wheeler disappears before graduation and Chloe Green, with help from Shara’s boyfriend and neighbor, goes searching for her.
No, unless you like young adult fiction.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston*
Theo and Kit, two exes, find themselves on the food and wine tour they were supposed to take together five years prior.
Maybe if you liked Red, White and Royal Blue. This is like that book’s older sister.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli*
Rune is secretly trying to save her people (witches) as the vigilante Crimson Moth, while also pretending to be a socialite. Gideon Sharpe is a loyal witch hunter and is on her tail.
A resounding yes! Can’t wait for the second one.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld*
Tally lives in a society where being pretty is the goal. When citizens turn 16, they go through an operation that not only alters their appearance, but their brain chemistry as well.
No, unless you like dystopian young adult novels.
Circe by Madeline Miller*
Circe is sent to a remote island to live out her days after turning a rival into a sea monster.
Btw, this is a Greek retelling.
No, unfortunately. This was disappointing to me.
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood*
Belladonna Blackthorn is about to embark on a journey of rediscovering her magic. That’s all I’m giving you because I don’t want to give anything away. However, I do want to mention this is Lucy’s debut novel and it’s excellent.
YES!!!!
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore*
I’m not going to even bother giving you the plot because it’s not worth your time.
So that’s a hard no on this one from me.
Heartstopper Series 1-3*
This follows Charlie and Nick as they navigate high school, first loves, and everything that goes with that.
Yes, especially if you liked the Netflix series.
An Offer from a Gentleman: Benedict’s Story*
This follows Benedict as he is finally ready to marry. He encounters a mysterious woman at his mother’s annual masquerade ball, but she disappears. Years later, he saves a woman from being harassed by some not-so-savory gentleman. That woman is the mysterious woman he met at the ball, Sophie Beckett.
Yes
Under the Mistletoe Collection (Christmas novellas; If you have Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited, you can read these for free)
1. Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
Two childhood friends are stuck in a snowstorm and are faced with memories they don’t want to relive.
Yes. Should have been a full book. It’s cruel that this is a novella (see what I did there? 😏)
2. Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
A single mother, and aspiring clothing designer, is starting over in a new town and works at the local thrift store. A handsome, tall man always comes in looking for jeans but can’t seem to find any that fit him. She offers to make some for him.
No. So cringe!
3. All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
Two adjunct professors are working their side gig selling mince pies for the holidays. They get stuck in a snowstorm while on the highway and are forced to spend the night with each other.
No. Pretty forgettable.
4. Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
A woman keeps finding herself in little mishaps and a firefighter is there to save her even though she doesn’t want it.
No. Also, pretty forgettable.
5. Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
A comic book artist has a crush on her upstairs neighbor.
Yes.
Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern*
Sarah Goldman loves Hanukkah, so much so that she is the vice chair of her town’s annual Hanukkah festival. The festival is being threatened with cancellation unless she comes up with an idea. Her idea is to have a large menorah sculpted to be displayed in the town square. This is where Isaac Lieberman comes in. Isaac doesn’t love the commercialization of the holiday, but in the end makes the menorah anyway.
Maybe. It was cute.
And the one book I DNF’ed halfway through:
Babel by R.F. Kuang*
Follows an orphaned boy who is taken from his home to be trained to study and work at Babel, a prominent translation school part of Oxford.
Those were all 31 and a half books I read broken down in yes, no, maybe.
Did you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments.
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