Merry Christmas, friends! If you're reading this on the day that it goes up, I hope you had a lovely day yesterday and that you're having a super relaxing Boxing Day today. I know that I will definitely be taking some books back to my childhood home with me to read over the festive period, so thought it might be helpful to put this up now in case anyone is looking for some lovely new reads for this chilled and cosy time of the year.
For the fifth year in a row, (wild!), here is a discussion on my absolute favourite books that I've read this year. I read a total of 55 books this year, a small handful more than last year while still ensuring that I was enjoying my reading and not setting a goal so high that it became a chore because we never want to do that. As always, I promise that this will be spoiler free*, so sit back and prepare to add some lovely books to your 2024 to be read list. Just like last year, I'll also share the books that are already on my TBR for next year at the end of this post, in case you read similar books to me and would like some inspiration - happy reading, friends!
*to avoid spoilers, I will sometimes use excerpts from online blurbs of the books, and these will be italicised when I do.
I've also linked my Storygraph account in the link at the start of this post in case you're interested in following along with my reads/tbr pile in real time. Feel free to follow!
Something which is new and exciting about this year is that I changed the way I read, I've wanted to move away from Audible for many years now and I've finally accomplished it. I discovered the BookBeat app when my fave cosy cottagecore YouTube girly Lucy Jane Wood had a discount code for it, which allowed me to read four books for free, I literally love it and it's only £5.99 a month for 20 hours, which is incredible compared to competing audiobook apps. (I also have my referral code at the start of this post, if you want to get some free hours too!) I'm also loving using XigXag which is a non-subscription based audiobook app where you buy what you'd like, and then over time, the books become cheaper, which is cool because I do go through reading slumps from time and time, so not having to remember to cancel a subscription that I'm not using all the time is so handy. Spotify have also started offering 15 hours a month of free audiobooks, and while their selection isn't huge, I have found some adorable books on there too!
As usual, these are in the order that I read them and not in order of importance - we don't do that to our favourite books! With all of that said, I have 12 favourite books from this year so let's get on with it <3
1. The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
I don't know what exactly possessed me to start the year off with a thriller, but I remember being absolutely enthralled by this book. I'm pretty sure I read it one or two sittings, and then ran out to get a copy for Stephen pretty much immediately because I loved it so much. I'm going to leave you with the blurb for this one as it's much more intriguing than anything I could write about it. Okay, here we go.
Alicia Berenson lived a seemingly perfect life until one day, six years ago.
When she shot her husband in the head, five times.
Since then, she hasn't spoken a single word.
And it is time to find out why...
2. Begin Again – Emma Lord
I love Emma Lord, I've read all of her books, her tweets are hilarious, and her books are adorable. Even if you ignore the fact that this book has the same name as a Taylor Swift song, it's adorable. I remember this book giving me all of the warm and fuzzy feelings which I always need at the start of a new year. It's hard to talk about this one without giving spoilers, but it's about a transfer college student named Andie who switches colleges in order to be with her boyfriend. The friendship group that she creates while at college is the cutest, and I loved her journey of following in her mother's footsteps while also finding herself. The characters stayed with me for a long time, and I absolutely adored this one. Emma has two new books coming out in 2024 and I cannot wait.
3. Just for December – Laura Jane Williams
This is a Christmas book which I ended up reading at the start of this year, so it kept me cosy and warm in January instead of December, but again, it's a super cute romantic comedy style book. It's about Evie Bird, a romance writer whose latest book is being turned into a Christmas film, and Duke Carlisle, the lead of said film. They end up being forced to fake date outside of set after photos of them arguing have circulated, which would put the ratings of the film in jeopardy unless they fix up, so they decide to pretend date to abate the rumours. Listen, we all know I love a grumpy/sunshine couple, and Evie and Duke did not disappoint.
4. Strong Female Character – Fern Brady
I finally started watching Taskmaster a few seasons ago, (much to Stephen's delight, he's been trying to get me to watch it for years!), and while I started watching for Sarah Millican, I completely wanted to befriend Fern Brady during series 14 instead. I'd never heard of her prior to this, but I've since read her book, watched her show on iPlayer and seen her live. She's incredible, her book is incredible - she speaks so candidly about her life, neurodiversity, mental health and lots of other 'taboo' topics in a poignant but also hilarious way. I loved it, and will continue to support her forever.
5. One Italian Summer – Rebecca Serle
This. Book. Stayed. With. Me. Just thinking about this book makes me well up, not only was the audiobook read by Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore), which made the mother-daughterness of it all the more comforting and magical to me, it also has such a stunning escapist storyline. I genuinely felt like I was inside of the book living and breathing everything that the main character was going through myself, it's an absolutely beautiful book set in the most beautiful place. I don't want to accidentally give anything away for this one as its most magical if you go in knowing nothing about it, so here's the blurb!
When Katy's mother dies, she's left reeling from the loss. Carol had been her best friend, her anchor, and they'd been so close to their dream of travelling to Positano together.
Feeling untethered from her own life and unable to connect with anyone, Katy makes a rash decision. In a bid to keep her mother close, she follows in a young Carol's footsteps, flying to Italy alone.
Katy had imagined a holiday painted by grief but finds more comfort than she had expected. Then, in a sharp twist of fate, Carol's past and Katy's present collide, leaving Katy to wonder if she ever really knew her mother at all...
6. Bunny – Mona Awad
This book was slightly insane, and completely wonderful. I'd never read anything like this, and haven't since either. Truly bizarre. Reading this book is one of the most surreal experiences I had this year, and if that doesn't draw you in, I'm not sure what will. It's honestly not a book you can describe, you have to just experience the batshit insanity for yourself. Anyway, it's about Samantha, who is a graduate Creative Writing student at Warren (get it?) University, where she attends workshop with a clique of rich, Heathers-esque girls who refer to each other as 'bunny', whom she cannot stand. One day, she's invited into one of their 'smut salons' where they workshop their creative writing ideas, and that's when things descend into complete chaos and carnage ... it's a must-read if you ask me.
7. Happy Place – Emily Henry
If you know me then you already know I am an EmHen girly right down to my core. This might be my favourite of her books so far, as I completely fell for it, and I still miss the friendship group featured in it to this day. It's about a couple who broke up months ago, but they're pretending that they're still together as they don't want to stir up any drama while they're on their annual holiday with their friendship group, especially since the cottage where it's always been held is up for sale and it's the last time they will all be together in this incredibly special and important place. I mean, yikes. Who would want to ruin that by announcing a breakup? Totally get it. It's both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I completely loved it.
8. Every Vow You Break – Peter Swanson
Ooh, the start of this year's reign of terrors. I won't give anything away for the next two books, but just know that I love Peter Swanson. I gave up listening to true crime podcasts this year, but I can't give up a good Peter Swanson book. I've read all of his books and will continue to forever - he just knows the way to a good thriller. There's a certain moment in this book which made me wince and I still remember it. It's just. So good.
After a whirlwind, fairytale romance, Abigail Baskin marries freshly-minted Silicon Valley millionaire Bruce Lamb. For their honeymoon, he whisks her away to an exclusive retreat at a friend's resort off the Maine coast on Heart Pond Island. But once there, Abigail's perfect new life threatens to crash down around her as she recognises one of their fellow guests as the good looking, charismatic stranger who weeks earlier had seduced her at her own Bachelorette party...
9. The Guest List – Lucy Foley
This book took me completely off guard, and I did not see the final twist coming at all. I'm pretty sure I finished this off in about a day because I could not put it down. It's fast-paced, shocking, and perfectly written. There's a LOT of characters, a lot of povs, and a lot going on, so I totally understand this not being to everyone's taste, (I also struggle with multiple pov books usually), but this one had me hook, line and sinker.
A REMOTE ISLAND. AN INVITATION TO DIE FOR.
On an island off the windswept Irish coast, guests gather for the wedding of the year - the marriage of Jules Keegan and Will Slater. Old friends. Past grudges. Happy families. Hidden jealousies. Thirteen guests. One body. The wedding cake has barely been cut when one of the guests is found dead. And as a storm unleashes its fury on the island, everyone is trapped. All have a secret. All have a motive. One guest won't leave this wedding alive...
10. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
So I don't know how on Earth I managed to avoid this one for so long, but my advice is to not be me. If you've also gotten away from this book up until now, do yourself a favour and give in. I absolutely could not put this down and I still think about this book all the time. I went into this book knowing nothing about it and I think the blurbs online give away too much, so I will just say that it's about a Hollywood movie icon who is finally ready to open up and sell the entire story of her glamorous life to a magazine reporter, nobody knows why she's specifically chosen Monique to open up to, least of all Monique herself, but she listens in fascination nevertheless. Evelyn tells the story of her life, her career, her forbidden love, and of course, her seven husbands. It's 'a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means-and what it costs-to face the truth.' (I did like this part of the blurb). It's truly a thing of beauty and I'd love to discuss this book with anyone who will listen.
11. Pumpkin Spice Café – Laurie Gilmore
First of all, can we talk about this author's pen name for her small town romance books? She knows exactly how to capture the hearts and minds of Gilmore Girls fans everywhere, and she absolutely won me. This book was the cutest Autumn read ever, I already cannot wait for the next instalment in cute cosy goodness next year. It has everything I love - grumpy/sunshine trope, small town romance, cosy cafe vibes, all of it. When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Cafe, she's excited to swap her boring desk job to be a barista in the cosy small town of Dream Harbour, where she meets the grumpy farmer, (whose name is Logan. Logan!), and it's not long before the new happy-go-lucky sunshine girl in town has caught his attention. Please read this book, it's so light-hearted, cosy and cute.
12. Lovelight Farms – B.K. Borison
Saving the best for last - I read this not knowing that it was part of a 4 book series, which will be ending next year, and I've since gotten myself caught up on all three of the books which are currently out, but this one remains my favourite. It's so heartwarming and festive and I thoroughly recommend the entire series. This one is a wholesome rom-com about Stella, a Christmas tree farm owner, who has entered a competition with a huge cash prize, just big enough to help her save her beloved farm. However, in order to make the farm seem like a romantic getaway for the festive season, she lied on the application and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend, which would be super cute if the boyfriend was real. She then begins fake-dating her best friend in order to win the competition, and festive chaos and cuteness ensues from there. I loved the characters, the setting, the phone tree, the whole book felt like Gilmore Girls to me and it's the maybe the sweetest book I've ever read.
As promised, here is the list of to-be-read books that I'm going into 2024 with - I'm so excited! If you've read any of them, let me know what you thought! <3 *yes some of these were on my TBR for this year too but I am a mood reader and I got distracted by Christmas books towards the end of the year, but they will be going with me over the holidays so I will potentially read them before 2024!
The Getaway List - Emma Lord - Out January 2024
Funny Story - Emily Henry - Out April 2024
Business Casual - B.K Borison - Out June 2024
Such Charming Liars - Karen M.McManus - Out July 2024
The Break-Up Pact - Emma Lord - Out August 2024
Death Cast 3 - Adam Silvera - Out September 2024
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store - Laurie Gilmore - Out September 2024
What Happens After Midnight - K.L Walther
Funny Feelings - Tarah DeWitt
The Perfect Find - Tia Williams
One of Us Is Back - Karen M. McManus*
A Curse for True Love - Stephanie Garber*
The Secret History - Donna Tartt*
Good Material - Dolly Alderton
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