This is one of those posts that just does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a list of all the books I’ve managed to read in 2024. There were four that I had to abandon, right at the start of the year – I simply couldn’t get on with them and dreaded having to pick them up night after night – so my total tally would have been slightly higher, had I persevered with those, but even so it has been a relatively fruitful year of reading. I usually make very short notes after I finish a book – just three or four words to jolt my brain into remembering whether I thoroughly enjoyed something or was left disappointed – and so I thought that I’d include those too. They’re not reviews and were not jotted down with any sort of intention to publicly share, but I thought that they’d add a splash of colour and personality to what would otherwise be quite a boring list. Here we go then. I haven’t included the abandoned books because it looks like a bit of a diss and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings…Ad-info: affiliate links are marked *. My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh: buy here* (Loved this! Crackers idea. Brett Easton Ellis vibes. Messy.)Antarctica, Claire Keegan: buy here* (11/10. There are three of the short stories I can’t stop thinking about. Mind-changing.) So Late In The Day, Claire Keegan: buy here* (WTF why is this so short, Brilliant but could have been a pamphlet.) 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World, Elif Shafak: buy here*(Sad. Gorgeous. Raced through first half, second half found myself skipping pages!) Another Life, Jodie Chapman: buy here*(Another knockout! Writes so well I’d read her shopping lists.)The Mad Women’s Ball, Victoria Mas: buy here* (Argh, amazing! Too short.) Strange Flowers, Donal Ryan: buy here* (Incredible. Another Tee** winner. Couldn’t have loved this more.) One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey: buy here*(Re-read. Don’t remember this being so sad and monstrous, everyone should read this.) The Child’s Child, Barbara Vine: buy here*(Tore through this, wrapped up too quickly at the end. 4th Vine book and not sure she’s for me!)Crook Manifesto, Colson Whitehead, buy here*(Loved the first in this trilogy, this was so impressively detailed but found it really hard going.)The Minotaur, Barbara Vine: buy here* (I went in again. Creepy and kept me hooked but ending left me disappointed.) Sociopath, Patric Gagne: buy here* (Fascinating as a subject but v repetitive.) All My Puny Sorrows, Miriam Toews: buy here*(Beautiful! Opening chapters some of the best I’ve read. Made me feel hopeless though.) All My Mothers, Augusta Hope: buy here* (Brilliant first half. Got a bit poetic for me. Excellent cover design.) I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman: buy here*(Everyone should read this. Put on school syllabus! Absolutely 11/10.) Long Island, Colm Toibin: buy here* (Just amazing. Couldn’t remember what happened in Brooklyn but doesn’t matter.) Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton: buy here* (Ripped through this. Felt young but was funny and so readable.) My Favourite Mistake, Marian Keyes: buy here* (Easy holiday read, amazing dialogue. Must read more MK.) In Memoriam, Alice Winn: buy now*(Sad and brilliant. There were tears. Underground tunnels: hard no.) Intermezzo, Sally Rooney: buy now*(Emoji of a party popper.) Still Life, Sarah Winman: buy now* (Glorious. Best characters, completely alive for me. Spans decades and is just beautiful.)Fair Rosaline, Natasha Solomons: buy here*(Dark, twisted rewrite of Romeo + Juliet. Loved. End got messy.) Rabbits, Hugo Rifkind: buy now*(Relaxed pace, dark story.) Blue Sisters, Coco Mellors: buy here* (Why were people moaning about this? Thought was excellent.) All Fours, Miranda July: buy here* (Bat shit crazy. Ending tested me but rest was an absolute romp.)James, Percival Everett: buy here* (Pick of the year? felt all the emotions, writing brilliant.) Villager, Tom Cox: buy here*(Marathon of a book. So detailed and complex! Good SOH.) Our London Lives, Christine Dwyer Hickey: buy here*(Currently reading: so far faultless!)**Tee is a friend who has the most impeccable taste in books. I mean really. I get all of my best recommendations from her and in turn pass them on to you, but really she should set up her own book blog. And a style blog. And just generally tell everyone what to buy in life. Right. I’m properly signing off now for the holidays and so once again I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and happy New Year! 2025 is going to be jam-packed with amazing stuff for you to enjoy (and find useful) and I can’t wait to get going!
