My reading goal for 2024 was 40 books, and I finished 39 books. Below is a list of everything I read this year with a short review and link to my bookshop.org affiliate shop. I post reviews as I read over on instagram, so follow me there for updates throughout the year. Books are listed by genre and in the order I read them. 
*denotes a favorite book of the year

Fiction

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Intense & poetic; an autobiographical novel told in the second person. Unflinching and haunting.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Mia’s father is missing, and the only person who knows what happens is her younger brother, Eugene, who is non-speaking. I loved this mystery, told from Mia’s quirky perspective. It’s suspenseful but not dark, with short chapters and tension that keeps the pages turning quickly.

*Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
This story about the four Padavano sisters explores how trauma (and love) can permeate generations; plus a side of Little Women, Chicago, and basketball.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
I liked the combination of wonder, mystery, and love throughout this book. And how could I not love Marcellus, the narrating octopus?

*Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
This debut novel was wonderful and weird. I loved the play with structure, the tenderness, and the pure creativity. Unlike anything I’ve ever read.

*Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
I give this book my highest compliment by saying I would re-read it. I loved the multiple POVs, jumps through time, compelling characters, and breathtaking prose. 

*Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
I put off reading this one because I was afraid it would be too heavy. Once I picked it up, I was immediately lost in the beauty and devastation of the story, and I wish I hadn’t waited so long. Kingsolver wowed me again, especially with the way she drew me into the setting. If you’ve also been waiting on this one, consider this your nudge to dive in.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
I felt pretty meh about this one. Pass on Pineapple Street and read Crazy Rich Asians instead.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
A secret kept for 15 years is finally revealed and upends the lives of the Sorenson family in this novel spanning 50 years and told from seven different POVs. Four sisters, sibling rivalry, set in the Midwest. Try it if you liked Hello Beautiful.

Fault Lines by Emily Itami
With young kids and a mediocre marriage, Mizuki asks herself what she’s willing to sacrifice for happiness. A quick read with great voice. Made me homesick for Tokyo. 

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
Martha is a middle-aged woman whose marriage is on the rocks and who has suffered from an unnamed mental illness since “a bomb went off in her brain” years before. Told with simplicity and wit from Martha’s point of view, this novel is full of gems about love, discovering who we are, and figuring out what we might become.

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez
Historical fiction about the creation of the Panama Canal. An interesting subject, but the story fell a little flat for me. I did appreciate all the different angles represented, and it spurred me to research more on my own.

*Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
In Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout weaves together 13 stories about the people of Crosby, Maine, with the cantankerous Olive Kitteridge as the common thread. These stories, laden with grief, longing, and tenderness, will make you care about a cast of characters who are compelling and complex, Olive most of all.

*Sandwich by Catherine Newman
A short novel that holds a lot. I loved this story about a family vacation at the beach. Catherine Newman is one of the best at writing family and motherhood, and I love how her humor shines through any situation.

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
Same As It Ever Was tells the story of Julia Ames: her tumultuous childhood, the way she almost blew up her life, her ambivalence about motherhood, and how a chance meeting with an old friend threatens to rock her current life, already rife with its own present-day drama. Lombardo’s writing about family life is spot-on, and she creates characters that feel incredibly real. A bit long for my taste, but I still look forward to whatever Claire Lombardo puts out next.

Dearborn by Ghassan Zeineddine
I loved the opportunity to read about a place that is close to home yet has such a different culture than my own. Zeineddine’s stories are both comical and heartbreaking; he writes the human condition with intimacy and clarity. I loved all the little ways in which he connected his characters in the fictionalized version of Dearborn, Michigan.

*Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
For anyone who didn’t get enough of her in Olive Kitteridge, here are more stories about the extremely blunt, somewhat obnoxious, and somehow endearing Olive. More joy and sorrow, more unexpected hilarity, and more simple moments that highlight the pain and beauty of being human.

Anita deMonte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Anita de Monte was an artist just starting to gain traction in her field when she fell to her death. Was it an accident? Years later, Raquel Toro is a first generation college student who learns of de Monte’s work. In this dual timeline novel, the reader learns how the women’s stories are connected while immersed in the themes of art, love, and power. I wish it had been more explicitly stated that this was a fictionalized retelling of part of Ana Mendieta’s life.

Piglet by Lottie Hazel
If you’re a fan of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or Sorrow and Bliss, try Piglet by Lottie Hazel. Piglet’s world is rocked just before her wedding, and suddenly she’s very…hungry. Cringe-worthy moments abound for this awkward, sometimes unlikable character for whom the reader can’t help but to cheer. 

*Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Oof. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah has created a near-future world in which prisoners can choose between serving their sentences or fighting in death matches. By reading and wondering about the characters’ fate, one can’t help but be turned into what we despise most in the novel: a spectator, feasting on violent entertainment. 

*The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
Jim and Bob Burgess are called home to Maine when their nephew stirs up trouble. A beautiful exploration of sibling relationships and connections to home as we age.

The Humans by Matt Haig
An extraterrestrial has been sent to Earth in the form of Professor Andrew Martin. Disguised as the professor, he is tasked with disposing of some humans, and he finds the species repulsive. But as time goes on, his feelings about humans become more complex. Will he complete his task? And what will become of him when his job here is done? A dark comedy with beautiful nuggets of wisdom about love and life.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Alix and Josie meet on their 45 birthday, discovering they are birthday twins. Their connection prompts Alix to interview Josie for her podcast, but the more she discovers about Josie, the more unsettled she feels. Will she regret inviting Josie into her life and her home? I loved the alternating narrative, documentary scenes, and podcast interview transcriptions. This might’ve been my quickest read of the year. For fans of Rebecca’s Makkai’s I Have Some Questions for You or true crime podcast enthusiasts.

*Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
This was an immediate preorder for me, and, of course, Elizabeth Strout did not disappoint. As a reader, I’m immediately lost in the world of Strout’s characters, and as a writer, I am constantly wavering between inspired and intimidated by what she can do with her prose. The style of this novel is a little different than the other Olive and Lucy books, but still a wonderful story about love, friendship, longing, and the things that keep us together.

Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah
A sweet story about a boy who leaves home and learns lessons about love and connection. Into the Uncut Grass is marketed as an “all ages” book, and I think this is true, and that it’d be enjoyed most when read aloud to a sibling or child.

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Another Little Women-esque book in the vein of Hello Beautiful. A decent read, but I found the characters a little too flawed and unlikable. The writing was detailed and raw but lacked the depth I was craving.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Joe was the last person to see his little sister, Ruthie, before she disappeared at four years old. Norma is a young girl who never felt she fit quite right in her family. In alternating chapters, the reader discovers their stories might be more connected than it appears on the surface. Peters is a little heavy-handed with the plot, but she creates characters who are memorable and worth cheering for, plus just enough questions to keep the reader turning pages.

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
“Sadie Smith” is on assignment in France, trying to infiltrate an activist commune. As she works toward completing the tasks given to her by her contacts, she is pulled into the world of these rural subversives and into the mind of one of their inspirations, Bruno Lacombe. Will Sadie meet her objectives? Or will the seducer become seduced? This read helped pull me out of my reading rut this fall. My only complaint is I wanted a little more from the ending…but maybe Kushner did exactly what she set out to do by not giving me what I expected.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
I read this one because my daughter asked to read it (hoping I’d say it was appropriate for her), and it’s in that strange land of “teen” novels (not juvenile, not adult, maybe not even exactly YA). I’ll be honest, I don’t love romance novels, and reading a teen “love story” felt cringey to me. But. If you have a tween or teen child that is ready for an age-appropriate summer romance, this might be a good one to recommend or read together and discuss. My daughter isn’t quite ready for some of the themes, but in a couple years I could see her getting totally wrapped up in Han’s stories.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
This short audiobook was a wonderful way to end the year. In Ireland in 1985, Bill Furlong discovers something that forces him to reconcile his past with his present, and decide if and how he will do anything with this information. Small and mighty, this book packs an emotional punch with delicate details and brazen humanity.

Non-Fiction

*The Wrong Way to Save Your Life by Megan Stielstra
I fell in love with Megan Stielstra’s writing last year when I read Once I Was Cool. This collection wowed me even more; it’s full of raw, honest, and powerful essays that share the thread of fear (but also love and strength).

Sensitive by Jenn Granneman & Andre Solo
For anyone whose superpower is sensitivity (and for the people who love them). Good combination of data and practical advice.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
A wonderful, balanced pep talk for anyone wanting to live a creative life.

How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key
Tender writing about an extramarital affair that is also hilarious and irreverent. I left with a lot of questions: about faith & marriage, how we write about our loved ones, and how the heck HSK got his wife’s permission to share with such candor.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Celebrity memoirs aren’t my usual genre, but it’s Britney, b*&#%. I appreciated Michelle Williams’ audiobook narration, but mostly this book made me feel sad. I’m glad Britney was given a voice to share her story, and I hope she continues to find encouragement and support. This one might interest fellow geriatric millennials who grew up on TRL as their after-school snack.

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Laugh-out-loud, irreverently funny essays about midlife, living with chronic illness, family, working as a writer, and more. Lots of pop culture and potty humor. For those who aren’t easily offended.

*Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
Suggested alternate title: Weird and Wonderful. This book is unique—so different from anything else I’ve read recently, which always makes me a fan. I especially loved the way Slate used metaphor to explore herself and let the reader in. And if you haven’t watched Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, add that to your list, too.

The Story Game by Shze-Hui Tjoa
Thank you to @tin_house for the ARC of The Story Game by Shze-Hui Tjoa. I appreciated the unique structure of this memoir, told in part by imagined conversations between the author and her sister and interspersed with essays about topics that became more personal as the book progressed. I especially liked the second part of the book, and while I know the slow progression was intentional, I wish the reader was let in more intimately from the beginning. I do love the theme of story, and found myself wondering: How do the stories we’re told shape us? And, how are we shaped by the stories we tell ourselves?

Monsters by Claire Dederer
What do we do when the art we love when is created by a monster? This is the question with which Dederer grapples in this work of non-fiction. The book meandered a bit, but I appreciated a lot of Dederer’s exploration, including a section on mother-artists.

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