2024 Reading Wrap-up

Hello, all!

I can't believe I'm already recapping my reading year. Did 2024 go by in a blur for anyone else? I guess it's true what Smashmouth said, the years start comin' and they don't stop comin'!

For the last few years I've been saying how I wanted to slow my reading down because reading 300+ books in a year was a bit mental, but yet I've gone and done it again 😅

Let's get into some stats.

Average rating: This is usually around the same every year, and I'm one of those people who don't think 3 stars is a bad rating. 3 stars is pretty much the norm for me.

Format: This chart is always so satisfying to me since it tends to be pretty well-balanced.

Audience: I started re-reading the Goosebumps series this year, so my Children's slice is a little bigger than previous years. I actually want to read more middle grade in 2025 because I always forget how fun that genre is.

Genre: Fantasy and romance are always my top genres, but I'm glad to see historical fiction, horror, and sci-fi were some good contenders as well.

Source: One of my goals this year was to read more from my physical TBR, and I'm happy to report I did! The library is still my main source for reading, but I'm glad I made a dent into the books I already own. I started this year with 200 unread books and after reading/unhauling throughout the year, I'm down to 143. As for my library savings, I borrowed 180 books and saved myself $3,324.

Now onto my favorite books of each month:

1. Mrs. Nash's Ashes- Sarah Adler: This was my first book by Adler, but it's safe to say I'll be picking up whatever she comes out with. It was a nice blend of humor and heart, and I thought it was so fun.

2. A Grave Robbery- Deanna Raybourn: This is the ninth and most recent release in the Veronica Speedwell series, and it's one of my favorite installments. The mystery was creepy, and the moments between Veronica and Stoker were *chefs kiss*

3. Swift and Saddled- Lyla Sage: The first of two Sage books on this list. I was fully in my cowboy/small town romance era this year, and it's mostly due to how good her writing is. The men she writes are top notch.

4. Just For the Summer- Abby Jimenez: Only Jimenez can rip my heart out and put it back together at the same time. Her books are always one part silly goofy time and one part gut-wrenching. Justin was probably one of my top book boyfriends of the year, and I wish more guys sent surveys out after dates.

5. The Lost Story- Meg Shaffer: Chronicles of Narnia girlies, this ones for you. Shaffer's books are like adult fairytales. She's definitely solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me.

6. Heartless- Elsie Silver: Again, the first of two books on this list. What can I say? Her and Sage just know what they're doing.

7. Bonesmith- Nicki Pau Preto: I read this and the sequel, Ghostsmith, this year and couldn't get enough of this world. The magic was cool and the FMC was such a badass. It's easily one of my favorite YA fantasy duologies.

8. Somewhere Beyond the Sea- TJ Klune: Admittedly, I was hesitant about this one because I didn't think The House in the Cerulean Sea needed a sequel, but boy, was I eating my words by the end. This was so beautifully written and was the only book this year that made me tear up. I would die for all of these characters.

9. The Briar Club- Kate Quinn: I don't read a lot of historical fiction anymore, but this made me want to make it a point to do so in 2025. I thought the writing was fantastic and the story so engaging. 

10. Reckless- Elsie Silver: I didn't think any Chestnut Springs man could knock Cade out of the top spot, but then Theo Silva came along and I'm not mad about it.

11. Lost and Lassoed- Lyla Sage: I absolutely ate up this best friend's sibling/hate-to-love romance and I think it may be my favorite book of the entire year.

12. First-Time Caller- B.K. Borison: I dropped everything to read this the second the ARC came through on my Kindle. I loved how it was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, and Aiden and Lucie were everything to me.

How was your reading year? Any standouts?