Hey hey hey!! Since I’ve recently started this Substack, I thought it would be really fun to do an end of year reading survey! I nabbed the questions from THIS POST (thank you!!) and tweaked a couple of questions to fit my own agenda (lolz)… But this was so much fun!
2024 was my best reading year EVER, mainly thanks to audiobooks which have changed the reading game forever for me. I read a whole range of different genres and age groups, some new releases and some older… So read on for an eclectic list of recommendations!
((Note - Some of these books I have not QUITE finished as of time of posting, but I very nearly have so I’m still counting them haaaa!))
2024 Reading Stats
Number of books you read: 78
Number of re-reads: 4
Number of books you DNFed: 2
Number of pages you read: (approx) 26,000
Most read genre: Adult Romance
Number of new-to-you authors you discovered: 39
Firsts and Lasts
First book you read: Behind Frenemy Lines by Lauren Price
Last book you read: Fourth Wing (Graphic Audio Drama Part 2) by Rebecca Yarros
First 2024 release you read: Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy by Crystal Hefner
Best In Books
1. Best book you read in 2024:
I read some total BANGERS this year and it’s very hard to pick a single favourite, but the one that really stands out to me is The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue. I read this one on audiobook and the Irish narrator totally immersed me in the messy life of this young girl living in Cork in the 90s. It felt incredibly real to me, especially when the two besties started talking in a Southern Belle accent just like me and Paul do together. It was a completely mesmerising piece of writing and I loved it.
I also got completely lost in The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins this year, and I can’t remember the last time a book bewitched me to such a degree. And as for the book I didn’t stop talking about to absolutely everyone in the world it was Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy by Crystal Hefner, the most fascinating memoir I have EVER read.
Question 2 was originally a book that disappointed you this year… and whilst I do have OPINIONS on certain books (usually much-loved bestsellers haha), as an author I don’t want to put up neggy thoughts publicly anymore because I don’t want to be rude about fellow writers, particularly fellow writers who I might bump into somewhere down the line… BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY AMIRIGHT? Anyway, here is a much nicer question:
2. Author you read the most in 2024:
It was a tie this year between Colleen Hoover (whose entire back catalogue I am trying to get through!) and Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone who have been releasing lots of titles in their delightful Christmas Notch series!
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read:
I think it might be Dinner For Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz - after loving One Tree Hill so much and her performance as Hayley James Scott in the show, it was so surprising to hear about what was happening to her behind the scenes and how she was embroiled in a cult trying to control her. So glad that she got out of her situation and was able to share her story with the world!
4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did):
Umm, I’m not really sure! I mean definitely the Crystal Hefner memoir… But I’m always shouting about the books I love and asking people to read them! I’m gonna say Regretting You by Colleen Hoover, because it was a great read and I’m always telling people to ignore the critics and embrace Colleen - whether you like or dislike her writing style, she KNOWS how to tell a bloody good story!! (I’m looking forward to the upcoming TV adaptation too!)
5. Best first book in a series you started in 2024. Best sequel of 2024. Best series ender of 2024.
First Book:
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - This is a YA thriller I read as a comparison title for my own upcoming YA thriller, and it was so sophisticated and intriguing, I really enjoyed it! Definitely writing inspo for me - I’ll look forward to reading the rest of the series next year!
Sequel:
Girls Under Pressure by Jacqueline Wilson - I’ve been jumping back into Jackie’s “Girls” series (that I first read in my teens) in order to refresh my memory for the new adult book in the series “Think Again” which I’m hoping to get to next year. I am definitely a girl who was raised by Jaqueline Wilson and her stories are a huge early influence of mine. It’s been so much fun revisiting her iconic characters as an adult, and remembering how raw and real the themes of her books were. I may just have to go back to every single series she wrote now!
Series Ender:
Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Louise Rennison - This year I finally finished my re-read of the epic and hilarious Angus, Thongs & Full Frontal Snogging series by the late great Louise Rennison. I cannot tell you how much I LOVED revisiting Georgia and her crazy friends and family. These books gave me LIFE and as well as hooting with laughter, the ending actually brought a little tear to my eye. Best books in the world, no question.
6. Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2024:
Jason June! His YA rom-coms are so adorable and his “Ventorship” Substack posts are invaluable to authors of all levels. I can’t wait to dive into more of his back catalogue next year!
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - I did the Graphic Audio Drama complete with creaking footsteps, gushing battle injuries and roaring, flame-throwing dragons. I NEVER do fantasy, but this was pretty fun! Looking forward to the TV adaptation!
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year:
I’ve already mentioned it, but The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes had me hooked.
9. Book you read in 2024 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I don’t often revisit books, especially not so soon after first reading, but the graphic novel Final Cut by Charles Burns was so gorgeous and sinister, I’d love to go back to it at some point and take the story in for a second time.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2024:
Straight Expectations by Callum McSwiggan - it’s just so bright and campy and adorable, it made me want to read the book immediately! And it’s such a cute and funny story!
11. Most memorable character of 2024:
Elizabeth Zott from Lessons In Chemistry - what an ICONIC character. I loved how she absolutely refused to accept the limitations put upon her by society and how headstrong and unintentionally hilarious she was. And she had a talking dog, because why not. A fantastic book all round!
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2024:
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - I can’t tell you how much I loved this one. So tender, gorgeous and heartfelt with prose that literally danced off the page.
13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2024:
Hear me out here… Save The Cat by Blake Snyder - It taught me screenwriting and SO many lessons about the business and craft of writing that I will take with me throughout my whole life!
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2024 to finally read:
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - This has been sitting on my shelf for years, and I decided one day to just jump into a classic thriller. Bloody hell, it was INCREDIBLE. Cannot recommend enough, especially if you enjoy stories that are a bit nasty (in the best way).
15. Favourite quote from a book you read in 2024:
”Let go of the people who don’t hold on to you. Don’t wait on anyone who’s in no rush to get to you.” - Funny Story by Emily Henry
When I tell you this quote resonated with me so deeply that it actually affected a big career decision in my life…
I was also rather partial to this paragraph:
“We turned round to face our audience and as we did so the doors flew open and Mark Big Gob and the Blunder Boys walked in. Oh brilliant. Still, what did we care? We would get our bodyguards to toss them aside like paper towels from the paper-towel dispenser dispenser in the loos. The could go down the piddly-diddly hole of life!!!” - Stop In The Name Of Pants by Louise Rennison
SHAKESPEAREAN.
16. Shortest and longest books you read in 2024:
Shortest:
Courage Calls To Courage Everywhere by Jeanette Winterson - 80 pages
(This was a feminist non-fiction book that was a gift… It was OK lol)
Longest:
Modelland by Tyra Banks - 570 pages
(And it TOOK me the longest to read too… like 2 years?!)
17. Book that shocked you the most:
Penance by Eliza Clark - an incredibly grizzly tale based on a real life teen murder case. There was a whole section about young girls glorifying school shooters in their online Tumblr gay fanfiction - yep, this book WENT there… but it was sooo fascinating.
18. OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!):
Harriet and Wyn from Happy Place - I found their love story so real and raw, and I fell in love with both of them. This was such a great rom-com, my favourite of Emily Henry’s work so far! (But I’ve not read her earlier books yet!)
19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
There is only one answer that keeps coming to my mind and that is Violet and her dragons, Tairn and Ardana in Fourth Wing. I mean she has DRAGONS INSIDE HER HEAD. That’s pretty cool. And terrifying. Mostly terrifying, actually. Especially when Tairn started doing things no sane person would want to be listening in on… (This book is wild).
20. Favorite book you read in 2024 from an author you’ve read previously:
As mentioned earlier, Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - Rainbow ALWAYS writes a BANGER. One of my all-time favourite authors.
21. Best book you read in 2024 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else:
In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado which was recommended on a book podcast I love, and by multiple booktubers. I have to admit, it was very experimental and wasn’t quite my thing, but I still felt it was a very important read.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2024:
Jesse Andrews from Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood - Sexy computer game nerd who stands up for women in the workplace? Err, yes please. (Ali always writes hot, sensitive nerdy guys hahaha)
23. Best 2024 debut you read:
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington - this was such a thrill ride from start to finish, full of wicked girls in deadly scenarios. I could see a whole movie playing out in my head as I was reading. My one question is… When is the film adaptation?!
24. Most vivid setting you read this year:
Flopping In A Winter Wonderland by Jason June - all set on a CHRISTMAS ISLAND where there are candy cane streetlamps, toboggan races, Christmas-themed pasta restaurants and festive flash mobs. Absolutely adorable!
25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read:
Attached At The Hip by Christina Riccio - I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was set on a Survivor-style reality TV show and felt just like watching a gameshow in book form! It was full of Christine’s trademark quirky humour and I giggled and smiled all the way through!
26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2024:
What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella - A fictional novella based on Sophie’s real-life brain cancer diagnosis. It was so beautiful and hopeful, but incredibly emotional. I have read Sophie Kinsella’s books for my whole life and I was very upset at hearing her health news, but she has written about her experience so bravely and wisely. An absolute inspiration.
27. Hidden gem of the year:
Look Up, Handsome by Jack Strange - This LGBTQ+ rom com was sooo cute, cosy and Christmassy, I absolutely loved it! It’s also set in the bookish town of Hay-On-Wye and I really want to visit now. Gave me aaallll the festive feels!
28. Most unique book you read in 2024:
Look, there is no question that it has to be Modelland by Tyra Banks. It took me 1.5 years to finish my re-read of this RIDICULOUS book whilst simultaneously listening to the “Bad Author Book Club” podcast. There were nurses with rollerskates for feet, tuba eyed monsters, flying pouches, glittering “SMIZE” masks… It was a wild ride. The book is INSANE. Tyra is UNHINGED. And I LOVED it.
29. Book that made you the maddest (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it):
If My Words Had Wings by Danielle Jawando - This important YA book explores how young offenders are let down by the justice system, especially young black boys. It definitely made me mad to read how badly our protagonist Ty was treated by people in power, and how his innocent friend was being incarcerated because of racist loopholes in the law. This is a work of fiction, but is reality for many teens out there right now and it is amazing that Danielle is shining a light on this topic through her words.
And one last question added by myself…
30. A book written by a friend in 2024
As well as the above title by Danielle Jawando, this year I read and loved the mysterious and dreamy Iris Green, Unseen by Louise Finch and the heart-racing YA thriller Love You To Death by Gina Blaxill. Both incredibly talented authors and incredibly lovely people, make sure to check out both of these books (and all of Louise and Gina’s back catalogues while you’re at it!)
And…
31. RANDOM LAST SHOUT-OUT
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick - This was one of the very last books I squeezed in before the end 2024, and it was so spunky and gutsy and full of hilarious anecdotes, it just set me up SO WELL for the end of the year. I’ve honestly struggled to stay motivated this year, and Anna’s can-do attitude reminded me to KEEP FRICKING GOING because you never know when everything could change… especially with relentless pluck and persistence!
Wow that survey was super fun, and after reading so many books this year, I have loved reflecting back on them all and getting to share the highlights.
What were your favourite reads of the year? Do you have any recs for me? Let me know in the comments! And whether you read 1 book in 2024 or 100, it doesn’t matter, as long as you enjoyed yourself!!
Here’s to many more amazing reads in 2025 woop woop!
I think you’d like TJ Klune’s House on the Cerulean Sea and Somewhere Beyond the Sea! The audiobooks were brilliant!
I think you will love Let the Light In by Jane McDonald and if you don’t then you best be careful is all I’m saying