Flying spaghetti and meethi jalebi, is it March already? I meant to write a post on all the books I read in 2024 in January, but here we are! Fabulously late.
I surround myself with books and a pile of TBRs – I have no excuse. Anyhow, last year I set a goal of 30 books which I surpassed by 12. I eased down towards the end by reading poetry books and collection of short stories on Amazon Prime.
Warning – Long post ahead (over 1400 words) I got a bit carried away 😄
Science Fiction
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is my favorite book from last year’s reading list. The concept of encountering new species fascinates me, and in this book, the protagonist not only meets one but also communicates and collaborates with it. The unique and creative plot kept me hooked until the very end. I truly hope they adapt this book into a movie. 5/5
Recursion and Upgrade by Blake Crouch – for those who love thrilling science fiction, I highly recommend these two titles. Recursion is a mind-bending science fiction thriller that explores memory, time, and the consequences of altering reality. Upgrade is about genetic editing and its effect on people and the mind. Although the premise of Upgrade was excellent, I wish it had been a bit more detailed, as I couldn’t connect with the main lead. The experience was akin to watching action movies with numerous high-impact scenes but no time to fully absorb the story. Nevertheless, enjoyable reads. 4/5
Cute Giggly Romance
I loved all the books by India Holton – The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love. The sassy heroine of her books – flying houses and stealing hearts -among other things, going on missions, and indulging in forbidden rendezvous of a romantic nature. Lighthearted wacky humor, witty banter, slow burn romance with a healthy dose of female-centric plot made these books a fantastic reading experience. There’s conspiracy, there’s drama, and there’s a lot of tea-drinking activities 😄. One might even get kidnapped during such a reckless endeavour. 5/5
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is a cute rom-com. I loved the banter between the leads and the slow-burn romance. The writing style is simple, and there are some charming and endearing moments that made this book enjoyable. I gave in to the social media hype around this book, and I am thankful that it didn’t end in a disaster like other TikTok recommendations. (One of the books that I dnf’d almost made me wash my eyes with bleach) 3/5
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is another beautiful read with a unique storyline and strong characters. 3/5
Murder on my mind
I usually steer clear of books with traumatic storylines, but the hype around Into the Water by Paula Hawkins convinced me to give it a try. While it’s undeniably a remarkable book with a gripping plot that fully earns its glowing reviews, but for me, it was a bit too dark and heavy to fully enjoy. 4/5
I started reading Dean Koontz after a colleague recommended him, and I’m so glad they did. His storytelling is exceptional. I finished the Nameless series, which I discovered on Amazon Prime, and I’m currently reading another book by the author. 4/5
I read a couple of books authored by Freida McFadden – although the writing style isn’t extraordinary, the suspense in The Perfect Son and fast-paced plot of Ward D kept me hooked from start to finish. There are some repetitive thoughts, and the stories could probably be a few chapters shorter, but they are easy to read and are an excellent companion for a train ride. Similarly, The Librarian by Valery Keeogh is a fast-paced thriller. 3/5
Other murder mystery novels that I enjoyed reading – Murder on Lake Garda by Tom Hindle, There Should Have Been Eight – Nalini Singh, and The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. 3/5
Here are other thrillers which unfortunately felt a bit boring – Murder of Mary Russel by Laurie R. King, The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Maine, Stranded by Sarah Goodwin, Postscript murders by Elly Griffiths. 2/5
Fantasy/Magic
Madeline Miller’s Circe was an excellent read. Greek mythology has always interested me. I enjoyed reading various snippets about familiar gods and demigods and their eccentricities. The author’s writing is descriptive enough to keep you captivated and not overshadow the plot. The story flowed smoothly creating a vivid picture of Circe’s life. Trigger warning as the book also has a paragraph on SA. It surprised me as I wasn’t expecting anything like that. 4/5
Heir of Uncertain Magic (Whimbrel House #2) by Charlie N. Holmberg is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and supernatural romance. I loved both the books in the series. I am always on the lookout for cozy mystery books and this one perfectly fit the bill. If you are into lighthearted yet suspenseful reads where the house has a mind of its own and magically transfers into a dog, the comic moments between the leads and a dash of the supernatural, this series is a must! 4/5
I have recently delved into the fantasy world created by Brandon Sanderson, starting with Legion and The Sunlit Man. I admired the concept and the fast-paced, action-packed storyline, but I’m still looking for something more compelling. Maybe this year I should finally give the Mistborn series a try. 3/5
Horror
Stephen King’s Pet Sematary took me on an emotional rollercoaster—warm, happy, sad, deeply gutted, and then what the heck?! I still have flashbacks from the final chapters that I simply couldn’t stop reading. It kept me hooked till the end. It’s one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish. I highly recommend it. 5/5
Non-fiction
I am a huge fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Cosmic Queries series on Youtube. It is through one of the videos I came to know about the book. He explains the concepts of space travel, time and so much more in such fascinating and understandble way that I simply can’t stop listening. Cosmic Queries book is an engaging exploration of deep space and astrophysics, offering explanations of complex concepts. While I won’t say I fully grasped all of them, they were interesting enough to keep me reading 🙂 . Tyson’s clear, witty explanations make scientific concepts accessible and thought-provoking for all readers. 4/5
Humour
A classic P.G. Wodehouse can make any day better. I bought Laughing Gas in 2012 or 2013 but couldn’t bring it with me to Sydney. Yet, as fate would have it, it eventually made its way to my home. I finally read it with tea and biscuits – just as I had originally planned. This one has a supernatural element of soul switching and all the mayhem that follows. 4/5
Audio-books
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – the book is worth the hype. I loved the narration, the cozy community, and the camaraderie between our elderly detectives, drinking tea and very respectfully, solving murders. 4/5
Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz – a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with surprising twists. I would have liked it more if I had read it instead of listening. The voice just didn’t work for me. 3/5
I found the audiobook of Animal Farm by George Orwell on YouTube, and honestly, given what’s happening in the world today, the social commentary hits harder than ever. 5/5
Disappointed!!
Robin Cook’s Pandemic and Michael Crichton’s Micro were such a disappointment. Like, what was even going on – It breaks my heart because I grew up reading and admiring their works. Another disappointment was Matthew Reilly’s Seven Ancient Wonders and The One Impossible Labyrinth. The writing style didn’t resonate with me at all. Honestly, it would’ve probably worked better as a comic book. Tom Clancy’s Zero Hour was a drag, too. I only finished them because of sheer determination and an unhealthy amount of strong coffee. I liked only a couple of stories in Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur is a poetry book, but it feels like reading someone’s Instagram poetry account. And I have read way better short poetry on Instagram.
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For the year 2025, I have set a goal of 35 books. I had slow start and could complete only 5 books till now. But I am hoping to pick up pace in the coming months.
What’s the best book you read in 2024?
Please share in the comments.
Wow! Wow! And even more wow! You read so much last year—truly impressive, Raj!
I’ve read Milk and Honey and Animal Farm from your list. And I have a few on my Kindle… waiting to be read. Lately, though, reading has taken a backseat… blame it on a lack of time or a poor attention span. I miss it dearly and hope to get back to it soon!