2024 Reading Wrap-Up

Happy New Year bookish friends! Welcome to 2025, we made it. I love the fresh "new year" feeling, endless possibilities and many dreams wait up ahead. But before we blast off into the calendar, let's pause and look back at 2024 and the stand-out books I read! There are 10 favorites on this list (and 5 honorable mentions) and somehow, I am so in love will all 10 books and I can hardly rank them for you. So instead, let's jump into the gallery of all my favorite reads of this past year!

Top 3 Favorites

3. Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I devoured this book in less than 48 hours. I could not put it down. The themes of grief, humanity, homesickness, UGH. I picked it up expecting a low rating and was left blown away instead.

2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
I know, I know, this surprises me too. I saw a local stage production TWICE and knew I had to get my hands on a copy. This is now my favorite Shakespeare play and it feels like the experience changed something in me.

1. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
This book not only made 6-star status, but also catapulted it to one of my favorite books of all time. From the first line, this book became so personal to me. I will be back to this story many times, I just know it.

Most Magical

The Hedge Witch of Foxhall by Anna Bright

YA fantasy at it's best!! This book was like watching an old Disney movie - so magical, transportive, and lush. And this was the first time I have ever truly enjoyed reading a love triangle - shocking right??

Upon a Frosted Star by M.A. Kuzniar 

Swan Lake meets The Great Gatsby in an unforgettable way. This book is lavish, winding, diverting, and so magical in every way. It's also passionate and dark and brought me to tears.

Most Exciting

The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes

I will read anything Nadine Brandes writes and HOLY SMOKES. This is sooo intense and unlike anything I've ever read before. The themes of creating with the Creator and how Nadine wove everything together blew my mind. This book was like watching a movie - so visceral. 

The Living Force by John Jackson Miller

This is my 2nd favorite Star Wars book of all time! Both cozy and adventurous, contemplative and intense, this story gives you an action-packed and in-depth view of the Jedi Council.

Thought Daughter Faves

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

I picked this classic up on a whim and I am so glad I did. I couldn't stop highlighting and tabbing sections and lines. It's such a magical little book about female friendships and relationship growth. This one will always be near and dear to my heart.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan and the Hobbit movies are such comfort films for me. I knew the book would be different but I adore classic fantasy! I was not disappointed and "The Hobbit" will forever be a favorite and very personal story to me.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Words cannot describe how shocked I was at how excellent this book is. I adore Little Women as a story but I had no idea how engaging and relatable the original source material would be. I slowly read this book over the course of a few months and really enjoyed the process. I will defend the March Sisters with my life.

Biggest Surprise

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

I first picked up this book in 2021 and couldn't get through it. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I decided to soft DNF it for a better day. Fast forward 3 years and I finally picked it up again. Suddenly, I became so invested in the story and the ending just blew me away! I'm honestly so obsessed with this book.

Strongest Comeback

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

Originally at the beginning of 2024, I rated this book 4 stars but it kept coming back to mind. Cornelia Funke always creates the most enjoyable and wonderful stories and this slowly became a new favorite for me!

Most Swoony

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

I loved this sequel more than the original! The romance, the setting, the vibes, this one was soooo good. I can't wait for book 3!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

This was a total cover/title buy and I was not disappointed!! Hardly a romance and more of a high school friendship story, this book was steeped in Pumpkin Spice and SO COZY.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Faeries in a regency setting made this cozy fantasy such a stunning read! I buddy read this with @dear_feely and it was so fun!

Honorable Mentions

The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt

This may be one of the only short stories I have ever truly enjoyed. It's impossible to describe and yet I don't think I will ever forget it.

A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber

Was this a perfect read? Not at all - in fact it was a little disappointing. But the vibes??? I had so much fun.

The Orange by Wendy Cope

I wanted to read more poetry this year and Wendy Cope was a perfect place to start. "The Orange" is a stunning poem and I have a feeling I will return to contemporary poetry more in this next year.

Emma by Jane Austen

I love watching Emma adaptions so I'm so glad to have read the original source material! The vibes were so springy with lots of yummy food descriptions. Jane Austen always feels like listening to a friend telling you about her friends and it was hard to leave!

Favorite Reread

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

I originally read this book in 2019 and rated it 4 stars. But after my reread, I was blown away by the stunning imagery and the genius discussion around the human need for making art as opposed to art being made without humanity (looking at you AI).

2024 Thoughts

I read a total of 101 books over the course of 2024 and I enjoyed quite a few, however, this was a little more quantity over quality this time around and I'd like to reverse that this next year. But I am so thankful for all the amazing stories I read this year and all the favorites that will continue to have special places in my heart and on my shelves. Here's to more favorite books in 2025!

Until next time!

~ K.J. Haakenson