The best books of 2024

This list is part of the best books of 2024.

Join 1,033 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2024

Book cover of The Frozen River

Amanda Desiree ❤️ loved this book because...

I remember learning about midwife Martha Ballad in college, when I took a woman's history course, so I was excited to see that she had become the main character of this recent historical mystery.  Lawhon brings to life the world of postcolonial Massachusetts, vividly describing day-to-day life on the frontier and the particular hardships faced by women, many of which still exist in our modern society. Although the murder that opens the novel first enticed me, the author's ability to immerse me in the early 18th century was what really made me love the book, for I've always loved history. Her gift for populating that world with a variety of fascinating men and women, while avoiding the temptation to demonize the men as so many current feminist novels seem to do, it's also a welcome respite.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Immersion 🥈 Character(s)
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Ariel Lawhon,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked The Frozen River as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post

"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine

Maine, 1789: When…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of Unmasking the Klansman

Amanda Desiree ❤️ loved this book because...

This chilling, shocking book brings to life a dark time in the not-too-distant past through the example of Asa "Forrest" Carter. I'd no idea the Josey Wales author was a pretendian, a speechwriter to George Wallace, and a white supremacist whose unsavory associates committed some of the era's most atrocious crimes. Author Dan T. Carter fleshes out the context for Asa Carter's rise and fall by sharing his own experiences of growing up in the Civil Rights-era South. I was alternately riveted and appalled by what I learned, and I hope this book becomes a template for what the future should not be like.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Teach 🥈 Emotions
  • Writing style

    👍 Liked it
  • Pace

    🐌 It was slow at times

By Dan T. Carter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unmasking the Klansman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Unmasking the Klansman may read like a work of fiction but is actually a biography of Asa Carter, one of the South's most notorious white supremacists (and secret Klansman). During the 1950s, the North Alabama political firebrand became known across the region for his right-wing radio broadcasts and leadership in the white Citizens’ Council movement. Combining racism and thinly-concealed anti-Semitism, he created a secret Klan strike force that engaged in a series of brutal assaults, including an attack on jazz singer Nat King Cole as well as militant civil rights activists. Exploring his life during these years offers new insights…


My 3rd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of Gods of Jade and Shadow

Amanda Desiree 👍 liked this book because...

I also studied the Popol Vuh in college and was fascinated by how this modern fairy tale drew from the Mayan mythology of that ancient text. This book fuses a Cinderella story with elements of American Gods. The quest is exciting, the characters are appealing, and the romance that permeates the story is refreshingly subtle. Even more refreshing, a supporting character/antagonist has a surprisingly developed arc.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Character(s) 🥈 Story/Plot
  • Writing style

    👍 Liked it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Silvia Moreno-Garcia,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Gods of Jade and Shadow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'This is historical fantasy at its best' S.A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

Inspired by Mexican folklore, Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical, wildly imaginative coming-of-age tale for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik and Helene Wecker.

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but it's passing Casiopea Tun by. She's too busy scrubbing floors in her wealthy grandfather's house to do anything more than dream of a life far from her dusty, small town in southern Mexico. A life she could call her own.

This dream is impossible, distant as the stars - until the…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Dark Shadows Event Diary

By Amanda Desiree,

Book cover of The Dark Shadows Event Diary

What is my book about?

Collected in one place for the first time, The Dark Shadows Event Diary presents author Amanda Desiree's contemporary reports from Dark Shadows-related events spanning 2001 to 2024. These reports describe in detail actors' question-and-answer sessions, cast reunions, video presentations, and fan tribute performances. They feature anecdotes from beloved actors John Karlen, Lara Parker, Christopher Pennock, and Jonathan Frid. This book brings the Dark Shadows convention experience to life and is sure to delight fans of the series, whether they've never attended conventions themselves or whether they personally remember the excitement of these events.

My book recommendation list