The best books of 2024

This list is part of the best books of 2024.

Join 1,118 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2024

Book cover of The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Lee Edward Födi ❤️ loved this book because...

Inspired by Asian mythology and history, this novella focuses on a quest by a cleric called Chih as they embark on a quest to unlock, record, and understand the stories of their realm. Archtypal characters such as empresses, servants, traders, ghosts, and talking animals feature heavily throughout the plot. The world is so richly evoked, and never forced or overly explained; it simply unfolds at our feet, guiding the reader through thought-provoking narratives.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Character(s) 🥈 Immersion
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Nghi Vo,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Empress of Salt and Fortune as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner of the 2020 Crawford Award!
Winner of the 2021 Hugo Award!
A Hugo Award-Winning Series!

A 2021 Locus Award Finalist
A 2021 Ignyte Award Finalist
A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist

"Dangerous, subtle, unexpected and familiar, angry and ferocious and hopeful... The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a remarkable accomplishment of storytelling."―NPR

A 2020 ALA Booklist Top Ten SF/F Debut | A Book Riot Must-Read Fantasy of 2020 | A Paste Most Anticipated Novel of 2020 | A Library Journal Debut of the Month | A Buzzfeed Must-Read Fantasy Novel of Spring 2020 | A Washington Post Best SFF…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Lee Edward Födi ❤️ loved this book because...

When Maizy visits her grandparents in the small town of Last Chance, Minnesota, she's given the opportunity to explore her cultural heritage with her grandparents. My favourite sections were when Maizy’s grandpa tells her stories about Lucky, her great-grandfather. Through these stories, we get a window into the past. I also enjoyed Maizy writing her own fortunes to insert into cookies for the customers at her grandparents' restaurant!

  • Loved Most

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

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Lisa Yee,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Maizy Chen's Last Chance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE

Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal * Booklist * The Horn Book * New York Public Library

Welcome to the Golden Palace!

Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom's plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and…


My 3rd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of Beasts of a Little Land

Lee Edward Födi ❤️ loved this book because...

This book is a portal to the past, focusing on characters living through a turbulent period in Korea, when the peninsula was struggling to achieve independence from Japan.

The heart of the story is comprised of the complicated, layered, and extremely authentic human experiences. I loved the gentle wisdoms and observations of human nature provided by the narrator.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Writing 🥈 Immersion
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Juhea Kim,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Beasts of a Little Land as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, following the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter

In 1917, deep in the snowy mountains of occupied Korea, an impoverished local hunter on the brink of starvation saves a young Japanese officer from an attacking tiger. In an instant, their fates are connected-and from this encounter unfolds a saga that spans half a century.

In the aftermath, a young girl named Jade is sold by her family to Miss Silver's courtesan…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Book cover of Spell Sweeper

What is my book about?

There’s nothing magical about wizard school

. . . at least, not for Cara Moone.

Most wizard kids spend their days practicing spells and wielding wands, but Cara? She’s on the fast track to becoming a MOP (a.k.a. Magical Occurrence Purger). You see, when a real wizard casts a spell, it leaves behind a residue called spell dust—which, if not disposed of properly, can cause absolute chaos in the nonmagical world. It’s a MOP’s job to clean up the mess.

And no one makes more of a mess than Harlee Wu. Believed to be the Chosen One, destined to save the magical world, Harlee makes magic look easy. Which makes her Cara’s sworn nemesis. Or she would be, if she even knew Cara existed.

Then one of Harlee’s spells leaves something downright dangerous behind it: a rift in the fabric of magic itself. And when more rifts start to appear around the school, all in places Harlee has recently used magic, Cara is pretty sure the so-called “Chosen One” isn’t going to save the world. She’s going to destroy it.

It will take more than magic to clean up a mess this big. Fortunately, messes are kind of Cara’s thing.