The best books of 2024

This list is part of the best books of 2024.

Join 1,039 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2024

Book cover of The Little Prince

Yuki Carlsson ❤️ loved this book because...

I love stories that work as metaphors for our deeper selves, so The Little Prince was a natural choice. This story unfolds as an enchanting journey between a pilot and a young boy who’s traveled from a distant asteroid, each chapter feeling like a philosophical puzzle about life, love, and loneliness. Saint-Exupéry’s prose is deceptively simple—every line feels intentional, and it lingers in your mind long after you turn the page. There’s a soft, unhurried pace to it, like watching petals fall, yet it’s also heartbreakingly insightful, especially in its view on innocence and wonder.

This story resonates with me because it shares something I value in my writing—a sense of discovery through subtle, often hidden layers. Like The Little Prince, I aim to create narratives where readers can find new meanings in the quiet, metaphorical spaces. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves stories that blend whimsy with depth, leaving you with reflections on what truly matters in life.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Thoughts 🥈 Outlook
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Richard Howard (translator),

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked The Little Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as 'The Little Prince'. Richard Howard's new translation of the beloved classic-published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's birth-beautifully reflects Saint-Exupery's unique and gifted style. Howard, an acclaimed poet and one of the preeminent translators of our time, has excelled in bringing the English text as close as possible to the French, in language, style, and most important, spirit. The artwork in this new edition has been restored to match in detail and in colour Saint-Exupery's original artwork. By combining the new…


Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My 2nd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of The Elephant Vanishes: Stories

Yuki Carlsson ❤️ loved this book because...

I was drawn to The Elephant Vanishes because of Murakami’s unique ability to make the strange feel oddly familiar. The stories in this collection range from the fantastical to the eerily mundane, with each one pulling you into a world that feels like a dream you can’t shake. Murakami’s language is concise yet loaded with atmosphere, and he masterfully balances mystery with a sense of nostalgia. These stories are often left open-ended, creating a feeling that reality and dreams are intertwined—a style I deeply appreciate.

Murakami’s approach reminds me of the power in subtly blending the surreal with the familiar, which is something I aim to do as well. The Elephant Vanishes would be perfect for readers who enjoy exploring the gray areas between reality and imagination and savor stories that linger long after the last page.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Originality 🥈 Thoughts
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Haruki Murakami,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The Elephant Vanishes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A dizzying short story collection that displays Murakami's genius for uncovering the surreal in the everyday, the extraordinary within the ordinary

*Featuring the story 'Barn Burning', the inspiration behind the Palme d'Or nominated film Burning*

When a man's favourite elephant vanishes, the balance of his whole life is subtly upset. A couple's midnight hunger pangs drive them to hold up a McDonald's. A woman finds she is irresistible to a small green monster that burrows through her front garden. An insomniac wife wakes up in a twilight world of semi-consciousness in which anything seems possible - even death.

In every…


My 3rd favorite read in 2024

Book cover of Stardust

Yuki Carlsson ❤️ loved this book because...

I love stories that offer a journey of self-discovery within a magical world, and Gaiman’s Stardust does just that. It follows the tale of a young man who crosses into a realm of magic to find a fallen star for his beloved, only to uncover truths about himself and the nature of love. Gaiman’s language is rich and poetic, immersing you in this magical land without losing a dark, whimsical tone. It’s paced like a fairy tale, yet there’s a maturity to it that’s deeply resonant for adult readers.

I’m drawn to Gaiman’s ability to weave myth and reality seamlessly, a balance I strive for in my own work. This book is ideal for anyone who loves a story that combines adventure with introspection, or fairy tales with a more adult perspective.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Immersion 🥈 Character(s)
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Neil Gaiman,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Stardust as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now a major motion picture—this charming fairy tale by the #1 New York Times bestselling author, weaves a magical story set long ago in the tiny English village of Wall, a place where things are not quite what they seem.

Go and catch a falling star . . .

Tristran Thorn promises to bring back a fallen star for his beloved, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester—and crosses the wall that divides his English country town from another, more dangerous world of lords and witches, all of them in search of the star. Rich with adventure and magic, Stardust is one…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Your Fairytale

By Yuki Carlsson,

Book cover of Your Fairytale

What is my book about?

Mystical messages, parallel worlds, and a dream ahead.

In a realm where you are a fairytale hero, you escape your book to embark on a self-discovery quest to write your own story. But as you step out, relentless chasers threaten your dream. You must solve challenges in parallel tales to collect clues that guide your way. After much psychological growth, a fatal message questions your entire journey. Can you write your own story or will you be trapped in a life you don’t want?

Perfect for magical realism fans of Haruki Murakami and Neil Gaiman, "Your Fairytale" by bestselling author Dr. Yuki Carlsson tells a spellbinding meta-narrative about belonging and self-fulfilment.

Get your copy today and begin your adventure.