13 Best Books of 2024 (My Personal Favorites)
Looking for the best books of 2024? Here are my 13 personal favorite reads of the year—across genres—with mini reviews, reader vibes, and who each book is for.
My Top 13 Books of 2024 (The Ones I Can’t Stop Thinking About)
Every year, I put together “best of” lists for BiblioLifestyle-top fiction, top nonfiction, seasonal favorites-but this top ten books list (technically thirteen) is different. These are my personal top thirteen books of 2024: the stories that grabbed me by the heart, made me laugh or cry, and stayed with me long after I closed the book.
Some of these titles overlap with my more “official” BiblioLifestyle top ten fiction and top ten nonfiction picks, this roundup is pure gut reaction: the books I kept talking about, pressing into friends’ hands, or thinking about on random Tuesday afternoons. If you only have time to grab a few, start here:
Top 3 Books to Read First:
- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
- James by Percival Everett
- Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson
Let’s get into the full list-13 books, each with what it’s about, why I chose it, who it’s for, and how it made me feel.
My Personal Best Books of 2024
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
In Beautyland, we follow Adina Giorno, a girl who believes she’s an alien sent to Earth to observe humans while growing up in 1970s-80s Northeast Philadelphia, and her journey becomes this aching, funny, tender exploration of what it means to feel out of place in your own life. I chose this book because it captures the loneliness and wonder of adolescence in a way that felt painfully true, especially for anyone who has ever thought, “There must be something different about me.” It’s perfect for readers who like offbeat literary fiction, character-driven stories, and a touch of speculative strangeness, and it left me feeling both cracked open and comforted-like I’d just met a character who really saw me.
You can get a copy of Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino on Amazon or Bookshop.
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
This meta-mystery follows Ernest Cunningham, a crime writer invited on a literary festival train trip across the Australian outback, where-of course-someone turns up dead and every passenger, many of them mystery authors, becomes a suspect in a very self-aware whodunit. I picked this because it’s clever without being smug, and Ernest’s voice made me feel like I was on the train with him, eavesdropping on all the writer drama while trying to solve the case. It’s ideal for readers who love classic locked-room mysteries, humor, and playful nods to the genre, and it left me grinning and genuinely impressed by how neatly everything came together.
You can get a copy of Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson on Amazon or Bookshop.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
In The Book of Doors, New York bookseller Cassie Andrews inherits a mysterious book that allows certain doors to open to entirely different places, and as she learns how to use it-with the help of a very intriguing librarian-she’s pulled into a dangerous world of secret keepers and those who would exploit its power. I chose this because it feels like a love letter to readers: magical books, hidden worlds, and a heroine whose life is changed by the stories she stumbles into. It’s perfect for fans of cozy-ish fantasy, portal stories, and books-about-books, and it left me with that warm, fizzy feeling of having just finished an adventure and already wanting to go back.
You can get a copy of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown on Amazon or Bookshop.
James by Percival Everett
James reimagines Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who travels down the Mississippi with Huck, and gives him full agency, interiority, and sharp, often darkly funny awareness of the world around him. I picked this because Everett doesn’t just retell a classic-he interrogates it, turning Jim into a fully realized man with his own choices, fears, and hopes in a way that felt both powerful and necessary. It’s ideal for readers who love literary fiction, reworkings of classics, and big questions about race, freedom, and storytelling, and it left me thoughtful, unsettled in a good way, and deeply impressed.
You can get a copy of James by Percival Everett on Amazon or Bookshop.
Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson
This coming-of-age novel follows Pumkin, a Jamaican teen who bakes cakes to earn her own money and dreams of leaving her complicated home life behind for a baking opportunity in France, all while navigating family tension, friendship, and what it means to choose herself. I chose it because Pumkin’s voice felt so alive and specific, and the way she holds onto her dreams even when everything around her feels chaotic really tugged at my heart. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt, voicey coming-of-age stories, Caribbean settings, and food-filled fiction, and it left me both hungry and hopeful.
Get a copy of Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson on Amazon or Bookshop.
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
In this twisty thriller, Rosie and Chad inherit a beautiful old New York City apartment, only to discover the building’s unsettling history and secrets that seem to seep into their new life-and the more Rosie digs, the more dangerous everything feels. I chose this because it delivers that delicious “gothic but modern” vibe: creepy neighbors, whispers from the past, and a heroine slowly realizing no one is telling her the full truth. It’s perfect for readers who love psychological suspense with a strong sense of place, and it left me delightfully on edge and side-eyeing every old building I walked past for days.
You can get a copy of The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger on Amazon or Bookshop.
In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander
Here we follow Sloane, a video game designer whose life is not exactly going to plan, as she agrees to fake date her neighbor on an all-expenses-paid Turks and Caicos trip that quickly becomes about more than just pretending for the cameras. I picked this because it balances escapist travel romance with real conversations about career, family expectations, and what it means to be “successful” on your own terms. It’s a great fit for readers who love fake dating, vacation romances, and heroines trying to figure out their lives in the middle of the mess, and it left me smiling and feeling like I’d had a little tropical getaway of my own.
You can get a copy of In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander on Amazon or Bookshop.
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Sandwich drops us into one Cape Cod summer with Rocky, a woman in midlife juggling aging parents, adult-ish kids, marriage, bodily changes, and years of unspoken family history that keep bubbling up in the most inconvenient moments. I chose it because it’s so emotionally honest and funny that I found myself laughing one minute and misty-eyed the next-it captures that squeeze of being “sandwiched” between generations perfectly. It’s ideal for readers who love messy, warm, life-stage fiction à la Ann Patchett or Emma Straub, and it left me feeling deeply seen and weirdly comforted about how chaotic family life can be.
You can get a copy of Sandwich by Catherine Newman on Amazon or Bookshop.
God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas
Set in a Philadelphia trauma center, this novel follows a Black army veteran working in the hospital as he navigates the relentless chaos of emergency medicine, his own past, and the systems that shape both his patients’ lives and his own. I picked it because it’s bold, darkly funny, and emotionally raw, with an eye for detail that made every scene feel lived-in and real. It’s perfect for readers who like literary fiction that doesn’t look away from hard truths but still makes room for humanity and humor, and it left me shaken in places but also deeply moved.
You can get a copy of God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas on Amazon or Bookshop.
The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
In this sci-fi adventure, Maya Hoshimoto, a former thief trying to stay on the right side of the law, is pulled back into heists when she and her alien partner set out to find a legendary artifact that might save an entire species-and along the way, she has to confront who she is and what she owes others. I chose it because it delivers fun, propulsive space caper energy while still asking big questions about loyalty, responsibility, and second chances. It’s perfect for readers who love found-family sci-fi, morally gray heroines, and clever world-building, and it left me buzzing with that “I need a sequel immediately” feeling.
You can get a copy of The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei on Amazon or Bookshop.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Set after King Arthur’s death, The Bright Sword follows an outsider knight, Collum, who arrives at a broken, uncertain Camelot and joins a new band of knights determined to figure out what comes next in a world without Arthur. I picked this because it gives you all the mythic, legendary vibes but focuses on the “after”-on rebuilding, grief, and who gets to carry a story forward. It’s ideal for readers who love retellings, epic quests, and richly layered character arcs, and it left me feeling like I’d just spent time in a familiar world that still had new corners to explore.
You can get a copy of The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman on Amazon or Bookshop.
Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura
Set around the Athens Olympics, this romance follows Olivia, an intern on the communications team, and Ezekiel, a sprinter carrying not just athletic pressure but cultural expectations and personal dreams, as their paths cross in the middle of global spectacle. I chose it because it’s big-hearted and uplifting, with a strong sense of place and a focus on what it means to chase your goals when the whole world is watching. It’s perfect for readers who love sports romance, international settings, and stories about carving out joy and identity, and it left me feeling energized and emotional in the best way.
You can get a copy of Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura on Amazon or Bookshop.
Lazarus Man by Richard Price
In Lazarus Man, the story begins after a Harlem tenement collapse and follows the survivors and community members whose lives intersect in the aftermath, exploring how they process trauma, anger, hope, and the complicated realities of city life. I picked it because it’s gritty and compassionate at the same time-Price has such a keen ear for dialogue and such a deep understanding of urban communities that every character feels fully alive. It’s ideal for readers who like grounded, character-driven literary fiction with social bite, and it left me thoughtful, heavy-hearted, and grateful for how fiction can illuminate real-world struggles.
You can get a copy of Lazarus Man by Richard Price on Amazon or Bookshop.
Have You Read Any of My Top Books of 2024?
These thirteen books are the ones that personally defined my reading year-across genres, moods, and seasons. They’re the stories I’ll still be talking about when we’re well into next year.
I’d love to hear from you:
- Have you read any of these yet?
- Which one are you most excited to pick up next?
- And what books would make your personal best books of 2024 list?
Want To Save This Post?
Enter your email below & I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get themed lists and posts from me every week!
Tell me in the comments-I’m always looking for more books to add to my own TBR, and I love seeing what’s resonated with you.
