I usually struggle to write this post because I’ve had so many great reads during the year, but not in 2024 apparently. I had more DNFs last year than every other year added together. There were more DNFs than five star reads, which is very sad. However, I did still have a decent amount of five star reads. Pretty much all of them are in this post other than a few re-reads which I didn’t want to include.
A Tournament of Crowns by Elise Kova
I made a great decision when I decided to kick off 2024 by reading this. I absolutely adore this series, it’s my favourite of Elisa Kova’s so far. I’m (hopefully) planning to re-read the Air Awakens series at some point this year though, so maybe that will take the top spot again.
It was great to finally actually get to the tournament part of the story. The games were so interesting and I love competitions in fantasy books, especially ones with magic.
I also can’t get enough of Eira and Cullen, I really hope they end up together. I’ve seen the cover for the final book though and it’s hinting heavily that Eira has another love interest. Cullen has messed her around slightly so good for her, but also I love him so here’s to hoping.
I honestly can’t recommend this series or Elise Kova’s books enough. Everything I’ve read so far has been four stars or above.
Synopsis: Last night, Eira killed a man.
However justified her actions were, many now regard her as a cold-blooded murderer and a heretic who extinguished their hope. But there’s no time to explain herself. She barely has a chance to wash the blood off her hands before the Tournament of Five Kingdoms begins.
Sequestered with the other champions for the duration of the tournament, Eira must now navigate the games, her competition, the enemies who hunt her head, and — somehow worse than all the rest — being stuck in close quarters with the man who broke her heart.
All is fair in love and magical tournaments, and Eira is ready for the fight of her life.
Get ready for twists you never saw coming in A Tournament of Crowns. This series is perfect for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy full of elemental magic, slow-burn romance, found family, and battles for the futures of kingdoms set in a world you’ll never want to leave.
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
It’s fairly rare for me to rate a romance book five stars but I fell completely in love with Practice Makes Perfect. Probably for the fact that Will and Annie actually talk to each other about how they are feeling. Meaning the miscommunication trope, easily the worst one, was nowhere in sight.
Also, Will is potentially the most perfect male love interest. I’ve never read a book where the male character doesn’t make fun of someone for reading romance novels. He even reads the ones Annie likes so he can talk to her about them. There are so many great parts of this book that I could talk for hours about it. Instead I’ll leave it here otherwise this post will be ridiculously long.
Synopsis: Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match—someone who complements her happy, quiet life running the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. But finding her dream man may be harder than Annie imagined. Everyone knows everyone in her hometown, and the dating prospects are getting fewer by the day. After she overhears her latest date say she is “so unbelievably boring,” Annie starts to think the problem might be her. Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice . . . and Annie has the perfect person in mind to be her tutor: Will Griffin.
Will—the sexy, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard—is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement builds for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker, Annie’s brother. He has one personal objective while on the job: stay away from Annie Walker and any other possible attachments to this sleepy town. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will finds himself tasked with helping Annie find the love of her life by becoming the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky. Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie. He knows for a fact that some stuffy, straitlaced guy won’t make her happy, but he doesn’t have the heart to say no.
Amid steamy practice dates and strictly “educational” tutoring lessons, Annie discovers there are more layers to Will’s usual stoic attitude. As the lines of their friendship become dangerously blurred, Annie reconsiders her dream guy. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real.
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
I put off reading this for so long, which was clearly a mistake because I adored this book. I even liked it more than A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak which I gave a very high rating of 4.5/5, so that was tough to beat. This was definitely because this one took place in England so it was cosy and much more relatable.
Laura Taylor Namey writes grief in such a beautiful way, I was blown away by it in both books. She also knows how to write loveable characters. Lila, Orion and his entire friend group were lovely. So much so that I’m hoping for a third book that includes them.
What happened to the film adaptation? Is this still a thing? I feel like it’s been forever since they’ve finished filming it and we’ve had absolutely no news about it.
Synopsis: For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.
Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.
A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind—one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman
Books about fandom aren’t ones you come across very often but the few that I have read, have been wonderful. Especially I Was Born for This. It’s not surprising for me to give an Alice Oseman book a five star rating, but I haven’t given five stars to all of them – just most of them.
This book shows you both sides of fame and fandom from the perspective of a fan and the celebrity. I did wonder how these would work for a while as there is quite the divide between a fan and a famous person, but it works so well. This book is a real love letter to fandom and it made me feel something, which is why it’s a five star read for me.
Synopsis: For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world.
Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare.
Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson
I never expected to be including a novella in this post but here we are. I actually enjoyed the novella more than the first book apparently. After loving this though, I am tempted to go back and read A Sorcery of Thorns again. I adore Elisabeth and Nathaniel, this novella cemented them as one of my favourite book couples.
Synopsis: Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…
With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas – along with their new maid Mercy – will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.
What were your top 5 reads of 2024? Let me know in the comments!
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: To Be Watched: January 2025