2024 Reading Wrap-Up | Favorite Books Of The Year
And that’s a wrap on 2024! That means it’s time for my yearly reading recap. I had another good reading year with lots of great and interesting books. During the year, I keep track of my reading on The StoryGraph and in my own Notion reading journal. I love reading stats almost as much as reading itself. If you’re the same, definitely check out the StoryGraph. And now, let’s dive into my 2024 reading wrap-up.
I also did a 2024 mid-year reading wrap-up, check it out here. <3
Every year I set a few reading goals. I like to read for fun, so I set goals that are both achievable and a challenge at the same time. My 2024 reading goals were:
- Read 50 books ✔️ – > I read 56
- Read 4 nonfiction books ❌ – > I only read 3
- Read 1 original French book ✔️ – > I read Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Since discovering The StoryGraph 4 years ago, I’ve been very into reading challenges. There are so many fun and creative challenges on this app. Each year, I try to participate in two or three, depending on how many prompts each challenge has. In 2024, I took part in two: the 2024 RAD reading challenge by @alltheradreads and the 2024 Taylor Swift Eras Challenge by @anniesbookpicks.
I finished both. I didn’t complete one of the bonus prompts from the 2024 Taylor Swift Eras Challenge, but as it was a bonus prompt, I still count the challenge as completed.
Reading Stats
Okay, now onto the best part: the reading stats. Every year, I look forward to my The Storygraph end-of-year reading wrap-up. It has so many fun stats, like your best reading month or the amount of authors you read books by. Each year, there are similarities, but also a few surprises. So, let’s take a look at my 2024 reading stats.
Books & Pages
I read 56 books in 2024, which totaled to about 19.959 pages. 3 of these books were nonfiction, the rest fiction. I didn’t read as many nonfiction books as I wanted to, so that’s a goal I’m focusing on again in 2025.
I love the ‘books and pages read per month’ graphic from The Storygraph. My graphic always looks a bit like a rollercoaster, with months when I read a lot of books and other months when I read almost none. June was my best reading month, with 9 books and 2.901 pages. In September, I was in a reading slump and only finished one book. Luckily, I got out of it by October and picked up my normal pace again.
Moods & Genres
Another fun graphic is the mood map. The darker the line, the darker the books. As you can see, I prefer lighter reading.
Then onto my top 5 genres; there are not a lot of surprises here. My favorite genres are contemporary, romance and fantasy so of course they are in my top 5. I read almost all of Alice Oseman’s books in 2024, so it’s no surprise that young adult and LGBTQIA+ are in my top 5 as well this year.
Ratings
With an average rating of 3.47 stars, I had another good reading year. I gave 3 five-star ratings (not counting rereads) and 15 four-star ratings. Only one book was a bit of a disappointment and got 2.5 stars. I rate every book I read, except for memoirs and biographies. I find it hard to rate those, so I decide for each book if I’m rating it or not. There’s only one book I didn’t give a rating this year, and that’s The Woman in Me by Britney Spears.
My favorite books of 2024
I read so many good books in 2024, so choosing my top 5 was hard. Below, you’ll find my 5 favorites, but I do have to mention a few bonus books that are worth checking out too:
Fan of Pride and Prejudice? Read Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin.
Looking for a book with aroace representation? Loveless by Alice Oseman is the book for you.
In the mood for summer in a book? Pick up Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Historical – literary – magical realism
The Island of Missing Trees is my favorite book of 2024. It fully deserves the five-star rating. If I could give it six stars I would. I had no idea what to expect when picking this book up, but I loved it from the first to the last page.
Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman
Contemporary – graphic novel – young adult – romance – LGBTQIA+
Heartstopper is my favorite series of 2024. I loved every book as much as the one before and couldn’t wait to see how the story evolved. My two absolute favorites are Volume 2 and 3. I fell in love with the characters and their stories. I also love the representation. Alice Oseman knows how to write complex characters. I can’t wait for Volume 6.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Contemporary – mystery – thriller – young adult
A book I picked up as part of the 2024 RAD Reading challenge, and it instantly became one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s a young adult mystery novel set in an Indigenous reservation. The plot keeps you hooked, and at the same time you’re learning more about the Native American culture. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
literary – magical realism
Before the coffee gets cold is an emotional book of short stories about loss and regret. It’s a unique book that I recommend to anyone who loves to read about human connections. I already read the sequel, loved it too, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
The Archived series by V.E. Schwab
Fantasy – young adult
I love a good fantasy book, and V.E. Schwab knows how to write one! After finishing ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’ I couldn’t wait to explore more of V.E. Schwab’s writing, and The Archived series didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a two book fantasy series where the sequel is as good as the original, the Archived is the one for you.
Discover every book I read in 2024 and my ratings on The StoryGrap.
What was one of the best books you read this year?
