I've been keeping track of everything I read since 2018, and I find it ever so helpful as I have a terrible memory! I enjoy books as I'm reading them...and then the whole story basically disappears after a while. It is fun to look back and see what I have read (and what I've stopped reading.) I'm not really setting any goals this year as I enjoy just reading books as they come...but I am hoping to perhaps beat my highest number so far, which was 69 books in 2019. We'll see if we can beat that this year! 

My Reading List for 2024:

Books:

1. Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan (December 2023 TEOTWRC Book) 
This makes two hits in a row for the book club, I absolutely loved this one! It plunges you right in to a mysterious world - seven strangers wake up on a boat together and none of them have any memories. They seem to be in the midst of an apocalypse, and might be the only hope of stopping it! The world was explored well and the catastrophe was explained thoroughly which I always enjoy, while also raising interesting questions about who we are if we don't remember anything. It was fast-paced and kept me hooked till the final word. 

2. The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
I was introduced to this author through a book club choice and I enjoyed this second thriller as well. It jumps between 1986 and 2016 as Eddie comes to terms with a murder that happened in his childhood and whether or not that murderer is becoming active again in the present day. 

3. Gathering Evidence by Martin MacInnes (2023 Advent Calendar TEOTWRC Book)
I am not quite sure how I feel about this one - the writing was beautiful - eloquent and flowed well - there were long sentences that would take up half a page or more and yet they worked. The story was interesting enough - it followed Shel who is in a wildlife park researching some of the last remaining Bonobo chimpanzees, and her husband John who is home recovering from a head injury. But in the end I felt like it never quite tied everything together in a way I would have liked. But still, the writing was so gorgeous it was almost lyrical, so I enjoyed reading it!

4. The Other People by C.J. Tudor
This story follows several characters as we gradually see how their lives intertwine with each other and with "the other people." It was another mystery I very much enjoyed from this author!

5. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
It took me a while to get into this book as the jumping timelines through me off a bit at first (I was even taking notes at one point, haha.) But once I got into the story I was swept away and absolutely loved it. The concept is fantastic - the kalachakra, also sometimes known as the ourboran, are people who live their lives over and over again, always from the same starting point. When Harry gets a message from an older generation that the world is ending - faster than usual - he must figure out what he can do to stop it. I loved this one!

6. The Collector by Laura Kat Young (January 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
This book was meh to me. It is set in a dystopian future UK where the shadowy "Bureau" is trying to eradicate all sadness and depression. Our main character, Dev, is a collector - someone who goes to collect one memory from someone who is "struck" before they will be "reset" so they can no longer remember what was making them sad. The concept was great but the story never really went anywhere, at least, not enough for my liking.

7. None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Like most books by this author I tore through this one in a matter of days. This one was told from two perspectives - both women who have recently turned 45 and are questioning their place in life. Alix is married to a husband she loves with two bright young children and runs a successful podcast. Josie is married to a husband she doesn't seem to love, 27 years her senior, and her two children are grown and gone. When Josie approaches Alix about making a podcast about how she plans to change her life, neither one suspects just how much things are going to change in both their lives. There is murder and mystery and mayhem!

8. The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North
When I find an author I like I tend to read everything they have written, so I picked this one up after enjoying #5 on this list. This one had a similar concept to a book I read last year - the main character is unable to be remembered by anyone. This obviously leads to difficulties in life! Despite similar premises the books were very different and I enjoyed them both. The previous one was more magical and mystical and the character literally lived forever, this one was more grounded in our world except for the forgetting aspect. I will read everything this author puts out!

9. The Last One by Will Dean
I was so intrigued by this book and tore through it in just a couple of days. The premise is fantastic - the main characters boards a cruise ship with her partner and has a fabulous first night. But the next morning she wakes up and everyone is gone! I really can't say anymore than that without giving away anything and you will want to experience the twists and turns for yourself. Read it!

10. What Survives by M. Amelia Eikli (February 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
I absolutely adored this novel. The writing was lyrical and pulls you into the story completely. It had the potential to be boring - just one woman walking home to her family after a pandemic has killed most of the world, but something about the storytelling keeps it engaging. 

11. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
I read a book by this author last year and immediately put this one on the hold list. It took a long time to come up but it was worth the wait! It's spooky, mysterious, intriguing and set in Victorian England. The men who run the London Seance Society might be shady...and it's up to a famous female medium and her new apprentice to find out what's going on. I loved it!

12. The Keep by Jennifer Egan
I found the jumping around from characters and timelines a bit hard to follow at the start of this story. But once I grasped what was happening I enjoyed it - there was a satisfying mystery at the heart!

13. Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling (March 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
Set in a dystopian future marked by extreme climate change and implanted tech this story follows one young woman as she seeks to find her way in the world. The story was intriguing enough but I wish it went a little further - right when things started to really come together the story ended. I did enjoy this one though!

14. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
This received my first 5-star review of the year on Goodreads - I absolutely loved it! It helped that I got to finish it while sitting outside on a perfectly sunny gorgeous day. The story is set in world where multi-versal travel has been discovered and people called "traversers" move between the worlds to bring resources and information. I don't want to say much more so as not to spoil anything - just go read this one!

15. The Return by Rachel Harrison
This starts the run of 6 books I read while on 3 weeks of vacation, so I'm not sure how much I'll remember about each of these! This one was about the story of four friends - one of whom disappeared for 2 years. One of the friends held out hope that she was still alive, while the others mourned her death and even had a funeral. Then, she returns! They go away for a girl weekend to reconnect, but all is not as it seems with the one who returned...this was mysterious and spooky - I enjoyed it!

16. The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. It follows the story of a woman who needs a fresh start after a divorce, and her best friend offers her the chance to be the caretaker and live on the property of a nature reserve. The only catch is her predecessor left suddenly - leaving all of her things behind - and she desperately wants to solve that mystery! This story was very heartfelt and moving.

17. The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal
I'll warn you now - this one made me cry! It follows the story of two women and their lifelong friendship - and the secrets they have kept from one another. The characters were as richly drawn as the stunning West Coast scenery - I enjoyed picturing the setting for this one!

18. The Lies We Told by Camilla Way
We start by following two disparate timelines - one in the present day where Clara's boyfriend, Luke, goes missing. Another starting in 1986 where Beth is starting to become afraid of her daughter, Hannah, who shows signs of being a sociopath. I enjoyed following the mysteries and seeing how these stories entertwined.

19. My Favorite Terrible Thing by Madeline Henry
A world-famous author has vanished and no one can find her - until one detective starts looking for clues in her best-selling novel. The twists and turns in this one were very fun to follow!

20. One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke
I finished this one in 24 hours - with much of that being on a plane. Six women travel to sun-soaked Greece for a hen do (British for a Bachelorette party!) and whilst there secrets start to be revealed. The girls are more connected than they all know - and not always in good ways! I love a good thriller and this one hit the spot.

21. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
This was an intriguing thriller about a woman who works in an underground world where she is always going undercover as someone else. When her boss gives her a new identity that seems to be getting her in trouble, so begins a race to uncover what's really going on and how she can reclaim her true self. I enjoyed it. 

22. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Joel and I one watched the first episode of the HBO mini series based on this book, but apparently we were never intrigued enough of to finish it. The TV show takes place in California, the book in Australia - both in sweet little seaside towns. The drama is all about the families that live here and go to the posh local school - but what is really happening behind closed doors? We see the story from several women's perspectives and it was a nice easy read. 

23. Wool by Hugh Howey (TEOTWRC Re-Release)
We watched the mini-series on AppleTV based on this book and loved it, so when the book club re-released this one as a box I had to get it! I started it a long time ago and then stopped when the book went past the show as I didn't want spoilers...but then eventually I decided, nah I want to finish the story (and get to the next one.) I love this world, it is so intriguing!

24. Shift by Hugh Howey (TEOTWRC Special Release)
As much as I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, this one was even better! I can't wait until the book clubs releases the third book as a box. 

25. Cold People by Tom Rob Smith (May 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
This might be my favourite book club book so far - I absolutely loved it! One summer day in 2023 all of humanity gets the message that they have 30 days to get to Antarctica. With no idea what the consequences might be for disobeying, humanity begins a great exodus to the most hostile place on the planet. Then the story jumps ahead 20 years to see how humans are faring. I found this one so intriguing and I loved the characters. 

26. No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler
I love everything Kate Bowler writes and this book is no exception. It's a memoir about her diagnosis and cancer treatments, and the way her faith and family helped her through these difficult times. 

27. Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
On Halloween Eve, Jen is waiting up for her 18 year old son to come home, when instead she witnesses him murder someone outside their home. The next day she wakes up and...it's the day before. Every day she moves further into the past as she tries to solve the mystery of the murder that is yet to take place. I loved it!

28. The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand is the Queen of beach reads for me - her books take place on Nantucket, usually during the summer, and while an easy read they are always filled with a depth of character and story that keep it compelling. I've made it a goal now to read her entire library! This one featured Hollis Shaw who gathers four friends from different stages of her life for a five start weekend, in order to help her grieve the sudden loss of her husband. It was heartwarming, funny, and delightful. 

29. Last One (June 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
This story centered around a mother and her child, trying to survive in a world that has been ravaged by microplastics that have made much of the planet unlivable. It was touching, and I appreciated the creative (and clearly defined) apocalypse, but it followed a lot of tropes including a long journey to try and find a loved one. A good read, but not a fantastic one. 

30. Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R Weaver (July 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
I think this one quickly trumped May's book as my club favourite! It is set in a not too distant future where climate change is ravaging the earth but technology is evolving to help us combat it. Chief among these developments is Solomon, an AI that has become the governor of the "Floating States" - artificial islands that roam the ocean to stay in calmer seas. The world at large has agreed to elect a dictator who will take control of the climate crisis, then hand power back to nations when the crisis is averted. The final two has come down to Solomon and a former US president. This book was part apocalypse, part political drama, part murder mystery and I adored every minute of it. I wish I could read it for the first time again!

31. Have a Little Faith: Life Lessons on Love, Death, and How Lasagne Always Helps by Kate Bottley
Kate Bottley is a Church of England vicar who went viral in 2013 for a flash mob at a wedding she was officiating. Since then she appeared on 3 seasons of Gogglebox (a popular British reality TV show where you watch people reacting to other TV shows) and makes frequent appearances on television and radio. She is one of the most well-known vicars in the UK. This book was part memoir, part life advice, and read like you were sitting and having a cup of tea with her. There was nothing particularly insightful in it but I enjoyed it. 

32. Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
Vesper left her family at 18 and has been estranged from them ever since. But when a wedding invitation from her cousin Rosie turns up on her doorstep, she is drawn back in to the world she tried so hard to leave behind. This story was dark and twisty and I loved it. 

33. Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
Liv Reese has a condition that means she loses her memory every time she falls asleep. She is also caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who wants her dead for what she might remember. This thriller was a fun quick read. 

34. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
This book came recommended to me by Philip DeFranco (a YouTube news person we watch) and he was so right - this is one of my favourites I've read all year! It's part apocalypse - the sun is dying and the world has to rally to figure out how to stop it - and part space adventure. It was heart warming and funny and explained complicated science in a way that was easy to follow. This was such a good read. I'd love to read a companion story that showed what was happening on earth while Ryland Grace was off planet trying to save the world!

35. Artemis by Andy Weir
When I enjoy a book by an author I like to go read other things they've written, so I was delighted when this one was immediately available. The story takes place in a future where humanity has a fully-functioning city on the moon. Jasmine grew up there and now works as a smuggler as she tries to set herself up for a life of luxury. It's basically a crime thriller set on the moon and was quite fun! 

36. The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go From Here by Kaitlyn Schiess
This book was one of three I received at the YCWI conference, and the author gave a very engaging talk at the conference. I knew from hearing her speak that I would enjoy this book, and I very much did. I wish I had it back when I was preaching in the US! It's slightly less relevant to me here, but was still a fascinating read. 

37. Making Paper Cranes: Toward an Asian American Feminist Theology by Mihee Kim-Kort
This book was also given to us at the YCWI conference, and the author was our opening speaker. She was incredibly warm and engaging in person, and her writing in the book was very much the same. 

38. A Better World by Sarah Langan (August 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
This book club pick was another home run for me! Set in a dystopian future where climate change is wreaking havoc and the best way to survive is to make it into a "company town" - run by a larger corporation - we follow the Farmer-Bowen family when they get that coveted entry to a company town. Though it should be utopia on the inside - all is not as it seems. I tore through this story as quickly as I could and really loved it!

39. The Clueless Club: Takes on the Mary Celeste by A.A. Roskilly
With this book I can say I am friends with the author! It is written for kids but was still fun to read as an adult. You should definitely buy it for any elementary aged kiddos in your life!

40. Into the Dark by Fiona Cummins
I have a stack of books on my shelf that I'm not sure where they came from - I think mostly from other people giving them away - but I've decided it's high time to read through them and then pass them on myself (to the charity shop.) This crime thriller follows DS Saul Anguish as he tries to solve the disappearance of Piper Holden and her entire family. It is told from several different points of view and set in a quaint seaside English town. It's nothing groundbreaking but a fun read. 

41. The Prisoner's Wife by Ali Blood
This was the equivalent of a mindless popcorn film, and follows the story of Emma who accidentally married a mobster. By the time she realised the truth she was trapped in an abusive relationship, and even her husband going to prison doesn't grant her release. I found the main character incredibly annoying, but it was an easy read and kept me intrigued to the end. 

42. The House of Lost Secrets by Antsey Harris
I loved the rural Scottish setting of this story, and the heartfelt look at our past and the secrets we carry. When Joanna loses her best friend of many years, she unpacks their memories and their lives in the vacation house she has now inherited. It was a lovely read. 

43. The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
There was something off about this murder mystery to me, but I powered through and read it anyway. It was enjoyable enough, but forgettable. 

44. Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation by Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes & Andrew Wilkes
This was the 3rd and final book given to us at the YCWI conference. It is written in a daily reflection format, which I really enjoyed. It got me in the habit of starting each morning with some devotional/work related reading, which I have now carried on!

45. From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout by Callie E. Swanlund
I purchased this one at the YCWI conference and I am so glad I did. I loved that it was written in short, easy to digest chapters, with some very practical advice and resources for how to care for yourself and adjust working practices in the midst of burnout. This is one I will return to again and again!

46. Murder Before Evensong by The Reverend Richard Coles
Written by a Church of England vicar, this murder mystery takes place in a small English village. The setting was quaint, the characters quirky, and the mystery enjoyable enough to follow along. It didn't totally grip me for some reason, though, and I don't think I'll be checking out the rest of his novels. 

47. Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand 
I have decided to go back and read through Elin Hilderbrand's entire catalogue in order that the books were published. This is going to take ages because every single book of hers as a several month wait on the library app! I can see why though, her books are engaging enough to draw you in and light enough to not feel too emotionally invested or destroyed at the end. I've loved everything of hers so far and this debut novel was excellent. Three close-knit friends spend 20 years going "night swimming" in an annual tradition, until one year one of them disappears in the water. The stories and secrets that unravel from here are fascinating. 

48. Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
This one got me in the mood for spooky season - but don't read if you are pregnant or planning to be anytime soon! The main character is pregnant and gets some horrific symptoms and, as a famous actress, she is dealing with a stalker. This was creepy and a bit gory (but not too much) and I l0ved the ending. 

49. The Ex by Alifair Burke
This was a great thriller - recently widowed Jack Harris gets accused of murder, and has to call on his college ex-girlfiend, now a renowned lawyer, to help him out of a jam. The relationships throughout this novel were explored in really interesting ways and I devoured it. 

50. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 
I have enjoyed Sophie Kinsella books in the past (the Shopaholic series) so I know her style is fun and flighty and her characters are usually the same way. For some reason, I found myself quite irritated by the main character this time. The premise was fascinating - she woke up in the hospital to find 3 years had passed since her last memory, and everything about her life is different - she looks different, she's married now, and the boss at the company where she used to be just an office worker. The internal dialogue of the character and the choices she makes were very frustrating at times!

51. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark
I read this old MHC book because I was looking for books by Alifair Burke and saw she had written a sequel with MHC. I remember loving MHC stuff when I was a kid, and I loved this one, too. She really is the Queen of Suspense and the short punchy chapters help make it an easy read. 

52. Where are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alifair Burke
This novel follows the kids from the first book who are all grown up now. Melissa gets married and has an adorable step daughter, Riley, who then gets kidnapped, just like Melissa did when she was a kid. The police view the new step mother as a suspect and she has to defend herself, even against her new husband. The twists and turns in this one were unpredictable and so good. 

53. Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft
Bea grew up with a con artist mother who married rich then murdered and moved on. Now on her own, Bea also desires to marry rich - but then she wants to settle down and life a life of leisure. Her internal dialogue was captivating as she battle wits with the old money mother in law and other friends who viewed her as an interloper. This was a quick, entertaining read. 

54. The Change by Kristen Miller
I loved this story about women moving into another stage of life (menopause) and suddenly coming into their power. They work together to solve a murder mystery in their small town. I would love for this to become a series!

55. Shiver by Allie Reynolds
A reunion in the Swiss Alps turns deadly for a group of friends who haven't seen in each other in years. The mystery was enjoyable it a bit predictable, and I particularly enjoyed the setting. It made me want to ski! 

56. Believe Me by JP Delaney
This one is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed it. 

57. Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
I absolutely adored this novel and cannot wait for the other two in the trilogy to become available on my Kindle. It felt like a grown up Harry Potter (without the problematic author!) A good chunk of it took place in Hebden Bridge - a small Yorkshire town I've actually been to! 

58. It's One of Us by J.T. Ellison 
A twisty thriller with fraught family ties - a marriage full of secrets including, on the wife's part, a past with her husband's brother, and on the husband's part, a past sperm donation that led to a multitude of children...one of whom is now suspected of murder. This was a good read! 

59. After Arrival by Massimo Paradiso (September 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
I enjoyed this novel about an alien invasion that changed the world...and the way things worked "after arrival." When one human finally makes contact with the aliens, it changes everything! 

60. End of Story by Lousie Swanson (October 2024 TETWRC Book) 
This story is set in a dystopian future when all fiction has been banned and no one is allowed to read stories anymore. One celebrated author now works as a cleaner at a hospital and tries to make it through her days without books. I would have enjoyed it more without the twist at the end. 

61. A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison 
When celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is suddenly murdered, her daughter Darian is thrown into trying to figure out exactly what happened, and then the will is read, revealing lots of long-hidden secrets! 

Audiobooks:

I don't know why it's taken me this long to remember audiobooks are a thing...and realize that I can get them on the library app on my phone and listen to them that way! This would have been transformative last year when I was driving a ton for work. Ah well, I'm also driving a ton for work at the start of this year and audiobooks are making the driving so much more enjoyable. Here's where I'll keep track of the ones I listen to!

1. Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
I love the Veronica Mars TV series and the movie - this novel picks up right where the movie left off. I wasn't sure how I would feel about "reading" this story instead of watching it, but since this was narrated by Kristen Bell herself, that made it amazing! The story was interesting, it was fun to re-visit old characters (and I could picture them perfectly) and this kept me company on a long drive for work. There's only one more in the series but it is up next!

2. Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
I was so disappointed that this one was not read by Kristen Bell, whomp, whomp. It took me a while to get used to the narrator's voice which I found a bit dry and flat, but the story itself was intriguing. I am definitely hooked on audio books again!

3. Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
We watched the movie of this when it first came out on Netflix and loved it. The follow up film was enjoyable as well. So when I saw it was a book series I decided I would give it a go! The plot of the movie stuck closely to this book so there was nothing new for me there, but it was a good refresher as I look to listening to the rest of the series. 

4. Time Squared by Lesley Krueger
It took me a while to get into this one, and I ended up checking it out from the library 3 times to finally get through it all. Once it got going it was interesting and the ending absolutely took me by surprise! I don't want to say much so as not to give anything away, but if you like romance and historical fiction you'll like this one. 

5. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
I don't think this was a book I would have enjoyed reading, but I absolutely loved it as an audiobook. It looks at the whole timeline of humanity and how we have been shaped by our biology and history. It was fascinating!

6. Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
I wanted to read this one because I enjoyed a book club book by this author, and this one was only available on audiobook. It tells the story of a suburban neighborhood where a sinkhole opens up, and then subsequent drama and trauma is revealed with all of the picture perfect families. This is one I would have preferred to read I think! 

7. If You Were Here by Alafair Burke
McKenna Jordan is a journalist with a past as a Manhattan DA, and when new evidence pops up that her missing friend Susan Hauptmann may still be alive, she begins to dig into a story that is going to make or break her career. 

8. The Wife by Alafair Burke 
A man accused of sexual misconduct at work, the wife who chooses to stand beside him regardless...or does she? I enjoyed the twists and turns in this one. 

9. Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger 
I might have enjoyed this book more if I read it, I found the multiple perspectives hard to keep track of in the audio format. Strangely it was another one with a theme of sperm donation leading to a large unknown family that gets pulled together in dark ways. 

 

Did Not Finish:

Here is the list of books I couldn't bring myself to finish reading this year! 

1. Tomorrow's Children by Daniel Polansky (April 2024 TEOTWRC Book)
I read 21 pages of this TEOTWRC book and I could not get into it. I had bad feeling when the first gift was a long list of glossary terms for the novel - because it had a made up future/slang language. I know that kind of thing is meant to immerse you in a new world but it almost immediately loses me as I stumble over random words and weird names and I just don't like to have to keep track of that kind of thing. I ended up several books behind in my book club because I like to read them in order and I just could not bring myself to spend time on this one. After I got to June without cracking it again, I checked what people said about it in the book club - it was described as reminiscent of Mad Max and A Clockwork Orange - two movies I absolutely despise. So I decided to give myself permission to open the presents on this one and skip the book altogether! 

2. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
This sci-fi novel sounded promising in the description but I found it just a bit too avant-garde for my taste. I got about halfway through before I gave up, realizing I didn't really know what was going on! 

XOXO, Bethany