The Best (and worst) Books I Read in 2024

Over the fever dream that was 2024, I somehow managed to read 32 books. From fantastical novels to memorable memoirs, I’ve seen it all, and now as we enter 2025, I’ve begun reflecting on my book choices. So today, I am going to share 10 of the best, and worst, books I read this year.

Before we begin, I want to disclose that this list is limited to books available at the Blough Weis Library and is NOT limited to books written or released in 2024. In addition, I have already done full reviews on many of my favorite reads this year and will not be including any books I have already done an in-depth review on. Finally, all of these picks are for fun and based on my own subjective opinions, so without further ado, let’s count down my picks for 2024!

10. The Women by Kirstin Hannah

To kick us off, we have the only book on this list actually released this year, and unfortunately, it happens to be my least favorite. Kirstin Hannah’s “The Women,” tells the lesser-known story of the role women had in the Vietnam War. Just by hearing that, I was intrigued and began reading right away. The story had a strong opening, building interest and stakes for the characters and reader; however, the second act truly fell off as the tone of this book lightened and almost avoided the topic of the plot. Instead, we follow a Hallmark-style love story that felt too good to be true. Additionally, many of the side characters are poorly written and made out to be nothing other than stereotypes, which is deeply dissatisfying as they are the redeeming quality of the story. This book ends at the bottom of the list mostly because of how disappointed I felt, not only because of my intrigue in the plot but also because I enjoy some of Hannah’s other works.

9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Coming second to last is another book I was immensely disappointed by, the ever-so-popular, “All the Light We Cannot See.” I picked up this book after finding a copy that I had bought years ago and always wanted to read, but part of me wishes I had stayed wondering. I just found this book so utterly boring, focusing on drawn-out plot points and sections I had little interest in. I got about 60% through this lengthy piece before I finally tapped out (something I despise doing). I believe that if I hadn’t had such pristine preconceived expectations of this novel, then maybe it would have ended up higher on this list, but until the day I undoubtedly reread it, it will rest in the number nine spot for now.

8. The Power by Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman’s “The Power” follows five distinct characters as they wake up in a world where women gain power, in both a societal and supernatural sense. With that premise, I grabbed this book and read it as soon as possible, however, this book still holds me on the fence. On one hand, this novel showcases a fascinating take on gender, identity, and obviously, power and hierarchy, but lacks diversity in many other aspects. Of the five main characters, only two are not white, and one of whom is a man; his story could have been interesting as a Nigerian journalist documenting the impact of women ‘around the world,’ while entirely focusing on the Western World. Many of the other main characters are interesting, but I felt little connection to them because of how many things are going on in the plot of this novel. For the most part, this was an enjoyable book, albeit a little ambitious 

7. Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson

Now, getting into books that I enjoyed, for the most part, we get to a newer book in the library. “Why Nations Fail” is an explorative deep dive that compares and contrasts nations that exist today, as well as throughout history. Acemoglu and Robinson break down the book into chapters that expand upon certain aspects that lead to the success and failure of societies around the world, and you can tell that both authors heavily researched the topics at hand. While I found this to be a fascinating piece of media, it is not for the casual reader. This book is both lengthy and densely packed with information that sometimes requires previous knowledge to fully grasp its message.

6. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Moving back to some easy-going leisurely pieces, we arrive at my first read of the year, Xiran Zhao’s “Iron Widow.” This will be a brief one as I plan to do a more in-depth review of this book because I have a lot of thoughts, but for those who haven’t heard of it, “Iron Widow” is a sci-fi/fantasy novel heavily influenced by Chinese culture and history, which was my favorite part about this book. The story follows Zetian, a young woman in an alternate Chinese historical and heavily sexist world. This book has so much to offer, but also some more…questionable moments, so be sure to look out for the full review!

5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Halfway through the list, we get to Maggie Stiefvater’s “Scorpio Races.” The Scorpio Races dives into Scottish folklore through this gripping tale of deadly water horses, high-stakes racing, and unexpected connections. On the island of Thisby, Sean Kendrick, a previous champion of the races, and Puck Connolly, the first female racer, risk everything in a deadly contest that could change their lives forever. This is a dense book and takes a while to get to the climax, but once you get into it and all the pieces start to fall together, you get a wonderfully thrilling and strangely romantic story.

4. Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns

The most recent book I read on this list is Priya Guns’s “Your Driver is Waiting.” The flip-flop between quippy comedic chapters and dark dreary moments creates a perfect balance for the novel’s narrative. We follow Demani, a rideshare driver scraping by in the streets of New York, who goes on a journey of love, betrayal, and revenge as she fights systemic inequality. My favorite part of this story is the natural inclusion of diversity in the main cast of complex characters, each person has their own story that interacts with all the others and creates a fun read for all. 

3. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

The shortest book on this list is one I have mentioned before and will continue to talk about. “This is How You Lose the Time War” is a stunningly poetic tale of love and rivalry across the strands of time. Red and Blue, agents from opposing futures, wage a secret war to shape the destiny of the universe. Amid their battle, an unlikely bond forms through letters hidden in the threads of time. What begins as taunts turns into something far deeper, defying their missions and threatening everything they fight for.

2. Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini

In second place is a somewhat new book to the library and an extremely relevant memoir that makes it to the top of this list for good reason. Similar to the last book, “Unmasking AI,” is one I have mentioned here before, though that was before I’d actually read this masterful memoir. Drawing from her groundbreaking research and advocacy, Buolamwini exposes how AI systems often perpetuate discrimination and inequality. Through personal stories, critical insights, and a call to action, she challenges readers to envision a future where technology upholds humanity rather than undermines it. Inspiring and urgent, this book is a vital read for anyone navigating our increasingly tech-driven world.

1. Kindred by Octavia E. Bulter

Are you surprised to see Octavia Butler at number one? You shouldn’t be because while “Kindred” is one of Butler’s only solo stories, it is one of my favorites. “Kindred” is a genre-defying masterpiece that blends science fiction, historical fiction, and profound social commentary. The story follows Dana, a young Black writer in 1970s California, who is inexplicably pulled back in time to the antebellum South. There, she encounters her ancestors, an enslaved woman and a white plantation owner, forcing her to confront the brutal realities of slavery and her own survival. Gripping and thought-provoking, “Kindred” explores themes of identity, power, and the enduring impact of history in a way that remains timeless and essential, hence I crown this book as my favorite book of 2024 (according to the guidelines I set for this list…and if not, it would be Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” click here to read my review of it!)