My Little Library: A Year of Reading in Review

How many adventures did I go on in the margins of a page?

As 2024 closes out, I’d like to take a look back on the books I read this year. This has been a spectacular year of reading for me as some of the books I’ve read have catapulted to my favorites of all time.

In this blog, I’ll be taking note of what books absolutely blew me away, the ones that fell flat, and my reading goals for the new year! And of course, I’m always taking more book recommendations!

The Standouts:

1. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

This book punched me in the throat, kicked me while I was down and spat in my eye, laughing at me all the while. It is the best book I read this year and it now lives in my personal hall of fame of being one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life.

To preface, I devoured this entire book on a plane ride, not once peeling away to use the in-flight entertainment system or even listen to music in my headphones. I was consumed and when we landed I felt like I was hungover, left empty and dehydrated from a hallucination of words that no one in my company shared.

This book is phenomenal from start to finish, and is a wild ride. It’s best to go into this book completely unadulterated so I won’t divulge lots of details. But, if you’re an existentialist like me and looking to feel inspired and grateful for every morning you wake up on this Earth look no further than this book. Your perspective will never be the same.

Life is made of small pleasures, and reading this book was one of them.

“What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?”

2. Vengeful by VE Schwab

What can I say? VE Schwab you’ve done it again. You are quickly becoming my favorite author as you’ve landed my top 2 books of the year. A worthy sequel to Vicious, I’m so glad I got around to finally reading it. While I will say this book was not jaw-dropping the way its predecessor was, Vengeful was a lot of fun.

The dynamic between Eli and Victor is tantalizing in every way, coupled with a very solid ensemble of new characters. I enjoyed this book so much and I’m sad I have to wait so long for the third book. If you haven’t read the Villains series I highly suggest it.

Victor and Eli, are the new Charles Xavier and Magneto. The tension between these 2 is insane, and yes they do want to kill each other. Need I say more?

Marcella, you are a badass, I can’t hate a woman on a mission, even if it is mass destruction.

To leave you in suspense, this book drives the question its predecessor laid out for us: “What happens when we play god?”

“You’re not blessed. Or divine. Or burdened. You’re a science experiment.”

The Surprise:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

I was a diehard Harry Potter fan growing up (I still am in many ways, just quieter about it now) and refused to read anything Percy Jackson. My brother on the other hand, could have his cake and eat it too, equally enjoying both Harry Potter and Percy Jackson (the latter of the two which catapulted a love for mythology he still has to this day).

Growing up, my brother divulged entire plot lines to me from Percy Jackson, though with time some of the spoilers have become fuzzy. Still, I knew as an adult it was about time I gave this series a chance. I’m glad I did, kickstarting a wonderful book club with my brother and my boyfriend (another first-time reader of the series).

I’m only 3/5 books in so far, but these books have been a lot of fun. They are quick to read, incredibly funny, and surprisingly poignant at times. Reading this series has reminded me why I fell in love with books as a kid. It has a certain magic in it only found in middle-grade books. Something children can understand and something that adults lose when they grow up.

If you’ve considered reading this series and think your window of opportunity has closed because of age, you’re wrong. I urge you to pick up a copy, you won’t regret it.

“Your fatal flaw is personal loyalty, Percy. You do not know when it is time to cut your losses. To save a friend, you would sacrifice the world.”

The Disappointments:

1. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

BookTok does not know what’s good for me. An amalgamation of tropes and themes stolen from better books and an absolute snoozefest to read. Literally, while reading this I was wondering how this entire book wasn’t flagged for plagiarism. Save yourself and read The Hunger Games instead, you’ll actually have a good time.

2. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

BookTok strikes again! A swing and a miss. Really wanted to love this one but unfortunately this book put me to sleep with its complex magic system and one-dimensional characters. Rachel should have lunch with Lauren, they would do good breaking bread over mediocre stories.

Current Read and To Be Read in 2025:

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The magnum opus of American literature. A book I’ve been reading over the course of a few months and I’m barely breaking the surface. It is my goal to finally finish it in 2025 and when I do, trust there will be a book review for it. This book has been phenomenal so far, and I feel as though Steinbeck is weaving together a “story” while also holding up a mirror to the reader, reminding them of our shared humanity.

Ugh, my existentialist heart be still. The characters are incredible, and the storytelling is so magnetic I feel as if the book has a pulse entirely its own. I’m not one for classics, I’m more of a contemporary reader, but Steinbeck you’re tipping my scales.

More to come as I traverse this book…

“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal.”

Now, on to books I want to read in the new year:

1. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

A newlywed couple must navigate their marriage after finding out the husband has a horrible illness that slowly turns him into a shark? Um, yes!!

2. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Two former friends take a vacation together to hash out their drama, plus romantic tension? Yep, yep, yep!

3. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

A memoir for women, anecdotes of love, funny stories, and more? Sign me up!

If you’ve stuck around this long, I just want to say thank you! If you have any book recommendations I would love to hear them in the comments! Writing this has inspired me and I think eventually I want to make a blog of my favorite books of all time (so far)! Maybe more to come soon on that…

Anyways, I hope you’ve all had an amazing year, I know this one has treated me well. I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for me.

Time to renew that library card!