Hello friends!

How are y’all doing? You already know January is a month of reflection for me, so starting with today’s post, I will do a little wrap-up to talk about all the books that were part of my past reading year. You know me, I have to tell you all about my favorite reads of 2024!

I’ve read amazing books last year that I want to share with you, so today’s post is exactly about that! And who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself a few new books to read. I ended up reading 75 books in 2024 and there were plenty 4 and 5-star ratings, but today you’ll only find the crème de la crème!

It’s funny because when I was going through my Goodreads to find my 2024 favorites, I thought I would find more variety, genre-wise. I thought I was going to find books from different genres such as romance, self-development, memoirs, science, literary fiction, science-fiction, fantasy, and thrillers. But what REALLY ended up happening is that it seems like most of my favorite books were non-fiction (4/6), one was romance, and another one was a thriller. This was something I found very surprising and unexpected!

Another thing I found surprising was the fact I only picked 6 favorite books this year. I usually have a bigger list – almost double the amount of books -, but this year, I had very few favorite books to share with you. Which is also a very odd thing to happen!

Regardless, I still have a selection of books to share with you today! Just a small disclaimer: these are not necessarily books that came out last year! This list is focused on my personal reading year and the books that were part of it. Meaning: you’ll find a few oldies here!

Ok so now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into it! Below each book you’ll find the respective synopsis in case you’re curious. Here are my favorite 6 books I read in 2024:

Let’s take a look at the books individually!

1. More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

I read this book in one sitting – that should tell you how amazing it was! I thought it would be difficult for it to be as good as the first book, “Letters to the Lost” (which was also incredible), but I was wrong. This story gives you all the feels – both main characters have their ghosts, so the story is sad and heavy, especially when you begin to understand their backstories a little better. But at the same time, it’s a very heartwarming story.
This is a good book because it has great characters, great character development, and also great relationships. The romance was cute, but it’s not only a romance story – it’s about growing up and learning to deal with life’s traumas. Despite the heavy subjects, it’s an easy book to follow, it is detailed, and it is very easy to empathize with the characters. It’s an excellent book, and I’m glad I finally read it and concluded the duology. I honestly can’t recommend this duology enough. It’s beyond amazing for a contemporary YA!

Synopsis

“Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay…until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.
Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.
When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.”

2. How to Keep House While Drowing by K.C. Davis

I have never thought I would feel so validated after reading a book, but here we are! The title describes exactly what this book is about, how to keep your house clean and organized when feeling overwhelmed.
There are a lot of great ideas and advice in this book, such as care tasks are morally neutral (there’s no point in being ashamed because care tasks are not related to morality); rest is a right, not a reward; reset the space for functionality instead of thinking about “having to do it”. The author reinforces over and over again that we deserve kindness and compassion. The goal of this book is to tell you it’s okay – It’s okay not to have everything figured out. It’s okay to not have a perfectly clean and organized home. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes. It’s a really good book to pick up, whether you’re having trouble keeping house or not.

Synopsis

“How to Keep House While Drowning will introduce you to six life-changing principles that will revolutionize the way you approach home care—without endless to-do lists. Presented in 31 daily thoughts, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you feel over home care.
Inside you will learn:
· How to shift your perspective of care tasks from moral to functional;
· How to stop negative self-talk and shame around care tasks;
· How to give yourself permission to rest, even when things aren’t finished;
· How to motivate yourself to care for your space.”

3. Confessions by Kanae Minato

This book is INCREDIBLE! It was one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I will never shut up about it. I don’t think I have ever read something like this before! I don’t want to spoil the story because the book gets right into it from the start, so I’ll advise you to read the synopsis to get a gist of what the story is about. I’m in awe of this book. The fact that it was super shocking and devious made this book very different from other thrillers in my eyes. I seriously couldn’t put it down, and when I did it was because I had to! Can’t recommend this enough for thriller fans!

Synopsis

“Her pupils killed her daughter.
Now, she will have her revenge.
After calling off her engagement in wake of a tragic revelation, Yuko Moriguchi had nothing to live for except her only child, four-year-old Manami. Now, following an accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation.
But first she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that upends everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.
Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you’ll never see coming, Confessions explores the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in danger. You’ll never look at a classroom the same way again.”

4. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté

Another great book I read in 2024 that is going to stay with me for a very long time! It’s a book written by a doctor talking about how trauma and illness develop when you are living in a toxic culture. It was a very fascinating book that opened my eyes to how much our environment and society play a role in our physical and mental health. I saw myself a lot in it, and it definitely changed my perspective. Definitely worth reading!

Synopsis

“By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.
In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.”

5. Mirror Work by Louise Hay

Another great book I read in 2024! This is one heck of a book, my friends – you have to read it! In “Mirror Work”, the author shows readers how we can heal ourselves by taking her 21-day journey of mirror work. The days are divided by chapters, so the goal is to read a chapter each day to complete the 21 days. Each day focuses on a specific topic, such as healing the inner child, letting go of anger, letting go of fear, etc. It is a very well–structured book, and the chapters are fairly short, so you’ll take 10 minutes of your day to read it! I enjoyed this book a lot and I took a lot from it – so that’s why I will always recommend it to other self-development readers. This ended up being a life-changing book for me, and I can’t recommend it enough! I loved it so much that I still read a chapter once in a while to start my day the right way. If you’re into self-development, this is a must!

Synopsis

“Mirror work has long been Louise Hay’s favorite method for cultivating a deeper relationship with yourself, and leading a more peaceful and meaningful life.
The Mirror Principle, one of Louise’s core teachings, holds that our experience of life mirrors our relationship with ourselves; unless we see ourselves as loveable, the world can be a dark and lonely place.
Mirror work—looking at oneself in a mirror and repeating positive affirmations—was Louise’s powerful method for learning to love oneself and experience the world as a safe and loving place.
Each of the 21 days is organized around a theme, such as monitoring self-talk, overcoming fear, releasing anger, healing relationships, forgiving self and others, receiving prosperity, and living stress-free.
The daily program involves an exercise in front of the mirror, positive affirmations, journaling, an inspiring Heart Thought to ponder, and a guided meditation.
Packed with practical guidance and support, presented in Louise’s warmly personal words, MIRROR WORK—or Mirror Play, as she likes to call it—is designed to help
• Learn a deeper level of self-care
• Gain confidence in their own inner guidance system
• Develop awareness of their soul gifts
• Overcome resistance to change
• Boost self-esteem
• Cultivate love and compassion in their relationships with self and others
“Mirror work—looking deeply into your eyes and repeating affirmations—is the most effective method I’ve found for learning to love yourself and see the world as a safe and loving place. I have been teaching people how to do mirror work for as long as I have been teaching affirmations.
The most powerful affirmations are those you say out loud when you are in front of your mirror. The mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself.
As you learn to do mirror work, you will become much more aware of the words you say and the things you do. You will learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level than you have done before.
The more you use mirrors for complimenting yourself, approving of yourself, and supporting yourself during difficult times, the deeper and more enjoyable your relationship with yourself will become.”
Love,
Louise Hay”

6. The Big Bang Theory by Jessica Radloff

Of course, this book is here, it’s incredible! This is a very complete piece of work that allows us to take a peak behind the scenes from the time “The Big Bang Theory” was only an idea to the creation of the prequel show, “Young Sheldon”! There are so many things that happened that the viewers can only find out by reading this book, myself included. What really amazed me was the amount of information the author was able to put together and then create a very well-structured, entertaining, and informative book! Everyone who participated in creating this book opened up and talked about all aspects of the show, including what they were going through on a personal level – and even more surprising was how vulnerable and honest they were, even talking about personal relationships on set and conflicts.
Needless to say, this is a must-read for all lovers of “The Big Bang Theory” like myself.

Synopsis

“The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and the entire cast. The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety.  The Big Bang The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more. Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans.
“Talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on Big Bang Theory under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season – and sometimes each episode – became it’s own, separate entity again… Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy.” —Jim Parsons”

Great books huh? Well, but not everything is sunshine and roses… I also read a few “bad” books! And that’s what I’m bringing you in my next post: “The Worst Books I’ve Read in 2024”! Stay tuned for that. 🙂

What about you? What were the best books you read last year? Did you read any of the books I included in the list? Let me know in the comments!

See you in the next one!