The Best Books of 2024! My Top 10 of the Year!

It’s the best time of the year! An opportunity to look back at all the incredible books I read this past year and pick out my absolute favorites.

I love creating this post because I tend to forget what I read earlier in the year and this gives me a chance to revisit them. It’s also interesting to see how my highly rated books early on stack up against more recent reads.

Since this is a comprehensive list of my favorites, you’ll find more than just romances below. Although, let’s be honest most of them do fall into that genre! 

I decided to rank my Top 10 this year and name an official Best Book of 2024! You’ll never believe what I ended up picking as my #1 book of 2024!

Share your favorite books in the comments or let me know what you think of my selections!

 

 

10. The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

Sarah Adams brings us another sports romance featuring a football star and his agent / former flame. Derek is on the cusp of returning after an injury and finds out his new agent is the woman who destroyed his heart in college. They create a set of rules to keep things professional but one wild night in Vegas throws everything in disarray. Now they’re forced to play pretend husband and wife and are both realizing the feelings from college haven’t gone away…at all.

Nora is an absolute delight of a character — wildly quirky and bursting with joy but also full of ambition and grit. I loved that she didn’t change her personality to fit into the world of sports agents and instead made it work for her.

The buildup between her and Derek was also delicious!! So. Much. Tension!! These two were so easy to root for and clearly grew into people that deserved each other — showcasing all the best ways to support your partner and show them love. SWOON!! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

 

 

9. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

This author is incredible at writing relatable stories about women/moms in their 30s. Her main character is facing the second stage of her life after she gets a divorce and balances the needs of her kids with a potential once in a lifetime chance at a love she never knew was possible. I adored following along with Ali as she navigated life after loss and a divorce, balancing the needs of her kids and the potential for a life-changing love.

This is a novel that doesn’t shy away from difficult situations and decisions but is full of hope and love – and it manages to be light hearted enough that you’ll want to bring this along on any vacation!  | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

 

 

8. The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

It has all the steam I’ve come to expect from Lana Ferguson’s contemporary romances but is also a well written, heartfelt love story! Childhood friends, Ian and Lila are reunited when he’s chosen to appear in a publicity stint on Lila’s baking show. After an incident that turned his city against him, Ian is back on his home NHL team’s roster, hoping enough time has passed that he can put his past behind him.

Ian knew Lila as a kid, but now she’s all grown up and Ian can’t help but notice. Lila on the other hand, has had a crush on Ian for as long as she’s known him. The chemistry between them is obvious, especially to viewers, so they play up a flirtation for the public to help them both. It doesn’t take long for it to turn real though.

I adored the exploration of this relationship that changed from long ago friendship to a steamy connection! Plus when Ian’s past issues with his father turns into his present, Lila was always there to support him and see him for what he truly is. I also loved Lila’s brother as a side character – he was such a goof and absolutely hilarious. This is an all around fantastic romance novel! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

 

7. The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

A spicy enemies to lovers hockey romance full of delightful banter. Elle Kennedy is a master of sports romance books and this was no exception! The Dixon Rule is a follow up to The Graham Effect but can easily be read as a standalone. Diana Dixon is our main girl this time around and she’s less than thrilled to find out hockey jock Shane is moving in next door.

He’s obnoxious and loves pushing her buttons, so their bickering starts immediately. However, when Diana’s ex also moves in to the apartment complex, she needs a way to get him to stop harassing her. Enter a fake relationship with literal guy next door – Shane. The chemistry between them is undeniable and they eventually turn this blooming friendship / fake relationship into a friends with benefits situation. But she has no interest in actually giving Shane her heart, even when he starts to prove he might actually deserve it.

I’m so in love with the Briar Hockey romances!! Diana and Shane have the best banter and bicker in the most hilarious ways. It was adorable to see them soften toward each other over time too |  Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

6. Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman

I’m a T.J. Newman super-fan, so this was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. Did it ever deliver!! She continues her style of heart-pounding, incredibly realistic disasters with a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant. The implications of the situation are catastrophic and the tension builds immediately.

I DEVOURED this. From start to finish, I was enthralled by the idea of this scenario and the sacrifices needed to keep it under control. I not only learned a ton about how a nuclear power plant works, but also felt like I was living this right alongside the characters. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

 

5. Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

Fangirl Down was basically written for me, as a romance reader who developed a golf obsession the past 2 years! It features a fangirl turned caddie who gets into a relationship with her golfer. The banter between the grumpy golfer and the girl trying desperately to get him to fall back in love with the game is perfection. She challenges him at every turn and he finds himself falling hard.

This may just be my favorite ever from Tessa Bailey! It’s got the perfect amount of steam mixed with excellent dialogue and a ton of heart. If you’re tired of typical sports romances and want something a bit different, give this golf romance a try! Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target (Exclusive Edition)

 

 

 

 

4. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

This thriller was…incredible. It’s not at all creepy or super suspenseful, so if that normally keeps you away from the genre this would be perfect for you! On the other hand, if you love twisty plots and enthralling stories, you have to read this!!A woman working for the mysterious Mr. Smith is given a name and backstory for each new job she’s required to complete. This time around, she’s Evie Porter and she’s wormed her way into Ryan Sumner’s heart. They’re engaged, but he has no idea she’s not who she says she is.

Normally Evie is one of Mr. Smith’s best assets, but this job is different and she’s growing attached to Ryan. As she tries to untangle the real nature of the job…and her feelings for Ryan…we learn more about her past and the dangerous situation she finds herself in.

I couldn’t put this down! I loved the storytelling from each of Evie’s past jobs and following her investigation as she tries to understand what’s going on in the present. It is utterly compelling from start to finish! Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

3. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

This is one I could see myself returning to over and over again. When we meet Kiela, she’s happily working as a librarian in the capital city but a rebellion threatens her library and her books, so she races away as fire lights up her most precious place. The few carts of spell books she’s able to save and her talking plant, Kaz, are all she’s able to bring with her.

Kiela sets sail for the island where she grew up, hoping that her parents cottage will provide a safe place to stay. But surviving on her own is more difficult than she imagined. So, she forces herself to interact with the other villagers and her overly friendly neighbor, who’s actually quite handsome.

To earn money, so she turns to her spell books for simple “remedies” that she can pass off to the villagers. Magic is strictly forbidden by the government, but this island desperately needs the help of her spells. Everything is going surprisingly well until a woman washes up on the island and discovers magic has been used. She starts hunting down the source, threatening everything that Kiela has begun to build.

I cannot describe how much this book feels like a warm hug and a cup of tea all wrapped up in one. It has the most delightful characters, from the talking spider plant to the lovely bakery owner to the magical creatures that inhabit the island. And Kiela is so easy to root for — a true introvert who is discovering the joy of friendships and opening herself up to the possibility of love. You don’t need to love fantasy to enjoy this! It’s a must read for anyone!  | Buy On Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

 

2. Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens

The top rated romance on my list features a divorcee who gets a chance at real love, all thanks to her meddling children. Anna is happily enjoying life as a single mom after a painful divorce, but inspiration strikes when a rival writer starts eyeing up her column. In an attempt to create intriguing content, Anna pitches a series where she’ll go on dates – all found by her children, not using any dating apps!

As you can expect, there’s a wide range of encounters from the awkward to the star struck! But a connection that comes out of nowhere may lead Anna to an actual, meaningful relationship. This was absolute perfection. I was laughing out loud throughout the entire book as I got a glimpse into Anna’s relatable thoughts and Google searches! I adored how she balanced caring for her children and doing what’s best for them while also learning to take care of herself and take a chance on the love of a lifetime. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

1. Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen

Can you believe that a NONFICTION book is at the top of my list!? When I thought about the book that I talked about the most, recommended the most, and still has stuck with me months after reading it, this was the obvious choice!

Annie takes a realistic look at what will happen if our nuclear safeguards fail and a country starts a nuclear war. In this (terrifyingly possible) scenario, North Korea launches a nuclear missile at the United States. Annie walks us through what will happen from the moment of launch in astonishing detail.

I am not normally a nonfiction reader, but she presents all of this information in such a compelling way that I felt like I was reading a thriller. It’s obvious that she did an incredible amount of research and spoke with top government officials as well as scientist directly involved in these programs. But then she weaves together a story showcasing how the world and possibly humanity as a whole can be destroyed in just a matter of hours

I cannot recommend this book enough. It feels important for everyone to read and understand the implications of our nuclear weapons. You will not be able to put this down! | 5 Stars | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target