My Top Reads of 2024: A Book List

2024 is finally over, and with it, a new year begins. Many of us are familiar with Spotify wrapped, eagerly awaiting a synopsis of what we had listened to throughout the previous year. In the spirit of that, and as a way to usher in 2025 with some great books, here is a list of 12 books, plus some bonuses, that I read throughout 2024. Varying from classics to thrillers to graphic novels, there’s a book on here for everybody. 

1. Beloved by Toni Morrison: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Starting off the list strong with Tony Morrison, Beloved is known as one of her finest works, detailing the lives of an escaped slave, Sethe, and the people around her, spanning generations. Written in Morrison’s tell-tale style that weaves fantasy and heartbreaking reality together, this book was one that I could not put down. The story is not linear but rather jumps forward and backward in time to when Sethe and Paul D were at Sweet Home, the last time they saw each other, to Denver’s thought process, and even exploring what happened the fateful day that Beloved died. Morrison is a brilliant writer, creating such a smoothly flowing story and revealing parts of the whole slowly, building up into a heartbreaking conclusion. When I say that this book has to be a part of your literary canon, I mean it. A beautifully written and culturally significant novel about slavery, emancipation, and humanity, Beloved is a must read.

2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

You might be able to tell by now, but I like Toni Morrison. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye has an entirely different feel than Beloved, but is still a classic. It is an extremely heavy book as well, covering topics such as rape and racism, but handles it beautifully. The novel follows Pecola Breedlove and the people around her, detailing the experiences of, before, and after being raped by her father. Personally, I preferred Beloved, but The Bluest Eye is an absolute masterpiece, written partially from the perspective of a naïve child, which only aids in its heartbreaking aspect. It’s a chilling, haunting story, and is well worth the read.

3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: ⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I can’t decide whether I love or hate this book and have settled on both. Another classic, Wilde’s novel is a cautionary tale of the dangers of narcissism and corruption. If you’re a fan of murder, extortion, vengeance, and the arts, this is definitely the book for you. The novel details the lives of Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, and, of course, the titular protagonist, Dorian Gray. Basil, who is madly in love with Dorian, gifts him a portrait, one in which Dorian 

will forever be young and beautiful. Devastated, Dorian wishes for eternal youth, allowing the portrait to age instead. Needless to say, this causes problems. It's a delightfully sinister 19th century novel that had you on the edge of your seat….until it didn’t. My only complaint is the

pages upon pages of description. One minute you’re reading about prophetic dreams that Dorian has experienced, and the next he’s listing everything in his room – everything. Stop being so verbose, Mr. Wilde! 

4. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

“Please sir, may I have some more?” Of this book, absolutely! Dickens’ classic novel had me reeling with laughter, biting my lips, and crying alongside Oliver himself. This is one of the few books where I can say that I didn’t want to keep reading because I was afraid to see something bad happen to Oliver. Oliver Twist is a delightfully satirical novel with larger than life characters and perfect comedic timing. Please go read this book. It is absolutely worth your time. The only reason it does not have a perfect rating, in my opinion, is its casual Anti-Semitism. I understand that it was the time period, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Even so, this is an incredible novel. 

5. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Time for some graphic novels! This is an absolutely beautifully drawn book, with a compelling plot and characters. There’s not much to say about it, except that it’s breathtaking to read and observe. If you like dark secrets, sweet romances, and gorgeous art, then this is the book for you! 

6. The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This novel is somewhere in between a light read and a Young Adult drama. It certainly discusses heavy topics, with a variety of colorful characters that make you feel like you're right there with them. Ariana, the protagonist, is sweet, kind, and smart. This book didn’t change my life, but I think it’s definitely worth reading! For a YA novel, it really balances human relationships with folly and sin, as well as addressing sexual assault in a really unique way. For what it is, I think that it was executed perfectly, and I’m very happy that I read it. 

7. You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron: ⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

This book terrified me. I’m just going to say it right now, DO NOT READ if you have a weak stomach or a low fear tolerance. It does not hesitate to get into the gory details. On another note, it is exactly how you would imagine a classic horror movie in a book. It starts out with the classic summer camp setup, segueing into a slasher/mystery as the protagonists find out what’s really going on (and slowly get hacked to pieces). If you’re a fan of horror, mystery, thriller, and

want an exciting new book to keep you on your toes, then this is for you. Bonus: If you like this, you should try Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans 

8. The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

This book had me biting my nails for the entire time, wondering whether the characters were going to get out alive. It starts off as just a normal pink eyes set up, but then delves deep into the protagonist's life, history, and familial relations, weaving a web of lies. I absolutely adored this book. It had everything I wanted, from a strong female lead to espionage, and the Plais narrative between past and present was wonderful. If you want a fun novel about a girl's dark past as a spy, then this book is for you. 

9. Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This graphic novel made me cry. I mean, genuinely, I bawled my eyes out. It’s actually two novels, Boxers is the first, and the stories weave together at the end to make a heartbreaking tragedy. I read these after reading American Born Chinese by the same author and loved his style of art and writing. These books are historically accurate and I actually learned a lot about conflict

between the Boxers and Saints. It is extremely difficult to put down, and I read both books in one setting. Please read this. 

10. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I know, I know, this is the book that we all read in ninth grade with Mr. Brack. But it’s there for a reason. Almost all love stories are based on it, and the story holds true through time. If for some reason you haven’t read this, go, read it! It’s a classic for a reason. Romeo falls in love with Juliet, the two think that their happy ending is in sight, then go through a series of betrayal that ends up with both of them dead. You can literally wax poetic about Romeo and Juliet. 

11. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

OK fine, this is another book from English class. However, even ignoring the deep social commentary on the nature of humanity, it is an incredible book. Shelley is a genius, creating sympathy for almost all the characters in the book while also showing their faults. This is not only a novel about a math scientist to create life, but also a deep insight into the depravity that follows a God complex, and how one can be drawn to the end of the earth to best their enemy. One of the pillars of the horror genre, Frankenstein is incredible. 

12. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A modern classic, The Hate U Give resonates with readers throughout history, resulting in a timeless masterpiece. Thomas manages to detail tragic events and heavy topics such as racism in America and police brutality so eloquently while also navigating through a world that is unjust. Her literary style is impeccable, and Starr, the protagonist, is a deeply kind and intelligent person. This book should be required reading for everyone, especially in such tumultuous times. 

13. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Book burning described in a book? Crazy! And yet, Fahrenheit 451 is a part of literary canon for a reason. Guy Montag is complicated, but with a good soul. The other members of the firefighters, however, are not. Although it wasn’t my favorite read of the year, Fahrenheit 451 was definitely a good book, and very important. It is absolutely what inspired many other

dystopian novels, and, like all, it has a grain of truth (or more than a grain). Another book where, if you haven’t read it, enrich your brain by doing so. 

14. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

This is the beginning of fantasy as we know it. The Hobbit is a delightful book, with characters that you love to hate and ones that you just outright hate in general. Tolkien redefined how fantasy is written, and it shows throughout the years. Descriptions in The Hobbit are beautiful, and, if you haven’t read it, you will certainly notice aspects of popular culture that have been influenced by The Hobbit. The merry band of characters is sweet, arrogant, and sometimes extremely annoying. Although sometimes it may get a little bit wearisome to read, The Hobbit is absolutely worth your time.