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Readers' Hit New Books of the Year (So Far)
According to the calendar, we’re already halfway through 2024. That means it’s time for our annual midyear check-in, where we suss out the most popular new releases of the year so far, according to Goodreads members. As always, these selections are based on the total number of reader reviews and which titles are making their way to members’ Read and Want to Read shelves.
Below, we’ve sorted out the top new books of 2024, in each of the usual categories, in order of popularity. So, for instance, The Women by Kristin Hannah currently holds the overall top spot in contemporary/historical fiction. We’ve followed the same routine for mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance, young adult, and nonfiction. We’ve also added a new category this year for that increasingly popular genre-crash known as romantasy.
This can be a great way to see which new books, topics, and themes are resonating with the Goodreads community. As is often the case, the sheer variety on display is fun to contemplate: Reimagined Mark Twain stories. Courageous immigrant memoirs. Precognitive murder victims. Interdimensional book collectors. Lusty Norse mythology. Black market DNA transactions. Queer love via séance. You know, this kind of thing.
Feel free to continue the discussion or make your own recommendations in the comments section.
Historical fiction readers are celebrating this year’s return of author Kristin Hannah, who has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction for both The Nightingale and The Great Alone. Hannah’s new book, The Women, follows the fate of Frances “Frankie” McGrath, an idealistic young woman whose life is forever changed when she volunteers for the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War.
Already one of the year’s most celebrated new novels, James is an unambiguously Great Idea. Acclaimed novelist Percival Everett presents a reimagining of Mark Twain’s immortal classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved runaway who joins Huck on fiction’s most famous Mississippi adventure. You can read our interview with Everett here.
Following his 2018 debut, There There, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, this new novel from Tommy Orange expands the author’s already vast canvas of story and character. The interconnected narratives begin with the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, then fractal out through multiple generations and timelines. Wandering Stars documents one family’s Cheyenne bloodline and “America’s war on its own people.”
This ambitious novel from author Xóchitl González uses two parallel timelines to toggle between the perspective of two remarkable women. Anita, a rising New York City art star, is found dead in 1985. Raquel, a third-year art history student in 1998, finds some disturbing details about Anita’s death. As their stories converge, author González explores uncomfortable questions about art, history, and remembrance.
Author and poet Kaveh Akbar has delivered one of the year’s surprise sensations with this deeply personal novel about an orphaned young man obsessed with the concept of martyrs. Cyrus Shams, the son of an Iranian immigrant, is a recovering addict and alcoholic. In his spiritual quest for serenity, he uncovers some rather astonishing family secrets. Goodreads members are really getting into this one.
Author Vanessa Chan pioneers new territories in historical fiction with this World War II saga of survival and espionage in Japanese-occupied Malaya, circa 1945. The story pivots on the actions of Cecily Alcantara, a Malayan mother whose decision to spy for the Japanese threatens to bring terrible consequences for her children and her community. For enthusiasts of this particular era of historical fiction, Chan offers a different kind of World War II story.
This deliciously twisty mystery-thriller from author Ashley Elston introduces readers to Evie Porter, a normal kind of girl with a normal kind of life. Except for one thing: Her name isn’t Evie Porter and her life is not normal at all. Assigned to gather intelligence on a small Southern town and the people in it, Evie works for the mysterious Mr. Smith, who’s targeting one man in particular. One man Evie kinda likes…
Prolific author Freida McFadden (The Housemaid series) returned to shelves in February with The Teacher, a tense and timely thriller about an unfortunate high school math teacher, her extremely troublesome student, and some insidious rumors. Readers are citing the book’s hairpin curves and third-act flips, so be careful of spoilers if you’re browsing the community reviews.
L.A. transplant Lucy Chase has worked hard to bury her past. Specifically, she’d like to forget that one night in Texas when she woke up covered in her best friend’s blood. Now that the podcast Listen for the Lie has launched an investigation, Lucy must face some unpleasant possibilities. Amy Tintera’s latest brain-bender involves our culture’s weird obsession with true-crime podcasts.
In the aftermath of their mother's death, three siblings return to their childhood home to sort through a lifetime of stuff, figuratively and literally. But when they stumble upon an old videotape with some highly incriminating footage, the siblings must make some difficult and possibly deadly decisions. Jeneva Rose (The Perfect Marriage) explores the shadowy areas between mystery, horror, and family drama.
The title of this debut cozy from Kristen Perrin conjures interesting questions, doesn’t it? It seems our young heroine, Annie Adams, has wandered into a peculiar situation involving a quaint English village, a fortune teller’s prophecy, and a murder victim who has not only predicted her own murder, but sleuthed out the killer, too. Goodreads regulars are liking this debut rather a lot.
When the richest woman in North Carolina leaves her nine-figure fortune to her adopted son, Camden McTavish does the weirdest thing: He refuses it all. Ten years later, Cam hasn’t changed his mind—but his new wife has some plans of her own. Author Rachel Hawkins (The Wife Upstairs) delivers another suspense thriller concerning shady relations, family secrets, and lovely views from the terrace.
London author Stuart Turton (The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) specializes in high-concept murder mysteries spiked with sci-fi twists and lateral thinking. His new book features a bizarre death on an isolated island with exactly 125 citizens. Well, 124, considering recent events. Meanwhile, the island’s glitchy security system is fending off the deadly fog that’s swept the rest of the planet. Everybody’s pretty tense.
Ruth Ware’s meticulously crafted mystery novels are often compared with those of Golden Age crime writers like Agatha Christie, Josephine Tey, and Dorothy L. Sayers. In her new book, five couples competing in an island reality show run into trouble when an unexpected storm separates them from the rest of the production crew. Making matters rather worse, there’s a vicious killer on the loose, too. Uh-oh.
Foster kids Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are family in all the ways that matter. Rescued from tragic circumstances as kids, they were raised by the magnanimous Miss Fairchild on an idyllic farmstead. But it seems Miss Fairchild has some childhood issues of her own. A body has been discovered under the old farmhouse, and that means a new suspense novel from Australian genre ace Sally Hepworth (The Good Sister).
Fantasy Novels
The innovative Leigh Bardugo (Ninth House) turns her attention to historical fantasy with this imaginative novel set in 16th-century Madrid. Jewish scullery maid Luzia Cotado must fight back against murderous bigotry when her knack for magic attracts the attention of royal spies, mad alchemists, and the Spanish Inquisition. Yes, the actual Spanish Inquisition. Didn’t expect that.
Canadian author Heather Fawcett returns to her delightful Emily Wilde series, concerning a professor of folklore and the incredibly strange problems she encounters, pretty much daily. Book two of the series finds Prof. Wilde trying to navigate a delicate romantic situation with fellow scholar Wendell Bambleby, who also happens to be an exiled faerie king. It’s complicated.
Fantasy readers who appreciate books about books have evidently discovered a lot to like in this debut novel from Scottish author Gareth Brown. The story concerns New York City bookseller Cassie Andrews and her latest acquisition, The Book of Doors, a hardcover beauty that opens up limitless travel opportunities. Alas for young Cassie, several other collectors are interested in this magical book. And they play rough.
A kind of Holmes-and-Watson mystery wrapped in thoughtful speculative fiction, The Tainted Cup is the first in a new series from author Robert Jackson Bennett, author of the beloved Founders Trilogy. A classically structured murder mystery, the story introduces detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol as they investigate an impossible crime in an ecologically evolved future world.
This evocatively titled historical fantasy from Katherine Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale) transports readers to northern Belgium in the year 1918. Investigating the mysterious death of her brother as the shells rain down, field nurse Laura Iven chases down rumors of missing soldiers, haunted battlefield trenches, and a ghostly hotelier with an offer that’s hard to refuse.
For those who believe the journey is the destination, this debut novel offers an interesting premise: Aubry Tourvel must keep moving, quite literally, or she will die a painful death. Aubry can only stay in one place for a few days, and she can never return to the same place twice. Aubry’s journey begins in Paris, 1885, and continues around the world. Several times. Think Addie LaRue meets Life of Pi.
Romantasy Novels
The estimable Ms. Maas is back with this third installment in her innovative Crescent City series of sexy urban fantasy-romance. Romantasy, some call it. The action takes place just after 2022’s House of Sky and Breath, with our half-fae heroine Bryce Quinlan trying to get back to the realm of Midgard. Maas’ series has been a genuine hit with readers—the first book won a Goodreads Choice Award in 2020.
Drenched in the blood and lust of Norse mythology, the new book from author Danielle L. Jensen (The Bridge Kingdom series) introduces shield maiden Freya, whose martial prowess spurs the envy of both women and men. Freya’s magical shield abilities allow her to fend off any attack, but can she guard her heart from the jarl’s handsome son? Forbidden love! It’s the best kind of love.
Inspired by classic Greek mythology, the Hades x Persephone Saga from author Scarlett St. Clair chronicles the unlikely romance between the Goddess of Spring and the God of the Dead. This fourth installment finds Persephone trying to sort things out from her new official position as Queen of the Underworld.
As the first book in her new series, Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched invites readers to get acquainted with an innovative new fantasy world. If nothing else, the series details a particularly cool origin story regarding dragons and orbital physics. Goodreads reviewers are also praising other core strengths: a strong and sassy female protagonist, an original new magic system, and a searing-hot love story.
Resonating with our current societal anxieties around artificial intelligence, this debut from author Sierra Greer tackles some tough questions about autonomy, intimacy, and artificial personhood. As a companion machine, Annie Bot is programmed to be the perfect girlfriend for her owner, attending to all his emotional and physical needs. Unsurprisingly, things get complicated.
Did you hear the one about the underemployed civil servant who fell in love with the 19th-century polar explorer? The Ministry of Time pivots off an interesting SF concept: a government agency that gathers time-space expats from across the vast panorama of history. London author Kaliane Bradley gleefully straddles several genres, including science fiction, espionage thriller, romance, and workplace comedy.
Another futuristic thriller ripped straight from the news headlines, Baby X tackles several knotty biotech issues just around the corner for our accelerating civilization. It seems that advances in genetics have spawned a black market for stolen celebrity DNA, with criminal resellers willing to gather genetic tissue by any means necessary. Goodreads members are enjoying the novel’s classic mystery elements and the plotline’s switchback twists.
From the author of Peace Like a River, this near-future novel features a more literary approach to traditional speculative fiction. The setup: A grieving musician sets sail on Lake Superior with a broken heart. After encountering otherworldly storms—and floating corpses—he returns to find a decaying society with desperate people exploited by a billionaire ruling class. The term plausible comes to mind. Maybe prophetic?
How’s this for an intriguing premise: Sixteen-year-old Odile lives in a rather unique small town. In the valley to the west, the town is 20 years behind in time. To the east, it’s 20 years in the future. The three towns repeat an endless sequence—forever together, forever apart. Atop this compelling spec-fic foundation, debut author Scott Alexander Howard spins a heartfelt and otherwise realistic story about love, loss, and temporal mechanics.
Philadelphia author Marie-Helene Bertino finds a new approach to an old SF tradition with this story of an extraterrestrial visitor in our midst. Young Adina Giorno was born at the precise moment when the space probe Voyager 1 was launched into the sky. Since then, she’s been secretly communicating with her relatives on a faraway planet. A coming-of-age story with a cosmic perspective, Beautyland is getting some serious love from readers.
Horror Novels
Here’s a handy safety tip for motorists: When exploring new areas, avoid any local route called Murder Road. Newlyweds April and Eddie learn this the hard way when they stop to pick up a hitchhiker outside a small town in Michigan. Turns out the road has a long and bloody history, and something supernatural may be in play. It’s more sinister fun from the author of The Sun Down Motel.
A classic Gothic tale wrapped around a unique queer love story, My Darling Dreadful Thing introduces spirit medium Roos Beckman and her long-dead ghostly companion, Ruth. When Roos starts to fall for the still-living young widow Agnes Coop, events lead to a murder in a haunted estate. Debut author Johanna van Veen is clearly having fun with the manor-on-the-moors template while subtly tweaking old genre tropes.
Chicago author Nick Medina (Sisters of the Lost Nation) specializes in supernatural horror steeped in Native American mythology. His latest follows the fate of Noemi Broussard, a young woman investigating the highly suspicious “suicide” of her boyfriend. With the help of her Uncle Louie—back from a mysterious 10-year absence—Noemi discovers that something wicked is coming to the reservation.
Family destination vacations can be rough. The high expectations. The smoldering resentments. The sanity-shattering ghosts. It seems the Pace family rented the wrong Italian villa to hold their annual get-together. The property has a dark and violent past, and the locals avoid it like the plague. Author Jennifer Marie Thorne delivers some wicked and funny Gothic vibes in this self-aware riff on the classic haunted house story.
Picking up four years after the events in last year’s thriller Don’t Fear the Reaper, the latest book from Blackfoot author Stephen Graham Jones concludes his acclaimed Indian Lake trilogy. Jones, who specializes in deconstructing the classic “slasher” story, continues his ongoing investigation of the links between generational trauma, American mythology, and contemporary horror. Serial killer cults, for instance.
A-list romance author Emily Henry returned to shelves in April with this mischievous riff on the old opposites-attract template. Daphne is feeling rather adrift since her ex-fiancé bailed. Her new roommate Miles has an interesting connection to all that, actually. But when you add up the connections, it gets a little dicey: Is Daphne really falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex? Funny story…
Reliably unlucky in love, online acquaintances Justin and Emma agree to a quick summer fling. It’s an idea borne of pure desperation: Maybe if they combine their terrible luck, their individual curses will cancel each other out? It’s worth a shot! But first, Emma and Justin must purify themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. No, really. Abby Jimenez (Yours Truly) has the details.
Author Ali Hazelwood (The Love Hypothesis) turns her attention from STEMinist rom-coms to paranormal romance with this year’s most delightful genre curveball. The quick gist: To uphold a historic peacekeeping pact, vampyre outcast Misery Lark must forge a volatile alliance with alpha werewolf Lowe Moreland. Things get complicated. Then hot. Then weird. Recommended for fans of conflicted immortals and horny lycanthropes.
Goodreads romance fans are loving this lively sports rom-com from Tessa Bailey, which sets its story on the fairways and greens of the professional golf circuit. Fading tour pro Wells Whitaker doesn’t get followed around by the crowds anymore, except for one die-hard fan, sunny redhead Josephine Doyle. When Wells takes Josephine on as his caddy, his professional life and his love life both improve dramatically.
Newly minted sports agent Nora Mackenzie has just taken on a troublesome new client: NFL tight end Derek Pender. The trouble? Derek was her college boyfriend, and it didn’t end well. After a Las Vegas evening that neither can quite remember, Nora and Derek find themselves in a hotel bed—and kinda-sorta married. Sarah Adams has the rest of the story in this follow-up to her 2021 hit, The Cheat Sheet.
Toronto author Carley Fortune (Every Summer After) is winning over readers with her latest romance, which presents this tricky situation: Each summer, Lucy takes her vacation in a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Each summer, Lucy ends up in the bed of handsome local Felix, who knows all the best spots, as it were. The tricky part: Felix’s big sister is Lucy’s best friend. But this summer, things are going to be different. Right?
The inheritance plot meets the fake relationship storyline in this latest novel from veteran author Christina Lauren, which throws in a bonus marriage-of-convenience trope for no extra cost. The gist: Liam Weston stands to inherit $100 million if he and his not-quite-ex, Anna, can convince Liam’s filthy-rich family that they did not, in fact, get married just for subsidized family housing in grad school. Hey, academia's rough…
Time itself plays a critical role in this epic love story (with a dash of magical realism) from Brooklyn author Tia Williams (Seven Days in June). Ricki Wilde, bohemian daughter of a wealthy Atlanta family, has decided to take her chances opening a small business in New York City. When a handsome stranger sweeps Ricki off her feet, she discovers that time can be elastic—and that the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance still burns brightly.
Young Adult Novels
Goodreads YA fans were clearly hungry for this latest novel from author Laura Nowlin, which serves as a kind of companion piece to her 2013 tragedy, If He Had Been with Me. This time, the story is structured around the presentation of three parallel POVs, with expanded backstories and other details from Finn, Jack, and Autumn. New readers, don’t worry: The book is also designed to work as a standalone story.
The first installment in a planned duology, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is a YA fantasy-romance retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Shallow young socialite Rune has a secret: By night, she’s the vigilante known as the Crimson Moth, defying death to prevent her fellow witches from being hunted down. Complicating matters rather severely: She’s falling in love with infamous witch hunter Gideon Sharpe.
The latest mystery from U.K. author Holly Jackson (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series) flips the usual script by telling the story of a mysterious reappearance. Teenage Bel doesn’t know what to think when her long-missing mother suddenly returns with a frankly unbelievable story. Now Bel has to figure out what’s really going on, with a true-crime documentary crew tagging along.
In this concluding chapter of the acclaimed Stolen Heir Duology, YA author Holly Black returns to the sprawling world of Elfhame, home to adventure, romance, ancient relics, scheming fae, palace intrigue, and the occasional psychopathic storm hag. Black’s peerless worldbuilding is always a delight, and the new book brings even more detail to the series’ wintry northern wastes.
YA historical fantasy meets the classic heist story in A Tempest of Tea, the first in a new duology from Hafsah Faizal (We Hunt the Flame). The setup: When sinister forces threaten her friends, streetwise orphan and criminal mastermind Arthie Casimir must take action. Like, for instance, assembling a crew of misfit rogues to take down a nest of aristocratic vampires. Also: Great cover design!
Sade Hussein is the new girl at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school. This brings the usual complications. But when her roommate mysteriously disappears, Sade discovers that there’s something rotten in the heart of the academy. Dangerous secrets are revealed in this YA mystery from author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for 2021’s Ace of Spades.
With 2021’s surprise hit Cultish, author and linguist Amanda Montell connected some useful dots between cognitive biases and our current brand of delusion and fanaticism. Montell expands her vision with this new book on the larger trend of “magical” thinking—staving off cancer with positive vibes, for instance—as a reaction to 21st-century information overload.
Like the rest of the reading world, Goodreads members have been deeply intrigued by Patric Gagne’s memoir, which explores the author’s lifelong struggle with a misunderstood mental health disorder: sociopathy. Gagne details with remarkable candor what it’s like to live a life when emotions like guilt and empathy don’t come naturally—or at all. When love comes knocking, Gagne provides an unexpected happy ending, too.
You know that magic trick some people can do, where they can talk to anyone and make a connection? Journalist Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit) digs into the complex dynamics of conversation by profiling people who are really, really good at it. Duhigg also analyzes high-stakes situations like jury deliberations and CIA recruitment sessions to provide insights on the nature of human communication.
In August 2022, author Salman Rushdie was brutally attacked onstage as he prepared to give a public lecture in New York. The brutal knife attack ultimately cost him the use of one eye and one hand. Refusing to stand down, Rushdie addresses the attack in his new book on life, love, the power of art, and the toughness it takes to live for 30 years under a deadly fatwa.
Recommended for readers of Educated and The Distance Between Us, this astonishing memoir tells the story of author Elizabeth Gutierrez, who was stranded as a teenager in Arizona when her immigrant parents were forced back to Mexico by U.S. officials. Somehow, Gutierrez managed to finish school with honors and care for her younger brother, even as they lived as “unaccompanied, homeless youth” in Tucson.
Dealing with grief is one of the hardest journeys anyone can take in life. Conventional wisdom says we must follow a rigid set of stages: denial, anger, etc. But perhaps there’s another way? That’s the open question in this heartfelt memoir by Sloane Crosley, who documents her own experience after the suicide of a close friend. Bonus trivia: Crosley is the author of the 2022 cult classic Cult Classic.
Supermodel, supermogul, and international drag superstar RuPaul gets intensely personal in his new book, digging deep into memories of growing up poor, Black, and queer in San Diego. RuPaul’s stated goal with his memoir is to strip away the usual performer’s artifice and get real about sobriety, self-acceptance, and courage. Check out the ongoing discussion in the book page’s community reviews section.
New York author Erik Larson has made a career writing narrative nonfiction accounts of dramatic moments in world history—the sinking of the Lusitania, say. His new book details the dark days leading up to the American Civil War, centered on President Lincoln’s most desperate hours. Readers are extolling Larson’s gallery of real-life supporting characters and his enduring ability to make a history book read like a novel.
As host of the millennial-centric podcast Be There in Five, author Kate Kennedy has earned an adoring audience with her earnest and funny approach to generational nostalgia. Her new book tackles themes and topics that will be familiar to millennials: think Spice Girls or AOL Instant Messenger. But she’s also not afraid to address weightier topics, especially for women, including systemic misogyny and reproductive rights.
Author and Georgetown professor Cal Newport (Deep Work) writes about practical strategies for dealing with the insane acceleration of our digital world. His latest book-length inquiry suggests specific methods for doing your best work at a sustainable pace. His No. 1 rule? Do fewer things. Newport also taps into the wisdom of previous eras, spotlighting historical overachievers like Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Coddling of the American Mind, returns with this rigorously researched assessment of youth mental health in America. The diagnosis isn’t great. As you might expect, Haidt warns of the danger of the “phone-based childhood,” which has interfered rather disastrously with children’s social and neurological development. The good news: Haidt has some remedies in mind.
Have you read any of these popular books? Let us know in the comments!
Comments Showing 151-200 of 226 (226 new)
They should have these lists reflect the categories in the Goodreads Choice Awards, all of them. And they should add more categories to the GR Choice Awards.
- Non US author
- Indigenous
- POC authors
- Neurodivergent
- Disability Focus
- LGBTQ+
I know they aren't necessarily the popular books, but part of it is you need to really look for them to find them. These lists shouldn't be only to highlight successful books. They should highlight under represented groups.
Here's some New Zealand fiction that has been popular this year for those who are interestedAt The Grand Glacier Hotel
The Night She Fell
The Space Between
The Grimmelings
The Call
When I open the shop
It's shameless that you include the book "The Ministry of Time", which is a copy of the Spanish tv show "El Ministerio del Tiempo". I invite everyone to do the comparation between both plots...
If I understand this correctly, the reason that admin (or other members?) give for the list being USA centric is that the list is an aggregate of books read by members, not an overview of the great books of the year so far as indicated by a cross view of many (or all) newspaper and magazine book reviews, NYT Bestseller lists, etc.But to sort of state the obvious: 'the best of the crop' is an inherently flawed concept in this sense: let's limit an example to one year's books, for the purposes of my point - say, 2024. There are not two categories, but three, regarding the quality of books (for my purposes). There is: the consensual best books, the consensual weak books, and most importantly - the great books that are not mainstream books, or are for specialized tastes, or are unique, small, specific, difficult, any number of traits that a) make them difficult for wide appeal, but b) are not diminished in quality by this fact.
I don't know how you poll for, or measure this third category. But it's the problem with all best of lists. Not every great thing is a broadly loved thing. Some great things are for specialized tastes. And they are very, very different from poorly written books, and every bit the equal of widely popular, good books.
I am so beyond over SJM. Her books are not that good.
I hope that people will consider two books that I really liked. One was The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, a historical novel that was a real page turner. The other is Real Americans, by Rachel Khong, which traces three generations of people from China to America. I am picking both books for my book club.
For those looking for books by non-US authors and those that take place in the US, enlighten us by writing reviews of these books to bring light and awareness so others may discover them as well. Some will follow you just to see what great (or not so great) book you will read next. Goodreads articles are not the only source. In fact I follow those who read and write reviews often for my main source of new book discoveries, not so much Goodreads articles. #Spreadthereviews.
Law wrote: "I want to read First Lie Wins and The Women. I've read three books from this list, Bride, The Familiar and The Teacher, and all were disappointing."I read The Women and First Lie Wins and enjoyed both.
Cathy wrote: "They should have these lists reflect the categories in the Goodreads Choice Awards, all of them. And they should add more categories to the GR Choice Awards.
- Non US author
- Indigenous
- POC au..."
They should add the middle grade, graphic novel, picture book and poetry categories back, too. Is the Indigenous category meant for every Indigenous author?
I've read 2, one being The Women, which I liked, and the other First Lie wins, which was a disappointment. So, by statistics, does that mean I would like half of the list? 50% is way too high
I too, did not have any of the books on my "to read list", nor have I read any of them. I clicked on just a few I will read reviews on, but it seems like so many popular books are depressing, about murder, etc. I try to read uplifting, funny, or positive stories, classics, etc., so most of what I read doesn't make the lists or is ever included on Bookreads "Books of the year' contest.
So many good ones on this list! I was particularly impressed with Abby Jimenez’ Just For the Summer, which is both a romance and a coming of age story. Of course, Erik Larson is an incredible writer - I’d gladly read his grocery lists…..
I've read, James, The Women, and First Lie Wins. I really enjoyed all three but would highly recommend James and The Women. I put a lot of the books on my want to read list.
No LGBTQ+ category, and of the romance books appear to be straight :/
I agree with the other readers here who are asking for more books by authors from different countries. More translated books and more from Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Women is wonderful as is KH herself. The music, clothes and vivid Descriptions of the 70s transported me back
Marianne wrote: "Murder Road was very disappointing. I love Simone St James, but this was my least favorite. I’m reading First Lie wins right now and I’m obsessed."I agree, my biggest diappointment this year.
I've read several Aotearoa authors this year, sadly, their books don't often appear on Goodreads.I also, outside of that, read a good deal of British authors. I'd love to see Goodreads extol authors outside of the United states. <3
I agree with Alison, Ines, and Dave! This list should consider international authors - otherwise it is, by no means, a “best books of the year list”. And where is literary fiction?!?!?!
what a helpful list I saw quite a few good recommendations! I have already read heartless hunter and it is a very good storyline!
Are your readers only from the US? Romantasy books should be under romance or fantasy. I don't see you putting this much effort separating romantic suspense or erotic thrillers from their parent genre. Where is poetry? Where is middle grade? Where are graphic novels? Your editorial team is a joke.
Could we see a list for top LITRPG novels? Or maybe progression fantasy too?
Courtney wrote: "How is this list curated? Lots of these aren't even rated 4 stars?"I don't find the average star rating a particularly good measure of the worth of a book, as it can be easily thrown off by brigading. The highest rating books have been up-voted by the author's friends and family, while the lowest rating books have been down-voted by people who dislike the author's politics.
I find that the most interesting books have a good spread of star ratings. People either love or hate them!
Grace wrote: "As a bookseller in Australia, only a small handful of these are popular over here. Some recent bestsellers in our bookstore are Caledonian Road Lola in the Mirror ..."Some of these aren't available in the US yet and therefore, probably didn't make their list of considerations. The company is based in the US and is very US-centered.
Phøenix13 wrote: "Would love to see middle grade get some love. I'm sure there were some great releases on the middle grade scene that we never get to hear about."Check out the groups/lists for Mock Caldecott and Newbery. That has good recs and is updated pretty frequently. Read-alongs, too :)
Riley wrote: "Heartless Hunter is most definitely not YA 😭"Publisher lists it for ages 13-18. They define it as "YA", thus why it's on this list.
Beryl wrote: "Kim wrote: "Why are these mid year checks at the beginning of June? So bizarre."Because it seems they do the awards before the end of December, seem to remember they came out in early December so..."
They usually start mid-November and books published after that are considered in the next year. I take issue with how they do awards, as well, though. They don't allow a write-in period anymore, removed a lot of categories last year, and allow nominations for books that have come out AFTER nominations started (books published that week) that no one except ARC readers would have gotten a chance to read. It's a popularity contest, not a serious award.
there are so many popular genres that wasnt added!!
for all of those bemoaning the lack of diversity here (i would be happy with a more diverse list), this list is compiled by the popularity of the titles amongst goodreads users. perhaps us users should be more diverse...just saying. or just read what calls to you and don't overthink it.
ol wrote: "for all of those bemoaning the lack of diversity here (i would be happy with a more diverse list), this list is compiled by the popularity of the titles amongst goodreads users. perhaps us users sh..."Yep. It even says it at the beginning of the list, as if the list-maker knew these comments were coming!
"As always, these selections are based on the total number of reader reviews and which titles are making their way to members’ Read and Want to Read shelves."
I have so many of these on my to read list and still managed to find more to add!! Such a good list!
I would love to see some picks for middle grade!
Alison wrote: "Thanks for this! A lot of great recommendations. I noticed nearly all the books are from authors based in the US. Do you recommend books written by authors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand..."Alison wrote: "Thanks for this! A lot of great recommendations. I noticed nearly all the books are from authors based in the US. Do you recommend books written by authors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand..."
Kairo is a great book. Here are a few books in translation that I've read: Fem by Magda Carneci (Romanian, 2019), The Fox Wife by Yangzse Choo (Manchuria/China, 2024), What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma (the Netherlands, 2020), Embers by Sandor Marai (Hungry, 1942), Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Polish, 2019), When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut (nonfictionish, Spanish, 2021). An Irish author I love is Claire Keegan, try anything.
Alison wrote: "Thanks for this! A lot of great recommendations. I noticed nearly all the books are from authors based in the US. Do you recommend books written by authors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand..."Totally agree for a universal site not very diverse unless it's USA based.
Alison wrote: "Thanks for this! A lot of great recommendations. I noticed nearly all the books are from authors based in the US. Do you recommend books written by authors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand..."
Reckless by Lauren Roberts!!
Reckless by Lauren Roberts!!
Janet wrote: "Dave wrote: "Id like to second Alison's comment, this is an extremely one eyed list in terms of authors origins." You're correct about that, but since the list is compiled by how many folks have re..."That's a good point!
So far I've read 18 of these and have another 4 on my reading list, this gives me some ideas of some other books to add.
Jeanine wrote: "What an amazing list! I throughly enjoyed Kristin Hannah’s The Women."What age would you say it is appropriate for?
Jennie wrote: "Law wrote: "I want to read First Lie Wins and The Women. I've read three books from this list, Bride, The Familiar and The Teacher, and all were disappointing."I thought The Women was over-hyped ..."
...and the research is dreadful. I like her central point--that women did serve in Vietnam, but were denied the services that men that served received--but the other historical details are cringeworthy.
I don't get how "Romantasy" and "Fantasy" can have their separate categories, but "Historical" and "Contemporary" fiction has to be bundled together. Please separate these two! Thanks.
queer people write and exist in romance books too
Hi. I wrote a memoir called Brain Tumours, John Bonham and Fat Pigeons. It's had positive reviews from those that have read it but I only have 19 rating on Amazon and that number hasn't changed in quite a few weeks. How do I promote this book and get others to know about it?
I was disappointed with Murder RoadListen for the Lie was excellent
Alison wrote: "Thanks for this! A lot of great recommendations. I noticed nearly all the books are from authors based in the US. Do you recommend books written by authors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand..."The Guardian is usually a pretty good source for lists that aren't as US centered. Can't post a link, but tab "Culture" then "Books" has an article on what to read this summer.
Danny wrote: "Beryl wrote: "Because it seems they do the awards before the end of December"Which then begs the question why they can't wait until the year is over to determine the best books of the year. They ..."
I suspect that end-of-year "best of" lists will always be published between Thanksgiving and mid-December to push holiday sales (or, if we want to be charitable, to help shoppers select their gift purchases). In January, people look forward; in December, they look back; or, at least, that's what they've been conditioned to do.
I loved “The Teacher” but my coworkers and I were a bit freaked out because … well … we are teachers. We all had to go back and reread the last chapter because we couldn’t believe that final twist!