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The 144 Most Read Books of the 2024 Reading Challenge
Goodreads regulars will be aware that our 2024 Reading Challenge is coming to a glorious conclusion with the ringing in of the new year. This is, of course, our annual group reading exercise, in which members pledge to read a certain number of books over the course of the calendar year. Think of it as a fitness class for book nerds.
Well, the numbers are in, and they’re kind of eye-popping: More than 9 million readers signed up to read more than 356 million books in the year 2024. It’s inspirational! It’s aspirational! It’s amazing!
Perhaps you’re curious: Which books were the most popular in this year’s Reading Challenge? We were curious, too. Below are the top 12 books marked as Read by participants in this year’s challenge, sorted by genre.
Scroll around and you’ll see that several familiar names placed multiple books in the collection—some across different genres: R.F. Kuang, Alex Michaelides, Ali Hazelwood, Taylor Jenkins Reid, David Grann, Sarah J. Maas. Quite a few hugely popular recent books made the charts, too: Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Demon Copperhead and James McBride’s Kirkus Prize winner, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.
There’s also a fun scattering of old genre classics, high-school English class favorites, popular memoirs, modern queer fiction classics, deeply weird true stories, and even a bit of fan fiction. Plus, of course, you’ll find the enduring delights of hockey romance.
Click on the book cover images for more information about each title, and use the Want to Read button if you’re already thinking about 2025.
Fiction
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Historical Fiction
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Mystery & Thriller
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Fantasy
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Romantasy
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Science Fiction
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Horror
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Romance
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Young Adult
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
Memoirs
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
History & Biography
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
General Nonfiction
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
How many of these books have you read? Let us know in the comments below!
Comments Showing 101-150 of 251 (251 new)
message 101:
by
Mimi
(new)
Dec 19, 2024 07:36AM
Nicest surprise was Elon Musk. Gave me a different side of a man who is truly dedicated to saving the planet and humanity. He certainly is quirky but genuine.
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I've read 28, but I have many of the others on my TBR list!
I've only read 18 on the list -- time to step it up! (Kidding ;) )
Most popular does not mean best literature or best book. I have read many of the books listed and would consider rthem mediocre at best.
41, working on #42 now which will be my 196th book this year. I'm really happy that A Little Life was one of the most read books of the year. It was a difficult read and brought me to tears several times, but it was the most impactful book I read this year. Beautiful writing and a very compelling character in Jude that will stay with me much as Owen Meany has.
I can’t believe Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” is not on this year’s list
Read 8 of this list. 5 were from the bookclub I joined, which proves the club is worth the effort.
I've read 9 of these and surprised it's that many as I tend to read off the beaten path.
I've read 37 not including two soft DNF's and 34 on my TBR.
Great lists, I read 4 books, one nr. 1, 2 nr. 2's and one nr. 3 listing...
Thanks for the list. I picked a few to read. I wish Goodreads would add a category for Religion/Spirituality.
I read 21 of these but have read or listened almost 100 books in 2024!
I am disgusted that Rashid Kaledi is in this list.
I would like to see most read and top rated. I’ve been disappointed by popular books one too many times. Isn’t that the point of Goodreads. Let’s not just ship the books that get read the most. Quality should be considered too.
I have about ten, but I had in mind that I could read a total of 30.Let’s see about one more book being read.
The fact that i have read almost every romantasy book there is. FW and IF deserve their 1 and 2 spots! Ig its about time i read Manacled and Never king.
Read 29 :) and 39 more on my TBR. Too many books, too little time ;')
I've read 72, but not all this year. I had to quit 6 because they were not for me. My favs were probably Project Hail Mary, Book Lovers, Carrie Soto, Killers of the Flower Moon and The Wager.
I’ve read 22 from this list. I have 17 marked as want to read. Not sure what that says about me 🤣
Is it bad that I've only actually read one of those books and only 2 of them are tbr?
Sophie wrote: "Is it bad that I've only actually read one of those books and only 2 of them are tbr?"don't feel bad. i read 1 & 1 listed as TBR. i gravitate to read published books that i haven't read decades ago, but not specifically the classics genre.
Also pleasantly surprised to see the Palestine book there
Are these books read this year by participants or just books that have been read at some point by those participating?
Read 22 out of all 144, mostly non fiction and biography.
13 read from this list. That's a nice total, seeing as I prefer to read the less talked-about books out there! It's been a great year of reading. Here's to more great books in 2025!
16 Read. 9 of them Thrillers and the other 3 are on my Want To Read List! 😂
I read 7- mostly memoirs and just started the 8th. I have 3 more of these on my TBR list.
I've read 6, and have about 6 marked as Want to Read. I don't read books just because they're popular.
19 out of 144 on this list. None from science fiction nor fantasy.
Lillian wrote: "As a fanfiction writer and reader, PLEASE keep fics off goodreads! Senlinyu and other popular fic writers have faced so many challenges from their (hobby!) works being shared against their will in the mainstream medias. It’s not fair to anyone and can cause a lot of problems.Also, way to show these lists are automated (ai, probably?) since last I knew, fanfics weren’t supposed to be on GR per the tos."
Fanfiction didn't use to be allowed on Goodreads, but it is permitted now under certain conditions.
https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...
I've read 55 of them. I usually don't choose fantasy, biographies, nonfiction, or memoirs.
I’ve read 13 and have a lot already on my want to read list!!
