Top 5 2024 Releases So Far
With 2024 more than halfway over I thought it would be fun to share what I consider to be the best 5 books to come out so far this year in a variety of genres.
Best Thriller: Listen For The Lie, by Amy Tintera
This is a fast-paced, witty, and engaging thriller. The main character, Lucy, is thought to have killed her best friend, by her whole town and herself. The catch is that no one can prove it and she doesn’t remember anything that happened that night. When a true crime podcaster, Ben, decides to take a look at the case and try to solve it himself, Lucy feels she has no choice but to step in and try to figure out what happened that night. This book has a unique narration style as it switches between first person pov and Ben’s podcast episodes. I rated it highly and recommend it to any thriller readers out there.
Best Historical Fiction: Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Lady Macbeth offers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy from the perspective of Lady Macbeth herself. This novel delves into the life of Lady Macbeth, exploring her experiences as she marries Lord Macbeth and navigates her new role within the court and alongside her husband. The narrative provides a powerful and empowering female perspective, showcasing Lady Macbeth's strategic brilliance and her fierce determination to claim her rightful place. The book shows her cunning nature and the ways in which she harnesses both her intelligence and her witchcraft to manipulate and intrigue those around her. Filled with magic and suspense, Lady Macbeth reimagines the well-known story with a focus on the complexities of its central female character, offering readers a compelling blend of ambition, intrigue, and dark enchantment.
Best Romance: Funny Story, by Emily Henry
This is a great romance that features two people, Miles and Daphne, as they become friends and then more. The book starts with Daphne being left by her fiancé. Her fiancé, Peter, has decided to date his childhood best friend, Petra. Through funny circumstances, Daphne meets Petra’s ex, Miles. The two become roommates, due to both losing their previous roommates to Peter and Petra’s romance. What transpires is a really funny and romantic story.
Best Fantasy Romance: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
A vampire and a werewolf romance in the best way possible. This book brings out all the feels. It’s an arranged marriage between Misery, the daughter of a vampire councilman, and Lowe, the alpha of a werewolf pack. As the two get to know each other feelings develop, and we also get to see some court politics between the vampire and werewolf side. The book is a standalone, so the story wraps up nicely, but I believe Ali Hazelwood has stated she wants to write more in the world.
Best Series/Fantasy: Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Assistant to the Villain came out in 2023, but its sequel Apprentice to the Villain just came out in August 2024. It's not exactly YA, but there are no explicit scenes. It is about a girl, Evie, who meets The Villain while on a walk. The Villain is a notorious bad guy that the whole kingdom fears. However, the Villain looks, and acts, nothing like the stories and wanted posters make it seem. Evie tells the Villain about how she was looking for a job, and the Villain offers her to become his assistant. The book follows Evie as she navigates her new job and new boss, and we slowly learn more about her and how The Villain became a villain. This book is totally squeal-worthy and features simple, but complete, world building, has great magical creatures, and funny and witty dialogue.
So there you have it. 5 great books that made their debut in the first 8 months of 2024. I highly recommend them all and hope this helps you pick out your next read.