Hello fellow readers! We have reached the end of 2024 and what a year it has been. Speaking from a personal level, 2024 was quite the year. In addition to some changes in my personal life, which included a mother-daughter trip to Paris and serving as maid of honor at my sister’s wedding, it was also the year I published Love and Betrayal in the City of Lights and continued to grow this blog. And while I’ll admit I haven’t gotten it down pat, I think I am on the right path.

In addition to using the end of the year as a time to reflect and set goals for the new year, it is also the time when I do my annual Best Books of the year. I’ve been doing this since 2022 and it is honestly something I look forward to every year! If you are new here or don’t recall this tradition, it is when I select my favorite books that I read in 2024 and rank them, providing you with new book recommendations and for me to take inventory on what I want to keep reading and what I can skip on in 2025. As a little refresher, below are my guidelines and rules.

1. I have to have read the book between December 15, 2023 and December 15, 2024. Since I have to plan these lists a bit in advance, my book year run a little different than the calendar year.
2. Has to be a book I read for the first time in 2024. Any re-reads are not included.
3. Book does not have to be published in 2024, just have to be read this year.

I have also selected three honorable mentions, which will kickoff the countdown tomorrow. Any guesses on what made the cut? Check in everyday leading up New Year’s Eve to see what my favorites of the year were.

Happy holidays!