Best Reads of 2024

Most of my other hobbies were accompanied by a book this year.  Therefore, my reading consisted of 82% of audiobooks!  I'm fine with that, though.  I still read physical and/or ebooks everyday, but only for short periods of time.  My overall average rating went from 3.16 (2023) to a 3.17 (2024).  At least it's moving in the right trajectory!  😆  To be fair to myself, it was much higher until December.  I read many Christmas romance books and one big disappointment at the end.

In order of how I read 103 books, here are the Best Reads of 2024 that I rated 4/5 and up:

1.  The Heiress (Hawkins) ~ 4/5, Mystery

**2.  The Passengers (Marrs) ~ 4.25/5, Thriller

3.  My Lovely Wife (Downing) ~ 4/5, Thriller

4.  Strange Sally Diamond (Nugent) ~ 4.25/5, Thriller

5.  Kill for Me, Kill for You (Cavanagh) ~ 4/5, Thriller

6.  Forsaken Country (Esken) ~ 4.25/5, Thriller

7.  Good Morning, Monster (Gildiner) ~ 4.25/5, Non-Fiction

8.  Look Closer (Ellis) ~ 4.25/5, Thriller

**9.  My Husband (Ventura) ~ 4/5, Fiction

10.  Nightwatching (Sierra) ~ 4/5, Thriller

11.  Gone Tonight (Pekkanen) ~ 4/5, Thriller

12.  The Unraveling (Keeland) ~ 4.25/5, Thriller

13.  My Dark Vanessa (Russell) ~ 4.25/5, Fiction

14.  Razorblade Tears (Cosby) ~ 4/5, Thriller

15.  Zero Days (Ware) ~ 4/5, Thriller

** Think about these books OFTEN.

December Reads

93.  Home Before Dark (Sager) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), Audiobook, Thriller

Scooby-Do Caper.  That says it all.  12-3-24

 (soft) DNF ~ The Thursday Murder Club (Osman) 

I simply couldn't get into it.  I'll try again another time.

94.  Such a Fun Age (Reid) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Fiction

Whatever.  12-8-24

95.  The Maidens (Michaelides) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), Audiobook, Mystery

This was slow and a bit boring.  12-11-24

(soft) DNF ~ Once There Were Wolves (McConaghy)

Not interested at the moment.  I'll try again later.

96.  A Cross-Country Christmas (Walsh) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Christmas Romance

Pretty much what one would expect from a Christmas Romance book.  Very Hallmarky.  12-15-24

97.  My December Darling (Asher) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Christmas Romance

I enjoyed the story, but I could do without the open door scenes.  First time reading Asher, though.  I'll read more.

12-18-24

98.  Claus & Effect (Wayne) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Christmas Romance

I didn't really care for either of the main characters.  Again, not a fan of open door scenes.  12-20-24    

99.  Holiday Wedding (Neeley) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), Audiobook, Christmas Romance

Yay for no open door, but the storyline was ridiculous!  12-22-24

100.  Cabin Crush (Stockton), 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Christmas Romance

Clean, cute Christmasy romance.  12-24-24

***101.  The Clinic (Quinn) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

I don't remember much about this book, I even forgot to record it in May!  However, I do remember bits and pieces.  Didn't love it, didn't hate it.  5-20-24

102.  The Christmas Guest (Swanson) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Book, Thriller

I don't know what I was expecting, but I was surprised with this one.  It was good, but the darkness in this Christmas book was shocking to me - probably because I just read 4 Christmas romances.  😏  12-28-24

103.  The Reformatory (Due) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), Audiobook, Paranormal 

I saw this all over the place with raving reviews.  Not one person mentioned there was a paranormal element to it.  Had I known  . . . I don't think I would have picked it up.  This wasn't what I was expecting at all, and frankly, I should have DNF'd it.  I, also, should have done a little research beforehand.  Oops.  

12-29-24

*Edited a book

***Forgotten book from May.

November Reads

89.  Zero Days (Ware) ~ 4/5 (very good), Audiobook, Thriller

This is probably my favorite Ware book, so far.  I like the 'cat and mouse' trope.  Unfortunately, though, there were F-bombs galore.  11-5-24  

90.  Happiness for Beginners (Center) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Chick Lit

This was a very predicable read, but fine.  11-10-24

91.  The Feud (Rogers) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Psychological Thriller

There were two big scenes that were beyond ridiculous that kept my rating at a 3.5/5, otherwise I would have rated it higher.  The storyline kept my interest.  11-18-24

92.  The Neighbour (Rogers) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Domestic Thriller

This was fine.  Not much to comment on.  11-24-24

*Edited a Book*

11-30-24

October Reads

80.  While You Were Out (Kissinger) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Memoir

I was missing something in this memoir.  It was filled with very important facts and issues surrounding mental illness, so maybe it was the personal touch that I was missing.  Not sure.  10-4-24

81.  Behind Her Eyes (Pinborough) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

Ugh.  I wasn't aware of this particular genre twist, which I haven't seen referred to anywhere.  Other than that, it was pretty good.  I'll still try another by her.  10-8-24

DNF (soft) ~ Unsub (Gardiner) ~ Audiobook, Thriller

I wasn't interested in the slightest.  Hopefully, it will have more appeal on another day.

82.   This is How it Always is (Frankel) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Fiction

This was a deep, thoughtful story.  There are many topics to discuss and/or ruminate over.  I didn't care for the fairytale story or just the basic story within a story.  10-14-24

83.  Maybe in Another Life (Reid) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Chick Lit

I enjoyed the basic idea of this story, but didn't care for some the repetition - especially talk about cinnamon rolls.  I, also, didn't like the music in the background of the audiobook at all!  Beautiful instrumental music, but that's not for me when listening to a book.  Other than that, I really liked some the characters.  10-18-24

84.  Razorblade Tears (Cosby) ~ 4/5 (very good), Book, Fiction

The relationship between the two main characters was enjoyable.  I liked their snarky remarks.  The story was very gritty and had a street/biker vibe to it that I didn't expect.  10-18-24

85.  After I Do (Reid) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Chick Lit

This was good.  I liked the variety of relationships.  10-23-24

86.  Drowning (Newman) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Suspense

There wasn't anything special about this book.  Actually, some of it was easily predicted and other parts were very unrealistic.  10-27-24

87.  Same Time Next Summer (Monaghan) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Chick Lit

 

This was just a simple romance story on a beach.  10-30-24

*Proof Read a Book*

10-31-24

88.  The Haters (Harding) ~ 3/5 (just okay), eBook, Suspense, NetGalley

I think my expectations were too high, just by the title and general synopsis.  It felt more domestic than anything and not very suspenseful.  I do believe it's me, though.  10-31-24

September Reads

70.  Beach Read (Henry) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Book, Chick Lit

There were slivers of scenes I enjoyed, but overall it was boring.  I liked Book Lovers more, but Henry simply may not be the author for me.  9-1-24

71.  Lessons in Chemistry (Garmus) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Fiction

I appreciated the message in this book, so I can understand why people really like it, but there was more that I didn't like.  I didn't like any of the characters, I don't like personification, so I didn't like any of the dog scenes, and in general, it felt exaggerated.  Oh well.  9-6-24

72.  Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow (Zevin) ~ 1.5/5 (ugh), Audiobook, Fiction

I should have marked this as a DNF, so 1.5/5 is generous.  Boring, Boring and Boring.  9-12-24

73.  Seven Days in June (Williams) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), Audiobook, Fiction

Hmmm.  This would have been a 3/5 (just okay), but the tipping point was the daughter.  Had I read it with my eyes, maybe I would have a different opinion.  Also, there was an abundance of very important topics that made it difficult for me to buy into it all.  I did want to know the outcome, though.  9-15-24

74.  The Leftover Woman (Kwok) ~ 2.75/5 (eh), Audiobook, Fiction

I would not consider this a thriller.  The timeline seemed a bit jumbled, and there were some ridiculous aspects to the storyline.  9-18-24

75.  The Overnight Guest (Gudenkauf) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

This had two timelines and many more coincidences.  I didn't care for the main character, but was generally interested to know the conclusion.  Suspension of disbelief was required. 

9-19-24

76.  The Summer of Yes (Walsh) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), eBook, Chick Lit, NetGalley

This was so incredibly predictable.  It definitely was a typical, light chick-lit story regarding the romance.  The other storyline was very unrealistic, which others may enjoy for a summer read, but wasn't for me.  9-23-24

77.  The Fury (Michaelides) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Mystery

I really enjoyed the unique way in which this was told.  It kept my interest.  9-24-24

78.  When the Stars Go Dark (McLain) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Mystery

This wasn't anything special.  I listened, but was never eager to continue.  9-27-24

79.  The Good Neighbors (Modglin) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Fiction

While doing something else, this popcorn thriller kept me entertained.  9-30-24

August Reads

64.  Gone Tonight (Pekkanen) ~ 4/5 (very good), Audiobook, Thriller

I listened to about 50%, then had to put it on hold for a week.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to continue with the momentum I started with, but fortunately, I was able to get right back into it.  The plot kept me interested.  8-10-24

DNF ~ When No One is Watching (Cole) ~ Audiobook, Thriller

I listened up to 17% and wasn't interested in the least.  8-13-24

65.  Mr. Mercedes (King) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Thriller

This kept me engaged the whole way through.  It was good.

8-16-24

66.  The Unraveling (Keeland) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), eBook, Thriller, NetGalley

After reading this, I searched to see if Keeland had written any more books.  After seeing her extensive backlist, a few scenes made more sense!  She's a romance writer.  I will definitely pick up her books if she writes more in THIS (thriller) genre.  This was a very good read.  I didn't want to put it down.  8-16-24

67.  The Quiet Tenant (Michallon) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Thriller

It kept my interest, but there was nothing really unique done with the trope.  I didn't buy in 100%, but still enjoyed it.  8-20-24

68.  My Dark Vanessa (Russell) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), Audiobook, Fiction

Oh my.  This was a difficult read.  It felt so real, which created many thoughts and feelings to decipher.  This is definitely a book that can spur deep conversations.  8-26-24

69.  The Collected Regrets of Clover (Brammer) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Fiction

I found this to be a bit boring.  It picked up in the last 1/4, so that helped my overall enjoyment.  I know it's not the book, though.  It's just a preference issue.  8-30-24

July Reads

55.  The Women (Hannah) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Historical Fiction

I almost DNF'd this book at 25%.  I just wasn't into it.  As I was working on something, I sped up the audio a little bit and let it keep playing.  Eventually, I became more invested and wanted to continue.  This ended up being a decent read/listen.  7-6-24

56.  Lovely War (Berry) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Historical Fiction

This was slow moving, and even though the mythology spin made it uniquely told, that's what I disliked the most!  Overall, I didn't really care for it.  Maybe two war books in a row didn't help.  ???  7-9-24

57.  My Husband (Ventura) ~ 4/5 (very good), Book, Fiction

Wow.  This was very good.  However, I admit that there was a time when I was getting bored.  I had enough of the same rhetoric.  Thankfully, it did pick up, and I couldn't put it down.  The ending didn't disappoint!  7-10-24

58.  The Stranger (Modglin) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), Audiobook, Thriller

I was interested and curious at first, then guessed a major part towards the end.  Other than that, not much else to say.

7-12-24  

59.  The Next Mrs. Parrish (Constantine) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), Audiobook, Thriller

Too many ridiculous decisions made, and I had had enough of at least one character.  7-14-24

60.  The Roommate (Modglin) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

This was very predictable, but kept my mind occupied for a bit while doing mundane chores.  7-16-24

61.  The Maid's Diary (White) ~ 3.5/5 (good), eBook, Thriller

Once I became privy to one thing, then I knew the huge plot twist.  That was fine, but there was another plot twist that I simply didn't understand, which lowered my enjoyment/rating.  I may have missed something, I don't know.  I will definitely pick up another one of her books.  7-18-24

62.  The Good Wife (Rogers) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Thriller

I have read many domestic thrillers with similar plots.  This one, though, was filled with a lot of bedroom scenes that I did not expect nor did I like.  I would have rated it higher if not for that.  The ending was no surprise.  I guessed it all, but still enjoyed it.  7-24-24

63.  Bright Young Women (Knoll) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Thriller

My greatest complaint about this book was that it was a compilation of implied fact and fiction.  There were many times when I wanted to know the actual truth, so that made it frustrating to me.  7-30-24

18 Years and Counting

Another year has zoomed by, and while I've enjoyed my reading, I'm still not averaging higher than 3.3 in my ratings.  I haven't been too disappointed in my book choices, but I definitely haven't been able to rave about them either.  Hence, the "just okay" average.

The good news is that I have been reading so many of MY books.  At the beginning of the year, I made 3 stacks of 12 books each and one list of 12 books (total of 48 books).  The 3 stacks were made up of books from my shelves.  I categorized them as TBR Shelves (general picks), BOTM (from past years) and Buzzword Challenge.  The list was my NetGalley books.  I have read over half of the collective books!  This is the first year I have made such a dent in my actual shelves.  It's been great.  I imagine I will continue this personal challenge next year, as well.

I haven't made as many purchases this year, and I have continued to cull my unwanted books.  I still have a long way to go, but it's been good to remove some here and there.  Those unwanted books are the ones that continually get overlooked, because there is always something more enticing to pick up.

My hope for you is that whatever you pick up brings you much happiness!  😃

Thoughts of Joy

      

June Reads

46.  If He Had Been With Me (Nowlin) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, YA Romance

A little slow and not very gripping, but it seemed a little more realistic than some other YA books I have read.  6-2-24

47.  Five Survive (Jackson) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, YA Thriller

Unfortunately, I didn't care for this one.  I think YA books are wearing thin for me.  6-7-24

48.  City of Books (Meier) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Fiction, NetGalley

This was bland and boring sprinkled with a couple serious topics.  It had one addition that felt like it was inserted just to add another bend to the story.  There was nothing special about the characters either.  Sadly, I didn't care for it.  6-9-24

49.  Nightwatching (Sierra) ~ 4/5 (very good), Audiobook, Literary Suspense

I almost gave up on this book, because it was slow going!  I decided to continue while I was doing something else.  It didn't feel like a traditional thriller, but turned out to be very good.  Go into it as a literary suspense novel versus a thriller, and you'll enjoy it more.  6-11-24

50.  The Seven Year Slip (Poston) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Book, Magical Realism Romance, Book Club

The magical realism was a different twist for me.  I'm not too interested in that genre, but this was okay.  It had deeper concepts/themes to think on versus a simple romance.  I did like picking it up once I reached half way through.  6-15-24

51.  The Girl Who Was Taken (Donlea) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Thriller

I'm not exactly sure why, but I never got into this one.  The beginning was a little difficult to get into, and it was slow and boring.  I guess I do know why.  6-16-24

52.  The Missing (Modglin) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Thriller

Too many ridiculous choices and misinformation that could have been researched.  6-19-24

53.  Do Not Disturb (McFadden) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), Audiobook, Thriller

Too much repetition, but it worked out fine for a road trip.

6-29-24

54.  Wait for Dark (Modglin) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

I predicted much of it, but it was fine.  Nothing special, but not bad either.  6-29-24

 

May Reads

38.  The Hidden One (Castillo) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Mystery, NetGalley

I really enjoyed the relationships, but the rest seemed very reminiscent of other books in this series.

5-2-24

39.  Good Morning, Monster (Gildiner) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), Audiobook, Non-Fiction

This was very interesting.  Gildiner shares how she helped 5 individuals manage their tumultuous lives through therapy.  5-6-24

40.  Nowhere to Hide (Beevis) ~ 3.5 (good), Audiobook, Thriller

This didn't seem like a new concept, but still a compelling audio read despite some parts that were difficult to hear.  5-10-24

41.  Beartown (Backman) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Fiction, NetGalley

I didn't really enjoy this.  It wasn't suspenseful or intriguing.  The whole story had a gloomy cloud over it - just sorta blah.  I don't understand the hype of this series.  Just not for me, I guess.  5-15-24

42.  Look Closer (Ellis) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), Suspense, eBook, NetGalley

I enjoyed this very much!  If there had only been one more thing included that I thought was missing, I would have rated it higher.  5-19-24

43.  Out on a Limb (Bonus-Young) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Romance

While the storyline was fine, I didn't care for all the spice.  I think rom-coms would be a better choice for me.  I just keep getting recs that I keep trying.  Same thing happens, imagine that!  5-24-24

44.  56 Days (Howard) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Thriller

If only it didn't have repetitive scenes (different pov), I would have enjoyed this more.  The covid lockdown setting was interesting to relive, because I have already forgotten some of the little nuances of that time.   5-29-24

45.  We Spread (Reid) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), eBook, Fiction, NetGalley

I didn't like how I felt at the close of this book.  It's a little discombobulating and sad.  However, it definitely was/is a very thought-provoking read.  5-31-24   

April Reads

 

DNF - The Whistler (Grisham) ~ Audiobook, Thriller

Eek!  Grisham is one of my favorite authors; however, this one just did not capture my attention.  4-1-24

28.  The Love Hypothesis (Hazelwood) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Romance

The story was okay, and the romance wasn't so bad.  Everything was just okay.  Not sure what all the hype was about.  ???  4-3-24

29.  Sidetracked (Abby) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller, #2 in Series 

It has been quite awhile since I read the first book in this 5 book series, so it took me a minute to catch up to the storyline.  I'll keep listening, but so far it's just been okay.  4-6-24 

30.  Counting the Cost (Duggar) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Memoir

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be fine.  Nothing new.  I do think Jill did a good job in explaining her side.  4-7-24

31.  Scarlet Angel (Abby) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller, #3 in Series

Eek!  This one had more background and graphic content.  I'm going to finish the series, but I'm not really enjoying it.  4-9-24

DNF - The 7 1/2 Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle (Turton) ~ Audiobook, Mystery

This was incredibly slow and boring.

32.  All the Lies (Abby) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Thriller, #4 in Series

I can appreciate the revenge trope, but I didn't care for the graphic torture.  4-12-24

 33.  Paint it All Red (Abby) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller, #5 in Series

It was a good wrap-up, but overall ... just an okay series.  I'm definitely an outlier.  4-15-24

34.  Forsaken Country (Eskens) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), eBook, Mystery/Thriller, NetGalley

I am so glad that I have more books by Eskens on my TBR Shelves.  All three books I have read by him have all be in the 4s!  His writing grips me every time.  I feel like I'm there, I care for the characters, and I want to know what's going to happen.  So good.  4-17-24

35.  Alone With You in the Ether (Blake) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, Romance

I enjoyed the first half more than the second.  Read it only because of the hype.  4-19-24

36.  The Woman in Me (Spears) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Memoir

I haven't followed Britney, other than what I have seen in the media, so this was an eye opener.  She did a good job telling her story.  4-24-24

DNF - The Book of Doors (Brown) ~ eBook, Fantasy, NetGalley

This sounded intriguing, but I just couldn't get into it.

37.  The Midwife (Cresswell) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Historical Fiction

I think I would have appreciated this one more had I read it.  There were a lot of characters and their stories to keep track of that caused minor confusion at times via audio.  It is a slow moving saga, but interesting to learn about the time period.

4-28-24

March Reads

 

19.  All the Dangerous Things (Willingham) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Audiobook, Thriller

I found this to be a little bit slow, but it was still interesting.  The mystery kept me hooked, and I was mildly surprised a time or two.  3-1-24

20.  You'll Never Know I'm Here (Modglin) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook,  Thriller

The beginning was okay, but by the end - she lost me.  It definitely was an over-the-top type of plot, which some of hers I have really enjoyed.  This one, not so much.  3-4-24

21.  The Vacation (Marrs) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

Had I read this instead of listening, I would have liked it more.  Listening to it made the amount of characters seem like too many.  There was past and present for each of them, as well.

3-8-24

22.  Strange Sally Diamond (Nugent) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), Audiobook, Mystery

For a character driven novel, I'm so surprised that it kept me interested the whole way through.  While some of it was difficult to hear, I wanted to continue listening.  The audiobook was well done.  3-13-24

23.  The Graham Effect (Kennedy) ~ 1/5 (don't bother), Audiobook, Sports Romance?

🙉  My ears!  My ears!  YIKES!  I have never read anything so X-Rated . . . and that just isn't my preference.  3-19-24

24.  The Girl in Seat 2A (Wilkinson) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Thriller

In general, this was just an okay read.  Nothing special, but it kept me entertained for a bit.  3-23-24

25.  Kill for Me, Kill for You (Cavanagh) ~ 4/5 (very good), eBook, Thriller, NetGalley

This was heading towards a higher rating until the climax.  I simply didn't buy it.  I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, though.  Very good book.  I'll definitely read more by this author.

3-28-24

26.  Creep (Hillier) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Audiobook, Thriller

This kept me entertained, but it wasn't great.  It seemed a bit superficial.  3-30-24

27.  The Teacher (McFadden) ~ 3.5/5 (good), Book, Thriller

I loved the pace of this one.  The pages just flew by.  Some of it was just hokey and ridiculous, but I stayed for more.  HA!

3-30-24 

February Reads

 

10.  Heartstopper #5 (Oseman) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Book, YA Graphic Novel

Intimate relationships and life choices were the focus of this addition to the Heartstopper series.  2-3-24

11.  Yellowface (Kuang) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Fiction

It got a little boring and repetitive, but in general, it was an okay read.  I don't really understand the hype behind this one, but whatever.  I liked the ending.  2-6-24

12.  Every Last Fear (Finlay) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Thriller

I started losing interest about 1/2 way through.  It just seemed so slow and drawn out.  2-11-24

13.  The Family Game (Steadman) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Thriller

I prefer my reads to be based a little more in reality.  This landed middle of the road for me.  2-15-24

14.  The Last Party (Macintosh) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Mystery

I never really cared for anybody in this police procedural.  There were so many suspects that I couldn't even guess whodunnit if I wanted to.  I didn't care for the narrator, that could have contributed to my rating.  However, I did follow along and thought it was an okay read.  2-18-24

15.  Fierce Kingdom (Phillips) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Thriller

Too many questions!!!  The timeline wasn't clear to me.  It took too long for help to arrive or to even know of their presence.  There were a few very poor choices and some loose ends that annoyed me.  2-19-24

16.  First Lie Wins (Elston) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), ebook, Thriller, NetGalley

I would have given this a 4/5 (very good), if I didn't have to pay such close attention to the storyline.  There were many details, twists or info that needed to be followed.  However, I did like it, and I'm definitely interested in more by this author.  2-20-24

17.  Truly Devious (Johnson) ~ 2.5/5 (eh), Audiobook, YA Mystery

Not sure what the hype was about with this one.  I'm not interested in reading any more in this series.

2-24-24

18.  The Wishing Game (Schaffer) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), Book, Fiction

This was a sweet, feel good story.  I enjoyed it.  2-27-24

January Reads

 

1.  No One Can Know (Marshall) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), Audiobook, Thriller, NetGalley

My first book of 2024 turned out to be boring. 🥱  I was interested at first, but then it became a finger pointing game. It was this person, it was that person, no … it was the other person. It wasn’t bad.  I just didn’t like the style of mystery solving.  1-2-24

2.  The Heiress (Hawkins) ~ 4/5 (very good), Audiobook, Family Drama, NetGalley

I was intrigued from the beginning and that continued through to the end.  I did predict several plot twists, but still enjoyed the process of each reveal.  It had The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibe, which I loved, so that was a plus.  The audio was performed impressively.  1-8-24

3.  Listen for the Lie (Tintera) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Mystery, NetGalley

The storyline was pretty good, and I liked the podcast element.  But, while the sarcastic/snarky comments by a couple characters were entertaining, listening to the repetitive 'voice' was ridiculous to me.  Had I actually read the physical copy, I may have felt differently.  1-11-24

4.  Seven Exes (Vine) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), ebook, Chick Lit, NetGalley

I think I would like this plot with other characters.  I just didn't care for anybody, so I didn't care about what happened.  Maybe I simply was not the right audience.  I did finish it, though, and liked the ending.  There's that.  :)  1-13-24

5.  Fourth Wing (Yarros) ~ 3/5 (just okay), Audiobook, Romantasy

Ahhh.  I wish I loved this like most readers, but it just isn't my genre of choice.  There were some parts I liked, but more that I didn't.  The language was definitely atrocious, but the storyline itself was okay, and the ending was decent.  I won't be jumping into Iron Flame in the near future.  1-17-24

6.  The Passengers (Marrs) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), Book, Thriller, Bookclub

This was so good!  I was invested in everybody's story, and I loved how it was told.  It was filled with twists that were interesting, very thought-provoking topics and lots of suspense.  I didn't care for all the political chatter - at all.  And, the romance was a tad bit too quick, but I understand it in relation to the storyline.  I can't wait to read more of Marr's backlist.  1-19-24

7.  Bye, Baby (Lovering) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), Audiobook, Thriller (?), NetGalley

This was okay.  It wasn't compelling, but it was an okay time.  There were a lot of side issues contributing to the full story that took away from the focus.  Definitely not a thriller.  1-23-24

8.  My Lovely Wife (Downing) ~ 4/5 (very good), Audiobook, Thriller

Finally got to this book.  I really enjoyed the storyline, but didn't buy in 100%.  1-30-24

9.  Movie Star:  They Always Say They're Single (Simpson) ~ 2/5 (not enjoyable), Audiobook, Memoir

This was a short story of a very basic relationship after the author's divorce.  (read for a challenge)  1-30-24

Best Reads of 2023

 

This was not a very good year on many levels - not bad, just not very good.  I read a decent amount, but my ratings were very indicative of my enjoyment - averaging a 3.16 for the year.  On the positive side, a "3" really isn't that bad.  It's actually "just okay" in my book.  However, I would like to read more 4 star books this coming year.  My main goal is to read even more books off my shelves.  I did pretty good this year and hope to continue that trend.  Let's just hope I discover more 4 star and up books hidden there!  :)

These are my Best Reads that I rated 4/5 and up this year:

1.  Ballad of Sophie (Melo & Cavia) ~ graphic novel, 4.25/5

2.  Finding Me (Davis) ~ memoir, 4/5

3.  Daisy Jones and The Six (Reid) ~ fiction, 4.25/5

4.  Then She Was Gone (Jewell) ~ thriller, 4/5

5.  I'm Glad My Mom Died (McCurdy) ~ memoir, 4/5

6.  The Whispers (Audrain) ~ fiction, 4/5

7.  Bath Haus (Vernon) ~ thriller, 4.25/5  

December Reads

72.  Hemlock (Modglin) ~ 3.5/5 (good), audiobook, romantic suspense, NetGalley

I enjoyed the first half more than the second, but still had a good time listening.  I felt like the distance between the two timelines was sometimes indistinguishable.  It took a minute or so to figure where I was whenever I picked it up.

12-3-23

73.  The River at Night (Ferencik) ~ 3/5 (just okay), audiobook, thriller

This was just okay.  The storyline turned a little more unrealistic than I like.  12-7-23

74.  The Guest (Paris) ~ 3.5/5 (good), audiobook, thriller, NetGalley

I was interested in where the story was going.  The twist didn't surprise me, but I didn't guess it either.  I definitely liked it more than The Prisoner and look forward to more.  Paris is an auto-pickup for me.

12-10-23

75.  Lovelight Farms (Borison) ~ 3/5 (just okay), audiobook, romance

I think I smiled twice.  I could do without the spicy scenes.  12-13-23

76.  Faking Christmas (Steel) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), audiobook, romance

This was a good story.  I enjoyed the relationship and the banter.  The only thing I did not like was the nicknames.  That got old very fast!  Other than that, it was a cute story.  12-16-23

77.  The Whispers (Audrain) ~ 4/5 (very good), book, fiction 

This kept me intrigued the whole way through.  I guessed one twist, but that didn't ruin the book.  I think this author is becoming an auto-buy for me!  12-18-23

78.  Christmas Presents (Unger) ~ 2/5 (eh), audiobook, thriller

I was never able to get invested in this story.  Didn't care for it at all.  12-20-23

79.  The Perfect Marriage (Rose) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), audiobook, thriller

This was really good until . . . .  There were several things that were so unbelievable that I laughed.  However, I don't think that was the intent.  :(  This would have had a higher rating for sure had those scenes been toned down.  12-24-23

80.  The Lie Maker (Barclay) ~ 3.5/5 (good), ebook, thriller

On the whole, I thought this was good.  It was fast paced, and I looked forward to reading it.  I can always count on Barclay to give me some enjoyable reading time.  12-24-23

81.  Bath Haus (Vernon) ~ 4.25/5 (very good +), book, thriller

This book definitely had content in it that I was not familiar with and frankly made me squirm a little, but it also kept me captivated.  I didn't want to put it down.  Fabulous way to end a very middle of the road reading year!  12-28-23

82.  Someone Had To Do It (Brown) ~ 3/5 (just okay), audiobook, thriller

Nothing special about this one.  I had a couple of issues with believability, but continued to listen.

12-29-23

November Reads

65.  One Day in December (Silver) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), audiobook, romance

I enjoyed this romance, even though I didn't like the MMC.

11-2-23

66.  Murder Road (St. James) ~ 2.25/5 (not enjoyable +), ebook, thriller, NetGalley

My first St. James book didn't pan out as well as I had hoped.  I enjoyed the first half, then I lost interest and just went through the motions to finish it.  I don't think this author is for me, but I would consider trying again someday.  11-4-23

67.  As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows (Katouh) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), YA audio, historical fiction 

Any war, any where is absolutely heartbreaking.  I'm rating the story here, and it was just okay.  There was a lot of repetition which prevented me from fully connecting.  I, also, didn't care for the fantasy portion.  11-9-23

68.  In My Dreams I Hold a Knife (Winstead) ~ 3/5 (just okay), audio, thriller

I have been looking forward to reading this for quite some time.  Unfortunately I was disappointed.  I don't see why this was so hyped up.  It was just okay for me.  11-14-23

69.  Monday's Not Coming (Jackson) ~ 3.25/5 (just okay +), audio, YA mystery 

This was a heavy topic.  I may have liked it better if I had read it instead.  There was an abundance of bad language that I didn't care to listen to over and over again.  11-16-23

70.  For Better and Worse (Hunt) ~ 3.75/5 (good +), audio, thriller

This reminded me of several other books I've read, but I still really enjoyed it.  11-19-23

71.  Midnight is the Darkest Hour (Winstead) ~ 2.75/5 (eh +), audio, thriller

I thought most of this was just okay, but then I started not to care at all.  11-27-23