My Top Five Reads of 2024!

In particular order.

This year has been full of ups and downs, but one thing has stayed consistent—my desire to get lost in a book. I have experienced some extraordinary reads in 2024, as well as found new favourite authors, delved into unfamiliar genres, and listened to some fab audiobooks. As such, I thought it would be fun to do a yearly ‘Top Five’ wrap-up, so enjoy the first edition below:

Number One: 🏆
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

This stands as my favourite read of all time (what a sweeping statement that is), so how could I not put it at the top of this list! I actually found this book in January, so it’s safe to say that the year started out very promising.

SYNOPSIS

A River Enchanted is a lyrical fantasy, heavily steeped in Scottish folklore. The narrative follows four compelling individuals who each share a complex pull to the magical island they live on, where they find themselves intertwined by no mere coincidence. Jack and Adaira have been distant for many years, but due to a call of fate, end up finding themselves in each other. Torin and Sidra, on the other hand, have long found themselves bound by convenience, but due to creepy circumstances which threaten to splinter their family unit, become inseparable by choice. This is a tender story about the importance of what (or whom) we call ‘home’ in the face of uncertainty.

REVIEW

I’ll begin by saying that I was extremely apprehensive to start this, coming from reading Ross’ Divine Rivals duology, the year prior. I was reluctant to believe that any other series from this author could compare, and didn’t want to risk tarnishing the pedestal I’d placed her on. Oh, how wrong I was!

A River Enchanted is truly a masterpiece in magical story telling, one that left me feeling inspired and full of awe. I have never been someone who gravitates towards mysteries, however I enjoyed this one because playing detective felt so gentle. The story begins with the unfortunate news of some missing children, and step by step we discover that the enchanted island itself might have a role to play. We gradually uncover lore through folk fables, which allows the reader to slowly and naturally figure out clues at the same time as each character. There are parts of this where you feel so immersed, like you’re genuinely listening to an old wives tale in front of a fire. The writing pulls you in so deeply that you experience every step and heartbeat of the cast. When they’re out of breath, you feel it too. When they’re brimming with wonder, it seeps into you. There’s just something so cozy when a book can evoke such a visceral reaction.

But there’s more!

A River Enchanted is such an interesting story because it heavily focuses on ordinary things having the power to become extraordinary. For instance; music can bring forth elemental spirits, herbs have the ability to heal, protection can be weaved into clothes— the simple things that we usually take for granted are that which can become the most magical in this world. Ross truly knows how to reinvent the mundane parts of the human experience, and I found myself sobbing at parts— joy and wonderment. All in all, the writing felt original, the magic system was fascinating, and the characters and their love stories were well thought out. Ultimately, I just found this unbelievably comforting.

I recently wrote a newsletter about how my book taste has changed, and really, I think this book was the catalyst for that. Rather than the high-stakes fantasy books I had previously been reading, this introduced me to a soft, folklore style narrative. The type that makes you feel like you’re being pulled along a stream by a fairy. Needless to say, I immediately fell in love.

Side note: I adored this so much that I took part in a writing course called Magical Echoes: Worldbuilding that Supports Character Arc, taught by Rebecca Ross herself. If you are considering, or have already begun writing a fantasy book, I would very much recommend checking out this course.

“Our hands can steal, or they can give. They can harm, or they can comfort. They can wound and kill, or they can heal and save. Which will you choose for your hands, Torin?”

-Rebecca Ross, A River Enchanted

Number Two:
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

You know that feeling you get in the middle of your chest when you think back on a fond memory? That’s the kind of warmth that flutters through me every time I'm reminded of the characters in this book. I probably think about Beartown once per day, and even though the term ‘altered my brain chemistry’ is wildly overused, that would be the best way to describe the effect it has had on me.

Funnily enough, I kept seeing posts about Beartown on bookstagram before I picked it up, but for some reason didn't think it would be for me. It wasn’t even a ‘judging a book by its cover' kind of situation, because I actually liked the artwork. It was more that I had convinced myself that this was about a polar bear, and kept imagining The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (which gave me nightmares as a kid)???

Oh well, we all make mistakes.

SYNOPSIS

Beartown lives and breathes hockey. It’s the one thing keeping the community alive. The only source of funding goes into the arena, and the only source of happiness comes from the sport. There isn’t one person in this town who isn’t affected by it, and boy do we come to realise how dangerous that is. This book follows several characters who get caught up in a tragedy, and we watch as the aftermath ripples through a community so intimately linked. In the end, you’re not just rooting for one person; you’re left rooting for the whole town.

REVIEW

The best part about this book is Backman’s ability to write humans so well. He has this way of drawing you into a character’s life so intricately, that you can almost predict their actions. In true Backman fashion however, you can never guess what’s about to happen. He gradually raises the stakes, hint by hint, until the tension becomes so unbearable that you can’t help but fly through the book. In Beartown, for example, we are leading up to a pivotal hockey match that has the power to alter the course of history. You become so invested, as if you’re truly part of the community. You want the characters to win so bad because you understand how much there is to lose. Only a remarkable writer can achieve that kind of commitment to a fake world, and I wish to have but an inkling of that talent one day.

I think part of the reason Backman’s storytelling works so nicely is because he is genuine in his writing, and you can feel it. In an interview he states, “I think my breakthrough came when I realised that I wasn't special…When you’re young you want to write something that no-one has ever done before, and you try to be something you’re not. My breakthrough came when I realised that i’m a normal person.” And that is why his stories are so great. Yes, they are fiction, but he is so true to himself that it leads to real, profound insights. He isn’t afraid to draw excruciating parallels to every-day life because that is what he knows. In Beartown for example, he discusses alcoholism, loneliness, people committing shameful acts, panic attacks, the unjust society we live in—so much so, that it feels like a commentary on all of the complex facets of humanity. It’s as if he’s pulled bits and pieces from his own life and cooked them into a tale, to open your eyes to reality.

But his stories aren’t all depressing, because they still maintain an inviting sense of humour whilst tugging at your heart strings. A clear theme in Beartown is hope, and kindness, and community. Weaved into this book are characters who are flawed but still make good decisions, despite the odds turning against them. The characters will remind you of how beautiful this world can be. That there will always be people who are brave enough to initiate a fight for justice. That everything will resolve itself in time, if you have the courage to wait.

So, if you’re looking for a book that makes you cry from relief because someone finally gets it, read this one. If you want a book thats going to make you text your loved ones that you miss them, read this one. If you want to be blown away by the divine power of words, THEN READ THIS ONE! If it’s not already obvious, I think you should pick this up. But check the trigger warnings beforehand if that’s something you need to do!

p.s - this is a trilogy!!!

“Everyone has a thousand wishes before a tragedy, but just one afterward.”

-Fredrik Backman, Beartown

Number Three:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

At this point, I feel like we’ve all seen this cover. And yes, it’s definitely worth the hype. Since it’s the season for holiday gift-guides, I want to offer this book as a suggestion. Remarkably Bright Creatures would be a great present for anyone in your life, reader or no—especially octopus lovers (my favourite animal)!

SYNOPSIS

Tova Sullivan is a very ‘peculiar’ old woman. After mysteriously losing her only son, she is riddled with the belief that there is something more to the story. Tova has spent years doing what she can to cope, but is finally ready to move away from the small seaside town that she is so tightly tethered to. However, when Tova befriends Cameron Cassmore - a deeply restless young man - and Marcellus the octopus - a cunning, puzzle-solving sea creature - she discovers that it might not be in her best interest to leave just yet.

REVIEW

Remarkably Bright Creatures is an incredible debut novel. There is an immensely cosy feel to this story, perhaps due to the fact it’s based on a woman in her seventies. Tova is the type of woman who ‘just gets on with it,’ and has a solution to everyone’s problems but her own. She is a kind, wise sweetheart who wont accept help for love nor money. In an interview, Van Pelt shares that Tova is based on her grandmother who was, “always in motion.” Truthfully, I think part of Tova’s appeal is that we all know someone like her—that selfless figure in your life that just deserves something good to happen to them for once! What’s so uplifting about this novel is witnessing someone like Tova finally receiving the happy ending they’ve long earned. And the delightful twist? Her unexpected salvation comes from forming a unique friendship with an octopus at her local aquarium!

This isn’t just about a woman who befriends an octopus though. We meet Cameron early on and throughout the book, the reader is trying to figure out how his storyline relates to Tova’s. Cameron was abandoned at a young age, and feels like his life is a series of unfortunate events. I resonated with Cameron’s story, having never had a relationship with my parents either. I know the identity crisis that comes with it, and the deep yearning to know why they left but never feeing ready to figure it out. This book speaks to the human need to know yourself, and how scary but important that is to face.

But back to the main event—Marcellus the octopus! He holds the title for my favourite character of 2024. Van Pelt likens him to, “the grumpy uncle sitting in a recliner who has opinions about everything,” and truly, I couldn’t agree more. Marcellus is so deeply introspective of humans, watching them through his captivity tank, studying their behaviours and finger prints like a detective. You can’t help but smile at his observations, they’re witty and clever - just the kind you would expect from a wise old sea creature.

At its heart, Remarkably Bright Creatures is so much more than just ‘that octopus book’. It is a story about loneliness, unlikely friendships, hope, and perseverance. Of course, the mystery element will keep your heart racing, but it’s more so a comforting, beautifully nostalgic read—like slipping into a warm bed on a misty evening.

“Tova has always felt more than a bit of empathy for the sharks, with their never-ending laps around the tank. She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.”

-Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures

Number Four:
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

This was one of those rare books that I wanted to re-read immediately after finishing. Not only was the plot absolutely fascinating, but the writing was also immaculate. Before I continue, please do not be thrown off by the fact that this is labelled as Sci-fi, because it doesn’t read like that. Kaliane Bradley herself described this as a, “time travel romance about bureaucracy, empire, and cigarettes,” which sums it up much better!

SYNOPSIS

The British government have discovered time travel. Their daring initiative involves bringing people from the past into the present, to see if they can adapt to the 21st century. Each “ex-pat” is assigned a civil servant as their handler, who helps them ease into modern day Britain. In this tragi-comedy, we follow along as our unusual narrater acclimatises to living with a victorian, and vice versa. However, as their bond deepens, it becomes clear that the time-travel project is far more complicated—and perhaps sinister—than initially pictured.

REVIEW

I’ve always been fascinated by people from history—imagining what they would think of modern society and technology. How might a neanderthal react to a mobile phone? How might language and understanding differ through time? This book gives you a glimpse of what that might look like. Our main character, Commander Graham Gore, has been plucked from 1847, and we watch as he settles into a world in which all of the people he once knew are dead. Though a sad premise, the reader is effortlessly entertained as Gore busies himself riding bicycles, cooking pho, and learning how to use Spotify—all things completely alien to a British man pulled from the 19th century. If you can’t tell already, it is very funny! Despite being of a previous era, Gore is just like the rest of us, with likes and dislikes—some rational, some not. The reader, along with our unnamed narrator, is constantly surprised by his reaction to the modern age, and it makes for an overwhelmingly charming story!

A really cool fact about this book is that Gore is based on a real person. Yes, you read that right!!! The Commander was an artic explorer, part of a doomed 1845 expedition in which 2 ships and 129 men vanished. Bradley immediately fixated on Gore, fascinated by his documented demeanour because it didn’t seem to fit that of the time. She thought that his unusual story was worth telling, and couldn’t help but bring him back to life. And one of the things I love about this book is just that! Bradley refuses to reduce the ex-pats to caricatures of their time. They each subvert expectation and you can’t help but marvel at the thought and intention behind each word and action. In an interview, Bradley explains that she wanted to, “draw attention to the idea of history as a narrative. We narrate and decide what history actually means, when in fact, the individuals that lived in it will defy expectations.” The authors’ portrayal of the ex-pats reflects this perspective, presenting each of them as more complex and unconventional than their home era might suggest.

There is also a more serious, underlying theme to this story. Something to be said about forced immigration, and living as the ‘other’ in society. Both the main characters deal with this in their own individual ways. Our narrator is British-Cambodian and part of a refugee family, so her experience draws parallels to the ex-pats, who have been pulled from history and essentially have no choice but to assimilate, as if they should feel thankful that they have been ‘saved.’ They understand each other in some ways—but of course, remain worlds apart in others. This sparks an eye-opening discussion about identity and ‘otherness’.

Before we move on, it would be wrong for me to not mention the romance, however I don’t want to spoil it, so just know that it made me weak at the knees. Overall, I did not expect this sci-fi novel to be so slow, sultry, and sad, but here we are. What a delightful surprise!

“I know how much you've longed for your future to lean down and cup your face, to whisper 'don't worry, it gets better'.
The truth is, it wont get better if you keep making the same mistakes. It can get better, but you must allow yourself to imagine a world in which you are better.”

-Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time

Number Five:
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Are we surprised that Backman has two books in my top five? Absolutely not.

Anxious People was chosen on a whim, as a random Libby hold that came through at just the right time. It was the first Backman book that I had been vaguely intrigued by, so I sat back on the sofa and read a few pages to see what the fuss was about. Let’s just say that I didn’t get up from the sofa for the next four hours, and was already crying by chapter 3.

SYNOPSIS

I’d say this book primarily focuses on the complexities of living with trauma, but should be categorised as a dark comedy. Anxious People is about a bank robbery gone wrong, and a group of ‘idiots’ that get mixed up in it. It is a closed-door mystery, where we follow various characters, and slowly discover how their lives bizarrely connect to the hostage situation. But truthfully, this novel shouldn’t be reduced to merely a comedic mystery. Because we realise that the ‘idiots’ in this story aren’t very idiotic at all. They’re just humans trying to get by in their own human ways, and each of them has a story worth telling.

REVIEW

The title Anxious People almost made me hesitate. I wasn’t sure if I was in the right headspace for a book that might hit too close to home, but I’m so thankful I gave it a chance. Similarly, you might think, “Why would I want to read about a hostage situation?” And honestly, I would’ve thought the same had I not gone into this blind. Even Backman himself admitted he was worried that “nobody was going to get it, that it was too weird. That I’ve gone too far.” But this is so much more than a book about a terror incident. This is a story about anxiety in its many forms—old, young, grieving, desperate, alone. About the unknown internal battles that people face, and how close we can get to the edge without falling. The whole point of the hostage situation is to put strangers in a room together and force them to share their deepest darkest thoughts.. Their struggles and reactions to each other are so silly and human—they make you feel seen in ways that are both uncomfortable and soothing.

As Backman explained, he didn’t want to write about the “anxiety of exceptional people, but every-day people instead.” And like Beartown, that’s what works so well here. He is the kind of writer that has the ability to describe things about people that most would never know how to put into words. It’s magnificent, the way that Backman is able to show how one event can leave a lasting impact in ways that are unknown or unobvious. How one event can alter the course of your life, to the point that you lose the very essence of yourself. It’s the stark reality of it all, the existential dread that many people find excruciating, that he writes so perfectly. It’s deep, sincere, and simple - in the most gripping way.

But that isn’t the point of this story! Hope is, really. For our characters, the bank robbery isn’t what breaks them, it’s that which renews their life for the better. This is a book about second chances and being kind to strangers. About redemption and human connection. It reminds you to never give up, because as unpredictable as life can be, there’s beauty to be found in the chaos. I was left completely stunned by the twists and turns, and had to pause and reflect over and over again. Moments like that are my favourite. This was just such a clever book, and I will never stop singing its praise!

The quote below is one of my favourite ever, and has stuck in my brain since the first time I laid eyes on it. If you know what a panic attack feels like, you will understand how powerful those last two lines are.

“Unfortunately I think most people would still get more sympathy from their colleagues and bosses at work if they show up looking rough one morning and say 'I'm hungover' than if they say 'I'm suffering from anxiety.'
But I think we pass people in the street every day who feel the same as you and I, many of them just don't know what it is.
Men and women going around for months having trouble breathing and seeing doctor after doctor because they think there's something wrong with their lungs.
All because it's so damn difficult to admit that something else is... broken.
That it's an ache in our soul, invisible lead weights in our blood, an indescribable pressure in our chest. Our brains are lying to us, telling us we're going to die.
But there's nothing wrong with our lungs, Zara.
We're not going to die, you and I.”

- Fredrick Backman, Anxious People

And that’s a wrap!

If you made it this far, thank you for reading! If you scrolled down to the bottom without finishing, thank you for being here also. If you can’t tell, I had an absolutely wonderful reading year, and I hope you can see that from this first annual bookish wrap up!

Let me know if we have any books in common, or if you have any suggestions you think I would like. Any form of bookish discussion is always, always welcome!☆

p.s, I do apologise that this was so long, but I am nothing if not a passionate woman.