To me, one of the best things about reading is finding a book that really surprises you. Maybe you had it on your TBR and were really looking forward to it and it somehow was even better than you expected. Maybe you’ve never heard of it before, decided to pick it up on a whim and suddenly you’ve found your new favorite book. Regardless, I love having a new read really surprise me, so today, we’re going to talk about the 2024 reads that did just that!
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
I’ve had Firekeeper’s Daughter on my TBR since it came out in 2021. Initially, I was drawn to the absolutely gorgeous cover, but for some reason I had gotten it into my head that it was a fantasy, so I put it on the back burner. It wasn’t until I reached out to a local library to get some personalized recommendations that I realized it’s actually a contemporary mystery/thriller. That post has my mini review of Firekeeper’s Daughter, but ultimately, I loved this book.
I was so moved by the story and Boulley’s writing — once I started reading it I was really kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I thought everything about this book was so beautiful. I was so moved by the story and characters and the exploration of culture. The mystery was well crafted and interesting. Everything about this book worked for me. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it more highly.
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall
Bittersweet in the Hollow is the exact kind of fantasy that I like to read. This book had touches of witchy-magic, mysterious disappearances, and horror/paranormal elements, so really, it had all the things that I look for! This one I picked up on a bit of a whim — while I don’t remember exactly how I found it, I remember seeing the cover and thinking it was gorgeous, and then seeing that it was recommended for fans of House of Hollow.
I thought this book was so fascinating. I loved the Appalachian setting (truly think that’s such a good place to set this kind of story), and the characters were so well defined. The vibes were strong with this one — parts of it really gave me the vibes of CW’s Nancy Drew, specifically season 1 and episode 1×10, which is just perfection in my eyes. While I don’t remember all the specifics, I do remember the feeling that this book gave me and all of them were positive. I’m glad to see that it’s a series and that the next book, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue, comes out on January 7th. I’ll definitely be doing a reread of Bittersweet in the Hollow before reading the second book and will be glad to be able to immerse myself in this world for a little bit longer.
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt
Savor It was a book that I had seen on my social media feeds quite a bit, but wasn’t sure if I’d pick it up. Then, one night I couldn’t sleep and went looking on Everand for a book to turn on. I saw Savor It and figured “Hey, why not? I keep seeing it, so let’s find out what all the hype is about” and I’m so glad that I did.
I was so captivated by this story. I love coastal towns, so I loved Spunes, Oregon, Sage’s farm and the town’s annual summer competition. This gave me this small town vibes that I just love to read about. I loved the characters and the relationship between Sage and Fisher, and the relationship between Fisher and his niece Indy. I was super invested from start to finish and even cried a few times. This book definitely caught me by surprise and I’m really glad I read it.
The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee
Truthfully, based on the synopsis I knew that I would like The Dark We Know. What I didn’t know was that this book would have such an emotional impact on me; I was truly shocked at how much this book affected me. You can read my full review, but there have been very few books this year that have had me in such an emotional choke hold the way that this book did. I think about it constantly.
The Dark We Know was haunting and eerie and beautiful and heartbreaking — it was more than just a horror novel; it was a beautiful story of perseverance in the face of darkness. If you’re looking for a book that is going to really stick with you after you finish it, you should absolutely read this one! Also, I definitely recommend the audiobook as it was incredibly well done.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
I’ve had Pretty Girls on my TBR since around 2017, but hadn’t gotten around to it until it was a book club pick this year. Very few books I’ve read this year have stuck with me the way that this one has. It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but once I got sucked in I couldn’t put it down.
This book was heartbreaking and it emotionally exhausted me. There were many very serious and difficult topics covered in Pretty Girls, and I really think that Karin Slaughter handled them all wonderfully. While it was really difficult for me (this one kinda messed me up for a bit after reading it), I loved that Slaughter didn’t shy away from the true horrors of what was going on. I had a lot of audible reactions to this book, and physical reactions as well; there were a few times where I really did feel sick because what was happening was so horrific.
All that said, I thought that it was really well written with great storytelling and definitely delivers on the thrilling aspects. This book was a lot but I really am glad that I read it.
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
I found Morbidly Yours on a total whim. I was in Half Priced Books, just strolling while I was waiting for them to go through the books I donated when I saw the cover. After reading the summary I thought it sounded interesting, so I made a mental note to check if my library had a copy at a later time. When I eventually borrowed it from the library, I read it in one sitting overnight. I couldn’t put it down. Something about this story and characters really connected with me. I thought the exploration of grief was so beautifully done and handled with such care. While grief is a central part of both Lark and Callum’s lives, there is a beautiful hopefulness that clings to this story.
I really didn’t expect a romcom about a mortician and a film animator would make me cry, but it did. There were so many beautiful quotes in this book that really hit and for as heartfelt as this book was, it was just as funny. I loved the humor and heart and really loved Callum and Lark both as a couple and individuals. This book was such an easy 5 star for me; it brought me so much joy, and I’m so glad that I found it!
There you have it, 6 books that I’ve read this year that surprised me! To me, that’s one of the most exciting things about reading — finding stories that positively surprise you and leave a lasting impact on you. I’d love to know what some of your surprising reads were this year, let me know in the comments!
Until next time 💜
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