Best Books of 2024

Gah! I’m crushing on this series so hard. Nobody is bringing the level of emotion, humor, and character depth to the sport romance genre like Liz Tomforde. She knocks it out of the park once again with this he-fell-first marriage of convenience story.

Funny Story is right up there with Happy Place for me in terms of favorite Emily Henry books. They say misery loves company, but Daphne never envisioned rooming with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancee’s ex. Miles is her total opposite, but this to die for love interest helps make this story everything I didn’t know I needed. As always, Julia Whelan provides impeccable narration for the audiobook.

If I had to pick a favorite book of the year, this would probably be it. Just for the Summer is deliciously funny and emotional—two great attributes that work well together form an addictive read. The story deals with issues of abandonment, abuse, and mental health, while mixing in witty banter and great chemistry;

“No life is ‘such a tragedy’ that joy is not possible.” That note from the author perfectly sums up Bananapants. Humor and love are woven into the serious subject of mental illness, resulting in a heartwarming romantic comedy that left me smiling from ear to ear.

Here for the Cake is a feel-good fake dating romance that’s a pleasure to read. It manages to avoid the awkward drama and the ensuing anticlimactic third act break-up and yet I was still glued to the pages. The story has a cozy beach town setting that left me feeling nostalgic for a place I’d never even been.

I said good riddance to my reading slump with this one! The Paradise Problem is a sweet, laugh-out-loud, wholly addictive delight that kept me up all night. What started out as a short term marriage of convenience between two strangers back in college turns complicated three years later when they discover they are still married. The two must pretend to be “really” married for during a relative’s luxurious destination wedding. I enjoyed every moment spent in paradise almost as if I was actually there.

This whimsical fantasy audiobook delighted me from beginning to end. Daniel Henning’s narration is *chef’s kiss* phenomenal. He gives a tour de force performance with a smooth vocal delivery that breathes life into a host of characters, giving them unique, expressive, and wacky personas. Truly, one of the best audiobook listening experiences I’ve had.

Who said mature romances can’t be sexy? Not Kennedy Ryan! She delivers a love story about a mom finding herself and her independence after betrayal. She crosses paths with a charismatic single father whose children have special needs, and although the timing is wrong, the two spark an immediate connection. It’s a poignant and valuable story.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Not even two chapters into the audiobook, and I was smiling like a dork. It’s a very spicy rom com about a burned out grumpy golf pro who falls hard for his diehard fan. There’s just something about a bad boy falling first—and falling hard—that’s so enjoyable. The book is quick and lighthearted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this high stakes cat and mouse game. First Lie Wins has a premise that hooked me from the beginning, an unpredictable plot, and so many morally gray characters that I never knew who could be trusted, including the quick-minded, sympathetic heroine—just what I like in a mystery.