Most Surprising Books of 2024: Must Reads Reviews & Recommendations

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

The end of the year series is finally here!! What were the most surprising books of 2024 for you?

[@Trisha-c2d]

Surprisingly bad. Normal People ( that book is so Overhyped) Surprisingly good Part of your world Yours truly Just for the summer ( I really loved Abby Jimenez's writing as someone who rarely enjoys romance)

[@likeiddothat]

I love Claudia’s cameo! She is a star!!! And the chaos she was trying to cause in the background was so adorable!!!! ❤

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

She did clearly communicate her "f your xmas tree"... we love her anyway ❤

[@maryline0113]

I loved Bright young women!! I'm glad this book dissed on serial killers on general when the public tend to elevate them! I really liked the female characters as well! Brilliant 👏 😊

[@Beach652]

Yes, same re James - I don't generally read historical fiction but devoured James and really enjoyed it! A book that lived up to the hype? Shocking, lol. (I also love Thirteenth Tale and am happy to see it get some attention.)

[@badfaith4u]

The Embers in the Ashes is on my mile long TBR list.

[@myriam8190]

You should bump it to the top! 😊

[@vickibing6771]

Ember in the Ashes!!! ❤ My favorite YA series.

[@thegAyDHDreader]

i love your love for James. i'm a historical fiction reader but even i was surprised that i loved it as much as i did. i've never read huckleberry finn, but i saw the musical adaptation Big River so i actually knew the story it was mirroring 😂

[@MichelleP-t7o]

Books i want to toss in a volcano: any Colleen Hoover; Haunting adeline and the sequel

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

LOL no worries, my worst books of the year video is coming up and we'll all be able to rant in that comment section!

[@zachreads]

My most surprising -Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See -Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen -The Lost Village by Camilla Sten -The Unmothers by Leslie Anderson -The Bird King by G Willow Wilson

[@AlexOnEarth777]

So glad you liked James! I had to read Huck Finn in high school but somehow I remember absolutely none of it lol. I was a bit skeptical too but James was great. Sadly I've been mostly surprised in the reverse way this year, a lot of books I expected to love but really didn't so hopefully I can turn that around for next year.

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

I've had a lot of disappointments too!

[@imperfected6513]

Parable of the Talents and Parable of the Sower are both my most surprising reads and among my best reads of this year. I read them more for educational purposes than enjoyment and I was shocked how good and how emotional they actually are. But other books surprised my too, like Agrippina by Emma Southon, a biography of an influential woman in ancient Rome (history book? Who am I?) and Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein (made me think about so many things) and the Empress of Salt and Fortune (novellas are not my jam, but this one was perfection).

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

The "Parable" books broke my heart... They're so good SPOILERS Fuck Marc.

[@MidloLiz]

I'm not really a sci-fi fan, but I read Starter Villain and really enjoyed it. I definitely want to read more John Scalzi now.

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Yes, it's definitely beginner friendly for a sci-fi! I'd recommend "the kaiju preservation society" next!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Yessssss ember in the ashes is AMAZING. It continues to get better!

[@365ghughes]

Clawdia 👑

[@zachreads]

A song to go with One Dark Window is "Become the Beast" by Karliene

[@kathleendudek2955]

I'll have to get James, sounds good. I'm reading The Forest of Lost Souls right now and am enjoying it.

[@uhsaywhatnow]

1:36 the cats I feed outside my apartment benefit from Claudia’s meowing. I think she’s them and I put a bowl of food at my front door. 😆😻

[@tennille9dawn]

Three of these are on my 2025 list. Good to hear they are promising!

[@kattttt9585]

I LOVE an ember in the ashes

[@zrozumiecprojekt]

Actually the biggest shock for me was that The will of the many was not overhyped and realy fascinating read

[@Merima28]

That jumper is 👌👌

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Thank you

[@cat.book.nook.]

If you would like to give a Victorian mystery series a try, I really recommend Veronica Speedwell. It has been my savior in a bad mental and physical time. There's a romance, but it's quite healthy and very very slow burn. I've understood character's concerns regarding entering a relationship and when they finally get closer, it was such a joyous time for me. 😅 It doesn't require a lot of brainpower and feels like home to me. 💜

[@bookmarcreads]

Wow! I’m super early 😮

[@cat.book.nook.]

I feel like your summary of Dollmakers sounds a bit like Blood over Bright Haven in the broad sense. And I've bought it as advised. 😅

[@dailycarolina.]

What you said about James and his way of speaking sort of reminded me of Stephen from the movie Django Unchained at very the end ...

[@LALALALALALDJDNCJC]

I picked up how to sell a haunted house because of your recommendation and so far enjoying it, it’s my first book i’m reading by him!

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

So far it's the "darker" one I've read! I'm curious to see how his other ones will compare

[@kathleendudek2955]

I liked The Lion Women of Tehran. It was a bit of a surprisingly good book.

[@charityyoder9028]

My most surprising books were yours truly, five broken blades, and the undertaking of hart and mercy.

[@Michy_thebookdragon]

I am just here to say that I have now picked up, “I Who Have Never Known Men,” because of you, and I absolutely tore through it in one day. Devastated. Moved. Not okay. You were so right, this book was BRILLIANT. I want every woman I know to read it, I want every HUMAN I know to read it. Amazing.

[@dobetterwithchristian4472]

James was really good. I dont think you're missing anything by not reading Huck Finn. I read it more than 20 years ago and was not a fan.

[@joyceredman2136]

I also read the Thirteenth Tale this year which was good, but I am enjoying The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden much better. It's the first book in a series. (Medieval Russia with Slavic dark fairytales, with the boyar family's political marriages leaving behind their youngest sister, Vasilisa, who must hide her special powers to help with unique creatures and her stepmother who can see these creatures also). I have the edition with the reader's guide, interview with the author and Russian translation of otherworldly words which is most useful.

[@MichelleP-t7o]

I ❤Grady Hendrix

[@HummingbirdG6843]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who still says douche canoe 🤣

[@simplicitytess]

I was just going to comment this 🤣

[@jennifermarie1230]

Omg ! I found you!! Was hoping all was well. I just watched an older video of yours from 4 yrs ago, it was a lip watch video. Will you be making those videos again in the future possibly? Or are you done with the beauty channel?

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Hi

[@jorichner6678]

ive been working my way through john scalzi's short stories and back list and its just so fun how is brain works. the dad joke ones work best for me.

[@nanimaonovi2528]

Skip 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' unless you like fatal fart jokes and sheep abuse. I'm leaving his backlist buried now, a sadder, wiser person.

[@jorichner6678]

@nanimaonovi2528 I started that one but haven't really gotten into it I loved the dispatcher I think it's called where people can no longer be murdered

[@BookReviewsWithBecky]

I hate to say I hated How To Sell a Haunted House! I really hated Pumpkin! 😂😂

[@ribbonquest]

I've liked the Scalzi books I've read but the audiobooks are all Will Wheaton and I struggle with him (except Redshirts, which he's perfect for.) Wheaton just reminds me of too many egotistical geek men I've encountered in the past. (And nobody claim that's an insult. He cultivates that persona.)

[@LeMetronomeEnPapier]

Oh, je n’avais pas réalisé que tu avais lu « The 13th tale » ! Je l’ai lu cet automne et je l’ai adoré. Comme toi, j’aime les romans gothiques mais pas au point de les adorer, mais ça a été le cas avec ce titre là, il m’a bouleversé et j’ai fondu pour le style d’écriture de Setterfield. C’est clairement un des mes romans les plus surprenants de l’année !