I Bought Your Best Books of 2024 || December Book Haul

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

What’s the best book you’ve read in 2024 that you’d want me to read?

[@shanlaf11]

My 5 star books that I’m still not over: Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez The No Show by Beth O Leary

[@janeb9698]

I would love for you to review Between Two Fires. I read the physical book but I also listened to the audiobook version and I totally recommend it. Narrator did a great job!

[@carpe_demon]

I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street by Ben Farthing The White Guy Dies First by Terry J. Benton-Walker

[@juliacash8135]

@@BookswithEmilyFox A few of my best books this year were: The Liars Crown by Abigail Owen, Academy of Villains by Ever King, How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry, When in Rome by Sarah Adams, Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maherer, Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer, and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I gave you lots of favorites from this year so you have many to choose from. I’d love it if you bought some of my favorites to read. The more the better. Let me know if you plan on getting any of these. Not all of them came out in 2024

[@souhirsfar1751]

My favorite book this year is “tout le bleu du ciel” de Melissa Da Costa ❤

[@erinh7450]

I think you should totally read a synopsis of Huck Finn before diving into James - the books are 'in conversation' with each other and you really can't spoil it because at the end Everett goes in a completely different direction than Twain did (and since the ending of Huck Finn is the weakest part, all for the best)

[@cynthiafialka]

Helpful comment, I haven’t read Huckleberry Finn and don’t want to, but I’m interested in reading James.

[@stephanietrapp7020]

I listened to Huck Finn before reading James and I think it made such a difference in how I understood and appreciated James.

[@GetLitwithJenifer]

Came here to say similar, yes! 👏

[@emiliehoffmann21]

Yay you got Slewfoot! That was one of my favorites of the year - I hope you enjoy it too! 🤞

[@candybear2230]

Tainted cup was so good! I can’t wait for the second book

[@kotokoo]

Your "summary" of Don Quijote is pretty accurate. It's funny because it was written to be a parody of the tale of chivalry of that time. In Spanish, it's difficult to enjoy because, nowadays, it's published as it was written and the vocabulary and the expressions are too different. In Spain exists an animated TV show for kids about the story.

[@iheartfantasyM]

SLEWFOOOOT! A great female rage-kind of story 🫶🏻

[@TheGeekyandproud]

I really enjoyed a tale of two cities!! i had to read it slowly and take breaks, but I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it

[@kellyh5328]

My favorite book so far this year was The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer. Growing up, I was a Narnia kid, so it hit all the right points for nostalgia while giving it an updated, modern, adult twist.

[@ChandiPizl]

Slewfoot is on my list too! I’ve been waiting for MONTHS from my library.

[@coreydinardo5525]

Excited for you to read Simone de Beauvoir! I'm a huge reader of philosophy and critical theory, and this is one of my favorites. Keep in mind, it's one of the most important books in Second Wave Feminism, but that also means that you will likely find certain parts of it haven't aged well.

[@hannahhaasen7284]

For a really wonderful fantasy series, The Justice of Kings is such a wonderful book and start to a series. The writing and narrative voice is super unique. The first book is kind of a mystery but it definitely creates a wonderful setup for a much larger plot in the future books.

[@LibrariesandLattes]

Ahhh so glad you picked up The God of the Woods! Definitely more of a literary slow burn mystery with lots of family drama and character focus. Loved A Sorceress Comes to Call! Just got Wind and Truth too but I’m not caught up either haha

[@msellenandrea]

A recent fantasy favorite of mine was the scholar and the last faery door! It is dark academia and has zero sexy fairies

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

LOL you expect me to read a book about non sexy fairies?!

[@msellenandrea]

@@BookswithEmilyFox haha it barely has fairies in it! It felt like the secret history meets historical fantasy

[@sakii_here]

I'm currently reading that one! So glad to read you loved it!! I finished The Magician's Daughter from the same author and loved it.

[@viridis7076]

I've recently read Declaration of the rights of magicians by Parry and loved it! Definitely adding this one to my tbr.

[@cat.book.nook.]

Yes!! I second that! It was amazing. A bit like Harry Potter, but more nuanced and without a transphobic author. It was so so immersive!

[@shelleyd7009]

I have so many scifi titles on my tbr, but did not read many this year. one of the ones I did get to was a novella by Beth Revis called Full Speed to a Crash Landing. Really enjoyed. Fast paced heist adventure. The sequel just released and grabbed it for January reading.

[@hannahhaasen7284]

The Teller of Small Fortunes was one of the best cozy fantasy books of the year. It was such a joy to read.

[@chellyfishing]

I read Heir without even knowing it was related to Ember in the Ashes. It works even without that. However since you already started the previous series, might as well finish. Also, as far as funny classics: Jane Austen. She was probably the funniest author I read all year.

[@bookmarcreads]

Whoa! You hardly do book hauls! Also I just read Sour Candy based on your recommendation. It was creepy but entertaining, thanks! 🙏🏽

[@JJ-rx8ym]

The Wedding People was pretty good. We read Margo’s Got Money Troubles for my book club and I LOVED it. ‘Mining all the trauma’ was a quote from me our organizer remembered

[@jordanlewis3668]

my favorite book this year is blood over bright haven which i got as a recommendation from you ♥️ it was so so good!

[@hycinnamon]

Slewfoot was surprisingly so good. I had the same concern but it was actually enjoyable because of the plot.

[@thbestfrnd]

Here are a few of my favorites that you may not have heard of: What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong, and There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura.

[@kathycurwin3123]

What You Are Looking for is in the Library was a five star read for me.

[@lef0503]

I absolutely loved Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Really unique take on witches and a cool magical world. ❤ I can’t wait to hear what you think of A Drop of Corruption!! Tainted Cup was one of my favorites of the year.

[@brookewright5559]

Slewfoot is fantastic! Filled me with rage but I loved it

[@becklebooks]

I'm reading Wind and Truth right now and I am FEELING being an adult with responsibilities. I can't make time to read it for hours and it's taking me ages, but it's so worth it. I'm excited for you to read the rest of the series when you can find the time. :)

[@EllieKerReads]

I would love to see you read Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell!

[@stitchedscorpio]

Oh oh I haven’t finished the trilogy yet but i LOVED the first book of the winnowing flame series!! The first book is The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams❤

[@keira005]

Slewfoot cured my year long reading slump last year! I read 12 books in a row because of it (and then stopped for months but shhh) Un détail.

[@aplden570]

Not only would I read Huck Finn before reading James, I would read some about Mark Twain himself to understand why the book is what it is. That seems to me to be part of Percival Everett's conversation in James.

[@freckledklutz]

Some other recommendations for you - A river enchanted and a fire endless by Rebecca ross such a great fantasy duology. The night watchman by Louise erdich. A memory called empire and a desolation of peace another fantastic politically charged sci fi fantasy. Rebecca roan horse's between earth and sky series is so good - I finished that last book in the series and highly recommend. Somewhere beyond the sea by tj lune. And heir by sabaa Tahir. Lastly the women by Kristin Hannah (its not WWII) I don't know if I will hit my goal this year but I am going to try. Those are the best ones I have read this year that you haven't recommended me already.

[@martinelanglois3158]

If you ever are in the area, I saw an ad for an exhibit (don't know if it's good I haven't seen it) at Musée Pointe à Calliere in Old Montreal. It's on witches.

[@serenity8910]

Thanks for mentioning the exhibition! It looks really interesting!

[@libertybeswick70]

A favourite from this year I think you'll like is Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth - it's dual timelines semi-horror sapphic boarding school vibes and the writing is impeccable

[@amyschmid2404]

Such a good read!

[@Sarahsaurus24]

It wasn't published in 2024 but one of the best books I read was The Poisonwood Bible, a really interesting topic and narrated by four sisters!

[@bruna24dias]

I know you already tried to read it and DNFed it, but my favorite this year was Beartown by Fredrik Backman. He is without a doubt my favorite author. And yes, It is extremely character driven, but I just love it 🤍🤍

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Sadly I found it very triggering

[@bruna24dias]

@@BookswithEmilyFox I imagined that was the case. It is a very strong and impactful story. I would love to see you try a Portuguese author. Maybe, Blindness by José Saramago

[@MsPsitek]

The Stranger Times by CK McDonnell! It's an urban fantasy based in Manchester UK with mystery elements and just so FUN. I just read it and I'm absolutely in love, starting book 2 in the series tonight.

[@ffiontill5924]

I loved blue sisters and then instantly picked up cleopatra and Frankenstein. Both are excellent books imo 💙

[@Rahul-cm2oo]

Wind and Truth was so good 🥹🥹

[@sarahcox4180]

I loved the book Day Zero. Underrated in my opinion!

[@owlandgatorstitcher]

It looks like you have some great books to start off the year. My favorite book in 2024 was There Are Rivers in the Sky

[@kelmoldenhauer]

Swordheart is one I read this year and preordered the new edition! It was so good! Tainted Cup was also great! I also think it’s so underrated! Voyage of the Damned was really good and I feel it’s not being talked about enough.😊

[@vorgebrauchschutteln3859]

One of the best books I read this year is a memoir by Alison Arngrim. She played Nelly in little house on the prairie!

[@itFaraday]

hello Emily, the best books I read this year that you haven't read yet) would be Hamnet (O'Farrell), The Rachel Incident (O'Donoghue) and The Details (Genberg)

[@TirnambeoDL]

All That Falls and All That Soars by H N Horton. Loved these books, and the final book in the trilogy (All That Ends) comes out February 11. You'll want to wait until this comes out because, cliffhangers ...

[@KendraPeaceAndLove]

I’m not sure if it’s my best of the year but I loved the Comfort of Crows it’s a nonfiction and it was exactly what I needed.

[@Elsa_ingenue]

Emily!! did you see that Samantha Shannon announced a third instalment in the Roots of Chaos? it’s set a few years before Priory and it comes out in september! I’m SOOOO excited!

[@felina2014]

Lady Fan's Circle of Women was my best book of the year, I loved everything about it - the story, the characters, the historical details, the murder mystery just all of it. Highly recommend it although it might not be for you because it's frustrating in some parts where women are treated as lesser beings. But for me the book was brilliant.

[@felina2014]

Lady Tan's ... Not Fan's stupid autocorrect

[@spiritofthefaerie]

I'm reading Godkiller by Hannah Kaner at the moment and I'm really enjoying it! I can't say if it will be a 5 star read yet, but I'm really enjoying all of the representation in the book and the story is interesting so far.

[@christinabrunette]

As a bilingual speaker/reader do you have any specific translated books from French to English that you feel are most faithful to the native language it was written? I’m looking to dabble into translated French works but I’d love to know which ones are higher quality

[@zachreads]

Best fantasy and scifi! -Planetfall by Emma Newman -The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec -Aftwr die Dall Before die Fall During the Fall by Nancy Kress -The Bird King by G Willow Wilson -She Would be King by Wayétu Moore -No Gods No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull -Star Scrapper by J.N Chaney -The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones -Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu -Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callander (YA) -The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska -Red Winter by Annette Marie -Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M Marrineau THE Grace Year by Kim Liggett

[@caburg93]

I recommend Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench... especially the audiobook. My best book of the year (and I read well over 300 this year ;) ❤️❤️❤️

[@michellemurray4044]

The Frozen River was great

[@dwoodw6990]

My best book of the year was A Dog Named Mattis by Mark Tappan. It's a non-fiction about a police dog and his handler in Alpharetta Georgia. I absolutely loved this book.

[@imaginarycosmetics]

I actually read a lot of fantasy (and some sci-fi) that I really enjoyed this year, but a lot of them are books you already read, like The Green Bone Saga, Babel, The Deep, A Master of Djinn, The Jasmine Throne and Kindred. My other 2024 favorites you haven't read yet are Song of The Last Kingdom Duology and The Sins on Their Bones. I know you're asking for 2024 favorites, but there are more books I read in previous years I think you might enjoy: The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (it also has a beautiful purple cover😂) Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

[@zixaz00]

Still hoping you’ll read The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, which is an absolute masterpiece and will probably be my best book of the year! On a completely different note, a funny classic I’d recommend is Monkey King, specifically the version translated by Julia Lovell and the audiobook narrated by Robert Wu. It was absolutely hilarious for a book written in the 1500s, and it’s an important story in Chinese culture!

[@raphaelled.1943]

I discovered Anne Hébert this year, she is now one of my favorite authors! I recommend either Kamouraska or Les fous de Bassan.

[@avrorawhite9763]

Swordheart is the 3d book in White Rat world series by T Kingfisher. Chronologically Clockwork duology happens first, then Swordheart and then all books about Paladins. You might want to read Clockwork duology first just to better understand the worldbuilding, but Swordheart on its own is totally fine

[@jennw892]

Your caveat about the word "girlie" made my night! =)

[@ChandiPizl]

My favorites of 2024- small great things by Jodi Picoult, This is how it always is, Fourth wing books.

[@kathycurwin3123]

Small Great Things is one of my all time favourite books.

[@lisa-marie4938]

Hahaha I can't stop calling my pup girly and can't stop either lol it's spreading to other areas of life now. Also, love a lot of your book recs. Thank you! I just bought 20books to add to my 52 book challenge this year coming!!! Lots of positive vibes from NB Canada :)

[@ThoughtfulTomes-channel]

I always look forward to videos like this from you

[@heatherhutchins88]

My favorite romances -scars by Stephanie Jenkins -yours truly by Abby Jimenez -bride and love, theoretically by Ali hazelwood -the fake mate by Lana Ferguson -hot mess summer by Melissa foster -the au pair affair by Tessa Bailey -under Locke by Mariana zapata

[@wasserman7273]

Have you read books of John Ajvide Lindqvist? I recommend Let the right one in (there are movies) and Handling the undead. It's about vimpires and zombie and they are great

[@eatenbywaffless]

One of my faves from this year was Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Leigh Allen. It was a fun ride that kept my attention throughout the whole book! There is some gore at the end tho! Thanks for recommending The Tainted Cup!! Im currently reading it, and I'm loving it! 😁

[@deermangivefast]

OMG my favorite fantasy (magical realism?) book this year was Airy Nothing by Clarissa Pattern, it has so few reviews and it blew me away, deserves more attention!

[@bananabobo789]

A Japanese translation that you might like is The Lantern of Lost Memories - its written by a woman and i think this gives it a better perspective than books like before the coffee gets cold.

[@deborajohnson5717]

The God of the Woods was wonderful 😀. I also loved James. You don’t need to know the story of Huckleberry Fin ahead of time.

[@Beach652]

I recently read James and I don't think I've read huck finn and I was still able to really enjoy James. I usually get turned off the books that get really hyped up because my expectations are too high, but this one held up! 🎉. Fave read of 2024 if you need a mystery with a speculative bent to add to your 2025 pile: Adrift by Brideau. It's a Strand Magazine Critics Award finalist - so has gotten some notice in the mystery world.

[@astronot92]

I loved We used to Live here, it's so creepy! This has been the year of horror for me, so many good releases😊

[@kay1133]

I highly recommend The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali. My friend recommended it to me years ago and I finally read it and loved it. I also JUST read The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat today and can't stop thinking about it. It's also a short read if you ever want something quick.

[@zachreads]

Finished "Elana Knows" and liked it! I will say one thing will really really piss you off, but keep reading (just a heads up). I call myself girlie too!

[@romalibra_books]

Loved Elena Knows, especially how the author treats the reader like we’re smart and good at critical thinking

[@PatiNagy]

I have just finished A Sorceress Comes to Call - really enjoyed it, though I like everything by T. Kingfisher it seems. It is really light on the fantasy part, but amazing and fun characters.

[@nevadavies744]

I'm going to suggest the Troy Game series by Sara Douglass, which starts with Hades Daughter. I found out about her a few months ago and I've been obsessed ever since, which has amused my partner.

[@piabailey1715]

David Sodergren is an amazing horror author - the Haar is my favourite of his. It's bloody but also a lovely love story. Phillip Fracassi is also a good one to look into, particularly A Child Alone With Strangers.

[@iriskwok826]

I really enjoyed Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky this year. Definitely worth checking out!

[@AneCathrine]

My favourite book of 2024 was the Years by Annie Ernaux (originally written in French) closely followed by Mrs Death Misses Death and A Coup of Tea ☺️

[@saphi.is.a.bookworm]

A couple of the books in my top 10 of the year which I think you might enjoy are My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen - a gothic, sapphic story that is a little spooky and deeply touching - and Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang, a horror novel about race, identity and the beauty industry, which I adored. 😁

[@annawilliams1542]

Have you read Project Hail Mary? I’m obsessed, and it’s coming out in theaters next year. I’ve heard the audiobook is the way to go.

[@estellefollet7861]

Have you tried any book from Olivier Norek? He is a french author and writes mostly polar/thriller. One of his specialties is to write books set in real situations and documented with a complete bibliography at the end. My two favourite are Impact (thriller with an eco terrorist where every climate related things are true) and Entre Deux Mondes (thriller set in one of french refugee camp, with also a lot of true stories in it)

[@badfaith4u]

The Ember in the Ashes is on my TBR list.

[@zachreads]

I have Heavenly Tyrant preordered! And North is the Night by by Emily Rath. The Peculiar Garden of Harriett Hunt by Chelsea Iverson just came out and looks good.

[@noaaa7]

Pride & Prejudice is a funny classic!

[@paolotrenta9138]

Hi Emily, thanks for your lovely videos. I recommend if you haven't read them, the space between worlds by Micaiah Johnson, The Seven Moon of Maali Almeida, Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi and Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. 😊

[@natatatt]

My favs this year were Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey and Dracula by Bram Stoker. I think you may have already read all of those though!

[@sirgnome]

I hope you end up liking A Tale of Two Cities when you get around to it, it's one of my favorites. As for favorite books I've read this year, you've already read my #1 (The Fifth Season) but one of my other favorite reads was Sea of Rust by Robert Cargill.

[@mentinfusion]

The book that I adored this year was To the bright edge of the world by Eowyn Ivey, I've read it in February and I still think about it, but I'm not sure you will enjoy it, it is a bit of a historical fiction with a sprinkle of magical realism, but maybe give it a chance? :D And I really loved Passing by Nella Larsen and Old Hebaceous by Reginald Arkell (which is perfect for Spring).

[@Marie45610]

It wasn't a favorite, but it was a lot of fun. City of Nightmares and Cage of Dreams by Rebecca Schaeffer. They're goofy in the best way, some dark humor. It's a duology. I don't know if you'll like them, but they are fun.

[@angelaroberts-757]

My Best book of the year is the trilogy Empire of the Wolf by Richard Swan. The first book is called The Justice of Kings. Highly recommend. Great video. ❤😊

[@mimski77]

Hi, I am on a mission to read the Foundation (Publication order) series by Isaac Asimov. Latest book I read this year was Prelude to Foundation and it was very enjoyable with a great plot twist right at the end that I did not see coming. I would whole heartedly recommend the whole series + they have some very nice purple / yellow new covers

[@margaux4466]

My favorite this year was Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky! idk if it is something you'd enjoy by i found it to be very touching (and very sad!)

[@jessicacampbell1038]

The thirteenth child was a favorite of mine for the year.

[@kylawapshott460]

The best book I read this year would have to be Vita Nostra, it was so strange but unputdownable.

[@karenraines4930]

One of my unexpectedly favorite books I read this year is a bit older (2019), Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

[@tarasypien5858]

A Ghost in the Throat is my #1 and We are the Brennans is my #2 of 2024!

[@heatherhutchins88]

My favorite fantasy (not a big fantasy reader) -daughter of the pirate king Queen of Death by Chandelle LaVaun -Fourth Wing

[@Lottie842]

I had to read part of Don Quixote back in college and remember finding it hilarious. I always meant to go back and read the whole thing. Still haven’t done it. Same thing happened with Le Morte d’Arthur. (I may have butchered that spelling 😂)

[@inesblau7621]

Books I loved this year were Chlorine by Jade Song and Earthlings by Sayaka Murata! :)

[@sanjastajdohar6684]

I recommend Morgan is My Name (2022, book 1) and Le Fay (2024, book 2) by Sophie Keetch, a retelling of Arthurian legend from the viewpoint of Morgan, it's great, I love the audiobook version of them a lot.

[@DecemberMagpie]

My five stars of 2024 that, perhaps, you'll enjoy (Sorry if I write down a book you've already read.) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, An American Beauty by Shana Abé, Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure, Greenwood by Michael Christie, Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee, Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, THe Emily Star Series by L.M. Montgomery, The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, Going Bovine by Libba Bray, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan, Wyvern's Gold by A.H. Hadley

[@louisepeony4767]

Hi, my favorite book of the year (that wasn't redommended by you, I think) is "Ascendant" by Michael R. Miller, . I did love "You and me" by Tal Bauer but I'm not sure you would enjoy it. And I wanted to give a shout out to "This is going to hurt" by Adam Kay et "Le naufrage des civilisations" d'Amin Maalouf. Thank you for your videos !

[@ashlieketchum878]

I would love to see you read Howls Moving Castle and Warbreaker!!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I’ve heard such good things about the weddig plans