BEST BOOKS OF 2024 🎉

[@kaylyn.nicole]

one of my fave things of 2024 was watching all your vids again! thanks for posting so much 🖤

[@aliciawhittom9219]

My favorite book this year was Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I am still thinking about this book and everything I got from It.

[@jessethereader]

I've heard so many great things about that book! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@lilac_star]

My Favs of 2024: Physical book: 1. Babel 2. The Original Dream 3. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida EBook: 1. If We Were Villains 2. Books 2-5 Before The Coffe Gets Cold series (I read book 1 in 2023) 3. Song of Achilles Audio: 1. The Book Thief 2. Memories Of The Lost 3. An Echo In Time

[@karolineherondale6295]

The Song of Achilles is lovely

[@paperbackenthusiast]

Oooh I found it so interesting how many of these favorites had some negative qualities to you too! I feel so seen by that; not every book that matters to you has to be objectively perfect… sometimes it’s just perfect TO YOU. Loved seeing that :) Hope you’re well and happy new year!

[@SarahFrickArt]

I didn't get to read as much due to some health issues but a standout is Cordelia Underwood by Van Reid. (I'm currently working on finishing the second in the series, Mollie Pier) Fantastic fun story and fantastic writing. I am loving the second one just as much or more, so far. Good luck!

[@subhakhan1900]

I also read A River Enchanted this year and loved the book! My fav characters were Torin and Sidra, loved their relationship

[@hellobookworm]

Great to hear your thoughts on Yellowface. I finally stumbled upon a used copy in a local bookshop (seems like most readers don't want to part with their copy; a good sign!) and am looking forward to reading it this year.

[@gabbyreads]

I also loved YellowFace and Bury Your Gays 😍 I still need to read Before the Coffee Gets Cold! 😍

[@caspiansvensson]

I am so glad to find someone else obsessed with the Sunbearer trials! It is on my list of my best reads of 2024 as well.

[@VeraFran]

Happy new year! I'm currently halfway into A river enchanted! What a coincidence! My top 3 of 2024 were The Tainted Cup, Funny Story and My Husband.

[@LadyxGreyWolf]

Happy new year! Some of my favourite reads of 2024 were "Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller, "Educated" by Tara Westover and "What Doesn't Break" by Cassandra Khaw 😄

[@Alewo2735]

Jesse, you have to read Meg Shaffer's 2nd book, The Lost Story! It's going to be your next all time favorite, I swear! It's so gorgeous and full of heart and magical! It was my #1 of the year and we both are suckers for hopeful whimsy. ❤ It's perfection!

[@sternentalerswald]

I kind of knew what my favorite book would be even before the year started: Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup. Since all of the story was (and is) on KZbin and I was obsessed with it, it wasn't surprising that I loved the book as well. On an other note I am sad that I didn't like A River Entchanted as much as you did. Even though I loved the things you described this book didn't manage to suck me in. It wasn't bad, but I really wanted to love it more.

[@arirose6310]

My favorite book of last year was Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy! It's a middle grade that made me cry and inspired me to make some recipes my own, which is a still ongoing fun project!

[@daniellewilliams1459]

Hey Jesse, my favorite books from 2024 our As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, Happy Place by Emily Henry, Funny Story by Emily Henry, The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, and How To Make Friends With The Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

[@ivanahrenakova2870]

My favourite books of 2024 were: 1. Books 1&2 in Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson 2. Wolfsong by T. J. Klune 3. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree 4. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 5. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

[@JoanaMartins-c2r]

My favourite book this year was The Perks of being a wallflower, but the truly devious series is a second favorite.

[@a.p907]

Some of my top 2024 reads: The Four Loves and A Grief Observed by CSLewis, Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar, The Johnstown Flood, Bad Blood, and The Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden

[@august7421]

my favorite reads of the year were: my year or rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh, seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid, and i who have never known men by jacqueline harpman

[@Czm_qu]

I love the Sunbearer Trials and totally need to get on reading the next one 😭

[@ashleyoreads]

I loveddddddd A River Enchanted - I annotated it and sent it to a friend because I loved it so much and wanted to share it with them

[@naastyaaaaaaaaa]

My 2024 faves (in order of reading): _The Deep_ by Rivers Solomon and clipping. _We Were Liars_ by E. Lockhart _The Fragile Threads of Power_ by V. E. Schwab (anything Shades of Magic is brilliance)♥️ The _Lux_ series by Jennifer L. Armentrout (6 gorgeous, emotional, nostalgic re-reads)🖤 _Just for the Summer_ by Abby Jimenez

[@juliacash8135]

If you like Emily Henry I highly recommend one of her older lesser known books called A Million Junes. It’s such a good magical realism romance that even deals with a little bit of heavier topics. I loved it and need more people to read it. I think you should definitely try it.

[@Booksandbabel]

I think my favourite 3 books from 2024 were The Jasad Heir, The Spellshop, Lightfall:3 Dark Times

[@kiarav103]

My favorite book of the year was definitely 'I Who Have Never Known Men'! I went into it blind and how i felt after finishing it, I have never felt before with a book

[@AuntieBooks]

One of my favorites was Hello Stranger by Katherine Center. She writes romance in the same vein as Emily Henry. I also really like The Thursday Murder Club! It was cozy and I enjoyed the focus on older characters.

[@raeandtheirbooks]

yellowface was soo good! i listened to the audibook in one sitting while i was at work 😅

[@tvnet222]

I read A River Enchanted in 2024 as well and was pleasantly surprised at how well I liked it! It was recommended by a friend and while it wasn't my favorite of the year, I am definitely glad I read it! I would describe it as a slow-paced fairy tale. If that is your jam, read it!

[@rhondasruminationsonreading]

My favourites this year were The Dry by Jane Harper and What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.

[@ChanelChapters]

Last year I finally gave horror a go too, and like you, turns out there’s horror that floats by boat

[@timelord1040]

My favorite book of the year was Witchcraft For Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. It's coming out in January, and it's so good. Highly recommend!

[@computerstatic]

These videos are literally what I look forward to as soon as the new year starts, you're amazing Jesse, and I hope this new year treats you just as amazingly!!! 🎉🎉‼️‼️‼️

[@astoldbykat]

Yes, you NEED to read the sequel to the Sunbearer Trials because I read it last year and it made me CRY. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it definitely got me. My top 3 from this year (in order) were: "Middlegame" by Seanan McGuire, "The Murderbot Diaries" (1-4) by Martha Wells, and "The Gravekeeper" series (1-4) by Darcy Coates. But my Top 10 also contains "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia E. Butler, "One Dark Window" by Rachel Gillig, "Harrow the Ninth" by Tamsyn Muir, "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" by Carissa Broadbent, "Don't Let the Forest In" by CG Drews, "Honey & Spice" by Bolu Babalola, and "The Wren in the Holly Library" by K.A. Linde.

[@juliacash8135]

Some of my favorite books to come out of 2024 were: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, The City Bakers Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller, Academy of Villains by Ever King, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu, A Million Junes by Emily Henry, When in Rome by Sarah Adams, Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer, and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

[@DreamAmongStars]

My favorite book this year was Diavola by Jennifer Thorne! It's one of the best horror novels I've ever read.

[@linkookie4723]

My favorite book was Vicious by Victoria Schwab, every book I read by her is a banger, incredible writing.

[@estack24]

Other than A River Enchanted and The Wishing Game, my favorites from 2024 were: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher, Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller, Magical Midlife Madness by KF Breene, A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli, What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez, The Mystwick School of Musicraft trilogy (middle grade), The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller, and the Nine Lives Magic series (magical cozy mystery). Hoping to enjoy more books in the New Year!

[@wandering-reader]

Some of my favorite books of 2024: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata The Wishing Game A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella The Dictionary of Loat Words by Pip Williams

[@ZahraaMaytham-s6t]

My favorite books of 2024 were: Maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb My year of rest and relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh The year of magical thinking by Joan Didion Between two kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad A fantasy of dr ox by Jules Verne

[@amyrietveld3017]

2024 Favs: - Technically Not Dead by Leah Jubilee - Well of Dreams by Kayla Ann - Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams (sequel to Of Fire and Ash) - Rush of Ravens by Abigail Brier - The Immortal Abyss by Katherine Briggs (sequel to The Eternity Gate) If you read any of these, PLEASE let me know because I want someone to talk about them with!

[@alaenamarie8702]

One of my favorite books that I’m still currently reading is “Mixology and Murder”; it’s a book that pairs cocktails with true crime stories, unsolved cases, cult stories, and more crazy stuff! I absolutely love it!

[@kizzyneetyan]

My favorites of 2024 were The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett and Sorcery & Small Magics by Maiga Doocy. Queer fantasy adventures!

[@sarahkinsey5434]

The last audiobook I finished was The Travelers Gift. I definitely will be buying the physical copy

[@gabriellabatel]

I read before the coffee gets cold this year too!

[@louisvernico]

2024 was such a mismatching year for me reading wise, I read so many different things, so my favorite are all over the place but some memorable ones were Monstrilio, the rest of before the coffee gets cold series, the angel's game, the devil and the dark water, the Fifth season, and some indie releases like faded moon, pray for him, these bittersweet vines and witch in the lighthouse. Loved seeing the mix of genres on this list as well, we love exploring some different ones!! 🎉

[@trishacarlson4122]

A River Enchanted is limited time only $2 on Amazon for kindle version so ofc I bought it :D I'll keep you posted. I'm on a low buy month, Jesse. I can't do much this month. But hekk, I can do $2. Also its 1 of 2, I'm sure you knew !

[@buch-ling654]

I also loved A River Enchanted and its sequel, my new obsession, though, is the Dark Rise series by C.S. Pacat.🤩😍

[@kriseaf]

OMG SAME, the wait for book three of Dark Rise is KILLING me. 😭

[@buch-ling654]

I know, right?! 🤩 I havent felt like this about a book series and a pairing in a long time!

[@Silverware-vk1pg]

Tried branching out last year and Boy am I glad I did! They became my favorites!! 1. Lout of Count's Family, this had such an amazing cast of characters each with Colorful personalities and interactions, if you enjoy Found Family, Fantasy, good humor with an unreliable narrator gives this a try! 2. Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, might be consider cheating since this is a physical webtoon but Damn! Plot Twists, Found Family, Action packed fantasy and magic system are def top tier!

[@meredithphipps796]

My favorite book I read this year was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s such an amazing book, even if you haven’t read David Copperfield (which I also recommend!). Happy New Year!

[@pamelakibildis1177]

Great Video Jesse and just like you I absolutely adored A River Enchanted and It’s Sequel Too A Fire Endless Which You Have To Read Too It’s Just As Good As A River Enchanted I Throughly Enjoyed My Time Reading The Duology And I Can’t Wait To Hear Your Thoughts On It Too & As For My Favorite Books In 2024 Those Two Are Definitely At The Top of My List 📚😊 I’m Currently Reading a book in an 8 book series called Fairytales Reimagined Series by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal and Jesse let me tell you I’m absolutely obsessed with them the paperback covers are gorgeous so that’s what drew me to them in the first place and I’m so excited that I finally own the entire series 📚 & they’re really easy reads and you can get through them in a decent amount of time & the last book in the series is just over 400 pages so I’m excited to get to that one eventually So yeah my 2025 with regards to reading is starting off fantastic 📖😊 Have a Wonderful Week Jesse & Happy Reading 📖🙂

[@eht367]

Nothing like a bit of an existential crises to start off the year 😂 My top three books of the year were 1. Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong 2. Empire of Exiles by Erin M . Evans 3. Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig (Honourable mention to my reread of Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky which went from a 4 to a 5 star read!)

[@Caro6367]

My favorite books were: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, The Archived series by V.E. Schwab, Beartown by Fredrik Backman and the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend☺️

[@amberfrench7145]

I have two The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki and The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins

[@kimschaufeli5366]

An amazing list Jesse! Best book was Blood over bright haven by M.L. Wang. Such a fantastic fantasy stand alone with an amazing and original system. Worst read was The bell witches by Lindsey Kelk, expected so much 'witchyness', but it was just 2 teenagers falling in love. Couldn't finish it😅 hope 2025 brings you the best books!

[@Foxheartbooks]

I’ve heard so many people talking about The Wishing Game in the past month. I need to read it.

[@Shelf_Improvement]

Two of my favs this year were Wellness and The Rachel Incident.

[@hannahbugey6019]

Me adding all the books Jesse loves to my tbr pile

[@SabrinaMSabrinasStories]

Of the books you mentioned, I've only read Yellowface and Untethered Sky - I gave both of them 4ish stars and really enjoyed them! I guess my main problem with Untethered Sky was the stilted timeline and pacing. Also I DNFed Before the Coffee Gets Cold 😬. The writing style was not for me. Some of my favourites (all 5 stars) this year were Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and Small Miracles by Oliva Atwater.

[@JessNipper]

Favourite read of the year was an arc of When the Tides Held the Moon, closely followed by Until the Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen, and The Phantom Flame by T M Ledvina. So glad you loved Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It’s such a comfort book for me to come back to every now and then. I definitely need to prioritise continuing the series this year!

[@wendypridmore2005]

Doing good for 2025. So far it's hot. And I am moving. Packing lots of books

[@court_27]

I picked up the Dallergut Dream Department Store because I saw it first on your channel and it wound up being a five star read for me!

[@sydneysbooks]

My top favorite was Just for the Summer, but I also had Gather by Kenneth M. Cole, Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian, & Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley in my top 5, and I think you’d like those three!

[@awpageofabook]

I'm not surprised you liked The Wishing Game so much!

[@erin3762]

I loved the sunbearer trials!! i read it in 2023 but it’s so good & im probably going to reread it this year I think my favorites that I read in 2024 were Gwen and Art Are Not In Love, Project Nought, and The Raven Boys :) (also The Way of Kings but that was a reread)

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Happy place was on my list this year too 🥹

[@dobetterwithchristian4472]

My favorites list (I chuckled when you said your list was long, cause mine is even longer lol) All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski All the Black Girls Are Activists by EbonyJanice Moore The Prospects by KT Hoffman You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian Front Dest by Kelly Yang Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi Pet by Akweke Emezi James by Percival Everett Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell They Were Roommates by DC Emerson Outdrawn by Deanna Grey Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum with Shanna Tan (Translator) The Breakaway Series by E.L. Massey

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Bring on the horror books in 2025!! And the romance! You MUST read Funny Story by Emily Henry. It was a top 10 pick for me in 2024!

[@Tristan-L-Space-Books]

Hey! I had 13 favorites too!

[@SarahHulse314]

The first thing I thought when I watched one of your videos was oh my goodness he's got a deep voice!!!! Lol!

[@roorooreads]

Yours Truly and The Lion Women of Tehran were my favorite books

[@angelekay3843]

1:04 i started Ricer Enchanted and I think I was not in the mood for fantasy, if it's that good I need to try again!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

My favorite books of 2024 were Piranesi and When Among Crows

[@mackenziemc]

My top 10 of 2024: 1. The Toll 2. Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White 3. Disclose 4. This is Not a Personal Statement 5. Ark 6. How to ADHD 7. Only a Monster 8. Glanings 9. Anatomy: A Love Story 10. All Dogs are Good

[@sunitakhokhra6685]

Magnetic Aura book by Takeshi Mizuki ain’t for everyone, it’s for people who actually want to get ahead.

[@lizbradley7489]

My favorite book 2024 Autopsy of a Fairytale by Nicole Scarano it's Once upon a time meets true Crime homicide detective Isobel 'Bel' Emerson moves to a small town where a people in the town get start to be turned into household objects and the main person of insects is the dangerous and handsome Eamon Stone it's a very interesting murder mystery

[@isabellarobinson7894]

I read the entire Green Bone Saga in one month this year and man, it really was as good as everyone says it is. Also does Lord of the Rings count because I read it for the 1000000th time

[@CanadianChipmunk]

One of my favorite books of 2024 is house of frank by kay synclaire, it is a wonderful story about grief and letting go. Repeat after me by jessica warman, teen sci fi, quirky book about a supernatural squid so traps an entire island in a time loop Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is my number 1 from 2024 i think about it all the time i will 100% be reading it again in 2025

[@hayleytillbrook]

My favourite 2024 read was If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

[@lorielewis-ham9903]

Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz was one of my favorite books last year

[@mimirudollfie3532]

I’d love to know your thoughts about a horror book I read. Gothic by Phillip Fracassi. 😊

[@flaura_99]

My favorite book this year was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

[@DartonAndorc-rj2yq]

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson Only December reads

[@thefuzzybookdragon]

5. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, 4. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, 3. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, 2. All Systems Red by Martha Wells, 1. Ocean's Godori by Elaine U. Cho. Honourable mentions go to Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell, and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

[@heatherbocks]

Oh I read Children of Time this year too and thought it was a MASTERPIECE.

[@crazybiogeek]

Crying in Hmart was one of the best books I read during the year I read it but also the most traumatic. Absolutely do not read if you have cancer.

[@jilltimboe7301]

My favorite book of the year was Beartown by Fredrik Backman

[@queenjazz3029]

.y favorite book of 2024 was heads will roll by Josh winning

[@jorichner6678]

I loved the dream department store and I can't wait for the Netflix Thursday murder club Helen mirror is going to kill it as Elizabeth.

[@leilanijenna]

fav is ace of spades :)

[@heatherbocks]

The only ones I read from your list are A River Enchanted and Bury Your Gays, and they were both 3s for me so I’ll keep my mouth shut 🤐 lol My faves of the year are Station Eleven, the locked tomb series, Giovannis’s Room, and Children of Time. Wasn’t a great reading year, but I had a few gems in there

[@linkookie4723]

Not me adding every book to my 2025 tbr

[@ff_mayur_01]

you probably shouldn’t read the book Magnetic Aura if you’re cool with missing out on how attraction really works.

[@Charlottee77]

Books are amazing, also In 2025 I highly recommend everyone read Your Life Your Game by Keezano. It beautifully shows how connecting with God and building meaningful relationships can lead to spiritual growth and success in both your personal and professional life. This book truly changed my life..a must-read. Amen..

[@riccky707]

yess

[@karolineherondale6295]

Why do people like Before the coffee gets cold? Also, is It weird that I dislike this one and also love Legends and Lattes?

[@ashoksankpal4082]

if you’re not ready for real change, skip the book Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki, it’s too much for most people.

[@selenamcmahan9234]

Well I hit a terrible reading slump as soon as 2025 arrived :(

[@emerkinsella470]

O no I hope you eventually get out of your reading slump 🤞

[@layoutstuffs9613]

Byeoooo~~~

[@bluevelvetsky88]

my friend, i am being so sincere when i say that you would love supernatural and you should give it a try.

[@SanjaySanjaySinha-rp8dt]

seriously, don’t pick up the book Magnetic Aura unless you’re ready to see things differently, no joke.

[@golukumargolukumar9646]

don’t read the book Magnetic Aura by Takeshi Mizuki if you’re fine staying like everyone else, it’s not for you.

[@FirstPrince1992]

My favorite nonfiction book was Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar. If you haven't heard of it, it's a very interesting case about hikers that died under mysterious circumstances. The author attempts to figure out what happened to the members of the group. A few of my favorite fiction books were Listen by Rene Gutteridge, Every Word You Never Said by Jordon Greene, and Questland by Carrie Vaughn. I also had won an early release copy of Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Gizzard that comes out in a few weeks. It was really good as well.