The BEST books I read in 2024 (plot twist: my favorite book was about MEN???)

[@Politoed89]

i definitely want to read Any Man now. from the description, it sounds like it taps into a topic i'm really invested in - as a gay guy, i think some people don't fully understand that, despite the amount of privilege men have, being rejected from masculinity has serious consequences, mostly a huge risk of violence. plenty of men will be hostile or even physically violent towards a man not meeting masculinity standards, and not a lot of people are going to come to the victim's defense. it's the same reason that growing up as a gay boy was pretty terrifying for me. i'm just really curious to see how the book portrays that experience. especially because the concept of being rejected by masculinity /because/ of the worst trauma they went through is just a really sad thought to me. i know the feeling of being so scared that other guys are going to find out how you've "failed" masculinity standards, and i'm just thinking of having that fear about them finding out you were a victim, and it's sad :(

[@withcindy]

It's a really nuanced and powerful book! I hope you get to check it out ❤️

[@stellafolwarska4216]

if you're interested in this topic, I've got a non fiction recommendation for you. one of my favourite books this year was Sons and Others by Tanaka Mhishi and it explores violence against men, particulary sexual violence. the author is a bisexual man of colour and offers many nuanced perspectives on living life as a male survivor of rape. it really opened my eyes to an aspect of our society that is rarely spoken about and that as a woman I've rarely considered. he explores the different barriers men have to speaking out and what interested me was that we think of toxic masculinity as some purely internal struggle that men have to simply overcome, yet the author points out that there is real external risks in speaking out. as you said, as being a rape victim is often seen as emasculating, men are at high risk of violence when they do are not able to meet standards of masculinity. one example the author gives is one man who gave a speech about his experience of sexual violence who got gang-raped that very night by a group of men 'as revenge' the author also shows how interconnected the lives of different sexual abuse victims are and how education on sexual abuse needs to be more intersectional - for example he points out that the reason that many sexual education workshops fail is because they only seek to educate men not to abuse women and miss the fact that many of the boys in the room have been abused themselves. it just blew my mind how complex the reality of violence in our society is and I wholeheartedly think everyone should read this book sorry for the ramble this book is just so fantastic. I really hope in the future we'll see more male perspectives when it comes to violence in society. no voices deserve to go unheard

[@Politoed89]

@@stellafolwarska4216 i really appreciate hearing this, and i'll probably check that out (when i'm a bit more emotionally prepared for it 😅). don't worry about rambling, i do plenty of it myself; plus, i love hearing people talk about this, so ramble as much as you want. i do think it's a rarely-heard perspective, that masculinity isn't just internal. as much as we roll our eyes at the "masculinity so fragile" type of man that doesn't want to wear anything pink or whatever (many of which do deserve it), a part of me does kind of empathize with wanting to avoid being seen as feminine, especially by their male friends, because those men might stop being "friends" if you aren't suitably masculine. anyone who has ever been hurt by multiple men at once can tell you that a group of men will often feed into each other's anger and the situation can get ugly pretty quickly. the most dangerous place to not meet masculinity standards is around a group of rowdy men. i remember in one of my sociology classes in college, the textbook, which was written by three men, said that female-on-male domestic violence was "almost always a playful slap on the wrist for eating too much dessert", and i think that's such a perfect example of how judgmental men are of each other for being victimized. it really bleeds into everything.

[@NellyVilla09]

Gurl, your conversational transitions to the sponsor always take me out 😂😂 like yas get that bag babe!!

[@withcindy]

Hahaha thank u 😎

[@upsidedown9412]

It’s a masterclass

[@chocolateoreo6489]

Also, it is so heartwarming to hear that you are in the “opposite of a reading slump” currently❤ yay! I’m sending you all the happiness that is derived from books and life moments for you!

[@withcindy]

Sending you all the love back!! 🥰🥰

[@chocolateoreo6489]

@ Aw thank you hehe😊😊

[@mglarson5936]

Growing up is realizing that things people did to you when were younger that made you uncomfortable at the time but brushed off were, in fact, abuse. ❤ I’m going through this journey too. It’s hard and I’m grieving the childhood I thought I had.

[@withcindy]

Sending u love ❤️❤️

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm sorry your going through that I hope you find a way to heal

[@danica7703]

not really about the video but you are looking so great as of late (i love your sweater) and i hope you keep taking care of yourself

[@withcindy]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@Yssakai-art]

already commenting to mention that i'm super pleased to know you've read The Magic Fish! Literally a book I gift to everyone when I get the chance, I've been a huge fan of Trung Le Nguyen's work for so long hahaha your likes often crossover with my taste, so i'm pretty stoked to put your recs on my list! previous books i've read from your recs that I rly enjoyed are Chanel Miller's Know My Name, Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde series, and Kate Goldbeck's You, Again. I hope you have a great holiday, Cindy, and I always look forward to your other videos 💝

[@withcindy]

It really is a special book! 🥰 And Chanel Miller will forever be that gurl

[@AlmaD-y3t]

I've wanted to read The Magic Fish for a while now. I really love artstyles that have a prominent lineart and this one looks wonderful ❤ I'm glad you talked about this graphic novel.

[@withcindy]

Aww I hope u get to check it out! The art is lovely

[@rowan.27]

I love The Magic Fish, one of my favorite graphic novels of all time!! The creator actually also made a tarot deck called Star Spinner Tarot with the same kind of art style and it's so gorgeous 😭

[@withcindy]

I'm obsessed with their art style! 😍

[@plushieteddy]

TRUNGLES TAROT 👀😭💗💗

[@Politoed89]

i relate so hard to the spotify wrapped stereotype thing. my #1 song on wrapped was the olivia rodrigo song from the Hunger Games movie, and my #1 artist was taylor swift. i might as well write "dramatic gay" on my forehead in permanent marker

[@withcindy]

Omg I loved Olivia's song, it was so perfect for the hunger games

[@muskaan3711]

Same! Taylor was my #1 too, just like every other year lol

[@alexjohnson9798]

I'm gonna check out 'Any Man'. I'm a male victim of SA and I've never heard of a book like that, sounds interesting.

[@withcindy]

So sorry you experienced that 😔 I hope that the book is healing for you! Also understandable if it becomes too triggering though. Pls take care of yourself ❤️

[@muskaan3711]

I'm so sorry that that happened to you. Hope you're doing better now ❤

[@ladydiamond6611]

cindy's really unpacking her trama this year, and I love that for her xx

[@withcindy]

sigh a yearly occurrence unfortunately!!

[@cheyennekchua]

you're just in time again Cindy. thank you. that Spotify Wrapped list is 1000000% relatable!

[@withcindy]

Gotta love that playlist

[@VeronicaWarlock]

I only read four real books this year (I’ve been burnt out and only felt like reading about 65 manga, webcomics, and webnovels). Two of them were Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries and the sequel, after you talked about it. Thanks for the rec. ^_^

[@aeriselove]

Omg I LOVE The Magic Fish! The art is gorgeous. And the STORY?? One of my favorite graphic novels ever, so I’m really happy to hear someone else talking about it.

[@withcindy]

I know right?? It's so good! 😍

[@tanmoki]

It was such an odd but blessed coincidence to stumble across this video in my recommended. I’m also Vietnamese and I’ve recently picked up an interest in reading about Vietnamese diaspora, the experiences of Vietnamese immigrants and their relationship with their second gen children. I’ve also been in a few bad relationships and I’ve always tried to avoid media relating to SA/relationship abuse in fear of it retraumatizing me. But you really spoke to me when you talked about empathizing with Annie Bot and resonating with Not That Bad. Thank you for telling me about how reading those books helped you find peace or closure, I think I’ll try to find my own Barbie movie/book too. Anyways I feel very seen and thank you for sharing your personal experiences. Of course I subscribed and I look forward to watching your other videos.

[@axelgonzalez2806]

I really appreciate your short discussion at the beginning of the list about people growing up out of reading YA, as well as your comments throughout the year about not being the audience for it yourself anymore. YA is so hegemonic that people feel like, if they want to be considered a "reader" or if they want to make successful content about reading then they absolutely *have to* engage with it even when they're finding nothing in contemporary YA that speaks to them anymore. A lot of online people would be much happier if they could feel freer to explore outside of hegemonic genre tags, and without the anxiety of feeling like they *have to* be apart of a trending conversation about certain books. They would even enjoy the few YA books that speak to them, without the weight of having to compare each YA book to every other YA book they like they need to read.

[@Showtunediva]

Annie Bot was 3 stars for me. I am adding Any Man and Magic Fish to my ever growing TBR. Happy Holidays Cindy!❤

[@withcindy]

Happy Holidays to you too!

[@misuko1792]

Your vids are my company. Love from Korea

[@withcindy]

Aw that’s so sweet 🥺

[@sawrirocks]

This better be a clickbait Cindy. Men? Really?? In 2024???

[@withcindy]

Shocking, I know!

[@sixfrogsinatrenchcoat]

The Magic Fish was also in my top books this year, it absolutely took me out and was so gorgeous

[@withcindy]

yay glad we both enjoyed it!!

[@detectiverose]

Per Cindy’s list, I just finished reading Any Man in one sitting and… wow. Obviously proceed with caution or don’t proceed at all if you have a hard time reading about SA, but my god what a masterful work.

[@withcindy]

I’m so glad it resonated with you!

[@marisadermacho]

one of my favourite books this past year has been Hijab Butch Blues! the main takeaway from it for me was my understanding of intersectionality, which deepened. if you have an interest in a new look at the quran and its stories (from an afab queer muslim hijabi perspective) you should definitely read this book!

[@phanie6067]

cleaned my washroom as I listened to this. it was awesome

[@Zai_Nomi]

Thank you so much for the recommendation of Annie Bot. It definitively should be required reading for some of us lol. I finished it in a day and feel it finally clicked for me. The fact that Annie only ever tried to please Doug but there was no way for her to succeed since he was always displeased (about what a shit guy he is - ugh it was infuriating!!). It was a losing situation for Annie and I sympathized so much. I devoured this book and want to give it to recommend it to everyone I know.

[@withcindy]

I'm glad u enjoyed it!! Doug was sooo realistic to what a terrible partner is like

[@viivi2001]

I really found myself enjoying the sunbearer duology by aiden thomas! it was SO much fun and quick to read, and it gave me the same type of feelings that percy jackson used to give me years ago. I feel like that duology is some of the best ya I have ever read

[@withcindy]

Aww I heard good things about Aiden Thomas books! Thanks for the rec

[@moustik31]

📌📌📌

[@muskaan3711]

Omg I love PJO I'm moving The Sunbearer up my TBR.

[@NickLinz-ig2rq]

Omg, you were the one who introduced me to the House of Hollow and made me overly excited for the Invocations. So, my dearest thanks for helping me find my now favourite author in this genre. Exquisite taste right there

[@withcindy]

I’m so glad you love them! They’re a treasure

[@rachel2502]

I’m addicted to the “Space Boy” graphic novel series. BEAUTIFUL artwork. Cinematic. Multilayered story. U got your sci fI, u got your action, u got your teen besties romance. I also enjoyed a couple light young adult rom coms: “Slow Coach” and “Some Like it Cold”. The first is queer friendly and a genuine feel good read-in-an-afternoon book; the second is neurodivergent friendly.

[@idontneedaname318]

I've been following space boy for ages it's really one of a kind

[@withcindy]

ooh thanks for the rec!!

[@renfish]

I love space boy too

[@sarahgrace3488]

I always look forward to this video; I always end up picking up so many good books because of you. Thank you!! 💕💕💕

[@withcindy]

You are so welcome!

[@dontbeadick2762]

tbr list in hand cindy dropped a recommendation video!!!!!

[@withcindy]

I’m glad my videos can help you make your TBR list! 🥰

[@FancyTuna77]

The Magic Fish looks so good! Definitely adding it to my tbr!

[@withcindy]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@tsunaida]

The actress from The Grudge 2 and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants wrote one of Cindy’s favorite books of the year? Adding it to my list immediately.

[@withcindy]

I didn't realize that was her, that's awesome!

[@Dingutifunati]

Thank you for the new books, I really love Roxanne Gay, and I have Not that Bad in my wishlist, will bring it up on list.

[@Willow.the.creative]

Every year I watch your best book videos and tell myself to read them in 2025 but then December exams kick my ass and I forget about them lmao

[@withcindy]

It's ok bb u can always pick it up when ur ready ❣️

[@alisonlasher1149]

I always look forward to your year end recaps and find that I have very similar taste in books as you so I love hearing what bangers you recommend for me to read this year!

[@withcindy]

I’m so glad my reading taste aligns with yours!

[@cupofkeyshae]

Definitely adding Annie Bot to my library cart! Happy Holidays Cindy! ✨

[@withcindy]

Happy Holidays to you too!✨

[@guidecfk]

Every time you talk about annie bot it gets higher and higher up my tbr 😂 i think my favourite book i read this year was the sign for home by blair fell, it's about a deaf blind man and his interpreter. It was well written and made me think about a whole community i've never really considered before

[@withcindy]

Ooo sounds good!! Thx for the rec

[@figment320]

Everyone needs to read Annie Bot!! It’s so good! I read it back in February and I think about it so often

[@withcindy]

annie is forever that gurl

[@crumbsintopebbles]

Thank you so much for the recs! They all sound like great reads.

[@withcindy]

You’re so welcome! 💕

[@sc31337]

Krystal Sutherland was already in my TBR but I will definitely check out the others! My favorite books I’ve read this year is To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (think steampunk fantasy set in alternate universe 19th century USA featuring a queer Indigenous female protagonist and DRAGONS) and The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (I’m not even going to pretend to know how to describe this one). Happy holidays and looking forward to your next video 🧡

[@withcindy]

To Shape A Dragon’s Breath sounds incredible!!

[@meepmorp9987]

hi cindy! your channel is my go to comfort channel. you’re so funny and real. i love it lmaoooo

[@withcindy]

Thank you so much! 💖

[@CoolKitCat123]

I loved Annie Bot so much!! I’m so glad that you are promoting it!

[@strawberryyogurt7]

CINDY!!!! I read annie bot because of you and it became my favorite book of 2024. I saw so much of myself in annie and it helped me make sense of a lot of things.

[@withcindy]

Omg glad u loved it!!

[@darrienland]

Aye! I also dove into trying to read more nonfiction this year! My highest suggestion would be ‘Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life’ by Lulu Miller. It’s sort of a memoir/autobiography that starts off almost wholesome and slowly unravels to handle a topic very powerful (and horrifying) that I don’t want to spoil. The way the author brings the reader along to the end is amazing, and its def a book that will stick with me for a while I also LOVE Trung Le Nguyen’s art and I have loved that novel for years now, sooo good! Another graphic novelist I’d suggest is Tillie Walden! The ones I read this year were ‘Are You Listening’ and “On A Sunbeam’. The art and stories are so beautiful! I’d also suggest Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O'Connell’s ‘Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me’, which is about toxic relationships and handles some dark topics very well, plus beautiful art. I also read the graphic novel version of Jason Reynold’s ‘Long Way Down’ this year, highly suggest! Alsoalso, an author I discovered this year that I now LOVE and will instant read new releases is Silvia Moreno-Garcia! She does horror/thriller adjacent works that often weaves in colonialism and the harm it causes into the horror the characters face. I read ‘Silver Nitrate’ and ‘Mexican Gothic’ at the beginning of the year and I was hooked. Love the video!!!!!

[@annabrown5072]

Perfect fricking timing, finished my exams and need to clean my disaster of my room. This makes it bearable:)

[@withcindy]

Omg same, my room is a total disaster zone

[@dismalpeanut]

I also put Annie Bot into my top books of the year. The complicated feelings she had about her abuse resonated with me and my own experiences. Knowing you felt the same, I'll absolutely be checking out the other books on your list.

[@kawaiiart5373]

Magic fish is one of my favorite books ever!!! so happy you read it!!!!

[@Shamazya]

The Magic Fish has been on my wishlist for a while. I really need to grab it.

[@firdoodles]

haven’t watched the full video yet but i love the magic fish!! i read it a few years back and it made me cry :’)

[@firdoodles]

in terms of book recs, i really really enjoyed the burning kingdoms trilogy by tasha suri!!! the final book came out last month and i’m still getting over it it’s queer south asian fantasy (specifically the main two are lesbians) !!!!

[@withcindy]

thank u for the recs and glad u also loved the magic fish

[@chacharealsmoove]

My top artists on Spotify was a FICTIONAL band in a show that got cancelled 😭I hyper fixated on them and forgot abt it

[@withcindy]

JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS???

[@chacharealsmoove]

@ HOW DID U KNOW ?? 😭😭

[@withcindy]

@@chacharealsmoove bc i was obsessed w them too

[@chacharealsmoove]

@ HELP,,,, its all connected 😭😭

[@Sophia-rq6oo]

I’ve been really struggling to read for a long time and I’m slowly getting my way back into it (partly with the help of audiobooks bc one of my issues is that I struggle with restlessness when I try to just sit down and read, which wasn’t always the case, so listening while keeping my hands busy is really helpful rn). So the two audiobooks I finished recently and tremendously enjoyed are: Pax by Sara Pennypacker: this one was on my tbr for years, I even bought the physical book years ago after hearing so many good things about it. It’s a middle grade book and I thought I’d ease my way back into reading with it and didn’t even look at the blurb again (all I remembered was that it’s about a friendship between a boy and a fox). Come to find out it wasn’t simply a lighthearted story about friendship 😅 it’s dual POV (the boy and the fox) and handles various heavy themes/thoughts pretty effortlessly. At the beginning of the book the boy (around 12 y/o) and his fox get separated and the boy is brought to his grandfather to live with while his father joins the ongoing war. The fox grew up in the care of the boy and is a half tamed animal that never had to survive in nature on his own. The book then follows the journey the boy takes to get his fox back. Themes in the book: parental loss, grief, relationship between nature (and animals) & humans (and how estranged most adult humans are from nature specifically in the west), anti war commentary, growing up, losing your childish innocence & the pressure to conform against your nature, various trauma (including childhood neglect & abuse), healing, friendship, found family, loyalty. By nature of it being middle grade & the tone it uses, it strikes a good balance of showing just enough for emotional impact but not overwhelming you too much, so it’s a bit easier to digest. For children it’s a great book to introduce them to these themes, or to have a story to help digest their experiences if they’re unfortunately too familiar with some of the themes already. For me as an adult with unprocessed baggage around my childhood/growing up and other themes of the book it helped me revisit them and process them a bit more. My only criticism is that the ending felt very sudden bc it basically ended in a climax and after the emotional journey I’d have simply preferred another chapter or two for cool-down. I’m just mentioning this bc maybe it’ll help anyone who wants to give this little book a go to be a bit more prepared for the suddenness than I was 😅 The other book I read was Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, a gothic romance taking place mostly in 1920/30 (?) England. I loved how atmospheric it was, and the genre typical simmering unease of a darker mystery. The protagonist is a young adult woman from a lower class, and with no family left she works for a woman of a higher social class. As the companion of that woman, she meets a good-looking, older widower of higher social standing and befriends him. She doesn’t understand why he seeks her company; for all she knows he’s just recently lost the wife he was devoted to so it’s a complete shock when he ends up proposing to her. I found the book to be elegantly executed in the way it set the mystery up and let it unfold, how it portrayed the main character and her very understandable insecurities around class and her new social standing that she can’t seem to fit into. I’m not someone who seeks out 1st person pov, but I always love when I can enjoy a book that uses that pov to full effect. I really don’t think this story would go as hard in a 3rd person POV. I had this book on my TBR bc a while ago I watched the video about the mystery of the failed broadway transfer of the Austrian musical based on the book (the video is by wait in the wings, a great watch) and since finishing the book I’ve been listening to the musical recording repeatedly & am a bit obsessed with it (it might help that my native language is German, so I can get the most out of listening to the recording).

[@withcindy]

oooh thank you for the recs! im glad you found books that you enjoyed this year :)

[@emmad7841]

I looooove The Magic Fish, it's probably one of my favorite books ever :,) thank u for the recommendations, they sound so good, and love your videos! Some favorite books I read this year are "Everyone in this room will someday be dead" by Emily Austin and "Cultish" by Amanda Montell

[@withcindy]

I’m so glad my videos are helping you find good reads! 🥰

[@daphneblake13]

I also loved Annie Bot! Other books I loved this year: Four Squares by Bobby Finger, The Shining by Stephen King, and The Secret History by Donna Tartt

[@withcindy]

ooh thanks for the recs!

[@BooksThatTeachUs]

oo I've never heard of these books! Will have to check them out!

[@anromeow]

giggled to myself when i realised we both had the same most played song in our Spotify wrapped 🙏🏼 Chappell Roan is where it's at fr

[@emman4957]

LOVE the art in the background!!

[@withcindy]

thank you!!

[@ShadowNight808]

I never fully got through Annie Bot because I ended up getting so... overwhelmed by the first sections of it. As someone that basically spent most of their life with no idenity just being what other people wanted to be and not even feeling present in a room where people talked about it I was just like. "Man. I dont think I can finish this..." Same thing happened with the Wedding People where the writing was so spot on with depression that I had to set it aside. It was not the year for me to tackle heavy subjects, but it was nice to see something that I attempted to read up on your list!

[@chocolateoreo6489]

The perfect video to watch whilst I am eating my lunch❤ you are such an icon!

[@withcindy]

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! 🍔

[@chocolateoreo6489]

@ Aw yes, it’s true! I really admire your introspective view on the books you read/review, whether they are portrayed in a funny or learned way! 🫶🫶

[@keisha5712]

Woahh I love the quotes from the first book!

[@coriroberts5049]

I loved The Magic Fish. When we discussed it for one of the book clubs I attend, the library invited the author and he ended up coming. He was such a lovely person, and his art speaks for itself.

[@honoluluw]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="789">13:09</a> that's a thing that's happened to me too, i guess since that period of time was unpleasant/traumatic to me, my brain just decided it'll be better to forget

[@withcindy]

Oof big mood

[@nyebie]

omggg the magic fish! i recently read it for one of my classes and i really ended up loving it. i keep recommending it to everyone so i'm very happy to see you talk about it! :-)

[@withcindy]

It really is a special book!

[@graymabesadoxography1700]

i literally cried over reading the magic fish, the story and art are so good!!

[@withcindy]

It's such a good one!

[@maiasavich2767]

Amber tamblyn, the author for “any man”, wrote for house and also played martha masters in the seventh season! I knew i recognized her name.

[@Rachelw]

Love the Invocations. It is one of my favourites of the year too.

[@withcindy]

yesss its so fun

[@Shamazya]

Just saying ahead of time, I'm looking forward to the sponsorship. You are amazing at seguing into them! It's an art to make it so entertaining.

[@withcindy]

I’m glad you’ve noticed! Hehe

[@AwkwardBookworm]

I love the invocations!

[@withcindy]

Yessss it's so fun

[@emmeline-tyler]

Thanks for sharing. I think I will check out Annie Bot at some point

[@gingerjessietalks7685]

I read Annie Bot because of you 😁 it was really interesting and good!

[@withcindy]

Glad you liked it!!

[@sarah-jc2rj]

Not me immediately clocking amber tamblyn’s name as an actress from sisterhood of the traveling pants despite having not thought of the movie in like 20 years 😂 I had no idea she was a published author. Sounds like an interesting book!

[@withcindy]

I didn't know she was in that movie! That's so cool

[@soymikleo]

I was in a reading slump for a couple of months and left books unfinished. Now am trying to read as much as I can before the year ends; I feel good about it!! Always love watching your reviews if only my tbr could handle more weight lollllll

[@withcindy]

You got this!

[@slice0flemon]

mother is here to save my dinner time again except it's just bread n jam so more like dinner snack!

[@withcindy]

Bread and jam is a mood 🍞

[@itstoohotarmy8238]

Your hair looks so nice!!

[@withcindy]

Thank you! 💖

[@lenny5231]

All this makes me so hyped for your book!💖💖💖💖

[@withcindy]

Aww thank u !!

[@beehotel]

Besides Annie Bot, I just added all of these books to my TBR. I immediately shared Annie Bot with a friend after reading it. Definitely one of my top books of the year as well.

[@withcindy]

Omg so glad you loved it!!

[@alexf6023]

You either die a hero or live long enough to love a book by a man

[@alexf6023]

Of course Cindy got me again with that title; love how high quality the audiobook productions sounds, I previously loved The Two Princes podcast and have been looking for my audio stories with full voice acting and audio

[@withcindy]

Don't worry the book is still written by a woman !! It's not over for me yet !!

[@andrewfallman7542]

The Magic Fish was a favorite of mine too!

[@withcindy]

It's so good

[@thresher-shark]

this year i really enjoyed “the time in between” by maria dueñas! it was originally in spanish and i read that version so idk what the translations like, but its about a spanish woman living during the spanish civil war and wwii in spain and colonial morocco. its really interesting and i feel like i learned a lot about that time period in those locations, too

[@withcindy]

Ooo sounds like a good read!!

[@jamesduggan7200]

I'm reading (listening to) Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun now so maybe I'll try Annie Bot next. Thx : )

[@withcindy]

i saw theres gonna be an adaptation of klara and the sun starring jenna ortega!

[@aimlessf]

Added to the TBR pile thank you

[@withcindy]

You’re so welcome! I hope you enjoy it 💕

[@irlfairy111]

YOUR HAIR LOOKS SO GOOD CINDY !!! 🙂‍↕️😍💕

[@withcindy]

thank youuu!!

[@eusociality]

My library actually gave me (not lent, gave) a copy of The Magic Fish (do not remember why) and I really quite enjoyed it. Glad to see it here!

[@withcindy]

That's so cool that your library just gave you a copy!

[@kylarusso1991]

Oh, oof. I'm currently working my way through the trauma of leaving a toxic 10-year relationship and I know that 'Annie Bot' is gonna f*ck me uppppp. Thanks for the rec, mate!

[@withcindy]

You got this! Proud of u

[@sofi_klw42]

i would like to apologise to all men for the face i made while reading the title

[@withcindy]

Understandable

[@BeingDaphne]

Annie Bot is my fav book of 2024. It surprised me as well. It had me fearful and emotional for Annie. V powerful in execution imo

[@withcindy]

Glad u agree!! I was so surprised at how much I empathized with her

[@biscuit8481]

If you enjoyed Any Man, I would recommend the film Mysterious Skin. Heartbreaking and really sensitive (imo) portrayal of childhood SA with two male protagonists who both cope very very differently. Watch with caution (and maybe not alone!). As a survivor I find it oddly cathartic and it remains my all time favourite film 🩷

[@RhadX]

In case you don't already know, it's also based on a book! The author is Scott Heim

[@queenofparkinglot]

Magic Fish is soooo good, I got to meet the artist at a convention this year and buy some of their art books! Also I feel like you are the only person on the internet who understands my love of Annie Bot. The hate I’ve seen towards it 😭 no one gets it

[@abbypierce4196]

Im not usually a non-fiction reader but I read A Man’s Search for Meaning this month and it was incredible. It’s a memoir of a holocaust survivor who was a psychiatrist prior to capture, so he has a fascinating, almost clinical view of the events he witnessed. It’s a pretty quick read as well. I am definitely reading Any Man next!

[@withcindy]

wow it sounds amazing!!

[@chacharealsmoove]

As I was about to buy more books BUT also personal recs from me - I just finished reading the gearbreakers duology and I rlly enjoyed it !!

[@withcindy]

I haven't read that yet but good to know!!

[@Reese_sRandoms]

My absolute favorites this year have to be Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour, an all time favorite author of mine; If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang, amazing look at class differences in an international school setting; Disability Visibility, made me think about things I never considered with disabled individuals; and the Carve The Mark duology by Veronica Roth, I’m begging you to read it, this is what she should be known for instead of Divergent.

[@moustik31]

Omg, all these books sound so good/fun!!! 🤩

[@withcindy]

thank u!!

[@gabbyreads]

Heck yes, Any Man was my #1 favorite book that I read last year. That book is so powerful and brutal, but so well written and thought provoking. 🤯

[@withcindy]

Totally agree!! 💯

[@yearlywise8003]

That first quote from Not That Bad…. Ahahahsdffg that reminds me of how my ex used to say he was a “consumer” of my body, and I was his “stress ball” 💀😂

[@withcindy]

Omg nooooooooo

[@C.T.T535]

My *favorite* book I read in 2024 was "Shadow of the Fox" by Julie Kagawa which also happened to be sitting beside "The Magic Fish" at my local library for Asian Heritage Month. It's a definite recommend. Especially if you want a historical Japanese fantasy with ninjas and folkloric creatures. But... My pick for the *best* book I read in 2024 is "Wildwood" by Colin Meloy. It has some of the best writing out of all 20+ novels I read that year. Its like reading Narnia combined with enjoying a delicious mug of coffee in the world's coziest cafe on a rainy day. An absolute warm blanket of a book.

[@Sh3rrr]

I'll put the magic fish on my tbr list. The other books are outside my usual read genres but I might try Any Man because you recommend it.

[@withcindy]

Hope u enjoy magic fish!

[@DawnOfDragonz]

The Magic Fish was already in my TBR to get from my library, but thank you for giving it your stamp of approvals. Ive read so many queer graphic novels this year but i always want MOAR

[@withcindy]

I hope you love it!

[@kailyncorey8267]

I think you would love the scapegracers by August Clarke. I haven’t read the invocations but it sounds similar. A group of highschool girls come together and end up forming a coven, have an encounter with a demon, and a rough lesbian breakup happens to say the least. It is horror but also ya so it’s not too extreme. It includes a lot of subverted mean girl highschool tropes, and I find the writing of the friendships is just so real and palpable. It is also queer and I just love it so so much.

[@Gen-yh1jz]

Love Annie Bot. I don’t know why a lot of people have not reviewed it.

[@stillreading]

I immediately spiraled when I saw that Amber Tamblyn was an author, (outing my self as an ancient) I used to watch her as Emily Quartermaine way back in her General Hospital days. Will definitely pick up that book.

[@Cealotte]

I look at The Magic Fish every time I'm at my library. I'm going to actually read it now!

[@withcindy]

Yay!! 🙌

[@bettyreads222]

I read House of Hollow by Krystal so def gonna order that one on Libby. Yes The Magic Fish is so special. ❤

[@withcindy]

House of hollow will forever be that gurl