Top 10 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)

[@noniesrose]

- Vera Wong's Unsolicited advice to murderers because I don't read from mystery/crime genre but I loved this one (I'm obsessed with tea that might be why) - Compound fracture, a thriller, I feel the same way as you with YA but I enjoyed this one, and again not a genre I read from (and I read it so quickly too) - Concerning my daughter, South korean litfic, I was surprised because it was hard to read as a bi woman since it's written from the pov of a homophobic mother but I gave it 4 stars

[@WilderHeart13]

Most surprising was definitely Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. It has great reviews but I've been trying to move away from YA fantasy for a while now so I thought it still wouldn't be for me, but I was SHOCKED by how much I adored it. I actually really go for unlikable main characters, and this one was so entertaining, and the romance was sweet, and the plot and mythology were engaging. Overall so sooo good!

[@cindystephens6997]

The Inheritance Games Legends & Latte Ready or Not The Booklover’s Library Finding Dorothy The Collected Regrets of Clover Darling Girls Heartless Hunter Sunset Beach City of Bones Only the Beautiful Finding Margaret Fuller Caraval The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West The Foxhole Victory Tour The Rent Collector The Storm We Made Weyward Were my most surprising good reads of 2024

[@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 ❤

[@tamakikawaii]

Clawdia 🤭

[@Elocinandnoved]

Listening to James for bookclub, Blood Over Bright Haven for myself, and I have The Will of the Many on my tablet. Thinking of buying The Starter Villan for my husband for Christmas

[@readingwarlock]

The Thirteenth Tale is one of my recent faves. Glad you liked it! I knew it was a story written for me when I read the first few pages and encountered these words: “What you need are the plump comforts of a story. The soothing, rocking safety of a lie.” So good

[@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 👏 😊

[@annaf2110]

It’s deeply problematic to me that she didn’t reach out to the families and twisted the stories of specific identifiable women (but keeping all the salacious details of one’s death that she criticised other media for exploiting), idk I think the critique in the book is skin deep when it feels she gave no consideration to the ethics of her own work

[@avrorawhite9763]

I've finished Bright Young woman audio yesterday. That was amazing!

[@LibrariesandLattes]

Great list!! I also really enjoyed Part of Your World, Bright Young Women, ODW, and The Thirteenth Tale (that one might make it to my list of most surprising books)! For some reason I haven’t been that interested in James but I’ve been hearing so many good things so I may check it out! I think some other surprises for me from this year would include O Caledonia, Butcher and Blackbird (shocked that I liked that one haha), Piranesi, The Song of Achilles, Warbreaker, The Duchess Deal, and Lovelight Farms!

[@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!

[@christinacampbellbooks]

I definitely want to read James. I have The Trees by him on my physical TBR so I need to read that one first. Interested in reading Bright Young Women too!😊

[@lornatw]

I love Atonement I was so invested and had so many opinions about everyone whether good or negative and I’ve realised that’s better than not caring at all!

[@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 😂

[@brittanyhubbard176]

“Douche canoe” - 😂I am dying 😂😂😂😂

[@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.)

[@amyh7673]

I recommend Starter Villain a lot, usually by including the phrase "unionized dolphins." I really enjoyed it.

[@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

[@amyh7673]

I really enjoyed Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

[@vickibing6771]

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

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

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

[@crazyplantladyy]

Hey Emily, last year you did a video dedicated to your 3 cats, can you make part 2 taking into consideration you have chip now 🐱🥰

[@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

[@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!

[@muskaan3711]

Bright Young Women was fantastic! Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2024.

[@laurenschenck5355]

The Thirteenth tale is my recent faves and so good and happy you loved it and enjoyed 📖☃️📙📙🎅🏻❄️❤️❤️☃️📚📙🌨️🌨️💚🎁🎄❄️❄️❄️🎄🎄❄️📚📚🎄🎄📚📚❄️❄️🌨️🌨️📙📙📖💚💚❤️❤️❤️🎁🎁☃️☃️☃️

[@badfaith4u]

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

[@myriam8190]

You should bump it to the top! 😊

[@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.

[@imperfected6513]

@@BookswithEmilyFox Marc should not try to show his face around here!!

[@michelelearner297]

I tried but couldn't get very far with The Parable of the Sower. I blame my job :) because the fictional violence in the book reminded me too much of the (unfortunately factual) issues I work on. I do still wonder if her father was ever heard from again though.

[@Lara-mx4cd]

You and Rachel (ReadswithRachel) both liked An Ember in the Ashes and I soo wanted to love it, but to me this unfortunately only felt like a generic YA fantasy and I ended up hating all our protagonists. But I loved Bright Young Women too and loved it. I wasn't all that familiar with the Bundy case and thought this was about a fictional serial killer for about the first half haha

[@cindystephens6997]

I really liked James too!! I read Huckleberry Finn as a kid so I really need to reread.

[@kathleendudek2955]

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

[@laurane_bouquine]

I wouldn’t either consider myself a romance reader, as I’ve just discovered the genre this year. However, my most surprising read of the year would be by far Take a hint Dani Brown, the relationship was portrayed in such a lovely and non-toxic way (no false enemies to lovers) that I read it in the course of over a month… I thought it was so so so cute that I didn’t want to finish it too quickly. One thing though: the spicy scenes are v.e.r.y spicy

[@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!

[@Merima28]

That jumper is 👌👌

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Thank you

[@tennille9dawn]

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

[@zachreads]

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

[@365ghughes]

Clawdia 👑

[@zrozumiecprojekt]

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

[@Senidhr]

The most surprising book for me this year was The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai. This one was one of my impulse buys and i was burned before because of that (buy impulsively and then hating or dnfing a book), but this one was a 5 stars for me. I have to say, this is is very me book, so i wouldn't recomend to everyone. Is about a very hidden restaurant in Quioto owned by a father-daughter due who do amazing dishes and have a detective side thing for dishes. Clients come to them to find very particular dishes and they try to find them and recreat it for the client. The Book is episodic, each chapter is dedicated to a particular client trying to find a particular dish. I'm a foodie, so it was up my alley.

[@tamakikawaii]

I read An ember in the ashes 3 years ago, and i still think about it every day.

[@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

[@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. 💜

[@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 ...

[@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. 😅

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Nothing can compare to BOBH so definitely lower your expectations a bit but hope you’ll enjoy it 😂

[@_daniela_s]

My most surprising was A night in the lonesome October by Roger Zelazny which is fantasy "horror" from the perspective of a dog. Wouldn't have picked it up without the sword and laser bookclub podcast and really enjoyed it, would actually say it could be considered cosy 😅

[@bookmarcreads]

Wow! I’m super early 😮

[@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. 😆😻

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

LOL all cats benefit from her labor!

[@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.

[@kathleendudek2955]

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

[@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

[@kattttt9585]

I LOVE an ember in the ashes

[@MarcelleLeiturasPreguicosas]

I think I like book 2 of One Dark Window more than book 1 just because in book 2 the author added 2 characters to main character level and this is how a sequel should be done instead of creating conflict for the main couple out of nowhere, like a love triangle, miscommunication, all the boring cliches we are used to see. In a perfect world, Amber in the Ashes would have all the hype that ACOTAR and the Shadowhunters have. Amber in the Ashes deserves a book and a netflix series adaptation more than any 2 pages cassandra blargh have ever written.

[@caitlinl2750]

I’ve read all but atonement and the thirteenth tale🎉

[@charityyoder9028]

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

[@Mad.E]

Every booktuber whose opinion I usually trust loved An Ember in the Ashes, but to me it felt absolutely on the bad end of the YA spectrum Like you, I was intrigued at first, but unlike you my care for the story and main character did not survive her heavy-breathing-esque reactions to the male characters amidst the seemingly harrowing familial drama

[@MichelleP-t7o]

I ❤Grady Hendrix

[@BookReviewsWithBecky]

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

[@HummingbirdG6843]

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

[@simplicitytess]

I was just going to comment this 🤣

[@marniejade]

Disagree with your assessment of One Dark Window Duology, Book Two is by far better than Book One. The Nightmare is bad ass.

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

It’s definitely an popular opinion since I was told book 2 is so much better, but it’s not the case in my opinion

[@lauf22]

It was so creepy when you are talking about how to sell a haunted house and you move the book around the ring light reflected on the windows and it looked like the lights were turning on and off 😂

[@patricialux6197]

Most surprising for me: a big ole huge WESTERN!!! Cowboys, indians, whores, cattle, rattlesnakes, etc! Lonesome Dove. Omg, sooo good, engaging, still have 300 pages to go but i reckon i aint doing nuthin else til i finish it! What an awesome read! Love it. Huge surprise.

[@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.

[@shawnlee220]

🤦🏻‍♀️😂 I am such a dummy. I could have sworn atonement was ww1. I think I even told people it was ww1 but you’re right, it’s the second one.

[@BirgitHaeupl]

❤️📚🐱

[@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 !

[@laurenschenck5355]

Loved how to sell a haunted house one of my favorites ☃️☃️☃️🎄🎄❄️❄️☃️☃️❤️❤️❤️🎁🎁🌨️🎅🏻🎅🏻🎁🎁🎁🌨️❄️🎄☃️🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️🎅🏻🌨️🎁💚☃️❤️🎅🏻🌨️📚📚📙📙📚📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📚📚📖📖📖📖📖📙📚📚📚📙