Bookworm Cottage Style

I read so many wonderful books this year, but upon reflecting on my favorites and the ones that stuck with me the most, these seven stood apart from the crowd. Not surprisingly, all but one are fiction, and all but two are 2024 new releases.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (2024; 608 pages) // This was, without question, my favorite book of the year. Patch and Saint are both outcasts in their small Missouri town and they become fast friends. When they’re about 13 or so, Patch sees Misty, the popular girl at their school, being abducted. Patch intervenes and manages to save Misty, but tragedy unfolds nonetheless. This book spans decades (kind of giving Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow) as the main characters search obsessively for answers, closure, and hope. Yes, this is a serial killer thriller, but first and foremost it is a smart, character-driven book. It took me about 200 pages or so to really settle in, but the plot becomes so engaging, twisty and rewarding that I read the final 350 pages in a single sitting because I was literally unable to put the book down. Just wow! If you enjoy literary thrillers and/or you need a (creepy!) page turner to get you out of a reading rut, I can’t recommend this highly enough!

Know My Name by Chanel Miller (2019; 384 pages) // Of all the books I read in 2024, this is the one that stuck with me the most. This powerful memoir is written by Chanel Miller, the survivor of the Stanford sexual assault case, but it is not simply the retelling of an assault. Instead, Know My Name is a powerful look at the emotional, financial, and logistical obstacles put in place by our legal system and other institutions when survivors come forward. Miller is a profoundly gifted writer, and women all over the world are lucky to have her in our corner. This is one of those books that has the power to make the world a safer and more empathetic place, and should be required reading for all.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023, 448 pages) // This is a really fantastic historical fiction thriller. The main character, Martha Ballard, is a badass middle-aged woman working as a midwife in Maine during the late 1700s. Inspired by real people and real events, the story follows a murder case that Martha gets tangled up in as she searches for answers and justice. Martha is just an incredible character — so much gumption and self assuredness — the type of character that makes me excited to grow older and wiser.

James, by Percival Everett (2024; 320 pages) // This book is a retelling of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of James (Jim), the enslaved man who escapes bondage in search of freedom for himself and his family. Even though I haven’t actually read Huck Finn, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. (I did appreciate this substack from Fiction Matters about 6 things to know about Huck Finn before reading James.) Despite being a retelling of a classic, this book did not feel like work. It was a quick, enjoyable read that employs both humor and suspense to draw readers’ attention to systemic racism.

The Women by Kristin Hannah (2024; 480 pages) // I am a big Kristin Hannah fan and this Vietnam War era historical fiction novel did not disappoint. The story follows Frankie McGrath, a privileged young woman who enlists as an army nurse, throughout the war and after her return home to a country in turmoil. Over many years, we watch Frankie face the traumas of war, loss, and a prejudiced nation. However, her relationships with friends and loved ones leave room for hope and healing, and you can’t help but root for Frankie. This one is so good to the very last pages!

We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston (2024; 352 pages) // This novel is a fictionalized love story about a teenage girl trapped in the Waco cult and the teenage son of the local sheriff, inspired by the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas in 1993. Even though history tells us that the plot is throttling towards a tragic standoff, I could not put this book down. It was suspenseful and timely and absolutely lovely.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (2024; 352 pages) // What a delight! This is a really fun time travel book about a UK government worker who gets a new job as a host/chaperone of sorts for a Naval Commander who has time traveled from 1847. Our heroine slowly falls in love with the commander as she gets to know him better, all the while trying to puzzle together what this government time travel project might mean for their past, present, and future. This book was also on Obama’s summer 2024 reading list!

As for 2025 new releases, I’m really looking forward to Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (January 2025), The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose (April 2025), Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April 2025), Food Person by Adam Roberts (May 2025), My Friends by Fredrik Backman (May 2025), and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 2025).