Books I Read in 2024 (And Where I Got Them From!)

 In 2024, I read the least amount of books than I had in the past five years: 16.5 to be exact. But getting married and planning a wedding took up a lot of my time, so I'm blaming the low book count on that, hehe 🙈. Did I just breeze by the fact that I got married when the majority of my blog has been focused on singleness? Yes, I did. (But that deserves its own blog post.)

Post wedding, I'm looking forward to more books, more writing, and engaging with more readers. So for now, here's all the books I read last year.

1. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

I found this book at Second Story Books in Rockville, MD, and I loved it. I'm a big fan of books and television set in the 90's. The women in this book were so relatable, and it just goes to show that women today are still going through the same things as women 30 years ago. Also, this book was written from multiple perspectives, which I love!

2. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I ordered it on eBay. I highlighted so much in it and made tons of notes in the margins. This was one of two nonfiction books I read this year. If you're an introvert who often feels overlooked by louder and more demanding voices, this book is for you!

3. Careering by Daisy Buchanan

This was such a relatable story about trying to find your way and jumpstart your career as an early 20-something. I got this in the $5 bargain bin at Books-A-Million.

4. A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Harira-Kia 

I abandoned this book after reading about 100 pages. I tried, but I couldn't get into it at all. (Hence, the half-book in my total tally.) This was another $5 bargain bin find at Books-A-Million.

5. If I Could Turn Back Time by Beth Harbison

This was another one I picked up from Second Story Books. I read this book when I was injured, and it was a pleasant escape. It also gets bonus points for being set in Potomac, MD. It's always fun when a book is set in an area you're familiar with.

6. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

I am a loyal Sophie Kinsella follower. I'll read pretty much anything she puts out. I started reading wedding-themed books in the months leading up to my wedding, and this was the first. This story was so funny, and I found myself laughing out loud during much of it. If you need a light-hearted read that you don't want to put down, Sophie Kinsella has you covered. This was another eBay purchase.

7. This is Not a Fashion Story by Danielle Bernstein

I put this book on my Pinterest book board in 2020, and I finally purchased it from Amazon in March 2022. I started reading it as soon as it arrived, and I just couldn't get into it, so it sat on my shelf for two years. Flash forward to 2024, I picked this book up again and read it within a few days because I couldn't put it down.

8. Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

This was another book that had been on my radar for a few years, and I finally was able to purchase it from eBay. Any long-time single girl can relate to Yinka's struggles throughout this novel. Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? was so clean and wholesome, and that's one of the many things I loved about it.

9. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

This was a book that I 100% believe was worth the hype. It's outside of the cutesy beach reads I've been reading recently, and I want more of it. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and the plot wove together seamlessly to create a rich, dynamic, and complex story many readers will enjoy. I traded in The Midnight Library by Matt Haig for this book at my apartment's library, and I'm so glad I did!

10. Choosing Marriage by Debra Fileta

This was another book that I've had on my shelf for a while. I've read two other books by Debra Fileta, so I knew this would be good. She doesn't miss! I started reading it a few months before I got married, and I think it's a good one to come back to whenever you need it. I bought this from Amazon a few years ago.

11. Without a Hitch by Bettina Hunt

This was another book in my wedding theme. While I didn't care for the writing, I did love the plot! It followed three brides to their wedding day, so I loved the multiple perspectives. I'm embarrassed to admit that I did also purchase this from Amazon.

12. Without a Hitch by Mary Hollis Huddleston and Asher Fogle Paul

I can't believe I read books by the same title back to back, but this book was so enjoyable! It was relatable, quirky, and hilarious. And wedding theme aside, it was another heart-warming story of a 20-something trying to find her way in her career and adult life. I ordered this book from eBay.

13. Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

I think this might be my favorite book I read this year. Pineapple Street was another book that I had been eyeing for a while, and I picked it up from eBay. With multiple perspectives, compelling characters, and an intriguing plot, this was another book I couldn't put down. I was shocked it was a debut novel. The characters were so developed, and the writing was brilliant. 5 stars!

14. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

This was a prequel to the ever popular SATC. I haven't read SATC, but I did watch a few episodes of The Carrie Diaries when I was younger. The book was great (and clean), and I picked it up at a local market in D.C.

15. Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik

I picked this book up from another local market in D.C., and I would put this in my top 5 for books this year. It's set in the early-2000s, but it didn't feel dated. If anything, it fueled my love for older books. Knitting Under the Influence was another book written from multiple perspectives. It had good writing, a good plot, and well-developed characters. Part of this book takes place around Thanksgiving, and I read it around Thanksgiving, which made it extra fun. Plus, there was a bonus surprise at the end of the book!

16. Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I discovered Sophie Kinsella through the Shopaholic series, so Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) always has a special place in my heart. Not to mention, we were both hosting Christmas for the first tine! This was one of those books I didn't want to end because I enjoyed reading it so much. 

17. Happy Place by Emily Henry

Skating in on December 31, 2024, Happy Place was the last book I read in 2024. I found this book at another local market in D.C. (Hehe, I love the markets here!) For a book I saw in stores and on social media everywhere, I think it was overhyped. And maybe my problem is that I might not like romance. I like books with romance, but some romance books I avoid because it feels predictable. This was one of them. But I'm glad I read an Emily Henry book because I've been seeing her name everywhere.

If you made it to the end of this blog post, thanks for reading. 😊 Feel free to share your favorite books from 2024 in the comments!

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