I finished out my 2024 reading with some excellent books, including a great mix of genres and re-reads. There were also several reads that were good and I rated 4 stars, but were disappointing because I was hoping for 5s. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 11

2024 releases: 5

Re-reads: 2

Nonfiction: 2

Holiday romances: 2

 

Reviews

Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Healthcare by Uche Blackstock, M. D. (5 stars) – As someone who works in healthcare, I think this should be required reading; it’s a combination of memoir and discussion about both the history and present of racism in medicine. It’s excellently written, both emotional and informative, and I highly recommend it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5 stars) (re-read) – It’s been many years since I last revisited The Hunger Games, but hearing about the upcoming Haymitch novel put the idea in my head and I couldn’t get it out. It holds up so well on re-read, even so many years later.

Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stanley (4.5 stars) – An extremely relevant and informative nonfiction book. I’d definitely read more from this author.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (4.5 stars) (re-read) – I maintain my ranking on re-read, which means that I do think The Hunger Games is a stronger book than its sequel, but it’s still excellent.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (4 stars) – This modern classic has become buzzy recently, and I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for a slam-dunk 5-star read. Although I did appreciate the interesting premise and writing style, it didn’t quite resonate for me the way I was hoping.

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (4 stars) – A short but strong historical fiction novel told in collective voice that I really appreciated, despite not normally being a historical fiction reader.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) – I love Rachel Harrison, and I love vampires, so my hopes for her newest release were extremely high. I definitely enjoyed the read, but something was missing for me compared to some of her previous works like Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (4 stars) – This was a quite fun and funny romantasy read that I enjoyed more than I expected to; I’m planning to pick up the sequel in 2025.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (4 stars) – Another book I was hoping to love but ended up liking. The romance wasn’t nearly as strong as other Emily Henry books for me.

Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey (3.5 stars) – This was a very fun, New Years-centric holiday romance featuring a marriage of convenience.

I’ll Get Back to You by Becca Grischow (3.5 stars) – This was a cute college-age holiday romance that was a fun read for this time of year.