My Top Books of 2024 So Far!

Y’all, I’ve read over 100 books this year so far (and this post is coming out in July so what does that tell you about how much I read???). Before you ask, yes I do have a life and a full time job. I just read quickly.

But I wanna talk about every book I’ve rated 5 stars so far this year and why. Also guess what? You don’t have to agree 🥰 there are some spoilers ahead so proceed with caution.

I’m a bit of a harsh rater so not a lot of books have made this list. And I’m aware of how much romance is on here, I like romance, sue me. If it was last year there would be some more mysteries/thrillers on there.

⭐️If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

The first five star of the year! I bawled my eyes out at this book. I felt so many things. I read it on KU and didn’t fully know what I was getting into when I started it and holy cow. I know this book gets a lot of crap on BookTok and I don’t even care, I like what I like and I like to cry apparently. I was on vacation when I finished this and needed to recover emotionally from it. I still think about the ending which is so sad I can barely handle it. I’ve read the second one, which doesn’t hit quite the same, but is still good!

⭐️It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

CoHo is a controversial one for most people, she gets a lot of flack for “romanticizing abuse”. I’m not sure if it’s this book they’re talking about. But if it is, then whoever says that clearly has no idea what they’re talking about. Because that’s not what’s happening in this one. It was my first CoHo (I read the second one too, didn’t love) and it didn’t disappoint. It gave a beautiful and accurate description of what abuse can look like in all it’s stages, from Lily’s mother to herself. It can be hard to break free from or to even realize what’s happening. People often say “well how did you even let it get that far” Colleen Hoover just showed you how. Situations like this happen every day.

⭐️The Seven Year Slip by Ashely Poston

I really don’t know why I was putting this book off, it’s my first Ashley Poston and won’t be my last. I’m obsessed with her writing. I love the little small sprinkle of fantasy (like TINY sprinkle) that just added that perfect extra layer of depth to this perfect story. I intentionally read this book a little bit more slowly because I had heard it was so good and I was kicking my feet giddy about it. It’s wonderful.

⭐️Book Lovers by Emily Henry

My second Emily Henry book, I read it in 24 hours out of necessity because I was borrowing it from my sister in law (I now have my own copy of course). Everything about this book is literal perfection. Nora and Charlie’s story is the first romance I’ve read where the obstacles aren’t the characters but the world. Both of them could have been together if not for outside situations keeping them apart and once those were fixed, it was easy for them to find their way back together and I loved it.

⭐️Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood

I’ve read ALMOST all of Ali Hazelwood’s books at this point, and this one blew me away. I loved it. There is literally not a thing I would change about it, the ‘he thinks she’s married, she thinks he hates her’ trope was done so well. But we all knew he didn’t hate her because it was obvious they were talking to each other and he was spilling his guts (anyone who read that and didn’t realize that was him like immediately….what rock were you living under?) about how in love with her he was. Ugh so swoon worthy. Especially because it was kind of like a reverse miscommunication. They clearly communicated just fine but like.. just misunderstood a few things. I could go on and on. I’ll be reading this one again soon!

⭐️The Only One Left by Riley Sager

I got this one from the library a little reluctantly. I thought to myself, “the other book I read by him was absolute trash, but I’ve heard good things, so I’ll just try this one out.” And this book right here is why I have the two book rule with authors. THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. It took me a minute to get into but once I was, I was hooked. It was realistic and perfect and just wonderful. The only non romance on this list and it deserves its spot! The twists in this book make it worth snagging if you happen upon it!

⭐️This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Carley Fortune has quickly become one of my auto buy authors (I say as I have yet to buy one of her books, it’ll happen soon, I swear) I’ve loved them all, but none have my heart as thoroughly as This Summer Will Be Different. I read it in one sitting. Lucy and Felix fell so hard so fast (normally insta love isn’t my thing) but they maintained that love for YEARS. This was one of the most realistic relationships I’ve seen in a romance novel. I love when relationships are real and aren’t all fairy tales and roses. This book was just that. Plus I’m a sucker for that piece of forbidden love that was in there with Felix being Lucy’s best friend’s sister.

What have been your five star reads this year?

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