The Best Books of 2024
The Best Books of 2024: My Top 20ish Favorites
By: Brittany Shields
I can’t really think of a more paralyzing word than ‘favorite’ and whenever someone asks me about my favorite books my brain short circuits and I think ‘what books have I even read?!’
So in an effort to attempt to share my favorites, I’ve put together a list of 20ish books that I really enjoyed reading this year. I don’t think I could ever tell you my top 10 favorite books of all time so to narrow down my yearly list to this amount feels like my best effort to accommodate the barbaric request to tell you my favorites.
I read less books than last year: 79 (as opposed to 95) and they spanned many genres. Quite a few new releases but also a few older ones. I discovered new authors and series and continued other ones I’ve already loved.
I hope this list can help you find some new great options to read in 2025. Feel free to comment your favorite books from the year!
I’ve got 23 books. Plus a few honorable mentions because I have no shelf control. (Also if you want a shirt that says that, visit my shop because I created one)
There is a brief description next to the book cover, but click my review links to get more details and my thoughts on each book!
ALSO……….
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Comment below what your favorite reads of last year were.
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Other things to check out:
Shelf Reflection Reading Challenges
Shelf Reflection’s 2024: Year in Review
AND NOW… the best books I read in 2024 in absolutely no particular order.
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: 2024
The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch
“I know the kinds of things that await me. I know what evil men can do.”
This book was suspenseful from start to finish. The opening prologue begins with a woman’s attempted escape from her captor.
The action and intensity continues to the very end as a last rescue attempt is made in the middle of a hurricane on the Outer Banks.
The plot of this one revolves around a serial killer who tattooes his captives with flowers- blooms when they’re good, buds when they disobey. It may be a bit disturbing for some people but it’s a pretty clean book for the genre.
It’s got NCIS/Criminal Minds vibes as the main characters are part of a team that hunts serial killers who are driven by religious beliefs.
This was a new author for me this year and one I was excited to find and read more of!
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: 2024
The Clinic by Cate Quinn
“‘Please. Call me. I need to tell you something about when we were kids. I need to tell you before it’s too late.”
That’s the last voicemail Meg has from her sister, Haley, before she sees on the news that Haley committed suicide at a luxury rehab clinic.
But Haley died of heroin injection and Meg knows Haley would never do that. Something is amiss and she is willing to commit herself to the same rehab clinic to find the answers.
Meg’s priority is to find out what happened to Haley, but her own trauma and addictions might keep her from getting anywhere helpful.
“You’re not going to like this, Meg. But to solve your sister’s murder, you might need to solve yourself.”
This book gave me (high-tech) Shutter Island vibes in the unreliability and eeriness of the setting and characters.
It’s one of those books that when you finish you want to re-read to see what you missed.
[Disclaimer: this one had a lot of f-words which I don’t like, but without those it’s a must read so I put it on the list]
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: 2023
Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal by Matthew T. Martens
“How would we design the justice system if we did not know our lot in life and thus did not know whether we were more likely to be a crime victim or a criminal defendant?”
‘The American justice system is corrupt’ is a politically charged and unhelpful statement. But I’ve heard it like a broken record lately.
This book has done what nothing else has been able to do thus far: tell me specific ways the justice system is unfair, biased, or unjust.
Martens has both decades of law experience— as a federal prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney— and a seminary degree. This puts him in a unique and extremely helpful position to help Christians (or non-believers for that matter) see the ways the justice system has failed and help us think critically about how our criminal justice system functions in light of biblical justice.
His writing is loving, fair, clear, and does not attempt to take sides on any recent politically charged and public case.
It will shock you, it will anger you, and it will enlighten you. Definitely a must-read.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: 2017
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke
“My phone is a window into the worthless and the worthy, the artificial and the authentic.”
This book is not an anti-technology book. Or even an anti-smartphone book. Reinke is fascinated by technology and its advancements.
“my aim is to avoid both extremes: the utopian optimism of the technophiliac and the dystopian pessimism of the technophobe.”
He has written this book to help us use our phone in better ways. To think about how our phones are influencing us and changing us and to help us take captive our habits and thoughts and order them properly.
He spends time talking about nine biblical realities surrounding technology and how it pertains to creation, human power, our creativity, our health, our relationships and more.
It’s realistic, practical, and a must-read for our increasingly technological world.
Genre: YA
Published: 2023
Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea
This is everything you would want in a rom-com!
It is 13 Going on 30 meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. If you don’t like either of those, you probably wouldn’t like this, but I thought it was cute, light-hearted, and humorous.
Would I want to read 50 books in a row like this? No. But a good rom-com in between intense thrillers is a nice reprieve. Bonus that this didn’t have any sex scenes and minimal swearing.
Like 13 Going on 30, About Time, and When We First Met, this book explores relationship struggles using time travel.
Two teens (currently enemies), Char and JT, while decorating for prom end up 30 years in the future married to each other. With knowledge of the past, present, and future, they must navigate and figure out what they know about each other.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next thirteen years. I don’t even know what’s going to happen tomorrow. But what I do know is, right now, all I want is to be with you. And that’s all I’ve wanted since I first saw you. So please stop planning ahead for five seconds and just be with me in this moment.”
If you’re looking for a cute rom-com, put this on your list!
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: 2023
Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology— Implications for the Church and Society by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer
“The attraction of critical theories for Christians lies in the fact that they grasp an aspect of the truth. The problem lies in the fact that they press this to the point where other truths are marginalized, subverted, or even rejected.”
This is a fantastic book and resource for all people to better understand what critical theory is and how it has subtly (and not so subtly) pervaded our culture and our own beliefs in ways we may not recognize.
It takes similar paths to the book Cynical Theories, but Shenvi and Sawyer approach from a biblical perspective and explain how entertaining critical-theory-based beliefs can hurt the church and ultimately put one at odds with the teachings of the Bible.
Although it’s written to compare critical theory beliefs with Christian beliefs, this book is not necessarily just for Christians. The authors propose that all readers would benefit from seeing this comparison.
I’ve read a lot of books on these topics, some Christian, some secular, and this is one of the longer ones, but it is one of the best ones. The writing voice is clear, logical, compassionate, and focused. The authors don’t make sweeping statements that are hard to defend. They carefully address specific claims in an intellectually honest way and I highly recommend it!
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2022
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham #1) by Benjamin Stevenson
“Look, we’re not a family of psychopaths. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate. Which one am I?”
This was a fun read!
It is a present-day whodunit with the principles of the ‘Golden Age’ of mystery novels, aka Agathe Christie and G.K. Chesterton (who I had no idea wrote fiction!). I agree with others who say it has a Knives Out vibe.
In ‘Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone’ the narrator is Ernest Cunningham, who writes books about how to write books. He plays our informal detective in the story. Right up front he assures us that the title is not a lie— everyone really has killed someone, including himself.
Though we get flashbacks to the other deaths, the main crime he is solving is present-day at a ski resort in Australia.
It’s a clever, humorous take on a mystery and definitely fun to read. I also read his Christmas book which was also good!
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2016
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
“We couldn’t possible contend with simultaneously observing all possible realities at once… but if we could, where would it take us?”
This book lives up to the hype!
This is my first Blake Crouch book and I know it won’t be my last. It was definitely a story that was hard to put down.
I know a lot people aren’t into sci-fi or feel like books about the multiverse hurt their brains, but I think this one is pretty accessible to any reader.
This book seeks to explore the questions— What if my life could have been different? What if I had made different choices? Am I actually living the life I want?
“My life is great. It’s just not exceptional. And there was a time when it could have been.”
Even though I don’t believe the multiverse exists, it’s a compelling concept for a story and a way to think about those questions that a lot of people ask themselves.
Dark Matter, a story about a time travel box with endless possibilities, is a poignant tale that forces us to see that what we think might be better, may not actually be. Sometimes the little things are the big things.
Genre: Theology
Published: 1987
Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election by Sam Storms
“Election is God’s gracious and loving action to which we contribute nothing and for which, therefore, God receives all the glory.”
Predestination. Election.
Words that are sure to suck the life out of any room. At least in my circles, these topics tend to be avoided in conversation.
Sam Storms does a great job of presenting fairly both Calvinism and Arminianism and explaining them as the belief holders would. His hope in writing this book is to dispel the caricatures of both camps and bring clarity.
To put it plainly, both Calvinists and Arminians believe the Bible teaches election; the question at hand is: “Does God elect people because they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or does God elect people in order that they shall believe in Christ?”
Though this doctrine is not one that determines salvation, thinking about it is important in terms of how you view God, yourself, others, evangelism, and the Bible. It informs how we preach, how we pray, and how we worship.
Helpful and insightful, Storms tackles this avoided subject well and I think we should all be willing to engage in talking about it.
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: 2024
The Alone Time by Elle Marr
“In war, often the first strike is best, when the prey is still unaware of the imminent danger.”
Violet and Fiona, sisters, are bonded by a traumatic experience from their childhood:
The pair (13 and 7 at the time) survived Olympic National Forest after their small plane, piloted by their father, crashed on the way to Canada for a family trip. Those months are referred to as ‘The Alone Time.’
Now, 25 years later, breaking news shines a light on the sisters, begging them to share what really happened in the woods all those years ago.
This book was hard to put down and Elle Marr does a good job of keeping the suspense and making multiple characters suspicious.
There may be a few unrealistic parts of the book, it didn’t take away from the story; it compelled me and I found the ending to be satisfying.
Genre: YA/ Rom-Com
Published: 2016
Unwrap My Heart by Alex Falcone & Ezra Fox
“I could stare into the blank space where his eyes should be all day.”
My husband saw this book on TikTok and got it for me last Christmas. I had never heard of it before.
But once I saw the blurb on the front calling the book ‘Unfortunate’ and saw that these two comedians and writers decided to give the people what they wanted: a love story about a girl who falls in love with a mummy, I was in!
It truly is the story no one asked for and they play the best parts up in the best way.
I thought this was a funny, short read. It’s not a literary masterpiece. It’s not a heartfelt love story. But it’s a parody on the mythical creature love stories in a way that highlights some of the absurdity in these tropes.
You don’t read this book because you want to read a love story. You read it because it’s absurd and the authors know it. It’s only 173 pages so they don’t even ask for a big time commitment.
I perceive this book as a joke project the authors concocted while eating Chipotle and thought it would be hilarious to publish.
Don’t overthink it. Just accept it for what it is and have a good laugh and then move on with your life. It’s what they would want for you.
Genre: Non-Fiction/Apologetics
Published: 2024
The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Alisa Childers & Tim Barnett
“Faithfulness to God comes at a cost. It’s easier to submit to societal opinions than to stand on scriptural truth.”
[Note: if you are less of a reader and prefer podcasts, HERE is a link to one of Childers’ podcasts where she talks about a lot of this information.]
With the same easy-to-follow arguments and illustrations of her book, Live Your Truth (and Other Lies), Alisa Childers and co-author Tim Barnett expose what’s really happening during deconstruction and remind us of the importance of truth and holding fast to God’s Word.
Childers and Barnett take a nuanced and confusing topic— deconstruction— and bring clarity and distinction.
They look at the what, why, and who of the whole process with a desire to help us understand the deconstruction community, of which our loved ones may be part, and to know how to stay grounded in biblical conviction with compassion.
I highlighted so much from this book and would definitely recommend it, or at least follow Childers’ podcast.
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 2024
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
“A suspicious death, a silent child— the blueprint of my childhood is being drawn all over again. Everything I’ve held tightly inside for three decades is jarring loose.”
Stella’s job is to help determine which Barclay parent gets custody of their daughter Rose. Their divorce comes on the heels of their nanny’s recent death from falling out a third story window of their house. It was never determined to be a murder, but both parents and the live-in grandmother were suspects.
Before Stella can report back she needs to figure out what happened to the nanny. She can’t send Rose to live with a murderer.
“Every detail of the Barclays’ seven-bedroom home and manicured gardens is flawlessly curated. And every person I’ve encountered here is deeply damaged.”
Things take a turn when she discovers Rose is secretly collecting sharp objects and Stella wonders if Rose was actually behind the nanny’s suspicious fall.
It’s a good suspenseful story that keeps you guessing and always a plus that there’s no swearing or sexual content!
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2019
A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption by Becket Cook
“It wasn’t about simply changing my mind, but about changing my mind and heart. I can’t explain all the mechanics of this radical transformation. I just know that no one can be in the very presence of the living God and remain the same.”
Becket Cook, born in conservative Dallas in a large, wealthy, Catholic family, headed west and ran in some elite circles of Hollywood doing set design and living an unapologetic, gay lifestyle.
His book is not an account of ‘fixing’ his gayness. It truly is the story of redemption from a man who wanted nothing to do with God or anything Christian, yet discovered something even he couldn’t deny.
I think it’s a non-threatening book that can act as an introduction into considering the biblical point of view from someone who has seen Christians as the enemy but discovered something that changed his heart and mind.
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2014
Red Rising (Series) by Pierce Brown
“I am no Gold. I am a Red… Forged in the bowels of this hard world. Sharpened by hate. Strengthened by love.”
“I am the spark that will set the worlds afire. I am the hammer that cracks the chains.”
I’m a little late to the Red Rising Party as this book came out in 2014, but I’m happy to be here.
I’m putting the first three books of this series in this slot because I read all three this year and it was quite the experience.
Like a lot of fantasy/science fiction series you get immersed in another world and feel a part of it.
This is your classic dystopian fantasy/sci-fi series about classism and the rebellion against the ruling elite. It takes place on Mars where Darrow, member of the ‘slave’ class secretly rises against the higher houses in order to get revenge for unjust death of his wife.
This is a violent series, though, and probably not for everyone. I really enjoyed the overall trajectory of the plot and how invested you become in Darrow’s plight and his fight for justice.
I’ll also disclaimer that the series has more than three books but I am stopping after three; it wraps up well and I’ve heard the last part of the series is more violent and I’m afraid it will make me like Darrow less.
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2023
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
“If I’d known my house was going to turn into the setting of a Jojo Moyes novel, I’d have let them put me in a nursing home in the first place.”
This is one of those feel-good books about friendship. Even if you don’t love sentimental fiction books, I think it’s a quick enough and funny enough read— good writing style— that it will still be a compelling read for you.
I really enjoyed the message of the story— that life is worth living and that relationships are a mess worth making— and that it was encompassed in an unlikely book club made it all the better and is definitely one I would recommend.
I really liked that Gilmore chose to create a diverse group of book club members, not just in personality but in age. There is so much value in not just surrounding ourselves with people our own age and stage of life and this book portrays well how meaningful friendships cross generational lines.
Life is calling you to come live it. Let these characters inspire you to be known by another and to share your burdens.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: 2024
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg
“whether we call it love, or friendship, or simply having a great conversation, achieving connection—authentic, meaningful connection—is the most important thing in life.”
This is a really insightful (and short) book on how we can better communicate with others. Duhigg uses lots of research studies and real life examples from places like Netflix, a jury room, The Big Bang Theory, NASA, and the CIA to show the principles in action.
By looking at typically controversial conversations on topics like gun control, vaccines, and race, we can see how employing these principles really changes the dialogue and allows people who normally disagree to understand each other and bring meaningful connection where we desperately need it.
I think every human should read this book. It will help you have more meaningful conversations and avoid small-talk. It will help you ‘argue’ with your spouse or siblings better. It will help you diffuse controversial conversations. And it will help you start to see people as complex human beings who desire to be heard and considered rather than ignored and talked over or denied entrance altogether.
It’s not going to solve all the disagreements, convince people to change their minds, or establish world peace, but it will hopefully change your perspective of conversations and your part in them.
(Plus it’s just really interesting!)
Genre: Christian Living
Published: 2023
Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time by Kevin DeYoung
“This book is about how the line ‘God loves us even though we are spiritual failures’, however well-intentioned is unbiblical, inaccurate, and unhelpful.”
This little book is a great read!
Especially for those who feel like the subtitle suggests: guilty about how little they’re changing the world, how little they know, how much they mess up, how much money they have, and think they’re doing a terrible job at being a Christian.
It reminded me a lot of Jared Wilson’s book The Imperfect Disciple which is also very good.
I love Kevin DeYoung’s books because they are always easy to read, easy to understand, and really seem to ‘get’ where the average Christian is at in their walk with the Lord. There is nothing radical about this book that pushes you into further guilt; it’s about showing how Christianity is possible. We can get to heaven and hear the words ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
DeYoung pulls out all kinds of Scripture to show us that though we won’t be perfectly good or perfectly obedient, we can be TRULY good and obedient. That God can be pleased with us right here and now on Earth, even before we attain our glorified, perfect selves.
What an encouragement!
Genre: Thriller/Christian Fiction
Published: 2024
The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann
This book reads like a movie! Non-stop action, art forgery, heists, treasure hunts, chase scenes, and corruption.
This story revolves around two friends— Sophie and Lise— who together run an art gallery and a side, secret business where Sophie acts as an artist version of Robin Hood:
“She wasn’t a thief. Thieves stole things for their own gain. She replaced previously stolen artwork with expertly forged copies and returned the originals to their rightful owners.”
Everything comes to a halt when Lise’s deceased mother sends her painting that has been missing for 40 years that appears to have clues to a hidden treasure that creates a race to find it first. There is also a second plot line revolving around an organization who helps women and children in need.
It is a Christian fiction, but I wouldn’t let that keep you away if you’re not used to reading that genre. There is not much overt Christian dialogue or concepts, mostly just moral characters and a clean book.
Mann did a great job writing this book and creating a unique band of characters that I can also picture portrayed in a blockbuster movie. This book is part of a series and I’m excited to see what comes next!
Genre: Parenting
Published: 2019
Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff
“It’s never been more important to talk about how the trouble your child will experience can lead to resilience. We want her to learn how she can see difficulties as opportunities. And, ultimately, how God can and will use hurt in her life—even big hurt—for her good and His glory.”
This is an excellent book and resource for parents to use to help their kids cope with anxiety and worrying. I can see myself referring back to it a lot over the years as different worries manifest for my daughters. I would definitely recommend owning this one and sharing it with your parent-friends. (Really even people who aren’t parents would benefit from these principles)
I love how Sissy combines both the psychology behind anxiety but also biblical principles. You can only do so much ‘symptom-treating’ without also having a hope and trust in something bigger than ourselves. Real security is found in Christ so that component is essential in any discussion about anxiety and worrying.
So glad to have this book to help me help my daughters in a better way!
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: 2022
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
This was a really fast-paced book that was extra fun for me to read because the setting of the story is in rural Iowa fairly close to my hometown.
This book has three different storylines/timelines that all end up converging: the night in years past where Josie’s parents were shot and a little girl went missing; present day where Wylie is a true crime writer writing about the case (in the house it happened at) and discovers a woman and child on the property in a blizzard; and an undisclosed time period where a mother and daughter are trying to escape an abusive situation.
There may be some triggers in this one for some readers and as a mother, some parts were hard to read, but it was a suspenseful book I read in like three sittings and would recommend— especially for all my rural Iowa friends!
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2024
Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright
“Norah was more certain than ever that this house was a tomb that sucked hope from the hearts of anyone who occupied it. It was as if the sun had gone down at 322 Predicament Avenue the night Naomi’s murdered body had been found, and it had never risen again.”
Two murders. Years apart. But the similarities between the two unsolved murders are uncanny.
Wow! This was a great read! It’s a spooky dual-timeline book about a haunted house— the place of the only two murders in the small Iowa town of Shepherd, one recent, one from 1901.
I admit, the cover of this one didn’t really draw me in, but this is definitely a book I would recommend. I read it in the fall and it was very atmospheric, but it could be enjoyed at any time of year if you want something a little eerie.
I loved that it took place in a small town in IOWA. I loved the ending and felt like the twists were very well done. I loved that we got the spooky vibes and haunted feels without demonic forces or too much gore. I loved how it explored the deep and profound themes of death and fear and grief.
A great (clean) scary book option. I plan to read more from this author!
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: 2019
Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl
“If we disqualify legitimate discussion, we compromise our ability to know the truth, and error can thrive without restraint.”
This is an excellent and very practical book that I think every Christ follower should read because this book is about finding out the truth in any discussion. Even some people who claim Christ may not be able to say why they do so this book is not only for how to talk to others but helps us ask questions about our own beliefs to determine if what we believe is based on good reasons and sound rationale.
Koukl has written this book because we don’t always know how to explain our beliefs or how to talk about them with people. We get flustered and don’t know what to say. Perhaps the other person becomes hostile or denigrates our character and we don’t know how to respond. Maybe they completely change the subject and don’t acknowledge the points we are making and we don’t know how to get the conversation back to the facts.
I would definitely recommend this book. Even if you don’t plan to go out and start a million conversations, it’s a great way to train your brain to understand belief systems and those who hold them. It will strengthen your own faith. It will give you confidence about a lot of buzzword claims that get thrown around a lot.
If we should be talking about Christ with others, we might as well know how to do it well!
Honorable Mentions
A couple of these are series I would recommend, and then a couple are because it was hard to narrow down my favorites and I’m still going to give them a shoutout!
Daniela Vega Series
by Isabella Maldonado
Travis Brock series by Steven James
MonoThreeism by J.D. Lyonhart
Parenting without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World by Rachel Gilson
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