We are half-way through the year
already, time goes by way too fast. And So far, I have finished 43 books (out
of the 65 book I try to read in 2024). I’m pretty certain I will meet and even
surpass that goal. But now is the perfect time to see how my reading has been
going this year and to look back at the first six months of my reading year, by
doing this tag. I just simply answer
some bookish questions about all the books I read in the first half of 2024.
Best book you’ve read so far in
2024?
This is not a book I expected to be a favorite, but I can’t stop thinking about “Lessons in Chemsitry” by Bonnie Garmus. It’s a novel that gives you an insight into the life of a woman in the 1950s/ 1960s and it beautifully highlights the hardship women have to endure when they want something different from what society dictates. It grabbed me from the start and I can safely say this is a new all-time favorite.
Best sequel you've read so far in
2024?
I only read two sequels so far, I’m not a big series reader. And there is only one good answer for this question: “The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman. Even though I haven’t given any of the book a 5-star rating yet, they are always a solid 4 of 4,5, which makes it a very steady series. And one of my all-time favorite series. This sequel is the fourth part in “The Thursday Murder Club” series.
New release you haven’t read yet,
but want to?
I have a few of those. “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” by Holly Jackson is one of them. I’m looking forward to her new stand-alone, even though I didn’t enjoy Jackson’s first stand-alone “Five Survive. She did also write the “A Good Girls’s Guide to Murder Series”, which is an all-time favorite of mine, so I won’t give up on Jackson that easy. I also want to read “Everyone is Watching” by Heather Gudenkauf. I haven’t read from her before, but the premise of this film really intrigues me. A reality show with a dark, sinister twist. And finally “The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley. I’ve read three books by her and didn’t like one, but I love how she uses the multiple POV in her mysteries.
Most anticipated release for the
second half of the year?
It’s already out in the US and UK, but here in The Netherlands “The Middle of the Night” by Riley Sager is not out yet. I have pre-ordered it and can’t wait to read. It will be arriving any time now. Sager is one of my favorite thriller authors and his book “The Only One Left” was my number one book I read last year. So, I have high hopes for his newest novel. Fun fact: it’s the first time he has a male protagonist. And “We Solve Murders”, the start of a new mystery series by Richard Osman, since he’s not releasing a “The Thursday Murder Club” novel this year.
Biggest disappointment?
I’m still not over this one, because it’s one of my most recent reads. “Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera was one of the books I was looking forward to the most in 2024. Boy, was I disappointed. Even though it had so many elements that I love in my thrillers/ mysteries, it just didn’t work for me. I was annoyed by the main character, or actually, the voices in her head. And the reveals were basically just all the people in the town doing with each other. The ending was very lack-luster, so anti-climactic. I was so sad that I didn’t like this book, because by reading the synopsis I predicted this would be a 5-star read.
Biggest surprise?
I was really surprised with how much I loved “Any Man” by Amber Tamblyn. I read this book as part of a challenge, reading favorite books from my favorite YouTubers. This was one of Gaby’s choices. And I couldn’t agree more. What an intense book, not for the faint of heart, but so powerful.
Favorite new author (debut or new
to you)?
I’ve read from a bunch of new-to-me authors. Blake Crouch is an author that I read two books from this year, them being “Pines” and “Dark Matter”, and I loved both books. His writing is so good and I want to read more of his work. Some other authors I want to keep my eye on are Paul Tremblay an Iain Reed, also because their writing is so impressive.
Newest favorite character?
Elizabeth Zott from “Lessons in Chemistry” is definitely the right answer for this question. I love how hardworking, determined and smart she is. Elizabeth is a woman I look up to, because of her look on life. And I feel we have a lot in common, in how we view the world.
Book that made you cry?
If you want to feel completely miserable after reading a book, just read “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanahigara. This books breaks your heart. I knew that, before I started reading it, but it’s a knife to the heart, really. Sobbing.
Book that made you happy?
“Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree, for sure. Not something I would have picked up if it weren’t recommended to me. And I was also surprised about how much I ended up loving this, so it fits that category too. But, these characters are so loveable and I just wanted to spend my day with all these characters in this coffee shop.
Favorite book to movie
adaptation?
For this one I had to go back, because I watch more movies than I read books. And I don’t want to count rewatches for this question. I have a few though, but I haven’t read the books for either one of these. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is based on a Judy Blume boo and I loved this coming-of-age feel-good film. It really made me so happy. “American Fiction” is definitely one of the best films of 2024 I’ve seen so far, based on the novel by Percival Everett. And the same goes for “Poor Things”, which I didn’t know was based on a book until just now. Alasdair Gray wrote it.
Most beautiful book you’ve bought
this year?
Also a few, where I really love the cover. But the one I love the most is the newest Stephen King short-story collection, “You Like it Darker”. A cover where I first thought I just saw an island, but it’s a crocodile, which continues onto to the back of the book. I love this cover.
What books do you need to read by
the end of the year?
So many, but I need to prioritize a few. Besides the ones I already mentioned for my 2024 release questions, I really need to read the rest of the “Wayward Pines” series by Blake Crouch. Some other ones I really want to get to before the end are: “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll, “Happiness Falls” by Angie Kim, “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn and “Next of Kin” by Kia Abdullah. I want to reread some books to, like “Pride & Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.
This is not a book I expected to be a favorite, but I can’t stop thinking about “Lessons in Chemsitry” by Bonnie Garmus. It’s a novel that gives you an insight into the life of a woman in the 1950s/ 1960s and it beautifully highlights the hardship women have to endure when they want something different from what society dictates. It grabbed me from the start and I can safely say this is a new all-time favorite.
I only read two sequels so far, I’m not a big series reader. And there is only one good answer for this question: “The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman. Even though I haven’t given any of the book a 5-star rating yet, they are always a solid 4 of 4,5, which makes it a very steady series. And one of my all-time favorite series. This sequel is the fourth part in “The Thursday Murder Club” series.
I have a few of those. “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” by Holly Jackson is one of them. I’m looking forward to her new stand-alone, even though I didn’t enjoy Jackson’s first stand-alone “Five Survive. She did also write the “A Good Girls’s Guide to Murder Series”, which is an all-time favorite of mine, so I won’t give up on Jackson that easy. I also want to read “Everyone is Watching” by Heather Gudenkauf. I haven’t read from her before, but the premise of this film really intrigues me. A reality show with a dark, sinister twist. And finally “The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley. I’ve read three books by her and didn’t like one, but I love how she uses the multiple POV in her mysteries.
It’s already out in the US and UK, but here in The Netherlands “The Middle of the Night” by Riley Sager is not out yet. I have pre-ordered it and can’t wait to read. It will be arriving any time now. Sager is one of my favorite thriller authors and his book “The Only One Left” was my number one book I read last year. So, I have high hopes for his newest novel. Fun fact: it’s the first time he has a male protagonist. And “We Solve Murders”, the start of a new mystery series by Richard Osman, since he’s not releasing a “The Thursday Murder Club” novel this year.
I’m still not over this one, because it’s one of my most recent reads. “Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera was one of the books I was looking forward to the most in 2024. Boy, was I disappointed. Even though it had so many elements that I love in my thrillers/ mysteries, it just didn’t work for me. I was annoyed by the main character, or actually, the voices in her head. And the reveals were basically just all the people in the town doing with each other. The ending was very lack-luster, so anti-climactic. I was so sad that I didn’t like this book, because by reading the synopsis I predicted this would be a 5-star read.
I was really surprised with how much I loved “Any Man” by Amber Tamblyn. I read this book as part of a challenge, reading favorite books from my favorite YouTubers. This was one of Gaby’s choices. And I couldn’t agree more. What an intense book, not for the faint of heart, but so powerful.
I’ve read from a bunch of new-to-me authors. Blake Crouch is an author that I read two books from this year, them being “Pines” and “Dark Matter”, and I loved both books. His writing is so good and I want to read more of his work. Some other authors I want to keep my eye on are Paul Tremblay an Iain Reed, also because their writing is so impressive.
Elizabeth Zott from “Lessons in Chemistry” is definitely the right answer for this question. I love how hardworking, determined and smart she is. Elizabeth is a woman I look up to, because of her look on life. And I feel we have a lot in common, in how we view the world.
If you want to feel completely miserable after reading a book, just read “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanahigara. This books breaks your heart. I knew that, before I started reading it, but it’s a knife to the heart, really. Sobbing.
“Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree, for sure. Not something I would have picked up if it weren’t recommended to me. And I was also surprised about how much I ended up loving this, so it fits that category too. But, these characters are so loveable and I just wanted to spend my day with all these characters in this coffee shop.
For this one I had to go back, because I watch more movies than I read books. And I don’t want to count rewatches for this question. I have a few though, but I haven’t read the books for either one of these. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is based on a Judy Blume boo and I loved this coming-of-age feel-good film. It really made me so happy. “American Fiction” is definitely one of the best films of 2024 I’ve seen so far, based on the novel by Percival Everett. And the same goes for “Poor Things”, which I didn’t know was based on a book until just now. Alasdair Gray wrote it.
Also a few, where I really love the cover. But the one I love the most is the newest Stephen King short-story collection, “You Like it Darker”. A cover where I first thought I just saw an island, but it’s a crocodile, which continues onto to the back of the book. I love this cover.
So many, but I need to prioritize a few. Besides the ones I already mentioned for my 2024 release questions, I really need to read the rest of the “Wayward Pines” series by Blake Crouch. Some other ones I really want to get to before the end are: “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll, “Happiness Falls” by Angie Kim, “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn and “Next of Kin” by Kia Abdullah. I want to reread some books to, like “Pride & Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.
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