In Ep. 183, we're starting the wrap-up of 2024 with the first of our two year-end episodes: Best Books of 2024 Superlatives with Susie (@NovelVisits). In this episode, we're sharing our top books of the year across over 25 Superlative categories, including Most Deserving of the Hype, Best Pairing, an "Eat My Words" book, Most Memorable Cast of Characters, and so much more!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Announcements

My 2025 Reading Tracker is out! Plus, this year we've added another option — a LITE Tracker. Once again, the Tracker is ONLY available to Superstars patrons (i.e., no longer available as a separate purchase for $14.99 here on my website). Also, to avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from Patreon's site, mobile or desktop. Become a Superstars Patron here!

Highlights

Our best books of the year from over 25 categories, including:

Most Deserving of the Hype
Most Memorable Cast of Characters
Best Book Read Because of FOMO
Darkest Book of the Year
Best Underrated Gem
Most Unpopular Opinion
Most Surprising DNF
Favorite Coming-of-Age Book
Best Pairing
"Eat My Words" Book
Best and Worst Titles
Best and Worst Covers

2024 Superlatives [3:42]

Susie

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:19]
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:11]
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:42]
Grown Women by Sarai Johnson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:44]
Piglet by Lottie Hazell | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:36]
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:08]
Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:52]
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:23]
Entitlement by Rumaan Alam | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:25]
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:18]
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:56]
Hera by Jennifer Saint | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:40]
The Wedding People by Alison Espach | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:23]
Real Americans by Rachel Khong | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:31]
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:49]

Sarah

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:17]
River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:17]
James by Percival Everett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:04]
The Women by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:45]
Sociopath by Patric Gagne, PhD | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:22]
Earth by John Boyne | Amazon [26:23]
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:13]
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:54]
A Reason to See You Again by Jami Attenberg | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:26]
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:23]
Leaving by Roxana Robinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:16]
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:51]
Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:33]
Everest, Inc. by Will Cockrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:51]
Sandwich by Catherine Newman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:59]
The Wedding People by Alison Espach | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:14]
All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:16]
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:45]

Other Books Mentioned

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett [14:22]
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan [16:10]
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez [16:17]
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen [16:27]
Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin [18:16]
Three by Valérie Perrin [18:18]
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin [18:18]
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah [20:23]
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah [20:30]
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah [20:33] ("The Dustbowl one")
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne [26:32]
Water by John Boyne [26:53]
Fire by John Boyne [27:37]
Air by John Boyne (2025) [27:37]
Perris, California by Rachel Stark [37:34]
Normal People by Sally Rooney [38:31]
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney [38:32]
Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney [38:44]
Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly [1:00:32]
Tell Me Everything by Erika Krauss [1:00:37]
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout [1:00:54]

About Susie Boutry

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Susie has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Some of her fondest childhood memories involve long afternoons at the library and then reading late into the night. More than ten years ago, she began journaling about the books she read and turned that passion into writing about books. Her first forays were as a guest reviewer on a friend's blog, but she soon realized she wanted to be reviewing and talking about books on a blog of her own. From there, Novel Visits was born. That was in 2016 and, though the learning curve was steep, she loves being a part of the book community. Novel Visits focuses on new novel reviews (print and audio), previews of upcoming releases, and musings on all things bookish.

Book Talk Etc.'s Best Books of 2025!