From cover to cover: The 25 books I read in 2024
Last year, I set a goal to read at least 12 books. I ended up doubling that goal by reading a whopping 25 books — by far the most I’ve read in a year throughout my entire life.
The thing is, I didn’t even try that hard. Constant reading came so very naturally because I was completely in the flow.
It also helps that I am always reading two books at any given time, so I’m almost doubling up, so to speak.
I also have a new habit that has proven very productive. I watch about 30 minutes of TV and then I’ll take a “reading” break. I read a few chapters then go back to finish the show. I find that it keeps me engaged and constantly looking forward to what’s next.
This year I increased by reading goal to 15 books for 2025. I’ve read three books so far so I’m right on track! If you’re curious, it’s the A Good Girls Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson. 😉
Here are the 25 books I read in 2024:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
I read The Poet X in 2023 so I was excited to read Acevedo’s latest novel! It’s a sweet and nostalgic story about Flor, a matriarch figure who can predict when someone will die. So when she invites her family to a living wake, the Marte sisters become both curious and concerned. This book is a celebration of the priceless relationships between sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts and nieces. 💐
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2. La Casa de los Espíritus by Isabel Allende
The photo resolution may be low but it was important for me to feature the right cover because this is the same (Spanish) edition of the novel my mom read in the early 1980s. I absolutely fell in love with the 1993 movie based on this book starring Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder, Glenn Close and Antonio Banderas. It’s an epic tale of family dynamics, magic realism, and everything in between. ☁️
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3. Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah by The Lady Chablis
I first fell in love with the Lady Chablis when she stole every scene she was in — in the 1997 movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” starring John Cusack. This book had been on my bookshelf for way too long and it did not disappoint. Besides poignant stories about her trails and tribulations, the Grand Empress shares more than a few of her signature recipes, including fried chicken and Mac ‘n’ cheese. 👠
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4. Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm
This is another book I had on my bookshelf for way too long. I picked it up in honor of Black History Month. It was a quick and easy read but incredibly enlightening about how (much worse) politics was back in 1970. The language used most definitely reflects the time is was written. Chisholm is famously the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. This book highlights all the reasons why she found it necessary to run back then — and why all those reasons are still as relevant as ever. ✊🏽
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5. Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
This book was odd and completely unexpected but also beautiful. It starts with Magos losing her 11-year-old son, Santiago. She is devastated and in a state of deep grief. Inspired by an old folklore, she cuts a piece of Santiago’s lung out (yep!). As she nurtures the lung, it grows into a type of, well — “Monstrilio.” The story takes place across Mexico City, Brooklyn and Berlin. It’s a heart-wrenching tale about family ties, queer identities and who and what we consider to be “human.” 🌈
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6. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
This is a true horror classic first published in 1983, although it feels much older. Arthur Kipps, a young London solicitor (old-timey lawyer) is tasked with settling the affairs of the mysterious Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. The townspeople obviously know something was up with old Mrs. Drablow but refuse to spill the tea, making all of the scary occurrences (and visions) Arthur experiences that more disturbing. A quick-moving rocking chair in an empty nursery? GTFO!
I saw the play based on this story in the West End theatre district while in London during the summer of 1999. It scared the bejeezus out of me! I recently saw the movie “Nosferatu” starring Lily-Rose Depp and it reminded me so much of this novel. Although the plot lines are different, the settings, the dark colors, the gloomy characters and the overall sentiment throughout the film felt eerily similar. 👻
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7. Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo
La Loteria is a traditional Mexican game that involves individual rectangular papers and a deck of 54 cards containing all kinds of people and products. There’s a bottle (la botella), a frog (la rana), the palm tree (la palma) and dozens more. Some of my favorites are the lady (la dama), the arrows (las jaras), and the star (la estrella).
In this literary homage, Pelayo writes a short story for each card in la Loteria, inspired by or directly linked to the person or product named in the card. These include supernatural characters and other monstrous creatures, as you may expect. Some are freaky, some are nostalgic, and others are just meh. 🌓
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8. Gordo Stories by Jaime Cortez
This book of short stories is delightful, even though it broaches difficult topics like the harsh realities of illegal immigration, domestic violence and struggling with one’s sexual identity. Gordo is officially one of my all-time favorite book characters. It’s not totally fictitious, as it’s based on Jaime Cortez’s childhood in the 1970s while living at a migrant workers camp near Watsonville, California.
I very much enjoyed the cultural storylines involving a wrestling match inspired by a real-life (luchador) named El Santo. There’s also a neighborhood girl and unlikely artist who is simply gone one day. Oh, and don’t miss the same-sex domestic abuse situation just across the street. El Gordo’s perspective on this and other heavy topics is realistic, unique and totally refreshing. 🍊
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9. Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza
This Pulitzer Prize winning-book is based on a true story. It’s about a sister’s unrelenting quest to find out what led up to her little sister’s homicide at the hands of her ex-boyfriend in Mexico City on July 16, 1990. I couldn’t help but feel that the author writing this book was necessary for her grieving process. It’s heartbreaking because she lived in Texas at the time of her sister Liliana’s death. Rivera Garza goes to Mexico City following the murder to look for Liliana’s official murder police file. We tag along as the author goes through the report and paints a tragic picture of “Liliana’s invincible summer” before her devastating demise. 🌊
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10. Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer
I had to read the book that Ryan Murphy’s FX show “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” was based on! It features the popular mid-century true crime writer Truman Capote and his bevy of socialite besties in New York City. Among the rich and famous “ladies who lunch” were Barbara Babe Paley (Truman’s absolute bestie), Slim Hayward, C. Z. Guest and Lee Radziwill (Jackie O’s sister). I was ecstatic to find a copy of the book at the Bookman’s in Tucson. Author Laurence Leamer has all of the tea. Truman swore he would write “Answered Prayers,” a book he hoped would be hailed as one of the best of the 20th century. In it, he unwisely dished about his famous friends’ very private affairs, leading to his ostracization by the tight-knit group that truly had been out of his league to begin with. Do tell! ☕️
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I have long since been a fan of the 1966 movie “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” starring real-life off and on-again couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. This book by Philip Gefter was a no-brainer once I saw its release in February 2024. I simply devoured the behind-the-scenes drama that played out during the making of this film. The fact that it has stood the test of time is further proof that it was, indeed, a masterpiece. This book proves all the players felt they were creating something special back then — and they were right. 🍷
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12. In the Woods by Tana French
This was my very first Tana French book, which came very highly recommended by one of the many true crime podcasters I follow. The book starts with the very creepy and fascinating backstory of three kids who go missing in a Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984. Two never make it back and one kid, Rob Ryan, is later found terrified “in the woods” gripping a tree trunk. He doesn’t remember a thing. Fast forward 20 years later and that kid is now a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad. He and his partner and BFF, Det. Cassie Maddox, are tasked with investigating a missing girl’s case that triggers some serious memories from Ryan’s own traumatic past. No spoilers!
I also have French’s “The Hunter” and “The Searcher” waiting on my bookshelf. I plan on reading at least one of them by the end of the year. 🪵
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13. Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime by Alex Espinoza
I was inclined to check this book out from the Tempe Public Library because it was propped up on a shelf celebrating Gay Pride Month. The cover instantly caught my attention although it was not lost on me that I was not the intended audience. Author Alex Espinoza gives us the run-down — both personal and historical — of cruising.
Espinoza combines research with oral interviews and his own personal experience with this long-time pastime primarily for the homosexual community. He really breaks down what this practice means to gay men and it is truly eye-opening to see how it's interpreted by many as creating their own claimed spaces and practices when there was nowhere else to go. That is kind of badass. 🌉
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14. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
This is another book that I had been meaning to read for a long time before I finally picked it up. It was published back in 2003. Perhaps I built it up too much in my mind but…I didn’t really like it like everyone else seems to! I really tried. Azar Nafisi writes about her time as a teacher in the Islamic Republic of Iran. She would invite specific schoolgirls whom she felt were good students to her home every Thursday morning for two years to read “forbidden Western classics” like “Lolita.” They also read works by Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henry James. This book is written with Islamic morality squads and arbitrary raids in Tehran as the backdrop. What I did like about the book was that it was a true celebration of how reading and books can transport you to another place, offering an escape from your less-than-ideal present circumstances. 📚
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15. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I have never read a celebrity memoir faster than I did this one by Jennette McCurdy. Apparently this was the Goodreads Choice AwardWinner for Readers' Favorite Memoir & Autobiography for 2022. I get it because I read it in under a week. I wasn’t familiar with her or her Nickelodeon TV shows “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat.” The way she writes is highly entertaining despite the fire hose of TMI’s divulged. I so appreciate her honesty because it shows that even if you perceivably get everything you’ve always wanted at a young age, it doesn’t mean your life will be perfect from then on. Her stories are both hilarious and very very sad.
The former child actor talks about her struggles with eating disorders and her super complicated and co-dependent relationship with her “momager.” The title of the book may sound harsh, but readers will discover how it took McCurdy’s mom dying of cancer for her to really take stock of what she went through, how to refind and reclaim herself, and how she wants to move forward. To that I say — ¡Brava!👧🏼
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16. Brat: An '80s Story by Andrew McCarthy
This is a memoir by Andrew McCarthy, 80s heartthrob from Pretty in Pink, St. Elmos Fire and Mannequin. The title of the book is very obviously an homage to the Brat Pack moniker he and his compatriots like Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson earned in 1985 after a crazy night out in Hollywood. In this book McCarthy tells all about that particular time in his life. We hear about his upbringing, his early college days at NYU and how his first big break led to more incredible opportunities he is still not sure he deserved. The rest is history. It was interesting to realize how self-deprecating McCarthy was and still is. I admit I was one of many girls who thought of him as the ultimate high school boyfriend, despite watching him be a total asshole to Andie in “Pretty in Pink.” After reading this book, let’s just say all is forgiven. 👔
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I loved this book! It was everything I expected it to be and more. As a child of the 80s and sucker for everything Brat Pack and John Hughes, this book did not disappoint. Gora really does her homework by talking to a lot of the key players from that era, including Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, and John Cusack. She provided some of the coolest insights from the making-of these movies that I never heard before. What a treat! 💄
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18. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
This was such a lovely little story that I immediately bought a copy for my niece upon finishing it. It’s a Japanese bestseller that was recently translated. I sped-read on a chair in the Tempe Public Library because I was almost finished and wanted to return it before day’s end so someone else could enjoy it.
It’s about a delightful little story inspired by a myth I was not aware of that cats return favors to those who show them love and care for them. Apparently, cats are a symbol of good luck in Japan.
The star (literally and figuratively) of this book is a mysterious coffee shop like no other that appears under a glittering Kyoto moon, but the location varies. Did I mention it’s run by talking cats? Every person featured in the book is going through a trying time and the Full Moon Coffee Shop is always exactly what they needed. Loved it! 🌚
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19. When the Night Comes Falling: A Requiem for the Idaho Student Murder by Howard Blum
Although this book was marketed as a “definitive inside story” into the now notorious murders of four college students in Idaho, (as the nurse administering my annual flu shot at CVS pointed out) it can’t be…because there hasn’t been a trial yet.
The book does offer a ton of (salacious) details about the crime itself, including a detailed timeline and what all the parties were doing leading up to the horrific events on Nov. 13, 2022. It’s written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Howard Blum. The book also does a deep dive into the suspect and his past, speculating on what may have led up to this Manon-like massacre. 🚔
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20. Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls by Susan Seidelman
This memoir is from the director of the 80s movie “Desperately Seeking Susan” starring Madonna and Susanna Arquette. As soon as I knew that’s who she was, I was totally in on this book. Insights into the making of both the movie and the woman whom I idolize? Yes, please! It was cool to discover Seidelman was one of the few female directors in the 70s. Geez, Hollywood… She loved telling stories featuring unconventional women in unusual circumstances. I loved her story about shooting with Madonna and witnessing her dramatic rise to fame by the amount of onlookers on-set as they shot the film. It turns out, Seidelman directed the pilot episode of “Sex And The City” on HBO. Learn something new e’rr day! She includes plenty about her upbringing as a “restless teenager.” She enrolled in NYU In 1973, and the rest is history. This book is like dishing with a really cool and smart filmmaker friend for hours at a bar with a couple of bottles of wine. 🎬
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21. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This book was on a ton of “best of lists” last year. It was a Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller in 2024. That’s admittedly one of the main reasons I checked it out from the library. I liked it so much that I had to eventually buy it because I was hooked but couldn’t extend the due date since it’s a new release and highly coveted. I really enjoyed that it’s a slow burn mystery with dark history, family drama, and high-level social commentary. It’s about a family-run summer camp named Adirondack with a ton of tradition, history and even more secrets.
It takes place in 1975 and starts with one of the campers, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar, vanishing from the premises. She’s also the daughter of the summer camp’s longtime owners. And it’s not the only time someone in that family has gone missing. Let’s just say I could not have predicted that ending in a million years. 🏹
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22. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
I really enjoyed this book because of the mother-daughter-granddaughter dynamic. It’s a multi-generational whodunnit with a lot of heart and just the right amount of true crime. It starts with teenaged Jack discovering a body while on the job on a kayaking tour. She lives with her mom, Beth, and her badass grandmother Lana Rubicon, who was a high-powered real estate agent in Los Angeles before she got cancer and went to live with them as she recovers.
The Rubicon trio go full-on detective mode once Jack is suspected in the homicide. Lana is itching for some excitement so this presents the perfect opportunity for her to get into character and get to the bottom of things. She stumbles upon longtime family secrets, feuds and plans of revenge. It was cool to see how the trio of women truly only had each other to lean on as they solved this mystery — forging an even stronger bond than they had before. 🔍
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23. Colored Television by Danzy Senna
The premise of this book got me hot under the collar. It’s about a writer named Jane who is working on her sophomore novel. She’s unsure if it’s any good and nobody seems to give her a straight answer. She is counting on it being her golden ticket to tenure at the university where she teaches. Also, Jane and her family have been “borrowing” homes to live in while she writes the book. Not an ideal situation. She eventually turns to Hollywood after meeting a slick-talking producer who is dying to get his hands on “diverse content.” (yep). Is this her big break? She is asked to help create “the greatest biracial comedy ever.” But, of course, things don’t always go as planned. 📺
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24. Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson
I loved this book so much I passed it on to my mom after I finished and now she is enjoying it, too! It was recommended by “Cult Liter” podcast host Spencer Henry. (Not to be confused with Tyler Henry) Author Laura Lynne Jackson is also a psychic medium so is able to offer some serious insight signs and signals from “the other side.” She is able to communicate with loved ones who have passed and share messages that offer great relief to the grieving. I was particularly interested in knowing how I can forge my bond with my late grandmother by seeing all of the signs she may be sending me.
Anyone can see the signs, if we know what we’re looking for. I loved how she shared real stories from her experience so the readers can see true-life stories of people who have had incredible experiences that can only mean signs from our dearly departed. 😇
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25. Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King
This collection of essays is highly entertaining and feels like we’re snooping on the author’s diary. Her millennial insights on coming of age in the naughts are nostalgic, hilariously dated and deeply cringe-worthy. Think shopping at Hot Topic, idolizing “Jersey Shore” and overanalyzing the Cheesecake Factory.
There are more than a few vulnerable entries where you sense the author is baring her soul and you can’t help but empathize. Also, maybe you relate to one or two of her missteps and insecurities. 🍸
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