Extensive Guide to the Best Books of 2024 So Far

We are more than three months into 2024 and there have been many amazing new books to read this year so far. With so many new books to read, we decided to make an extensive guide to the best books of 2024 so far. From bestsellers to books that readers love, we will be covering it all!

Trying to cover the best books at any given time is almost impossible. Mostly because everyone has a different criteria of what makes a book great. Does it have to be critically acclaimed or beloved by the public? We believe it is somewhere in the middle and will be trying our best to not lean on either side too much.

Since this is a list of the best books of 2024, it will be changing over the year until every book that is supposed to be released in 2024 is published.  And even then, some books are going to slip through the cracks as they always do.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The biggest novel of 2024 so far has to be The Women by Kristin Hannah. Over the past decade, Hannah has become a household name and this novel had a lot of expectations to live up to. And even then, it surpassed all the goalposts and is still topping the charts over two months after being released.

The novel is about Frances “Frankie” McGrath as she follows her brother to war in Vietnam and joins a war unlike any other and faces the aftermath when she returns home. The Vietnam war doesn’t isn’t a time period that many authors write about because it is a war unlike any other for the United States but Hannah does a great jon navigating these waters and writing a novel that fans and critics both loved.

House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

When a demon kills the closest friends of Bryce Quinlan, a party girl, it upends her life and as she feels guilt and is traumatized. Bryce becomes a suspect and has to help the detectives, who happen to really good-looking fallen angels, clear her name.

The third book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, House of Flame and Shadow took the book world by storm as it skyrocketed to the top of the charts in January. The success of this novel and the meteoric rise of Maas over the past couple of years have made her the leading face of the romantasy genre.

Her latest novel sold over 44,000 copies in its first week and made it the third fastest selling fantasy book of all time. Not only that, Maas’ other novels also saw an uptick in sales. That led to her publishing company Bloomsbury to updating their estimated profit for the year and it was only February.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

A novel chosen by Reese Witherspoon for her book club has become a must read this year.  First Lie Wins is a cat-and-mouse thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What happens when you don’t even know the true identity of the protagonist? As Evie Porte tracks down her latest mark, she has doubts but when her old life is used as bait, she can’t help but bite.

This is a surprise novel that came out of nowhere. Some novels even if they are from an author that isn’t well have hype built around them. But this novel rose to popularity after being given a platform by Witherspoon and has become a must read for many this year.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Whenever Emily Henry releases a new novel, you know it will be great. And with all the hype behind it, Funny Story lived up to expectations, showing why Henry is one of if not the best romance author alive. Daphne shares the story of how she and her fiancé Peter met and ended up falling in love, even if the beginning was not what they expected.

James by Percival Everett

One of the most anticipated books of spring was James by Percival Everett and it somehow still surpassed every expectation. This novel retells the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes Jim, reshaping the whole novel. Many people didn’t like the portrayal of Jim in the novel and this finally gives us the point of view of Jim and what he may have been feeling throughout the whole ordeal.

Tackling a classic like this would scare many people but Everett rises to the occasion. James may be the novel of 2024 when it is all said and done. If you had to read one book that was released in 2024, then this novel is the one I’d recommend.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

If Emily Henry is the defining romance author of this generation, then Ali Hazelwood is a close second. Her latest novel Bride is about the daughter of the most powerful Vampyre who has to get married to keep the peace between the Vampyre and the Weres. She has her own reasons to go along with this marriage and marry Lowe Moreland, the alpha even if he is ruthless and intimidating.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

One of the most anticipated mystery and suspense novels of the year has to be The Fury by Alex Michaelides. His previous novel has made him a must read author and he did not disappoint in his latest novel. Many authors have turned to Agatha Christie’s classic novel And Then There Were None but Michaelides flips the script and tells the story in a way that is very seldomly done.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

An author who has become a must read over the past couple of years has to be Leigh Bardugo. And her latest novel The Familiar continues that trend that has made her a fan favorite. She had her popular Grishaverse series being adapted into a Netflix show and is still churning out novels that fans will devous with a few days.

Protagonist Luzia Cotado can use magic and uses it to get through her rough days. But when her hidden talent for miracles is discovered by her mistress, Luzia has to use her magic to help increase the family’s social position. Her magic ends up drawing the attention of a disgraced secretary that is looking for any way to get the upper hand against the war against England. And he won’t stop until he is once again serving the king no matter the cost.

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange’s second book, we are given something between a prequel and a sequel. The novel tells the story of a young survivor of the 19th-century massacre of Native Americans. We are told the fate of the Native Americans and what their descendants also went through and events that take place at the present including a shooting.

This is a fantastic read and it will most likely make you cry and make you feel many different emotions. Expect this novel to make many appearances on end of year lists as it is already being discussed as one of the best novels of the year.

Knife

Salman Rushdie was stabbed multiple times in August 2022 while speaking at an event in western New York. His memoir Knife is about his experience of the violent attack and the after-effects of the attack. From PTSD to losing sight in his left eye and limited mobility in his left hand, Rushdie opens up about the attack and how it affected him.

The trial for the alleged attacker is still ongoing and has been postponed because of the book because it may be potential evidence. This book was something that Rushdie felt like he had to write. “This was a necessary book for me to write,” Rushdie said about the book. “A way to take charge of what happened, and to answer violence with art.”

One of Us Knows

If you are a fan of murder novels with a bunch of twists, then you will love One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole. Kenetria “Ken” Nash has accepted a job as a caretaker of a gothic castle on a deserted island on the Hudson River. One thing you need to know about Ken is that she has struggled with dissociative identity disorder, causing her to switch between multiple personalities with no warning.

It has been getting harder and harder for Ken to keep her personalities in check. When a man from Ken’s past is found dead inside the home, Ken has to clear her name, knowing full well that she could have committed the murder, turning to her multiple personalities for help.

Conclusion

These are the best books of 2024 so far in our opinion. From big name authors to surprising new authors, there are a lot of books to choose from. We will be adding more books as the months come and go so be sure to check out this list ever month or so!

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