24 Comments

I have read three of these, and have a few more of them on my 2025 list ❤️ My list of 2024 favorites shifts every time I think about it, so I’m not quite sure if and how I plan to share? We shall see!

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The gasp when I saw Open Throat!! What a great list. I've read three and loved each of them. Happy holidays, Michelle!

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Thank you for this list! Just added several to my TBR.

Currently reading James by Percival Everett and loving it! Not finished yet but think it’ll by my #1.

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I've read and really enjoyed seven of these! Real Americans is high on my list for 2025.

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I think you’re really going to enjoy it!

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Loved many of these too! Xo

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Best list I’ve read this year. And added some titles to my tbr. Thanks

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Completely agree that books can transport you back to a specific memory or moment in time, I love that feeling!

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It’s the best, isn’t it?

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Martyr! was my favorite book of the year!

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I really appreciate how you think about reading and how you select your top 10. I've read a few on your list and have a couple of them coming up on mine! So glad to have found your Substack.

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Thank you for sharing! I really enjoyed Ministry of Time, as it felt truly fresh and unique. Another unique read was Margo’s Got Money Troubles. I too loved The Wedding People and I finally read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which was a delight. I read a lot of romance and I discovered a new author this year who writes perfectly pitched spicy sports romance, which is a sub genre I never expected to be into. Her name is Liz Tomforde and I recommend her Windy City series if you enjoy a well written spicy romance.

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Fantastic list! I loved The Husbands, The Wedding People, Birnam Wood, and God of the Woods — Piglet fell a little flat for me — and just added The Most and Open Throat to my list.

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Look forward to hearing what you think about those two when you get to them ◡̈

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I loved many of these titles, most likely based on your recommendations :) Piglet, especially, was an interesting and unique read. Rental Hohse sounds really intriguing- adding it to my list!

I tend to remember what life was like when reading a particular book if I read it when I was out of town/on vacation. So it typically brings me back to fond memories of the trip in general and the enjoyment I had reading the particular book.

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Yes! I love that books can bring us back to a memory or feeling.

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I enjoyed going through your previous years reading lists. They helped me remember which books I’ve enjoyed over the years and which I still need to read that were on my TBR.

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I’m so happy to hear that!

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The Wedding People was definitely in my top ten as well! Thanks for sharing this list of gems.

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It was just so, so good!

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I'm seeing a lot of overlap! Both in favorites and books I have on my shelf I haven't gotten to yet. And I just put a request in at the library for Rental House. So thank you for that rec haha. Glad you had such a fun year in reading!

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I love that we have so much overlap! It brings me so much joy, haha.

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I saw your recommendation of Rental House in the Fiction Matters newsletter and immediately moved it up my TBR list after realizing the couple is childless by choice! I am as well, and always looking for good books addressing the topic (there aren't many, especially fiction).

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Yes, I think you’ll love it! Enjoy ◡̈

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