As the holidays and winter break rolls along, 2024 comes to a grand close. In the hustle and bustle of last-minute gift buying and final assessments, take a second to relax and reminisce over some of the good parts of this year. We don’t know about you, but the best parts of our year were when we had a book in hand—and trust us, we read a lot of books this year. So, courtesy of EHS’s book reviewers, here’s a list of 24 books you missed in 2024. Enjoy!
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo: Author of the famous Six of Crows series, Leigh Bardugo has once again come out with a wonderful read: The Familiar. Set during the Spanish Golden Age, Bardugo creates a rigorously moving historical fantasy starring Luzia Cotado, a poor scullion living off of scraps. As Luzia seizes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fortune, she falls into a world of alchemists and magicians, science and fraud. Filled to the brim with magic and romance, Bardugo’s book is definitely one to enjoy.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood: Written by the famous STEM Romance author Ali Hazelwood, Not in Love follows protagonists Rue Siebert and Eli Killgore—one a simple girl with a successful career at the promising food science start-up Kline and the other a businessman who wants Kline to be his. Torn between loyalty and love, Rue and Eli throw caution away for a no-strings-attached secret affair.
Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow: Ella can’t stop blaming herself for the death of her best friend Hayley. Everywhere she goes, she sees reminders of her—including Hayley’s boyfriend Sawyer. As Sawyer and Ella grow closer, Ella realizes a horrifying truth: She’s in love with him. Racked with guilt, Ella investigates Hayley’s life, only to find things she hadn’t expected. A dark romance thriller perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin, Everything We Never Said delves deep into hidden secrets, friendship, and love.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli: On the night of the revolution, Rune’s life changed completely. Now, people like her (witches) are being ruthlessly hunted down and purged. Pretending to be a young socialite in the mornings, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being killed. But as she falls in love with notorious witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, her story might change forever. A fantastic romance with a touch of witchery, Heartless Hunter is the perfect read for those gloomy winter nights.
Reckless by Lauren Roberts: The second book in the Powerless trilogy, Reckless was a highly anticipated novel this year. Continuing the story of Paedyn Gray, the illegal “Ordinary” in a world of Elites with special powers, we are taken on a riveting adventure that’ll leave you in excitement for the last book of the trilogy. Once again, young author Lauren Roberts has created a masterpiece.
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Gaslow: Left with no option, 15-year-old Bella falls into the clutches of alcohol. And it’s fine—she can stop whenever she wants, right? But when she blacks out at a Thanksgiving party and ends up in the hospital, she knows rehab is a necessity. Follow Bella through her journey to get better in this highly compassionate novel.
The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black: The second book in the Stolen Heir duology, The Prisoner’s Throne is a riveting read. Watch as Prince Oak uses his charm to survive and try to keep everyone he loves alive. The only question is who’s doomed by him. A blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology, this novel is definitely one to look out for.
Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizel: Arthie Casimir, criminal mastermind and collector of secrets, owns an illegal “bloodhouse,” catering to the infamous vampires. But when creating this establishment, she’s forced to strike an unlikely deal with an unlikely person. As the story unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a thick conspiracy. Led by an orphan girl willing to do anything to save the world, Tempest of Tea is one of Faizel’s best.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang: Inspired by the Chinese legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties, A Song to Drown Rivers is an intriguing historical fantasy about war, sacrifice, and love. In the beginning, Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing: an easy marriage and happy life. But when military advisor Finli advises her to use her beauty as a weapon, Xishi agrees to infiltrate the neighboring kingdom and so takes the opportunity to improve the lives of countless citizens. As she enters enemy territory, the stakes are high as both Xishi and Finli have a lot to lose.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas: The third book in the Crescent City series, House of Flame And Shadow is an action-packed addition that’s not to be missed. Stuck in a strange new world, Bryce Quinlan must use all her wits to get back home. On the other hand, Hunt Athalar has found himself stuck in a dungeon with no way to know Bryce’s fate. In this breathtaking novel, follow Bryce and Hunt as their worlds fall apart.
Funny Story by Emily Henry: Daphne loved her fiance, Peter, but the problem was that he didn’t love her back. No—he was in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Heartbroken, Daphne rooms with the only person who could understand her predicament: Petra’s ex-fiance, Miles. Chaotic Miles is the exact opposite of practical Daphne, but, as we always know, sparks are bound to fly as they grow closer. A heartwarming and hilarious story of love, Funny Story is a great light read for the holidays.
Under The Surface by Diana Urban: Ruby is afraid to confess her love to Sean, for fear that he’ll break her heart. Little did she know, he’s waiting for her to be ready. But it all goes wrong at a school field trip to Paris—Ruby’s best friend runs off with a mysterious French boy and Ruby goes after her, but caves in to attending a secretive party in the catacombs. Lost in the winding tunnels, Ruby and her friends must get out as something sinister chases them. A thrilling story of four teens stuck under the City of Love, Diana Urban has created a novel that will give you goosebumps.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang: Best-selling author Ann Liang has captured the hearts of readers with her new novel. Perfect student Sadie Wen has a secret: she vents her anger, whether it be at her teachers or her classmates, in emails that she doesn’t send. However, when her emails are sent out mistakenly, the whole school starts to hate her. Only Julius Gong, the star of Sadie’s hate mail, starts to appreciate her for her true self. Perfect for fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Liang’s story is certainly something to look forward to.
Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: This follow-up book to Barnes’ best-selling series The Inheritance Games takes place a year after reader’s last saw Avery and the Hawthorne brothers. Their annually hosted game gives seven lucky people the chance of a lifetime to win all the riches and fame they could have ever dreamed of. The question is, what lengths are these players willing to go to in order to achieve their goals?
All this Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi: In the third book of the This Woven Kingdom series, Mafi manages to enrapture readers more with her descriptive storytelling. Alizeh has finally found her people and her kingdom, yet she feels unsettled as she realizes that Cyrus, the supposedly malicious ruler of Tulan, may not be as evil as he seems. The arrival of the vengeful Prince Kamran only complicates matters further. Mafi’s story of tension and romance hooks the reader and has us counting down the days till the next book is released.
Snowglobe by Soyoung Park: Translated into English from its original script in Korean, Snowglobe is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic Ice Age, in a singular surviving city enclosed in a glass dome. Those who live in the frozen wasteland outside the city dream of one day making it into the city to live a comfortable life. When teenage Jeon Chobahm finally gets the opportunity, she starts to realize that life in Snowglobe is not the paradise she expected.
Sky’s End by Marc J Gregson: This thrilling dystopian novel is a must-add to your To Be Read (TBR) pile for the upcoming new year! In order to save his sister, teenager Conrad agrees to enlist in the dangerous “Selection of the Twelve Trades”. Throughout the book, he faces various tribulations and trials as he fights to survive. All is not as it seems, as Conrad soon discovers that the world he has always known is hiding something monumental. Fans of The Hunger Games are certain to enjoy Gregson’s recent release Sky’s End.
Skyshade (book #3) by Alex Aster : The third novel in the Lightlark series, Skyshade continues to follow Isla Crown as she is faced with a world-altering decision. Her heart is torn between the leaders of two different countries, and each kingdom’s survival depends on Isla’s actions. Aster’s story of betrayal and deception has reader’s waiting to see how the story continues.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood: Novelist Ali Hazelwood has diverged from her typical STEM-related love stories and instead written a Vampire-Werewolf romance story. Misery, an outcast from the Vampyre race, is forced into an arranged marriage with the leader of the Were clan, Lowe. Despite their marriage of convenience, Misery and Lowe’s initial lack of trust blossoms into something more as they start working together.
Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson: Written by the same author as the acclaimed A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, recently released novel The Reappearance of Rachel Price does not disappoint. The book follows 18-year-old Bel Price, whose mother mysteriously disappeared when she was only a toddler. Unexpectedly, her mother reappears (hence the novel’s name), however, cynical Bel feels as though something isn’t quite right.
The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh: Everyone’s imagined themselves in the plot of books or movies right? Well, Mina Lee, budding web comic artist, actually gets sucked into the story of a comic that she created! Unable to escape this fictional world, Mina gets pulled into saving the people of her story. As she interacts with those around her, she eventually forms close friendships with them. Especially Jin, the handsome, charismatic boy from her dreams that she literally created. Oh’s novel manages to perfectly capture the lightheartedness of youth while still incorporating topics of grief and loss.
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft: Aspiring seamstress Niamh has always expected to die an early death due to the dangerous magic flowing through her blood. In an attempt to live her life to the fullest, she jumps at the opportunity to create the wardrobe for the royal wedding of a nearby country. Niamh soon develops an unlikely friendship with the groom, Kit, that inevitably becomes something more. However, a mysterious gossip columnist is working to bring down the royal family, and they are trying to use Niamh to do so. Full of mystery and magic, A Fragile Enchantment is a must read!
Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer: Kemmerer’s Defy the Night series comes to a close with the third and final book Destroy the Day. Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to find their way back to each other, finding unexpected allies and friends in their quest to reunite. At the same time, King Harristan is ousted from the throne, and is on the run attempting to gather a rebel force to unite his fractured country and reclaim the throne that is rightfully his. This action-packed finale has us on the edge of our seats!
Icarus by K. Ancrum: Ancrum’s suspense-filled queer romance story grabs the attention of readers and has us hooked till the end. Icarus has been stealing expensive art pieces and replacing them with his father’s forgeries. Their target, Mr. Black, was a part of Icarus’ mother’s death, and their quest for revenge has lasted years. However, one night, Icarus is caught by Mr. Black’s son, Helios. Instead of turning him in, Helios forms an unlikely friendship with Icarus that soon turns into a romance. As they both struggle to escape their fathers’ gilded cages, they experience love, loss, and life. Icarus is definitely a must read for the new year!
Happy Holidays!
