Favorite Books of 2024 - Fiction Edition

Last year, I read 52 books, averaging one per week.  These were my favorites, which include some historical novels, a favorite genre of mine. Last week, I posted a list of my favorite non-fiction books, which you can find here.

Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn. This book was my absolute favorite read of 2024, and one I recommended to many others.  It is the story of a midwife and healer in 18^th century Maine. It is the story of a remarkable woman who fights for justice at a time when women were considered as best seen and not heard.

Things Past Telling by Sheila Williams. The triumphant story of one woman’s epic journey from West Africa to the Caribbean for over 100 years. It is the story of survival in the face of loss of homeland, family, culture, husband, and children.  What she never loses is her sense of self. Heartbreaking and breathtaking, encompassing the best – and worst – of humanity.

The Secret Life of Sunflowers:  Based on the True Story of Johann Bonger, Vincent Van Gogh’s Sister-in-Law, by Marta Molnar. The beautiful and heart-breaking story of the woman who inherited Van Gogh’s “worthless” paintings and managed to introduce his legacy to the world.  Both engaging and funny.

The Women by Kristin Hannah. This is a beautiful story of the heroic Army nurses in the Vietnam War who put themselves in harm’s way yet never received the recognition they deserved. It is tough reading, with graphic descriptions of daily life in the war, and one of Hannah’s best novels.

James: A Novel by Percival Everett. This prize-winning novel was on many “best book” lists for 2024.  It is the retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in a radically new light, from enslaved Jim’s point of view. This book is destined to become a classic.

The Second Life of Mirielle West:  A Haunting Historical Novel by Amanda Skenandore. Based on the true story of America’s only leper colony, this is the tale of a socialite married to a film star who is exiled from her home and family after she is branded with a disease that has no cure. It is a story of isolation, resilience, reinvention, and the strength of the human spirit.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last: Reese’s Book Club Pick by Xochitl Gonzalez. The story of an art history student preparing her final thesis, who stumbles on the story of a rising star who died tragically and who has been forgotten. The story moves between two time frames as it examines themes of art, love, and power.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. This book was on many “must read” lists for 2024, and it’s on mine. It is the story of two vanishing siblings at summer camp fourteen years apart, and the drama that unfolds as the mystery unravels.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray. Another great read by the duo that wrote The Personal Librarian, a past favorite of mine.  Based on the true story of an incredible friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune. Their collaboration helped form the foundation of the modern civil rights movement, and the story provides some great insights into the challenges and controversies of mixed race friendships, especially among such visible, powerful women.

Long Island by Colm Toibin. This story features Eilis Lacey, the heroine of Brooklyn, an Irish immigrant married to an Italian plumber, and living as neighbors to his entire family. When a stranger comes to her door to inform Eilis that his wife is pregnant with her husband’s child, she has some very difficult decisions to make about her future.  This is a special book.

What did you read last year?  What do you recommend that I add to my list for 2025?