Are you tired of feeling bored and getting trapped into the endless hole of social media scrolling? That’s why 2024 (and every year after) should be the year of reading. It’s so easy to just want to pick up a cell phone and scroll but nothing can beat the feeling of being so immersed in a book that you can’t put it down.  So many people say, “I just don’t like to read.” Probably because they haven’t found the right book yet. Reading can be extremely beneficial for both body and mind. While it actively improves your vocabulary and communication with others, it also can make you feel better physically by calming your nervous system and allowing you to relax. Imagine it’s a chilly day and you light a candle, get a coffee or tea, and curl up on the couch with a great book. To me, that sounds way better than the exhaustion and headache that will come with a day of “doom scrolling.” So, next time you’re pacing around trying to find something to do I highly recommend picking up a book. And if you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, I have plenty of recommendations. Of the 62 books that I’ve read in 2024, here are my top ten, five star reads.

1)Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

I read this book in May after waiting months to buy it because it wasn’t available as a paperback. Well there is still no paperback edition but I couldn’t wait any longer. This book was incredible, and possibly my favorite book of all time. Remarkably Bright Creatures is about a woman named Tova, who begins working at an aquarium after losing her husband. She forms a connection with Marcellus, who is a part-time octopus and seemingly a part-time detective. As you read it and learn more about each character you will begin to love all of them. It was impressive how the author was able to create such unique and complex personalities for each character. Reading from the perspective of an octopus wasn’t exactly what I was expecting when I picked this book, and yet still I cried through the last 30 pages. This book was ‘simple’ and an easy read but that doesn’t change that I went through every single emotion possible while reading it. I recommend this book to every single person I know, so I highly recommend checking it out.

2)The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

I was gifted this book from a friend and I’m so happy I was. The Witch of Portobello is a story about a woman named Athena and her life, told from many different perspectives of those who knew her, and those who didn’t. I read this book in one day over the summer and it was a perfect read. The way every perspective came together throughout the book was so fun to read. It had themes of self-discovery, divine feminine energy, and the interpretation of love. It was beautifully written and if you’re looking for a fictional book that feels so real, this is it.

3)A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I first read this book years ago but I don’t think I fully grasped the meaning until I read it again this past summer. A Man Called Ove is about a man named Ove (bet you couldn’t guess that) and he is seen as a very grumpy man who only wants to make everyone else’s lives harder. But we learn that there is so much more to him than just what’s on the exterior. This book made me audibly laugh while also making me cry. The village that we get to see built throughout this story is beautiful. It starts off somewhat slow but don’t be discouraged by that as it does pick up fairly quickly. After reading, I also recommend watching the film adaptation, A Man Called Otto. 

4)Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

This book was so unexpected and before I read it I didn’t think I would like it. Piranesi is a man who lives in a house of infinite rooms. The walls are lined with all different statues and through the labyrinth of the halls, an ocean is trapped. It floods the rooms and halls and we watch as he begins to understand the tides and waves. There is also another man in the house and often asks Piranesi for help as they navigate the house. We learn about the life of Piranesi and of the other man and the story telling is fascinating. The end of the book made my jaw literally drop. This book was confusing at parts but not so much that it was annoying to read. The whole time reading this book I just wanted to be in the house with the characters. If you like science fiction or fantasy books, definitely add this book to your TBR (to be read) pile. 

5)The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by Victoria Schwab

I’m pretty sure I talked about this book for a full two weeks after reading it. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue takes place in both the 1700s and the 2000s. It is about a woman, Addie Larue, who wants to live forever and in exchange is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. But one day, someone remembers her name. This book is very long but don’t let this discourage you because I flew through it. As it jumps through 300 years we get to hear so many different stories from her life both past and present. You feel the love that she has experienced while also feeling her loneliness and desire to be seen. This book literally felt like an autumn day wearing your favorite sweater.

6)Lovely War by Julie Berry 

I used to avoid books about war, or ones that take place in history as I always thought they’d be so boring. This book completely changed my mind. Lovely War is about two love stories during World War I and we watch as they try to overcome life during war. It also ties in with Greek mythology and the Greek gods, giving the book a fantasy twist. Honestly the book just ends up being a complex love story, but it was one of the best I’ve ever read. The way they used music in this book to tie together the themes of love and war was perfect. 

7)The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Never in my 12 years of school would I have thought that a school book would be one of my favorites, but this was so good. The Things They Carried is a war story written by Tim O’Brien, and about a man named Tim O’Brien. While reading it you feel as though it is non-fiction but the author has made it very clear that this is a fictionalized story. We hear the stories of many soldiers and their accounts in war and the relationships they formed. The author also tells of his life after war and the challenges he overcame. As you read you’ll be able to realize that this is an anti-war novel as they share the raw truth of what happens during war. This book made me cry and is definitely the best school book I’ve ever read, so if you don’t have the chance to read it in your English class, definitely check it out. 

8)Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

This book was incredible, disgusting, and will probably leave you with a stomach ache for days. And yet I will still recommend it to everyone I know. Bright Young Women is a fictionalized story about these girls living in a sorority house who were victims of Ted Bundy, and also of another young woman who was a victim of him. As it jumps in time from the main character, Pamela’s, current life and her life during these traumatic events we get the entire picture of the horrors of Ted Bundy. Overall it is a very sad story as it shines a light on the horror stories that many people may not know about. But the way the author writes it makes you feel connected with the characters and you can perfectly picture the way these female friendships grow stronger as they navigate hardship. The main idea is that these women that were killed were the extraordinary ones, and the man who took their life was so much less than that. 

9)The Family Condition by Cody Lakin

This book is perfect if you’re looking for a spooky book this fall. And by spooky I mean uncomfortable and extremely messed up. The Family Condition is about a girl Elodie who comes from a family with a tricky past. A strange genetic condition that runs in her family causes the women to become monster-like with age. When she and the other main character, Bennett, return to her family home they see that her mothers condition has accelerated greatly. What was labeled as a horror story turned even more into a love story. It was the perfect blend of gore, and horror, as it was of love and family. Getting the point across that not everyone has a perfect past, or one that they’re proud of, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get to live their life like everyone else. So if you’re looking for a quick book that portrays the relationship between love and horror, this is it. 

10)Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

This is the saddest book I have ever read. And I don’t think anyone should go through their life without reading it. Beautiful Boy is a true story of a father who is trying to save his son from the horrors of addiction while also trying to save himself. Reading this gives you the real experience of what the families of addicts go through when in that situation. David Sheff talks about his life and compares it to his son’s, who is struggling with a methamphetamine addiction. This book was hard to read, especially knowing that it is true. Many people, luckily, never have to experience what the father went through or what the son went through but this book was able to bring awareness to it. Even though it was sad, it is one of the best books I’ve come across, and everyone should read it.