Chapter #47: The Best Books I've Read So Far This Year
My favorites from the first half of 2024 📖✨
Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and, well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.
One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
This thriller follows Jasmyn and King Williams as they move to Liberty, California, marketed as a “Black utopia.” They hope to find a supportive community but instead, discover that the residents prioritize luxury and self-care over social justice. King doesn’t mind, but Jasmyn hates it. She soon uncovers a dark secret about Liberty’s founders, causing tension as she grapples with the community's true nature and impact on her family. I’ll say this: If you hated The Other Black Girl, steer clear of this book. But if, like me, you found it far from perfect but still a little entertaining and thought-provoking, I’d recommend this.
Just Playing House by Farah Heron
Marley Kamal, a personal stylist, learns she has the BRCA gene mutation and schedules a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction. This is before her high school prom date, Nikhil Shamdasani, stumbles back into her life. He’s a rising movie star in desperate need of fashion guidance. Marley agrees to help, and in return, Nik offers to stay and help her recover, leading them to navigate their unresolved past and the possibility of a second chance at love. The premise felt a little far-fetched (an ex-boyfriend may agree to help you, but a guy who was just your prom date? IDK). Nonetheless, I enjoyed the characters, the writing, and how it dealt with themes of grief.
Thirty books down, and we’re only halfway through the year!
As I dive through pages and chapters like a literary marathoner, I've not only surpassed my reading goal (smaller than usual at 24 books, but hey, still something!) but discovered some absolute gems along the way. Grab your reading glasses and keep scrolling because I'm about to unveil the top picks of 2024 (well, so far.)
My absolute favorites — I would give ‘em more than five stars on Goodreads if I could:
A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
A free-spirited florist named Ricki tries to escape her family's funeral business and becomes entangled with a mysterious stranger. This magical leap-year love story from the author of Seven Days in June is filled with humor, heart, floral puns, and Harlem Renaissance nods.
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan's second book in the Skyland series? Absolutely everything! Following Soledad, a newly divorced mother of three, it's a journey of self-love and rediscovery, complicated by an unexpected romantic entanglement. I savored every moment, especially the delightful nod to Before I Let Go.
Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochtil Gonzales
This dual-timeline story follows Raquel, a first-generation Ivy League student, as she uncovers the mysterious life of Anita, a once-promising Latina artist. Both navigate the cutthroat art world and contend with toxic relationships, weaving a tale of legacy, self-discovery, and intriguing supernatural elements.
The close (super close!) runner-ups — still solid fives that you should read:
When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
In this second-chance romance, overworked receptionist Kaliya's dreams of making movies are revived when her former college flame, Danny, offers her a job on his latest production. Despite some drawn-out love triangle moments, it's a swoon-worthy tale with heartfelt moments and nods to classic Black cinema.
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
This love story follows Helen, a bestselling author, and Grant, a TV writer, navigating their shared grief over Helen's sister's death years ago involving Grant. As Grant helps adapt Helen's book for TV, their complex feelings—mixing hatred with attraction—unfold in a heartfelt, humorous, and wonderfully messy narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
After years of hesitation, I finally picked up this powerful memoir, and I'm glad I did. Miller bravely shares her journey as a survivor of sexual assault, reclaiming her identity beyond "Emily Doe," with raw honesty and resilience.
Others that deserve a special shoutout — star count be damned, I find myself randomly thinking about these:
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung-Jessen
This charming romance explores fate and free will through a free-spirited artist and a NASA engineer who meet by chance in New York City, share a magical date, and reunite in California months later. Mixing Serendipity with Chinese mythology and science, it's a delightful, heartwarming read.
Monstrous by Jessica Lewis
Latavia spends a summer in the strange town of Sanctum before college, where she's kidnapped and nearly sacrificed to an ancient forest monster. Despite an unnecessary romance subplot, the story's pacing and revenge plot were satisfying.
Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter
Hazel Davis lives in the shadow of her viral influencer sister, Evie. When Evie vanishes during a livestream, Hazel delves into the dark side of social media to find her. The commentary on true crime podcasters adds depth, and the surprising ending is deeply satisfying.
What’s one of the best books you’ve read (so far) this year?
People change, and goals should, too. Here’s what I’ve checked off my 2024 list and what changes I’m making.
Read 24 books.Read a book turning 24 in 2024. Found the perfect book, but haven’t started reading it yet.
Read at least two fantasy or sci-fi books. I’ve read one! I still need to find another. (Taking recommendations, by the way!)
Read every book on my shelf. Yeah, this is harder than I thought it would be. So many good (new!) books keep coming out! So we may need to extend this goal over to next year. So my new goal is to read at least six (of the twelve!)
Finish an unfinished book series. My brain needed more clarity here. So I’m going to start and finish a book series. I'm thinking maybe the Legacy of Orisha Series.
Donate more books to a Little Free Library. Of course, I’m still going to do this!
Because I’m in need of a good thriller, I’m starting As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall. It caught my eye while browsing in the bookstore and follows “a reporter as she unravels the disturbing mystery around the deaths of two young Black women, the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago.”
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