Great titles here, and some new ones for my TBR. Along the lines of books that don’t really need help, I really liked Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall.
Oh good! I loved TTT too, so captivating. I may reread it in 2024. (And re books that don’t need our help, I always feel like I should focus on lesser known books, and yet I seem to end up loving the “big” books the most.)
Thanks so much for the mention, Sarah! I'm listening to I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU now. It really sneaks up on you. There are a few here I've been meaning to check out, so thanks for the great recs! And Happy New Year <3
You’re welcome, and happy new year! agree, it does sneak up on you, and I admire her range. THE GREAT BELIEVERS was such a different reading experience, compared to I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS...
Love your featured books! I just started Covenant of Water and WOW - only a few pages in and I know I'm going to love it. Merry Christmas and happy almost new year <3
We have a lot of overlap in our lists! Rachel Incident, Tom Lake, In Memoriam all made my "best of," and I also read/enjoyed quite a few of your "memorables." I hope you're loving Demon Copperhead, my top read of the year. My other pick for you, if you haven't read it, is In Love by Amy Bloom. A stunning memoir.
Oh, we do! I wish I’d finished Demon Copperhead in time for my list! And I love Amy Bloom but have only read her short stories and novels. I know it’s a compelling memoir but was a little leery of it. (It’s been kind of a hard year here.) But will read!
I loved your choices in your reading list, several of which are on my own Year of Reading in 2023 that I share on my Substack. But, wow, so many I want to put on my 2024 TBR list! Thank you for taking the time to compile the list. I am saving it. Happy reading!
I can say I’m glad I read Tom Lake, but I like it more in retrospect - it took me awhile to get through. Commonwealth and The Dutch House had bigger fans in me. My favorite books this year were Demon Copperhead, I Could Live Here Forever and Glossy.
I agree, Tom Lake isn’t my favorite Ann Patchett; I loved Commonwealth, think that may be my favorite of hers. I’ve been thinking about rereading The Magician’s Assistant and Patron Saint of Liars to see how her writing has changed over the years. I don’t know Glossy but will look it up!
Wow, what a great list! Many of these are ones I plan to read so thanks for these reviews. Reading The Rachel Incident now and Rebecca Makkai’s might be next.
I know it’s hard to select your favorites, but I appreciate the attempt!
Thanks, Paige! Yes, it can feel like I'm promoting books that don't need any more promotion, that were always going to be bestsellers. But I guess there's a reason these books were pushed by their publishers, right? The Rachel Incident was a lovely surprise--I reviewed it for BookPage and had no expectations for it, which added to my enjoyment.
I added some to my holds list, thank youk! I loved Tom Lake & Demon Copperhead this year. I also really liked The Celebrants if you're ever looking for something funny & light.
I have mostly been reading older books, with a few exceptions. Best of the year: The Children’s Bach by Helen Garner, Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Cespedes, Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott and The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop (just published this summer). I’m also reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, which everyone out there has probably read, but it’s a first for me and it’s gorgeous. Next I’m digging into Prophet Song by Paul Lynch.
Yes, so many amazing Irish writers...I still haven’t read The Bee Sting. And thanks for The Children’s Back recommendation! Happy holidays and here’s to a new year of good writing and revising!
Great titles here, and some new ones for my TBR. Along the lines of books that don’t really need help, I really liked Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall.
Oh good! I loved TTT too, so captivating. I may reread it in 2024. (And re books that don’t need our help, I always feel like I should focus on lesser known books, and yet I seem to end up loving the “big” books the most.)
Well, I will say that for my book out last year, it meant a lot to land on a single reader’s best of list, but I doubt it’s ever unwelcome!
Thanks so much for the mention, Sarah! I'm listening to I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU now. It really sneaks up on you. There are a few here I've been meaning to check out, so thanks for the great recs! And Happy New Year <3
You’re welcome, and happy new year! agree, it does sneak up on you, and I admire her range. THE GREAT BELIEVERS was such a different reading experience, compared to I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS...
Love your featured books! I just started Covenant of Water and WOW - only a few pages in and I know I'm going to love it. Merry Christmas and happy almost new year <3
Thanks, Amy! I’m sure you will love it! To see how he weaves the plot threads together is really something. Merry belated Christmas, and happy 2024!
We have a lot of overlap in our lists! Rachel Incident, Tom Lake, In Memoriam all made my "best of," and I also read/enjoyed quite a few of your "memorables." I hope you're loving Demon Copperhead, my top read of the year. My other pick for you, if you haven't read it, is In Love by Amy Bloom. A stunning memoir.
How I loved Amy Bloom’s memoir too even as it broke my heart as my mom had advanced dementia 🥲
She is a wonderful writer, and I can imagine how it would break your heart and hit a little too close to home. I’ll aim to read it in 2024.
Oh, we do! I wish I’d finished Demon Copperhead in time for my list! And I love Amy Bloom but have only read her short stories and novels. I know it’s a compelling memoir but was a little leery of it. (It’s been kind of a hard year here.) But will read!
I loved your choices in your reading list, several of which are on my own Year of Reading in 2023 that I share on my Substack. But, wow, so many I want to put on my 2024 TBR list! Thank you for taking the time to compile the list. I am saving it. Happy reading!
Thanks, Amy! And I love the range and intentionality of your list!
Love this round up, Sarah! Thanks for including My Last Innocent Year. I just finished In Memoriam and loved it!
Happy to have included it--your book was such an absorbing read! And In Memoriam was probably the biggest surprise of the year for me.
it was really great, and I'm not one for war novels
Same! I thought it would be a slog, but it was so gripping. And tender.
I can say I’m glad I read Tom Lake, but I like it more in retrospect - it took me awhile to get through. Commonwealth and The Dutch House had bigger fans in me. My favorite books this year were Demon Copperhead, I Could Live Here Forever and Glossy.
I agree, Tom Lake isn’t my favorite Ann Patchett; I loved Commonwealth, think that may be my favorite of hers. I’ve been thinking about rereading The Magician’s Assistant and Patron Saint of Liars to see how her writing has changed over the years. I don’t know Glossy but will look it up!
I LOVED I Could Live Here Forever! Have you read, Sarah?
Haven’t read, not sure how I missed it! Adding to the list right now!
Wow, what a great list! Many of these are ones I plan to read so thanks for these reviews. Reading The Rachel Incident now and Rebecca Makkai’s might be next.
I know it’s hard to select your favorites, but I appreciate the attempt!
Thanks, Paige! Yes, it can feel like I'm promoting books that don't need any more promotion, that were always going to be bestsellers. But I guess there's a reason these books were pushed by their publishers, right? The Rachel Incident was a lovely surprise--I reviewed it for BookPage and had no expectations for it, which added to my enjoyment.
I added some to my holds list, thank youk! I loved Tom Lake & Demon Copperhead this year. I also really liked The Celebrants if you're ever looking for something funny & light.
Oh good! I’m only halfway through Demon Copperhead, so it’s not on my list. And I loved The Guncle, just haven’t gotten to The Celebrants yet.
Many of these are on my TBR list...your reviews are helping me decide which to read next. :)
Oh, good! This was a year of a lot of sagas for me. Not intentionally! But that’s how it turned out.
I have mostly been reading older books, with a few exceptions. Best of the year: The Children’s Bach by Helen Garner, Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Cespedes, Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott and The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop (just published this summer). I’m also reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, which everyone out there has probably read, but it’s a first for me and it’s gorgeous. Next I’m digging into Prophet Song by Paul Lynch.
What an interesting list! I like to read older books too... The Children’s Bach is on my list but I keep putting it off...And Prophet Song...
The Children's Bach is really lovely. Prophet Song will be tough but I’m psyched anyway. Happy holidays!
Yes, so many amazing Irish writers...I still haven’t read The Bee Sting. And thanks for The Children’s Back recommendation! Happy holidays and here’s to a new year of good writing and revising!