We’re now in August, so I’m very late to my wrap up of my 24 in 2024, but better late than never!

Currently I’ve finished 14 of the 24 books I set myself, which seems decent (Since it’s more than halfway), but also still leaves me with 10 books remaining, which feels kind of daunting. I am currently mid-way through another on the list, which I’ll probably finish before this goes live, but I’m scheduling it in advance, so that will have to wait until my end-of-year conclusion!

Let’s discuss the books, shall we?

01. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – Completed

I gave this book 4 stars – it was my first time reading something by him, and although it took me a bit to get into it, I ended up really enjoying it. It’s a cosy murder mystery, and I instantly needed to read the next 3 books in the series. I’ve thoroughly fallen in love with the 4 residents, but also have an extreme soft spot for Bogdan.

02. Eldest by Christopher Paolini – Unread

This is actually a re-read (For about the 4th time), because even though I’ve started this series multiple times over the years, I’ve never actually finished it. I normally get partway through the third book and lose my steam. But, I’m hoping now that I’m older (and better medicated), I’ll actually be able to finish the series! Although I only have Eldest on my list, the plan is to read all 3 books (I’ve already read Eragon enough times to know that story well, so it doesn’t require another re-read)

03. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score – Completed

This was a recent finish, and not a favourite. I’d heard so many amazing things about the series (& thought the covers were so beautiful, so I’m very glad I borrowed the book, rather than impulsively purchasing it), but it was just such a letdown for me. A lot of people have an issue with Knox and say how unrealistic he seems, while I think the complete opposite – he’s a bit too realistic (& similar to a bad decision made in my own life) that I just did not like him. I also found Naomi to be incredibly bland.

04. Normal People by Sally Rooney – Completed

Ahh, here we come to the worst book I’ve ever read (That didn’t end up being DNF’d). I just absolutely hated this book, and if it wasn’t on this list, it would have been a DNF (& honestly, it makes me wonder if I should allow myself to DNF a book on this list..) Both of the characters were insufferable, and although the lack of punctuation was annoying, I quickly adapted. My main issue was just the absolute lack of communication. This isn’t a tale of 2 characters bouncing back and forth into and out of each others lives – it’s a tale of 2 immature people who didn’t learn how to open their mouths and use their words.

05. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – Unread

This is actually the book that I’m about halfway through at the moment. It’s.. okay so far.

06. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros – Unread

07. Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer by Amy Doak – Completed

This was the book that made me realise I really need to stop reading books where the main character is a teenager. I just find them to be so juvenile and silly (Which makes sense, since they’re teenagers), but I’m just so far past that point in life that it makes it so hard to relate to the characters and view them in any way other than with derision. Probably says a lot about me, but the book itself was fine – I wasn’t a fan, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad story.

08. The Fandom Rising by Anna Day – Completed

This was another book put on this list solely so I could finally finish the series. I never even knew there was a sequel, until I randomly saw it online (Probably while updating my StoryGraph, since I’ve read the first book 2 or 3 times now). I actually really enjoyed The Fandom, up until the end, which I won’t say too much on to avoid spoilers, but I absolutely wasn’t a fan. For similar reasons, I also wasn’t a massive fan of The Fandom Rising. There was a major plot point which just ruined it for me.

09. Five Survive by Holly Jackson – Completed

We have another book that features both teenage main characters and a lack of communication. This book was fine, especially when I was originally so excited to read it, but it didn’t spark any major feelings. It was fairly predictable, considering the amount of hints that were dropped, and that brother deserved everything that happened to him.

10. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy – Completed

This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I will happily never read it again. Yes, you read that right, I will not read it again. It’s a poignant tale of Jennette’s struggles and childhood, which hits very close to home for me. Reading some of the things she experienced/were done to her was horrifying, to say the least, and I had to put the book down at frequent intervals just to decompress and get away from it for a bit. But, it’s something I would definitely recommend – only if you’re able to read it. There are some heavy topics discussed, and I can see this being quite triggering for many.

11. Rebels of Eden by Joey Graceffa – Completed

Another book that was added so I could finally finish a series. What a letdown. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, and then found the second to be not-quite-as-good, but still enjoyable. However the third book? I enjoyed the first ~50% of it, and then it seemed to go downhill from there. The actual ending of the book I’m just not even going to comment on, because I think it was ridiculous and I’ve decided to make up a new ending for the book, solely for my own sake.

12. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas – Completed

This book took quite a bit to get into – it wasn’t until a few chapters after everything that happened in the beginning that I started to feel like I was actually enjoying it, and then I just couldn’t put it down. There’s a lot of world building/explanation that needs to happen, which is what most of the beginning slog was, and once past it, it became a lot easier to read. I very quickly found myself falling in love with Bryce & Hunt (Which I knew I would, since I’ve read the ACOTAR series and absolutely adore Rhys). I’ve heard the second book isn’t quite as good, so I’m taking a small break to read other books in the meantime.

13. One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus – Completed

This is another hyped book that I’ve heard only good things about (& also love the cover of), that I found to be quite disappointing. I found the lack of communication/”woe is me, I’m not good enough for them” to be too similar to both Normal People & Things We Never Got Over, so I think I’m just not a fan of that type of relationship story. I genuinely loved Addy though, and found myself really rooting for her – Once she’s fully established and fleshed out. She’s not the best character in the beginning, and that’s obviously what helps make her transformation so amazing.

14. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong – Unread

15. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – Unread

16. Everyone You Hate is Going to Die by Daniel Sloss – Completed

I’ve had this book for almost 3 years and have attempted to read it multiple times, and now that I have finally finished it, I would be happy to go back to a life where I hadn’t read it. The book is mostly just.. nothing. I just don’t see why it exists.

17. From Blood to Ash by Jennifer Armentrout – Unread

18. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman – Completed

I absolutely loved this series. I didn’t realise it was a graphic novel, so read all 5 to have them count as 1 book, as just the first book would’ve felt like a bit of a cop-out considering how quickly I flew through it. But, either way, this book and the remaining 4 were absolutely beautiful and I loved them.

19. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – Completed

Another book that was overly hyped online that I found to be disappointing. Both June/Juniper and Athena are insufferable, and although that may be the point of the book, it doesn’t make it any more enjoyable to read about bad people.

20. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Completed

A story with another insufferable main character – Evelyn Hugo is just dislikable. She doesn’t seem to talk like a normal person (Or maybe there were just more emotions added in to her speech than a normal people would experience?) and the plot twist just felt icky. I just don’t like her, and that brought down my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

21. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – Unread

22. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – Unread

23. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Unread

24. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – Unread

So, 14 out of 24 books completed and only 10 to go! (Well, 9.5 since I’m halfway through one currently!)

Currently the ones I’m most excited to read are Fourth Wing & These Violent Delights, so I think I’ll work on getting those completed in August/September.