Today I'm sharing my final 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge update of the year, and I finished it off with a number of great reads.
Even though my original aim was to read 40 books in 2024 (after I struggled to make it to 52 books in 52 weeks in 2024), at the start of December I ended up amending my goal back to 52. And in the end I read a total of 67 books, which I'm really pleased with. Especially when I consider how busy November and December always are for me at work.
2024 was also the year that I started to take physical books out of the library and I'm kicking myself that I didn't make use of that resource until now. When I think about how much money I saved over the course of the year, the library has been a complete game changer. It also meant that my already full bookshelves didn't get too much busier, which is always a good thing.
If you haven’t already seen what I've read thus far, my January - February, March - April, May - June, July - August and September - October roundups will keep you up to date.
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I’ve also be sharing short reviews and how many stars I’ve given each book, every time that I finish one, over on my Instagram Stories. You’ll find them in my 2024 Books highlight.
But here's what I read in November and December;
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Deep underground, 39 women are kept in isolation in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only vague recollection of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl -- the 40th prisoner -- sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground.
Frustratingly, this lacked something that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it might be the fact that there is no resolution. It is also rather bleak, as you might expect. But I do anticipate it staying with me for some time. Given the title, I did think there would be more of an exploration of gender, however it didn't really go far enough. Despite this, even though it is under 200 pages, it really does pack a lot in.
4.25 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
Let's Split Up by Bill Wood
When Brad and Shelley are brutally murdered in a manor on the edge of town, a group of teen friends investigate. Set in a small community where rumour spreads as fast as the fire on the day of the killings, the theory is the old ghoul who haunts the house after his own murder hundreds of years ago has finally taken revenge. As Cam, Jonesy, Amber and new-girl Buffy investigate, the rumour feels closer to the truth than they ever dared think possible. And as they enter the mansion themselves, the idea of splitting up to find evidence will prove to be either the best -- or worst decision of all.
This gave me those nostalgic late 90s/early 00s vibes and I did like the main cast of characters. The opening in particular was really strong and immediately had me hooked. But sadly the ending wasn't as good as it could have been. I really doubted that the killer wouldn't have put two and two together about where the secret treasure actually was. It wasn't the only time that people were a bit clueless. I mean, I get that the police can often be incompetent, but they literally did nothing. And certain parts - like when Cam is stabbed - were basically a direct copy of a scene from Scream.
3.75 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Aiden has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie thought she was doing just fine. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinising her love life – or lack thereof – she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. As sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.
While the Sleepless In Seattle inspiration drew me in, this far exceeded my expectations and they were already pretty high. From their brilliant banter to their obvious chemistry, I was fully invested in them both as individuals and a couple. The tension was oh so good and when they do actually get together it was steamy in the very best way. I was seriously swooning at times and loved the entire premise. The supporting cast of characters were brilliant too and just brought so much life and colour to their lives that everything felt authentic. Honestly, this was just such a joy!
5 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan
Mirren’s beloved great-aunt Violet is seriously ill. Her one Christmas wish is to be reunited with a long-lost hand-illustrated book from her childhood, a challenge Mirren gladly accepts to give Violet some much-needed festive cheer. With no sign of the cherished volume online, Mirren falls into the fascinating world of rare books. From London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, she chases leads from bookshop to bookshop – and bumps into mysterious, charming Theo, who, unbeknownst to her, is searching for the same book for reasons of his own.
This was a short but sweet story that sees our main character visit some of the most famous bookish locations in the UK, which I, as a book lover, absolutely adored. I can't wait to retrace some of Mirren's footsteps on my next trip to Edinburgh and it also has me wanted to visit Hay on Wye. The romance is bubbling under the surface (I'm not sure if I was a fan of Theo stalking her to begin with). But I found the story to be strongest when we see Mirren's bond with her aunt Violet. And the ending was just lovely.
4.25 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood
All Jamie wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc – her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.
This was an incredibly easy to read novella, which had me hooked immediately. I liked the way that their relationship felt really developed, even in such a short story, as it flipped back and forth between the present and the past. A few things were a bit off-putting and almost creepy, though. Like the lock screen photo. Then the way that he acted as a child to his sister felt like a big red flag to me, too. And all I could think was how many years they wasted not being together. It would have been a higher rating (probably 4.5 stars), if Marc hadn't felt so off at times.
4.25 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his plans are thwarted when his nemesis, Storee, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately his new neighbour turns his world into a real-life nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town's Christmas Kringle contest. But Cole's got other ideas in mind.
This was a nice slow burn, enemies to lovers set in a small town at Christmas. And I liked that there was a lot of build up to them actually getting together. All the nods to The Grinch were great too. But there were a few things that didn't really work for me. From the misunderstanding at the end, to cringe-worthy candy cane scene and the ending feeling a bit rushed, to only get a few lines on who actually wins the competition, after we invest all that time in the challenges and dynamics, wasn't great either. But this was a fun, easy festive read. And I would 100% be on board for Max's book next.
4.5 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Cassie is a natural at reading people. But it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously until the FBI come knocking: they've begun a classified programme that uses exceptional teenagers to crack cold cases, and they need Cassie. What Cassie doesn't realise is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved murders. And when a new killer strikes, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.
As a big fan of Criminal Minds, this series certainly piqued my interest. And it was giving FBI in the very best way. The premise of them moulding ‘The Naturals’ and each of them having an innate skill, was captivating and kept me hooked the whole way through. I also liked that I wasn’t expecting who the UNSUB would be, even if it did throw me a bit initially. After it was explained, it was a pretty interesting twist. And I didn’t know I needed a love triangle from this series, but I was literally kicking my feet at times.
4.5 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
After barely escaping a confrontation with a killer, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance. But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of one of their incarcerated fathers. Forced deeper into a murderer's psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart his brutal mind games before he twists them into his web for good?
I really liked that we got to find out more about each of the main characters and having it revolve around Dean was a smart move in getting more of an insight as to how Lia, Michael, Sloan and Dean came to be in the project to begin with. The story and the case kept me gripped the whole way through. And I particularly enjoyed the field trips to the college and Dean’s hometown. But, for some reason the ending felt a little anticlimactic for me. I think it was the very final killer reveal that didn’t quite work for me.
4.5 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
After a string of brutal murders in Las Vegas, Cassie and the Naturals are called in to investigate. But even with the team's unique profiling talents, these murders seem baffling: unlike many serial killers, this one uses different methods every time. All of the victims were killed in public, yet the killer does not show up on any security feed. And each victim has a string of numbers tattooed on their wrist. Hidden in the numbers is a code - and the closer the Naturals come to unraveling the mystery, the more perilous the case becomes.
This is easily my favourite of the three books so far. I loved the Vegas setting and how immersive it felt. Getting to know more about Sloane, in particular, was great. As was finding out even more about the Naturals, more generally, as we move through the series. I actually quite liked that it ended on a cliffhanger. And as soon as they mentioned a possible cult connection, I was so seated. There were also some great twists and misdirections (as is the case in Vegas) and I can't wait to see how it all concludes.
4.75 out of 5 stars · Buy it now
So, that's what I read in the last two months of 2024. I'm already looking forward to reading a few of the books at the top of my TBR list in 2025. And I've even put together a 25 books for 2025 list, that I can't wait to work my way through over the course of the year.
What have you been reading recently? And will you be setting a Goodreads Reading Challenge Goal for 2025?
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