Top 7 Novels of 2024
Here are my favorite 7 novels that I read in 2024. Some are by authors I already love; other authors are new to me this year.
1. The Women
by Kristin Hannah
Frankie, a young nursing student in the mid-1960s, joins the Army Nurse Corps during Vietnam, but her toughest fight comes after returning to a fractured America. This powerful novel sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of female soldiers. It left a lasting emotional impact on me.
2. Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
I decided to re-read Jane Eyre before I read Praying with Jane Eyre: Reflections on Reading as a Sacred Practice in 2025, and I loved it just as much—if not more—this time around. If you haven’t yet experienced Jane’s journey from orphaned child to independent woman, I highly recommend picking up a copy (they’re easy to find).
3. Nineteen Minutes
by Jodi Picoult
We’ve all been traumatized in some way by school shootings. This novel is about a school shooting in a small town, exposing how it affects friendships and families of both the victims and the shooter.
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea
by T.J. Klune
I absolutely love The House in the Cerulean Sea, a whimsical story about Linus Baker, a case worker sent to assess a very unusual orphanage for magical children. Its quirky characters and emotional themes reminded me a bit of Harry Potter. The sequel—Somewhere Beyond the Sea—was published last September; I hope to read it soon.
5. The Covenant of Water
by Abraham Verghese
The Covenant of Water is a beautifully written, multi-generational family saga set in India, weaving its story around a mysterious family curse involving water. Though it starts slowly (thankfully I had been advised to not give up too soon!), I found myself deeply attached to the characters—and by the end, I knew it was worth all the hype.
6. One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
I always read Ruth Ware’s novels. This one follows ten reality TV contestants stranded on an abandoned island when a storm turns their competition into survival. As always, this one is a gripping mystery—intense but not too scary.
7. The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore
This is an unusual mystery about two siblings who vanish from the same summer camp years apart. It’s a longer read, but I was hooked from start to finish. I hope to read more from Liz Moore.
What’s a favorite novel or two that you read in 2024? Share in the comments.
More book recommendations:
- The Power of Pairing Fiction and Nonfiction Books
Reading fiction and nonfiction together offers a rich blend of learning, inspiration, and empathy. - My Top 9 Nonfiction Books of 2024
My favorite 9 books became more than just stories or information to me—they became transformative experiences. - My Must-Read Nonfiction Recommendations: Books that Deepen Connections
Here are my favorite 3 books on how to have better relationships and my favorite 3 memoirs of 2024.
Thanks for the heads up about these intriguing novels. I will be adding most of them to my TBR list.
I find it impossible to choose favourites, but thanks for sharing yours!
Thanks for sharing these, Lisa. I do need to reread some of the old favorites like Jane Eyre, too. I think I read fewer books this past year than ever before in my life. I hope to see that change in 2025.
Blessings!
I agree with the Women. I am not a big fiction reader but that one was the best!
Thanks for sharing these recommendations!
Aloha from Honolulu!
Lisa, I always so much appreciate your recommendations, especially because you are a Jane-Eyre lover! Such a magnificent novel!!! I unearthed an old guest post on a blog of a lady at our church. She called it Girls Night Out, and it was a lot of fun. Sadly, she no longer blogs. At any rate, in this issue, she posed questions to us. You know me: I canNOT be brief! (Perish the thought)! But I thought you might be interested in my take on Jane Eyre. So to get there, just scroll down till you see a book cover bearing the title. I’ll look into the complementary book on sacred reading based on the novel; sounds fascinating. And I am still waiting for The Anxious Generation from the library; it was one of your top nonfiction picks. I don’t ANXIOUSLY, but eagerly await. I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you all!
xo
Lynn
https://stoopingformanna.com/2014/10/26/gno-with-lynn-d-morrissey-hot-flashes-journaling-and-guilt/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHah4hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHefuj7Sx4OBYJ8WTasF2qV_w479loX2etUNN_CntOwsyLVB0_5rsssVDLg_aem_WpydOoe6CfsDMfC4nH8lrw
Great list. I especially loved Jane Eyre and The Covenant of Water. ♡
I enjoyed reading other books by Kristin Hannah and Ruth Ware but have not read the two on your list. Jane Eyre is a classic. Thank you for your weekend coffee share. Happy New Year!
I had The Women in my Top 10 also Lisa. Will check out your other recommendations for my 2025 list.
I see so many of my favorite books on here! I loved The Women and Nineteen Minutes and The Cerulean Sea too.
I have seen The House on the Cerulean Sea mentioned by so many, I really need to read that one!
Lisa, do you read Nora Roberts? I’m thinking about reading one of her books, but I’m not sure which one would be a good place to start.
Theo of Golden.
i haven’t read any of those but have heard of a few. I might need to add a few to my 2025 TBR list, though I’m trying to red the books on my bookshelf.
The Women was one of my top reads from 2024. The God of the Woods was also very good.
Kristin Hannah’s The Women seems to have been on everyone’s list in 2024.
Lovely to see Jane Eyre on there! I reread it every now and again. I’ve done a top 20 with 10 fiction and 10 nonfiction; I allowed myself that as I’ve read a lot in 2024, although I did a top 23 from fewer books in 2023! Happy reading for 2025.
I have a few of these on my tbr list. I appreciate your recommendations and always add something to my tbr list. Lol
Thanks bunches for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
I am adding all of these to my list! Except Jane Eyre, which I’ve read plenty of times before. Then again, a reread can never hurt.