Hello, again. Let’s finish up the book reviews that I started way back in March. 🫠 And then we can loop in my end of year book post, too.

Starting off strong but phoning it in by the end… Isn’t that an accurate representation of 2024? Lol

Their Last Resort
R.S. Grey
★★★/5
Romance

Mm, I’m usually a fan of the fluff and steam from Grey, but this one fell flat for me. First things first, the setting is beautiful and I wanted to be at an all-inclusive resort the entire time I was reading. I love that there was a trapped/forced proximity aspect with the island and storm. Natural disasters aren’t romantic, but I’m not mad about the romantic situation that evolved from it.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Paige and Cole. There were moments and banter that I found cute and natural, but Paige needed to sort herself out and Cole needed to use his words. (I know that’s typically the issue in romance novels, but in this case the chemistry was missing, too.) But in all fairness, it passed the time just fine.

Buy it on BookShop

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The House in the Cerulean Sea
T.J. Klune
★★★★★/5
Fantasy Fiction

Oh this lovely little book of cozy, sweet justice & acceptance. The premise and vibe were so rare and special. Everyone who gushed about this book to me was 100% correct. I loved it so much.

Linus is a rule follower and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, surround by unusual, teasing but loving children, he’s quite an asset. He thought he liked his quiet, grey, isolated life, but after visiting Marsyas Island Orphanage, he’s not so sure.
I wanted to hug every single character and I was so touched by every characters’ development. This is a really special novel and I hope the sequel does it justice!

Buy it on BookShop

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I’m going to note the author and rating for each of these, but I’m not doing the full paragraph because I’m tired and you’re tired. Hahah.

Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn ★★★/5
Passed the time just fine, but I won’t be reading more in the series.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance ★★★★/5
I have no warmth for Vance, but I did find the concept and information in this book insightful. It’s more memoir than statistical.

When We Were Friends by Jane Green ★★★/5
This was a short story that didn’t really need to be told… if that makes any sense.

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis ★★★★/5
Read this for book club & met the author after we’d finished it. It had been on my TBR list for YEARS. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it wasn’t bad.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay ★★★★/5
A very warm-hearted mild holiday romance that put me in the festive mood.

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee ★★★/5
I wanted to love this… but I struggled with the pace. It also ends with no resolution- partially because it’s based on history and partially because there is a sequel- but I’m not interested enough to continue the series.
*thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley ★★★★/5
Ughhh… I loved the first two Foley books I read, but her latest few have fallen flat for me. This one was okay… but the entire time I was reading it my brain kept comparing it to parts of Nine Perfect Strangers (Moriarty). Plus I figured out nearly all the twists before they were revealed sooo…

Alright, usually I make a whole separate post for the end of the year book review- but this has been the year of neglect and I want to get it all out while I have the time / energy / motivation.

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What I Read… in 2024

I love end-of-the-year posts. And book-related ones are my favorite!

Number Of Books You Read: 23 so far…
Genre You Read The Most: Romance

I will be finishing one more book to hit my goal of 24 in ’24 📚

1. BEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2024?

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

2. BOOK YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT & THOUGHT YOU’D LOVE BUT DIDN’T?

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee (didn’t hate it, just didn’t love it)

3. FAVORITE COVER OF A BOOK YOU READ IN 2024?

4. MOST MEMORABLE CHARACTER OF 2024?

I don’t really have one… Maybe any of The Birds from The Midnight Feast.

5. MOST THOUGHT-PROVOKING BOOK OF 2024?

Hillbilly Elegy – and I don’t say that because I have any type of warmth for the author. I just found it to be an up-close look at life in Appalachia America.

6. SHORTEST & LONGEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2024?

Drop, Cover, & Hold On by Jasmine Guillory – 40 pages
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros – 640 pages

7. FAVORITE BOOK READ IN 2024 FROM AN AUTHOR YOU’VE READ PREVIOUSLY

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

And now the graphs…

And there we have it. Check out my 2024 Book Nook on the blog or visit my Goodreads page for more!

What was your favorite book from 2024?

-Aud