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I’ve waited until the last minute to post this, because I had a few more books to read and hoped they might make this year’s list. Though I haven’t logged as many reading hours as I’d have liked this year, I did plow through a few good books in 2024. Here are my favorites of the year:
Fiction Faves
A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano. Politano has a way of penning captivating mysteries that keep you intrigued the whole way through, unsure of what might happen next. This one is no exception.
Wyndcross by Martha Keyes. This one was a Regency-era freebie that had me trying to find pockets of time to read on busy days when I didn’t really have pockets of time. Though it’s no longer free, you can get it for $4.99 for Kindle!
Tabitha by Vikki Kestell. I downloaded this book for free years ago and finally got around to reading it. Initially, I wasn’t super excited about the subject matter – a woman who was trafficked – but I ended up really liking this redemptive story about a wartime nurse.
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay. Another historical novel, this one about the Cold War and the events that surrounded the fall of the Berlin Wall. As someone who has lived in America my entire life, this book and A Shadow in Moscow reminded me not to take freedom for granted.
Waiting for Sunrise by Eva Marie Everson. This series had been on my list to finish for a long time, and I finally had time to read all three books. I also liked the first book in the series, Chasing Sunsets, and I’ve enjoyed many of Everson’s standalone novels, as well.
The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson. I can always count on Melody Carlson’s annual Christmas reads to be sweet and festive. I think this is something like her 20th Christmas book. I’ve been reading them every year since I was in high school!
Nonfiction Faves
God’s Prophetic Symbolism in Everyday Life: The Divinity Code to Hearing God’s Voice Through Natural Events and Divine Occurrences by Adam Thompson. I’ve utilized Thompson’s dream dictionary The Divinity Code (cowritten with Adrian Beale) for a few years and can’t recommend it enough. This book is a similar type of dictionary, only it’s not just limited to interpreting dreams; it can help you interpret symbolism in your waking life. Do you ever have something happen in your life that is just too weird not to be prophetic? I do, all the time. Whether it’s seeing a rare animal I’ve never seen before multiple times in a given season or meeting new people who all have the same name, it’s too coincidental not to be God! Sometimes you know it’s God but you can’t quite figure out what he’s trying to tell you. This is the book for that.
The Threshold by Craig Cooney. Honestly, everything this guy writes is gold. If you are facing a season of change, feeling like a change might be coming soon, or you just want to be encouraged, read this book. It’s huge, but you can digest it over a period of weeks, like I did.
Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier. I think Shrier hit the nail on the head with this one. As someone who’s spent the last couple years working in a public elementary school, I can attest to so much of what the author shares in this book. Most kids need something different than what they’re getting from the adults in their lives, and this book brings up some very interesting points, citing research to back it up. Did I agree with everything in these pages? No, but I was nodding my head an awful lot as I paged through this one, and I think it’s worth the read if you’re a parent or anyone with kids in your life.
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Casey Means.I wish I didn’t believe Casey Means was right about so much…but I think she is. This book can be overwhelming because it hits on so many unhealthy areas of the modern life, but even focusing on one or two of those areas can make a big difference health-wise. I am inspired to eat more vegetables and get more steps in after consuming this book.
The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names – Their Meanings, Origins, and Spiritual Significance by Dorothy Astoria. I’ve shared before about how God speaks to me through dreams, and I’m always on the lookout for tools that help me interpret those dreams correctly and through a Scriptural lens. This book is a wonderful resource for uncovering the Biblical meanings and spiritual connotations of people’s names. Oftentimes, God reveals things to me in my dreams based on the names of the people in them. I’ve used plenty of secular websites to learn the meanings of various names in the past, but it’s nice to finally have a Christian resource to turn to instead.
To Dye For by Alden Wicker. There is some language in this book and I wish there wasn’t, but this book opened my eyes to how the clothes we all wear could be toxic. (If you’re looking for healthy alternatives, one reliable brand I’ve discovered is Pact – I love their stuff!) I think this is a topic we’ll probably be hearing more about in the years to come.
Turning Sorrow Into Joy by Kent Christmas. I’ve enjoyed listening to Kent Christmas speak for a number of years and I knew his road had been difficult before his name became more well-known, but this book details the backstory the world doesn’t know about when they hear the fiery preacher onstage. If you know what it’s like to walk through trials, this book about a modern-day Joseph will be an encouragement to you.
Victory Decrees by Jennifer LeClaire.I’ve been reading this devotional all year, and I always feel empowered by the short passages and fierce declarations each day provides. It only takes a minute to read each morning, so it’s perfect for anyone with a busy life who still wants to start the day strong.
Faves for Kids
Here are some of the books my students and other kids I know enjoyed this year.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. I liked this book as a kid, and I read a lot of Amelia Bedelia books with students this year while we learned about multi-meaning words. Even the 10-year-olds couldn’t help but smile at Amelia’s antics!
I’m So Blessed by CAIN. I’m a huge fan of CAIN’s music, and now they have an eye-catching book to pair with their hit song “I’m So Blessed.” I wouldn’t recommend this book until you’re familiar with the song, but once you are, it’s a fun way to reinforce the song’s message that we are blessed, even on the bad days, as long as we have Christ.
That’s a wrap on 2024! Now I’m off to enjoy Christmas break (Hallelujah! 🙌) and hopefully a few more good reads before 2025 arrives! Merry Christmas to all!
Hey! I'm Brianna and I'm a millennial. I'm also a reader, writer, God-lover, introvert, and recovering perfectionist. ☺️
I want to inspire millennials to retain their morality, hope, and faith as they transition into adulthood and full-fledged "adult."
