The Gist: Explore my End of Year Book Tag, diving into unread gems on my shelves, and my 2024 TBR priorities!
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After such a long break from blogging, it’s weird to post about the books I want to read before the end of the year. The End of Year Book Tag is a great opportunity to go through all my books and figure out which ones I want to read before the new year. I always rediscover books I can’t wait to read that have been sitting on shelf for what seems like ever!
As always, there are six questions in the End of Year Book Tag. I go out of my way to not duplicate books (that way, there are more books on this list!), even though most of these books could fulfil most of these questions. Click here to read my End of Year Book Tag: 2023!
The End of Year Book Tag was created by YouTuber and poet Ariel Bissett to reflect on all the books readers need and aspire to read before the year is over.
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
All of these books were soft DNFs (did not finish) because I wasn’t in the mood at the time. They’re all books I’ve been anticipating reading and hope to finish before the new year. They’re also a good mix of genres, which suits my mood reader vibe.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
After reading two of Kristin Hannah’s books in the past year and rating them both five stars, I decided it was about time I read The Four Winds, which has been sitting on my shelf for the past three years. I’m a bit nervous about the setting (it’s set during the dust bowl), but I know Kristin Hannah always delivers.
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol 1 by Kent Monkman and Gisele Gordon ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’m really excited to geti into this book, which uses Kent Monkman’s paintings to tell the story of how Canada became Canada – from the big bang to its colonizational – from a Cree perspective.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Imagine my surprise when I discovered Five Broken Blades is nominated for the the Goodreads Choice Award in Fantasy! I’ve been on a fantasy kick recently, so now seems like the perfect opportunity to dig back into this book.
First Love: Essays on Friendship by Lilly Dancyger ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve recently discovered a love for essay collections. They remind me of reading feminist academic journals in grad school – but more accessible. I’m really looking forward to First Love, the first chapter wasn’t what I was expecting but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a five star read.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
Just based on the covers you can tell that these books scream autumnal transitioning into winter – yes, even Spells for Forgetting. I tried to stay away from too much fantasy but all of these books have an element of the fantastical.
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
This is the third book in the A Rip Through Time series, which follows Canadian detective Mallory who gets sucked back into past when visiting her dying grandmother in Scotland. Now stuck in Victorian Scotland, she needs to find a way back to her family but also gets drawn into a series of murder mysteries plaguing Edinburgh.
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve had Spells for Forgetting on my shelf for probably two years now and I need to read it so it’s finally off my conscience. The second chance romance element has been off putting but I’ve heard so many great things about the murder mystery and eerie atmosphere that I haven’t unhauled it.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I realized last winter that I mostly reading historical fiction and fantasy during the ‘ber months, so why not prioritize a historical fantasy? Also the fact that The Familiar is a standalone makes it all the more appealing.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
We’ll just ignore that Godkiller was included in last year’s End of Year Book Tag. I adore its cover and the found family element of this adventurous fantasy sounds amazing.
Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?
I have a few new releases that I’m anticipating before the end of the year. Of course, they’re all romances!
Broken Harbour by Catherine Cowles ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I wasn’t really looking forward to Broken Harbor, but then I read the sneak peak and I’m thinking it could be one of my favourite books in the series! It’s a single mom x professional hockey romance set in a small town (of course) and which has elements of romantic suspense. Catherine Cowles is definitely one of my favourite romance authors right now.
Broken Harbor releases November 19th!
The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rae ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
The premise of this book sounds like the Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum movie, The Lost City. Basically, two idiots who know nothing about the wilderness find themselves lost in a jungle on the run from criminals after witnessing a brutal crime. The Jewel of the Isle sounds like it’ll be hilarious, so I can’t wait til this comes out!
The Jewel of the Isle releases November 24th!
No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I love a good historical romance – it was my most read genre last year (I read 65 of them)! The fact that this book is a blend of enemies to lovers (the Hero is the ex-best friend of the Heroine’s brother), grumpy/sunshine and revolves around a library makes No Ordinary Duchess an anticipated read.
No Ordinary Duchess releases December 10th!
What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
This year, I’ve interpreted this question as which books have been haunting me, yet, for whatever reason, I haven’t picked up. Two of these books have been on my backlist for years, so I’m pretty excited to finally get to them.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve heard great things about this thriller. Pretty Girls follows Claire after a recent crime reminds her of the disappearance of her sister 20 years ago. As she digs into these disappearances, Claire starts to unearth shocking truths about her sister. Also, just heads up, there are a lot of warnings out there that this book is brutally descriptive, so check out the content warnings before reading!
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
While a sci-fi, The Deepy Sky is also a mystery. A space ship has left Earth with the mission to find a liveable planet as Earth is on the brink of an environmental disaster. Yet, someone doesn’t want their mission to succeeed; a lethal explosion kills three and sets the ship off course. The protagonist is tasked with investigating as she’s the only surviving witness and wants to avoid being considered a suspect herself.
Hild by Nicola Griffith ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Hild became a hyperfixation back in August when I saw it out of the corner of my eye while leaving a bookstore. It really shows how important covers are because I hunted down the book the next day online and once I learned the book follows an observant girl in seventh century Britain, whose observations are so wise they’re considered prophetic, as she becomes her kings official seer. It seems like it’ll be a denser historical fiction but I’ve really been enjoying those books that centre maligned historical women figures (see Joan by Katherine Chen).
Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?
Circe has been on my backlist for six years (!!!) so it would be a shock if I picked it up before 2025. Obviously, it’s about time I do, and from what I hear, this is a feminist mythological retelling I must read.
Looking back at my favourite reads throughout 2024, I’ve noticed that a common theme is commentary on the meaning of good and bad and how thin the line between the two can become. Circe would fit right in amongst these favourites, so hopefully it does become a new favourite of 2024.
Have you already started making reading plans for 2025?
I have! I recently started work which has significantly reduced my reading time. As a result, I’m thinking my reading goal will be around 200 books in 2025. Also, I’m planning on being more intentional rather than aspirational with my reading challenges next year. It’s no fun posting my monthly TBRs – which have been centred around these goals – and only reading 1-2 books. I also want to dive back into doing a reading journal, which I think will be a lot more feasible and give me another hobby that isn’t centre around technology (I need to rest my eyes after staring at a screen all day).
Before you go, read last year’s book tag!
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