End of Year Book Survey: 2024

Overview: Reflecting on my 2024 reads with the End of Year book survey! From favourites to surprises, see how my reading year shaped up. Discover the books that stood out—and the ones that fell flat.

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Despite how much work this post takes each year to create, I love how the End of Year Book Survey encourages me to reflect on the books I read in 2024 and makes those reflections more digestible than numbers on a page.

For 2024, I decided to forgo the slideshow format and exclude the questions about blogging. You can see my 2022 End of Year Book Survey to compare.

Once again, I’m posting the End of Year Book Survey using the questions from last year to examine the books I read in 2024 in more detail. These questions were taken from the survey’s creator, Jamie, at Perpetual Page-Turner.

If you want a compiled list of the prompts, I’ve listed them in the toggle below:

Survey Prompts

Question #1: How many books did you read in 2024?
I read 334 books in 2024! See below to read my 2024 Wrap Up.

Question #2: A book you were excited about and thought you would love more but didn’t.
The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden ❃ Add on Goodreads
I eagerly anticipated the release of The Wickedness of a Highlander, obsessively checking for updates as I adored the previous two books in the series (and read most of the author’s backlist while waiting). Instead of a romance, we got a reverse Cinderella, where the Heroine learns to be a maid, which is far from the romantic escapism I want in a historical romance.

Question #3: Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read.
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer ❃ Add on Goodreads
Blood & Steel was a KU gem I stumbled upon that delivered far more than just romance. I loved the complicated family dynamics between sisters, the realistic relationship between the protagonist and her love interest (grounded in respect!!) and the lore of why women went from being equal fighters in this world to not being allowed to even touch a weapon. Honestly, though, the heroine’s personal growth and her friendships stood out even more than the love story, which was surprising for a romantasy.

Question #4: A book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did).
The Women by Kristin Hannah ❃ Add on Goodreads
It makes sense that the book I told the most people to read, The Women, is also one of my favourite books of 2024. However, this is the first year that so many people have taken my word for it, and every person – across generations – has adored this book.

Question #5: What’s the best series you started in 2024? Best sequel? Best series ender?
Malice by John Gwynne ❃ Add on Goodreads
2024 was the year of John Gwynn. Four of my 12 favourite books of the year were written by him, and three of those books were from his The Faithful and the Fallen series. I selected Malice because it’s the first book in this series and is the definition of an epic fantasy hero’s journey. 

Question #6: What favourite new author did you discover in 2024?
A Blackened Bond by Isla Davon ❃ Add on Goodreads
Another win for KU, I discovered Isla Davon through my great Kindle algorithm. The Blackened Blade series starts with such a great premise and, despite being a reverse harem romantasy, is driven by the heroine’s personal growth and the mystery surrounding how she got to the magical academy she finds herself in. I cannot wait for the third book in the series, which I hope will come out this year.

Question #7: Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera ❃ Add on Goodreads
If 2024 taught me anything, romance and fantasy are my go-to genres. But I keep trying to get into mystery & thriller novels. Listen for the Lie reaffirmed that I love mystery thrillers with social commentary, plus its podcast element and unapologetically unlikable main character were fantastic.

Question #8: Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Barbed Wire Heart by Tess Sharpe ❃ Add on Goodreads
Honestly, Barbed Wire Heart could also count as the hidden gem of the year and most surprising because I randomly picked this up to fill a reading challenge prompt, and it has ended up being one of my 5-star reads of 2024. It’s another example of a strong woman in a very toxic patriarchal setting who basically outsmarts everyone and has a lot of fun doing it.

Question #9: A book you read in 2024 that you would most likely re-read next year?
Burning Embers by Katie May ❃ Add on Goodreads
I planned to (and did) re-read Burning Embers in anticipation of the release of its sequel, Roaring Flames. Katie May is a staple reverse harem romance author. I’ve read her books for nearly a decade, and they’ve always been hit-or-miss.

Question #10: Your favourite cover of a book you read in 2024?
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore ❃ Add on Goodreads
The Pumpkin Spice Café was a total cover buy. The book? Mid. The cover? Stunning.

Question #11: Your most memorable character of 2024?
The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne ❃ Add on Goodreads
No contest, it’s Orca from The Hunger of the Gods. Nothing beats a vengeance-driven mother cutting down her enemies.

Question #12: What was your most beautifully written book read in 2024?
Joan by Katherine J. Chen ❃ Add on Goodreads
I was so impressed by Katherine Chen’s writing in Joan, a historical retelling of Joan of Arc. Her ability to capture Joan’s whimsy and terror in her youth and her tribulations as she grew into a young woman in war-torn France was so well done. I also appreciated the commentary on the fine line between spirituality and politics, as who was considered touched by God was often determined by court favourites.

Question #13: What was your most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2024?
How to Think Like a Woman by Regan Penaluna ❃ Add on Goodreads
How To Think Like a Woman wasn’t life-changing, but it was validating—reading about sexism in academia and imposter syndrome hit close to home.

Question #14: A book you can’t believe you waited until 2024 to finally read?
The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne ❃ Add on Goodreads
Yet another book by John Gynne, The Fury of the Gods, was the eagerly anticipated conclusion to his Bloodsworn Saga. While my least favourite of his books, it was a satisfying conclusion. I seriously loved Orka.

Question #15: What is your favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2024?
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow ❃ Add on Goodreads

I hope you will find the cracks in the world and wedge them wider, so the light of other suns shines through; I hope you will keep the world unruly, messy, full of strange magics; I hope you will run through every open Door and tell stories when you return.

Question #16: A book that shocked you the most?
The Will of the Many by James Islington ❃ Add on Goodreads
The Will of the Many delivered epic world-building, commentary on colonialism, an intricate magic system, and a plot twist ending that turned everything on its head. The sequel, The Strength of the Few, is my most anticipated release for 2024!

Question #17: One true pairing (OTP) of the year?
Head Over Heels by Karla Sorensen ❃ Add on Goodreads
The only answer to this question is Ivy and Cameron from Head Over Heels. I think Karla Sorensen has written her best couple yet – she did an amazing job illustrating why opposites attract work. Cameron is the definition of ‘if he wanted to, he would,’ and Ivy is a badass who is finally learning to stand up for herself and chase her dreams.

Question #18: What is your favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray ❃ Add on Goodreads
I loved Eleanor and Mary’s relationship in The First Ladies for its nuanced portrayal of class, race, and the enduring friendship between two historical figures. I appreciated that the authors showed how their friendship went through peaks and troughs, but because of the effort they put into their relationship, their friendship stood the test of time.

Question #19: What is your favourite book in 2024 from an author you’ve read previously?
Ashes of You by Catherine Cowles ❃ Add on Goodreads
I initially found it odd to answer this question with a book not in my Top 3 of 2024. But in the interest of not repeating books in this survey and recognizing there’s only one book I read five times in 2024 the obvious choice was Ashes of You. This was the final book in the interconnected standalone romantic suspense series Lost & Found. It’s a single parent x nanny romance that leans a bit more heavily on the romantic suspense, and obviously, I loved it.

Question #20: What is the best book you read in 2024 based solely on a recommendation from somebody else, peer pressure, Bookstagram, etc.?
Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter ❃ Add on Goodreads
I need to get better at tracking where I discover the books I read. I don’t remember where I heard about Ripe first, but I know that BookTuber Syd from Syd BookWorrom raved about it. I’m so glad I picked it up – it’s not my typical genre, but despite its very dark content, I found Ripe incredibly well-written and timely.

Question #21: What is the best 2024 debut you read?
Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee ❃ Add on Goodreads
I’m still shocked that Blood Oath is Morgan B. Lee’s debut novel. This is another excellent KU reverse harem romance find with a strong FMC that is the opposite of a damsel in distress. She is mission-oriented (which is a bit of a mystery) and doesn’t even let the men she’s falling for get in her way. If you love psycho love interests and “who did this to you?” moments, it’s a must-read.

Question #22: What is the best world-building/most vivid setting you read this year?
Blood Feast by Vela Roth ❃ Add on Goodreads
Blood Feast is the ninth book in the Blood Grace series, and I’m amazed at how Vela Roth continues to expand her world, even with most books exceeding 500 pages (and many reaching 700+). Her rich world-building, layered political intrigue, religious lore, and intricate magic system make this a romantasy world I’ll never forget.

Question #23: What is a book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey ❃ Add on Goodreads
Tessa Bailey has become my go-to for fun, lighthearted romance, and Fangirl Down was a standout, even though most readers did not agree. I loved the rare OTT Heroine trope and a heroine who knows what she wants.

Question #24: What is a book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2024?
A Crown This Cold & Heavy by Stacia Stark ❃ Add on Goodreads
Kindle Unlimited delivered again with A Crown This Cold and Heavy, the third Kingdom of Lies book. The series improved with each installment, and by book three, I was emotionally wrecked—not just from character deaths but the raw portrayal of war’s impact. Bonus: it features a rare, well-developed couple dynamic after they get together.

Question #25: Hidden gem of the year?
The Taming of a Scandal by Kathleen Ayers ❃ Add on Goodreads
To determine my hidden gem of the year, I took a data-driven approach by selecting my highest-rated read with the least reviews on Goodreads. I found The Taming of a Scandal—a standout in an otherwise average historical romance series. I loved its twist on traditional tropes, following a duke’s daughter who carved her own path and fell for a vengeful man from the wrong side of society.

Question #26: A book that crushed your soul?
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey ❃ Add on Goodreads
One book that crushed me emotionally was The Last Love Note, a romance centred on grief, where the heroine meets the love interest while her husband is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The love story took a backseat to realism, grief, and moving on, making it a heavy and somewhat depressing read, but I still gave it 4-stars.

Question #27: What is the most unique book you read in 2024?
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi ❃ Add on Goodreads
Homegoing was by far the most unique book I read, following generations split by chattel slavery. Each short, powerful chapter explores the impact of colonialism, imperialism, and racism through the perspective of a family member in a new generation.

Question #28: A book that made you the most mad (doesn’t mean you didn’t like it)?
Under a Northern Sky by L.L. Meyer ❃ Add on Goodreads
Despite enjoying Under the Northern Sky‘s Heroine and romance, the excessive sexual violence subplot and the hero’s complicity in a toxic, patriarchal society made this book deeply frustrating.

Hello, 2025!

Question #1: One book you didn’t get to in 2024 but will be your #1 priority in 2025?
Beartown by Fredrik Backman ❃ Add on Goodreads
With hockey season in full swing, Beartown has been on my mind, especially after seeing it on so many favourite lists from my go-to BookTubers. I know I’ll love it—the story and writing are right up my alley—but I’ve been hesitant to start because of its heavy themes.

Question #2: What book are you most anticipating for 2025 (non-debut)?
Crescent Kingdom by Tessa Hale ❃ Add on Goodreads
The release of Crescent Kingdom is less than six months away, and I’ve been counting down since reading the sneak peek. Tessa Hale’s writing improves with each series, and I’m hyped to see how she develops her characters and relationships in this paranormal reverse harem romance featuring a Heroine on the run from her dark past!

Question #3: What 2025 debut are you most anticipating?
When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin ❃ Add on Goodreads
Most of my anticipated reads aren’t debuts, but When Sleeping Women Wake caught my eye. A historical fiction about women separated by class and war (set during the Sino-Japanese War) sounds right up my alley, especially after loving The Women by Kristin Hannah.

Question #4: A series ending/sequel you most anticipate in 2025?
The Strength of the Few by James Islington ❃ Add on Goodreads
I can’t wait for The Strength of the Few after The Will of the Many’s cliffhanger. Islington completely upended everything we thought we knew, and I’m eager to see where he takes the series next.

Question #5: A 2025 release you’ve read and recommend.
Roaring Flames by Katie May ❃ Add on Goodreads
Roaring Flames didn’t fully meet my expectations, but it still earned 3.75-stars. It’s a reverse harem paranormal fantasy where the heroine unravels the secrets of her supernatural town—but refreshingly, without any unnecessary rivalry between the Heroine and supporting female characters.

In Conclusion

I really enjoyed filling out all these prompts by Jamie at Perpetual Page-Turner. I’m definitely hoping to do more Book Tags in the future!

So far, 2024 is looking to be a great reading year with some awesome releases, and I’m hoping for some more intentional reading and blogging on my part.