Every Book I've Read So Far in 2024 Reviewed in One Sentence
& how I've progressed on my reading goals.
I’ve read 21 books so far this year. Here’s a little overview I’ve put together of my reading stats before we dive into the reviews:
Now, on to the reviews!
*You can get to the Storygraph page of each book by clicking on the cover!
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
I’ve never read a book that so accurately and wholly captures the experience of all kinds of love (self love, familial love, friendship love, romantic love) in relation to disability, chronic illness, and ableism.
Galatea by Madeline Miller
An incredible short story adapted from a Greek myth of an ivory “milk-white” statue carved by Pygmalion coming to life; I was struck by the commentary on female illness, female bodies, and female agency, and (more implicit) chronic illness and the medical system.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
One of the most interesting and relatable explorations of the conflict between religion and (neuro)science that I’ve ever read.
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
I really appreciated the concept of the book and how the format was geared towards neurodivergent minds, but I didn’t find the advice very helpful as someone who lives by myself.
Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson
A beautiful and thoughtful collection of poems written in varying poetic forms about the author growing up as a young Black girl.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
I surprisingly really loved this cozy adult fantasy about a South Asian witch who finds herself teaching three young witches how to control their magic.
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
Although I was a bit iffy on some of her advice, I overall enjoyed this collection of deeply personal and relatable letters and responses from advice column “Dear Sugar.”
The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
I was immediately blown away by the way Lorde captures the medical system’s treatment of women of color, and this book has since become a great inspiration for my own writing.
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
I love that the author wrote this romance novel as “a love letter to eldest daughters of immigrant parents,” and that the romance and the character development of both protagonists were equally fleshed out and compelling.
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
A beautiful and honest book about a young, queer, Asian American boy attending an ultra-competitive high school with dreams of being an artist (“wait. is this play about me?”) that made me cry more than once.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
An incredibly engaging and personal memoir about a former child actor’s experience with eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her abusive mother.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A gripping, intense, and dark young adult fantasy novel that I couldn’t put down—centering themes of rebellion, friendship, and independence.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
An incredible and (almost) equally engaging follow-up to the first novel in the series, with enough plot twists to make you dizzy.
I was incredibly disappointed by this (too lengthy) book and the way it catered to wealthy capitalists, and I found most of the recommendations the author made remarkably opinion-based and nonsensical—especially given that the author is an acclaimed sociologist.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
I had a difficult time getting through this sequel; there was too much going on, not enough character development, and not enough humor/lightness to get me through the constant stress and fear of death.
Disability Intimacy edited by Alice Wong
I loved that this collection covered all different types of intimacy and love from an array of disabled perspectives; however, although many of the essays were incredibly beautiful and engaging, I found almost an equal amount to be less strong and a bit confusing.
The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown
Although I appreciated the rare black queer disability representation and thought the book had a lot of potential, I found the central relationship incredibly underdeveloped and the conflicts frustrating and toxic.
When My Ghost Sings by Tara Sidhoo Fraser
This was one of the most beautifully written memoirs I’ve ever read, centering a ghost as an extended metaphor for the author’s past self and memories before she loses both as a result of a stroke in her early thirties.
The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford
I loved this upcoming YA contemporary about two disabled queer teens—a young girl who loves to sing but suddenly loses most of her hearing & a young aro/ace soccer star with dreams of being on Broadway—figuring out how to accept and embrace who they really are.
Heartstopper, Vol 5 by Alice Oseman
Another lovely addition to this series; it was both comforting and heartbreaking to see Nick and Charlie support each other through their various struggles and grow stronger in their relationship, and to see such a popular series tackle issues of body image and eating disorders.
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
A truly incredible novel about a Palestinian American woman exploring themes of motherhood, trauma, intergenerational trauma, and female identity in a culture and society that devalue it.
And that’s all the books I’ve read so far this year! It’s been an even mix of hits and misses so far, and I’m going into the second half of the year hoping for a much higher percentage of enjoyable reads.
I’d love to hear your favorite/least favorite books of the year so far in the comments, and if you were inspired to read any of the books I mentioned in this post!