Top Ten Tuesday is a listicle created by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was created from a love of lists, books and creating bookish friends. Each Tuesday she assigns a new topic for others to join in with. Here is where you can learn more information about Top Ten Tuesday. Ad/Affiliate – Some of these books have affiliate links, you can read my disclaimer here.
I haven’t done a Top Ten Tuesday prompt in a while, so I am excited to complete this one. I started off the year reading a book I didn’t enjoy much which put me in a bit of a slump. After this, I decided to focus more on the quality of books rather than the quantity. So if I didn’t like it, I would move on to a different book. In total, I managed to read 34 books which I’m very happy with as my original goal was 25 books. This year I read more non-fiction books than I have any other year, will that continue in 2025?
I hope everyone had a lovely festive season, and are feeling good about the New Year. To be honest, I do get the January blues as there isn’t much going on. I’m sure a lot of people feel this way, especially after the Christmas period. I’ve been writing down things to look forward to, and trying to enjoy the little things.
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Storygraph synopsis:
Nisha Cantor and Sam Kemp are two very different women. Nisha, 45, lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband inexplicably cuts her off entirely. She doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in. That’s because Sam – 47, middle-aged, struggling to keep herself and her family afloat – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. Now Nisha’s got nothing. And Sam’s walking tall with shoes that catch eyes – and give her career an unexpected boost. Except Nisha wants her life back – and she’ll start with her shoes . . .
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
I really like Jojo Moyes’ writing, and so I put this book on reserve as soon as I could. In all honesty, I can’t fully remember what happened as I read it in February, but I do remember adoring it. It had a strong female friendship theme which I always enjoy.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Storygraph synopsis:
Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work “her own darling child” and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen’s radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
After Pride and Prejudice being on my TBR list for ages, I finally read it! I enjoyed the book and found it much easier to read compared to Emma. It is such a classic, and it felt like quite a calming read. I received Sense and Sensibility for Christmas so I am excited to start reading that.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Last Time We Met by Emily Houghton
Storygraph synopsis:
It takes tragic circumstances for Fin to come back into Eleanor’s life, but everything has changed since the last time they met. Is it too late to mend their friendship? Or is there a chance they can keep some of the promises they made? Aged thirteen, best friends Eleanor and Fin are inseparable. Convinced it will always be this way they make a pact – to go to university together, always live near each other, and if they’re both single at 35 they’ll get married. Eleanor and Fin haven’t spoken in fifteen years. Life has run away from them and they’re both far from where they’d dreamt of being all those years ago. TWO DECADES ONE PROMISE
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
As with the previous books I read in 2024, I thoroughly enjoyed Last Time We Met. I loved it so much that I was reading it on my phone during breaks at university! Friends to lovers doesn’t always work, but these two really worked well together. I particularly enjoyed the flashback scenes which help you piece the story together.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You Have a Match by Emma Lord
Storygraph synopsis:
When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.
But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.
When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents — especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.
The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.
But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
This book was my favourite book of the first half of 2024, it just had all the components for a brilliant book! I tend to avoid teenage-era books because I really did not enjoy my teenage years, but this added to the story rather than being the focus. The DNA plot drew me in and I would really recommend it if you like reading the combination of family/relationship development, as well as a bit of romance.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
Storygraph synopsis:
Sasha is well and truly over it all: work (all-consuming), friendships (on the back burner), sex life (non-existent). Sasha has hit a brick wall.
Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga and find solitude, she heads to the Devon resort she loved as a child. But it’s off-season, the hotel is falling apart and now she has to share the beach with someone else: a grumpy, stressed-out guy called Finn. How can she commune with nature when he’s sitting on a rock, watching her? Especially when they don’t agree on burnout cures. (Sasha: manifesting, wild swimming, secret Mars bars; Finn: drinking whisky.)
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
I am such a fan of Sophie Kinsella’s writing so I knew I would love this, and it was right up my street. Ironically, I was also burnt out when I was reading it so it was a lovely break from my university work. I enjoyed reading about Sasha becoming more connected with herself, as well as solving a little seaside mystery.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
Storygraph synopsis:
At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet paper. She could quit her job for a better living, but she’s not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm with no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she’s got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.
When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and a storybook-perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can’t believe this is real—especially when she looks in the mirror, and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she’s always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she’ll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens was my favourite book that I read in 2024! Although it’s a fiction book, it really resonated with me and changed the way I think about my life. Often I have felt like I want to skip to the ‘good part’ of my life. This book reminded me to live in the now and that you need to go through the hard or confusing parts to get to who you are later on.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Storygraph synopsis:
Award-winning journalist Dolly Alderton survived her twenties (just about) and in Everything I Know About Love, she gives an unflinching account of the bad dates and squalid flat-shares, the heartaches and humiliations, and most importantly, the unbreakable female friendships that helped her to hold it all together. Glittering with wit, heart and humour, this is a book to press into the hands of every woman who has ever been there or is about to find themselves taking that first step towards the rest of their lives.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
This book has been on my TBR for a while after hearing lots of good things about it. I really enjoyed it, and this book has made me realise I want to read more surrounding life in your 20s. It focused quite a bit on drinking which I didn’t really relate to, but otherwise, it was a great read. I couldn’t put it down!
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gardeners’ World Top Tips by Louise Hampden
Storygraph synopsis:
Top Tips is a charming accompaniment to the daytime Gardeners’ World strand that collects the most fascinating and useful hints and tips from 40 years of Gardeners’ World, to help you make the very best of your garden.
Divided into chapters covering Flowers, Food, Containers, Design and a miscellaneous ‘Something For the Weekend’ section, Top Tips will teach you how to make the most of classic British blooms, how to propagate exotic plants in our cool climate, the pots to plant them in and the food they’ll need to help them grow. It will help you make the most of small gardens and tackle wide open spaces, to attract ladybirds and slugs as an organic army to fight flies and aphids, and grow the plumpest, juiciest fruits and vegetables on your doorstep.
All this is presented in a classic, elegant format, with fine line drawings illustrating the snippets of invaluable gardening know-how that will make the perfect gift for your green-fingered friends to dip into.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
This is a completely different genre of book compared to the others that I read in 2024. I had to include this book because it gave me so many great gardening tips, and I read it in one sitting! It would be a great gift for a beginner gardener.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Storygraph synopsis:
After losing her parents, young Mary Lennox is sent from India to live in her uncle’s gloomy mansion on the wild English moors. She is lonely and has no one to play with, but one day she learns of a secret garden somewhere in the grounds that no one is allowed to enter. Then Mary uncovers an old key in a flowerbed – and a gust of magic leads her to the hidden door. Slowly she turns the key and enters a world she could never have imagined.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
I really enjoyed this book and found it very relaxing. This is such a classic book, so I’m happy to have read it and would like to buy my own copy.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Storygraph synopsis:
You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right.
Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
I love the concept of Hygge and have tried to incorporate parts of it into my life. I bought this book a few years ago in a charity shop and I’m so glad I did. I’ve read bits of it over the years but decided to read it from the start while writing my dissertation. It was such a welcome break to read it and has made me want to think further about what aspects I can replicate.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage by Sheila Norton
Storygraph synopsis:
Cliff’s End Cottage is a local landmark. Perched on the South Devon coast, its garden has begun slowly toppling into the sea, yet the elderly and infamously stubborn owner Stella refuses to leave her home. When Holly, a young journalist and single mum struggling to make ends meet, decides to interview Stella about her life, at first she’s given short shrift. However, helped by a slice or two of cake and a couple of friendly cats, a tentative friendship begins to develop between the two lonely women.
Stella and Holly may live different lives, but over the cold winter nights, as Stella shares her story, the two women discover more and more in common. Time is running out for the house on the edge, but perhaps, together, Stella and Holly can find a new way forward.
Blackwells* | Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books
What I thought:
This book has got to be in my top 5 best books I read in 2024! I came across it at the library and originally picked it because I thought it was a Christmas book. It isn’t but I could not put it down so read it very quickly. I’ve noticed that my favourite books are always ones that have an age-gap friendship, and it was something I loved in this book as well. It was also great to have flashback chapters as they set the scene and told Stella’s life so well.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐.75 – It would have been 5 stars but I took 0.25 off for a couple of mistakes.
What were your favourite books read in 2024?
Caroline ♡
I need to try to read another Jane Austen books (I love them as movies/TV), and also more Emma Lord books (Tweet Cute was fun). I’ve also been curious about Jojo’s books for a long while now, but haven’t ever read one. Maybe in 2025! I also hear great things about Sophie’s books, too. Thanks so much for visiting my list today!
I tend to watch them before reading as it is easier to follow the plot! Thank you for visiting 🙂
Congratulations!!! You are a lot of awesome books last year. I’ve only have read Pride and Prejudice, and The Secret Garden from your list. Hope you’ll read my awesome books this year.
Thank you! I will definitely take a look 🙂
What a brilliant round up. Some of my favourite authors are featured in your list. I read many of the same books as you as well as the Hunger Games AGAIN! I also enjoyed the Housemade trilogy
Rosie
https://www.loverosiee.co.uk
Thank you Rosie!
“Gardeners’ World Top Tips by Louise Hampden” caught my eye immediately, I’ll definitely be looking out for that one! And good to see a couple of old favourites (Pride & Prejudice and The Secret Garden) as well. I re-read all my Hilary Mantel books last year, and got heavily into Cassandra Clare as well. Lots to look forward to in 2025 now. 🙂
It is such a good book! The Hilary Mantel books look really interesting 🙂
Pride and Prejudice is a classic and it’s one book I am yet to read! I like the sound of the other books you read in 2024. I hope you get to read more books this year, Caroline!
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I would recommend! Thank you Lucy x
Ha ha. I love that you deducted points for mistakes. I read a lot of books last year. I think my favourites were Firekeeper’s daughter by Angeline Boulley, and The Maid and The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose.
This is a great range of books you read last year, there are a few that I think I would like to try out. During 2024, I ended up reading a bit less than I had hoped, but there were some really great books thank included, Weyward by Emilia Hart, ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, and The Women by Kristin Hannah!
This is a great round up. I am in awe that you move on to different books if you aren’t enjoying your current read, I don’t know why, but I always feel like I HAVE to finish a book once I’ve started it, and sometimes it’s really hard work when I don’t like it.
I love the variety that you have picked out here. I instantly thought Winter At Cliff’s End Cottage was going to be a Christmas book due to the cover. I love a good Festive story. Good to hear it was still enjoyable, I might have a look into this one.
Thanks so much for sharing!
What’s on your to-read list for this year? Looking forward to finding out.
Sally :o)
After watching the movie It Ends With Us, I figured I should go read the book. I don’t know why, but if I read a book first, then it becomes better than it’s movie adaptation. But if I see the movie first, I almost always like the movie more than the book. Is that just me?
This is such a lovely mix of books! I hadn’t thought of the Secret Garden for years but your review has made me want to revisit the story again! 😀
Thank you! Aww
That’s awesome you read 34 books in 2024! These all sound like fantastic books, and even though Pride and Prejudice is a classic, I haven’t read, but I should one day. I’m also intrigued by You Have a Match.
Thank you!
Happy to see you enjoyed Pride & Prejudice! I used to read it once a year. I also enjoyed The Burnout and The Good Part. And I’ve never read The Secret Garden. I should make that happen! Happy reading.
Thank you!