Book Talk Etc.’s Best Books of 2024: Our Favorite Reads of the Year

Summary

Book Talk, Etc.'s Best Books of 2024: Our Favorite Reads of the Year

Hosted by Tina (@tbretc) and Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)

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Introduction

In the culminating episode of 2024, hosts Tina from TBR Etc. and Hannah from Hand Picked Books delve into their top book picks of the year. As passionate Midwest readers with a penchant for new releases, they share insightful discussions, personal anecdotes, and a curated list of their favorite reads. The episode not only highlights standout books but also offers a glimpse into the hosts' reading habits and the vibrant community they've built around their shared love for literature.

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Patreon and Community Engagement

Early in the episode, Tina introduces listeners to their Patreon platform, encouraging fans to join their membership for exclusive content. For just $5 a month, supporters gain access to all bonus materials, past and present, including two bonus episodes, a recorded live event, and invitations to their Discord server and Facebook group. Tina enthusiastically outlines upcoming Patreon-exclusive events, such as "Niche Novels," bookstore browsing sessions with Sea Witch Books in Virginia, and "Book Talk After Dark," a relaxed chat segment. Additionally, the monthly community read, "Home Seeking" by Carissa Chen, is highlighted as an opportunity for listeners to engage in a text-based book club experience.

Notable Quote:

“Each month you'll get access to two bonus episodes and one recorded live event, as well as invites to our BTE Discord server and Facebook group.” – Tina [01:39]

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Reflecting on the Year’s Reading Journey

The conversation shifts to a reflection on their reading accomplishments in 2024. Hannah shares a humorous anecdote about a sticker on her computer that reads, “just try not to fuck it up,” emphasizing the pressure and distractions while reading. Both hosts discuss their reading volumes, with Tina admitting she capped her reading at 1.3 books per month due to a busy December, while Hannah proudly reveals having several five-star reads within the last month of the year.

Notable Quote:

“Sometimes it’s nice to have the last few days of the year to plan your 2025 reading or plan your next year.” – Hannah [03:20]

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Loving Lately: Personal Favorites Beyond Books

Before diving into the book list, each host shares their “Loving Lately” segment, discussing personal items they've cherished throughout the year. Tina enthusiastically talks about her Dyson Airwrap, a high-end hair styling tool, describing its functionality and her excitement over purchasing the new model to replace her overheating original.

Notable Quote:

“This is stupidly expensive. I truly, like, have been thinking about...” – Tina [05:33]

Hannah counters with Loop earplugs, a thoughtful gift from her brother, praising their effectiveness in reducing ambient noise without obstructing important sounds, making them ideal for sensory-sensitive individuals.

Notable Quote:

“They’re hearing protection for concerts and festivals... but also helpful for clearing out outside noise.” – Hannah [08:35]

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Superlatives and Top 10 Best Books of 2024

The heart of the episode revolves around the hosts’ curated superlatives and their top 10 best books of 2024. Each category is thoughtfully discussed, with Tina and Hannah sharing personal reflections and detailed analyses of why each book earned its spot.

1. Best Cover

   • Tina: "Allow Me to Introduce Myself" by Anya Wabanelli stands out with its vibrant teal color and striking close-up of a young woman in a colorful head wrap. Tina appreciates the vivid, almost graphic-novel-like illustration that immediately drew her attention.
   • Hannah: "Mave Fly" by CJ Lead, despite Tina’s humorous disdain, Hannah praises the busy and striking cover that perfectly encapsulates the book's essence.

   Notable Quote:

   “It is like having noise-canceling earbuds, except you can hear the important things.” – Hannah [08:38]

2. Best Debut

   • Tina: "Dixon Descending" by Karen Uten is lauded for its heartfelt portrayal of two brothers aspiring to summit Mount Everest, blending ambition with familial bonds.
   • Hannah: "Eyes Are the Best Part" by Monica Kim receives accolades for its unique horror elements and memorable characters, marking a strong start for the author's career.

   Notable Quote:

   “This one is being on our list because it does so much. This is a story of two sisters who have very different trajectories in their life.” – Tina [40:25]

3. Biggest Disappointment

   • Tina: "Everyone is Watching" by Heather Gudenkopf falls short with a lackluster reality TV tie-in, failing to meet her high standards despite her attempts to appreciate it.
   • Hannah: While not elaborated in detail, Hannah echoes similar sentiments of disappointment with specific titles like "Blue Sisters" and "All This and More" highlighting books that didn’t resonate as expected.

   Notable Quote:

   “This one was the worst. I don't know, maybe my standards are too high with that.” – Elise [22:08]

4. Best Title

   • Tina: "Margo's Got Money Troubles" by an unnamed author is celebrated for its uniqueness and memorability, standing out among conventional titles.
   • Hannah: "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Hartman is commended for its unforgettable title that encapsulates the book’s dystopian themes.

   Notable Quote:

   “It's a really striking cover. I called it a cartoony, too.” – Tina [19:07]

5. Best Literary Fiction

   • Tina: "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore is praised for its deep character development and intertwining mystery, set against the backdrop of a camp in the Adirondacks.
   • Hannah: Although she briefly mentions it, Hannah aligns with the high regard for this book, emphasizing its compelling narrative and rich character arcs.

   Notable Quote:

   “Some of these characters, I would have read entire books just about them and their lives.” – Hannah [38:25]

6. Best Historical Fiction

   • Tina: "Stealing" by Margaret Verbel captivates with its dual timelines and poignant portrayal of an indigenous girl's harrowing experiences in a boarding school.
   • Hannah: Shares enthusiasm for the book’s gripping narrative and emotional depth, highlighting its success in blending historical facts with thrilling elements.

   Notable Quote:

   “It has two timelines, and you're following the past timeline with the present timeline as the past catches up to the present.” – Hannah [43:07]

7. Best Post-Apocalyptic

   • Tina: "The Light Pirate" by Lily Brooks Dalton is lauded for its stunning writing and impactful storytelling, despite initial resistance to finish it.
   • Hannah: Complements Tina’s assessment, noting the book’s ability to evoke deep emotional responses and its relevance to climate fiction themes.

   Notable Quote:

   “It took me forever, but I did annotate it because I was, like, so hooked.” – Tina [55:48]

8. Best Debut Author

   • Tina: "These Impossible Things" by Salma El Wardani is recommended for its memorable characters and profound exploration of friendship among British Muslim women.
   • Hannah: Echoes enthusiasm for Wardani’s unique voice and the book’s suitability for book club discussions, appreciating its multifaceted themes.

   Notable Quote:

   “She really uses her story and her family's story as like the catalyst for everything else.” – Hannah [31:16]

9. Best Mystery/Suspense

   • Tina: "Rental House" by YK Wang is highlighted for its intricate narrative structure and the authentic portrayal of family dynamics, despite mixed reactions within her community read group.
   • Hannah: Appreciates the book’s deep dive into marital and familial relationships, commending its storytelling finesse and character relatability.

   Notable Quote:

   “It's a story of two sisters who have very different trajectories in their life.” – Elise [40:39]

10. Best Dystopian

    • Tina: "James" by Percival Everett receives high praise for its satirical retelling of "Huckleberry Finn" from an enslaved man's perspective, blending humor with sharp social commentary.
    • Hannah: Agrees wholeheartedly, calling it the standout book of the year and acknowledging its widespread acclaim.

    Notable Quote:

    “It's satire and it's just freaking brilliant. I did the audio. I really liked the audiobook for this one.” – Tina [59:06]

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Top 10 Best Books of 2024

1. Same as It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
Hannah's top pick, this novel explores the complexities of marriage through the lens of Julia, a woman navigating postpartum struggles and midlife challenges. The book resonates deeply as Hannah relates to Julia's unlikable traits yet acknowledges her inherent humanity.

Notable Quote:

“I felt some of those things. But I also know that I have been very unlikable in many seasons of my life. And I think that it was just an experience to grapple with that and to understand that that doesn't make someone a bad person.” – Hannah [61:14]

2. Open Water by Caleb Azuma Nelson
A profound love story that transcends traditional romance, "Open Water" delves into the lives of two individuals confronting personal hardships while finding solace and struggle in their relationship. Its beautiful prose and emotional depth make it a favorite among listeners.

Notable Quote:

“It is a love story. It's definitely not a romance, but it is a love story.” – Hannah [56:50]

3. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
An intricate historical novel set in Victorian England, "Fingersmith" follows Sue Trinder as she becomes entangled in a grand deceitary scheme alongside a group of fraudsters. Its layered narrative and shocking twists leave a lasting impression.

Notable Quote:

“This book is so incredible. I don't want to tell you much more than that. It's set into the three different parts, I believe.” – Tina [51:12]

4. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman
A dystopian vision explored through a group of women navigating a desolate world, this novel stands out for its philosophical undertones and contemplative storytelling. Hannah praises its impact and thought-provoking themes.

Notable Quote:

“It's VERY philosophical, it’s VERY slow moving... it's thoughtful and intentional.” – Hannah [30:00]

5. God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Celebrated for its deep character development and intertwining mysteries, "God of the Woods" is a literary suspense novel set at an Adirondack camp. The narrative’s multi-perspective approach adds to its rich storytelling fabric.

Notable Quote:

“The way it was pieced together and the kind of depth of the characters involved in the story are what really worked for me.” – Hannah [46:14]

6. Stealing by Margaret Verbel
This historical fiction piece masterfully combines dual timelines and a child’s perspective to recount the traumatic experiences of an indigenous girl in a boarding school. Its gripping narrative and emotional resonance earn it a coveted spot.

Notable Quote:

“She didn't feel out of her age, but it wasn't hard to read or didn't feel immature.” – Hannah [43:34]

7. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks Dalton
A stunning blend of climate fiction and dystopian themes, "The Light Pirate" follows Wanda's journey in a Florida ravaged by climate change. Despite initial hesitation, Tina and Hannah applaud its beautiful writing and impactful storytelling.

Notable Quote:

“It will make you cry, will give you a glimmer of hope, even though it's super bleak.” – Tina [56:03]

8. These Impossible Things by Salma El Wardani
Highlighting the strength of female friendships within the British Muslim community, this novel is lauded for its memorable characters and profound exploration of faith, love, and femininity. Its suitability for book club discussions is particularly noted.

Notable Quote:

“They’re about their friendship and how their friendship gets tested and it’s about faith and love and, and femininity and country of origin and it’s just so incredible.” – Tina [47:17]

9. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A sweeping narrative that traces the divergent paths of two sisters and their descendants, "Homegoing" delves deep into themes of slavery, heritage, and resilience. Its compelling storytelling and historical scope make it a standout.

Notable Quote:

“It’s a story of two sisters who have very different trajectories in their life.” – Tina [40:25]

10. James by Percival Everett
A satirical retelling of “Huckleberry Finn," this novel offers a fresh perspective by focusing on James, an enslaved man navigating his narrative amid historical tensions. Its sharp wit and intelligent commentary have garnered widespread acclaim.

Notable Quote:

“It’s satire and it’s just freaking brilliant. I did the audio. I really liked the audiobook for this one.” – Tina [59:06]

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Conclusion and Future Plans

As the episode draws to a close, Tina and Hannah express their gratitude to listeners for a wonderful year of podcasting. They reflect on the diverse range of books discussed and the enriching conversations they've shared. Looking ahead, the hosts tease exciting plans for 2025, including collaborative episodes where they might read each other's favorite picks, fostering even more dynamic discussions within their community.

Notable Quote:

“I have so many books, I'm like, dang it, I want to get to those because we have similar reading tastes.” – Tina [63:04]

The episode wraps up with warm farewells and a reaffirmation of their commitment to growing the book-loving community. Listeners are encouraged to follow the podcast, leave reviews, and join their Patreon for exclusive content, ensuring the continuation of vibrant literary conversations in the new year.

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Key Takeaways:

• Diverse Selections: The top 10 list spans genres from dystopian and historical fiction to literary suspense and climate fiction, showcasing the hosts' eclectic tastes.

• Deep Character Focus: Many of the highlighted books emphasize profound character development and complex relationships, resonating deeply with the hosts.

• Community and Engagement: The podcast fosters a strong community through their Patreon platform, live events, and interactive book clubs, enhancing listener engagement.

• Reflective and Personal: Personal anecdotes and honest reflections on reading experiences add depth to the discussions, making the recommendations feel genuine and relatable.

This episode serves as an excellent guide for book enthusiasts seeking quality reads in various genres, backed by thoughtful analyses and passionate endorsements from two dedicated hosts.

Transcript

[Hannah]

I have a sticker on my computer at work that is like a little kitty being cute by a rainbow and it just says just try not to fuck it up. And I have that just sitting there staring at me while I work.

[Tina]

I love that. Yes, I would laugh if I came by your desk and I was like what do we have here? Welcome to Book Talk Etc, A podcast bound to grow your tbr. I'm Tina from TBR Etc.

[Hannah]

And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books.

[Tina]

This is a conversational podcast about books and more from two Midwest Mood readers who are easily distracted by new releases. And today we are talking about our favorite books of 2024.

[Hannah]

If you enjoy listening, we'd love for you to follow us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. And if you have a quick minute, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on social media. It truly helps us connect with other book lovers.

[Tina]

Everyone, as we enter 2025, we wanted to take the time to invite you to join us on Patreon. Patreon is an online membership platform that gives you a way to financially support Book Talk, et cetera. And for $5 a month you get access to all of our bonus content. It's not just current content or new content, you get access to all of our backlist content as well. And each month you'll get access to two bonus episodes and one recorded live event, as well as invites to our BTE Discord server and Facebook group. And we also host a monthly community read on our Discord, which is like a text based book club without the pressure of being on camera. And we've got some great things planned.

[Elise]

For the new year.

[Tina]

We're going to do niche novels, another installment of that where Hannah and I share overly specific book recommendations. Our live event is going to be bookstore browsing with Sea Witch Books in Virginia. And the bookstore browsing is when we talk to booksellers about the bookselling experience and our patrons get some tailored book recommendations. We will also do a Book Talk After Dark, which is more of a relaxed, unstructured chat where Hannah and I get on the mic and talk about something that's been on our mind, something literary or not. And then our January community read is Home Seeking by Carissa Chen. It's a nice chunky saga and I've heard it's going to make you cry. If this sounds like something you're interested in, we'd love to have you join us. Head to patreon.com booktalk etc or look for the Link in our show notes. Thank you so much for your support. Hey, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Hey, Tina.

[Tina]

Happy New Year.

[Hannah]

Happy New Year.

[Tina]

How exciting. I know we're dropping this on New Year's Eve.

[Hannah]

Yay. And we're talking about our favorite books of the year.

[Elise]

I know it wrapped up really nicely.

[Tina]

To have New Year's Eve the last.

[Elise]

Day of the year, on a Tuesday.

[Tina]

Although I will say in my head, I'm like, fantastic.

[Elise]

I get all of this time off to read and maybe I'll squeeze one more Best of the Year book in.

[Tina]

And I did not. I've not done that. My reading has been mediocre in December at best. But I'm good. I'm going to call my reading year now, setting it at 1:30.

[Elise]

That's how many books I've read. I don't need any more books this year. I'm going to start a few and.

[Tina]

Carry them into 2025, which is not like me, but that's where I'm at with my reading.

[Elise]

What about you?

[Hannah]

That's so exciting. And I think it'll be fun. Elise, I don't know about you. I know for me, sometimes it's nice to have the last few days of the year to like plan your 2025 reading or plan your next year. Really get into it because I feel like sometimes I don't spend time planning because it's time I could spend reading. But if you're done reading, then.

[Tina]

Right.

[Hannah]

So fun to plan. My reading month in December has actually been fantastic. I've really been like, just reading whatever I want. I've had several five star books in December. So, yeah, it's really. It's been really great. I'm still gonna. I'm gonna carry them over and I might. Yeah, I think. I think I might carry them over and still call my reading now. But it's been great to have a few winners at the end of the year.

[Tina]

What do you mean, carry them over? You'll count them in 2025. No, you'll count them for your goal this year.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I'll count them for my goal this year, but I haven't talked about any of them on the podcast yet. So.

[Tina]

Yeah, I see.

[Elise]

Same.

[Hannah]

I still want to be able to.

[Tina]

I know that's the thing. I have some books that I've read in December that I'm like, I'm obviously going to want to bring this to the podcast. But then it feels weird because I'm.

[Elise]

Like, I read this back in December, now it's February.

[Tina]

This book is stale. Even though it's not. Books don't expire. But in my. I'm like, well, yeah, now in my brain, I'm like, I have to share all books I read in 2025, which is not true.

[Elise]

And one of them I'm sharing today is in my top 10 that I've.

[Tina]

Not shared on the show before. So that's very.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. That is exciting. I almost did that, too. But I'm. I'm stoked to hear you talk about it.

[Elise]

Me, too.

[Tina]

I'm excited to finally share it. So we will begin kind of normally, as we always do, with loving lately. And my loving lately is one that I. It's so expensive. And if you know me, I am a girl that is on a budget. I like to save a dollar. John thinks I'm so ridiculous sometimes because I'll always be like, I got it at the thrift store. Oh, I got it for on sale. And he's like, okay, got it.

[Elise]

But this is the one area in which I splurge, and that's on my hair.

[Tina]

Because my loving lately is my Dyson Airwrap. And this has been around for a while now. But it is this combination tool that curls your hair.

[Elise]

It dries your hair.

[Tina]

You can straighten your hair with it, and it takes your hair from damp to fully dry and styles it at the same time with no extreme heat. That's, like, the selling point, I will say. When I actually wash and do my hair and I share something online, a lot of people are like, your hair looks great. What did you do?

[Elise]

How did you curl it?

[Tina]

Whatever.

[Elise]

And so this is the secret. It is the Dyson Airwrap.

[Tina]

This is stupidly expensive. I truly, like, have been thinking about.

[Elise]

It because what has happened is my.

[Tina]

Original one that I got in 2018. It was the first model. Jonathan bought it for me for Christmas.

[Elise]

It is dying. She's dying.

[Tina]

She's overheating. She'll stop in the middle of styling. And I'm like, I can't. I have this amount of time to do my hair. You can't stop working midway, so.

[Hannah]

And you have thicker hair, don't you?

[Elise]

I have a lot of hair.

[Tina]

It's so long, and there's so much of it, and I just could take all day if I'm using this one. So I've decided. We did it this morning. I bought the new one, and I'm so excited. And I use it every week, cost per use. John's like, just buy it. Like, you love this thing. You've Been using it for years. Just do it. So what I'm excited about though is now the new model. Right now when I'm using it, I.

[Elise]

Have to switch attachments to do both sides of my head to do the opposite side.

[Tina]

This one you don't have to switch. It like reverses on its own. And the wand is longer and I have really long hair.

[Elise]

And so I was like trying to get it on this little wand. Anyway, all of this to say, I don't know if this is interesting to.

[Tina]

Anybody, but I wanted to share. I'm delighted. I can't wait to get my new one in the mail. And I bought it through Ulta, which is also where I get my hair like cut and everything.

[Elise]

And because I'm a diamond member there.

[Tina]

I got about $80 in points, you know. So I'm like, no, that's great.

[Elise]

Listen to me trying to justify. Anyway, it's very expensive, but I freaking love it.

[Tina]

I'm so happy with it. So my loving lately is my Dyson Airwrap.

[Hannah]

No, you. I mean, you've talked to me about your Dyson Airwrap. And anytime I've been like, oh, your hair looks fantastic. You're like, I used my Dyson.

[Tina]

Use my Dyson today.

[Elise]

This is a straight option.

[Tina]

Because it wouldn't work. I only got could do half my hair. So the rest of it kind of just dried anyway. It's a whole thing.

[Hannah]

No, but your hair looks great.

[Elise]

Hey, thanks.

[Tina]

I know we're both on break right now. I was like, Hannah, look at you. She's got makeup on. She's like fully, you know. But I'm like, you're well, well rested.

[Hannah]

Well, my secret is that I really only ever when I do myself up, it's eyebrows and mascara. So I'm really setting the bar nice and low. Anytime I put on mascara, my 6 year old is like, mom, you look so pretty today. And I'm like, well, yeah, I, you know, I put on just a little mascar and did my eyebrows for you.

[Tina]

Amazing, right?

[Hannah]

There you go. So my loving lately is actually something that my brother got me for Christmas. And it is something. I have a couple of friends that use these as well. And it is the loop earplugs. Have you heard of these?

[Tina]

Oh my God, yes. I know exactly what they are. I don't have them. No.

[Hannah]

Okay, well, I can confirm. So my brother has been trying to get me to get these for forever. And it's just one of those things I've never purchased. They're not that expensive. They're about 27, 28 on Amazon. And he finally put it in my Christmas box for the holiday. And they are these. They're kind of. They look really nice. Like they're aesthetic, actually. And it's hearing protection for. I think it's marketed as like, hearing protection for concerts and festivals, live events, musicians, et cetera. I am not doing that as much these days, but. But what it's great for is if you are someone who has like a. If you're like a sensory person or you live in a house that is very loud, or you just need some help sometimes on those days to like clear out the outside noise. These are really helpful. What's great about them is I can put these in if I am working and I can't hear all of the extra noise. But like, if my kids call for me, I can hear them. Or if I'm sitting and having a conversation with someone, I can hear them. But you don't hear all of the, like, outside noise. It's really hard to explain, but it's like having noise canceling earbuds, except you can hear the important things. Like you can hear.

[Tina]

Amazing.

[Hannah]

Yeah, it's really, really cool. I put them in during Christmas and I couldn't hear like the cocoa melon on the tv and I couldn't hear the conversation that was happening way in front of me. But I could sit and talk to my brother and my husband and I could hear them. I just didn't hear all of the extra. So if you're someone who's like, I can't listen to five conversations at once. And I really struggle in a big group because I'm trying to listen to the table next to me and I can hear the coco melon and I can hear whatever. These would be such a good option. I'm really excited to continue using them. And that is the loop earplugs.

[Tina]

I got mine in rose gold. Oh, I love a rose gold. I feel like that's the perfect option for. For like you said, folks that are, you know. Cause like, even right now, and I'm like struggling to just focus on you talking to me in my ears. Cause I can also hear there's a.

[Elise]

Little Christmas music playing somewhere upstairs.

[Tina]

I hear the baby upstairs.

[Hannah]

It's hard.

[Tina]

You kind of can hear these other things that are distracting. What a good gift.

[Hannah]

Yeah. And I love a. I love an affordable option too. It's nice to have those, like, everyday staples that are in the, you know, 25 to $30 range.

[Tina]

So I thought they were way more expensive for some reason. So I'm delighted to hear that.

[Elise]

Speaking of family parties where there's lots.

[Tina]

Going on, kind of ties nicely into.

[Elise]

Our latest read, which is a joint latest read.

[Tina]

It's Rental House by YK Wang.

[Elise]

And this was our community read for our book talkers group on Patreon.

[Tina]

And we just had our discussion last night. It's so funny.

[Elise]

Every time we do these discussions, I'm.

[Tina]

Like, I wonder if anybody else read it. And then all of a sudden 6:30 comes and people are coming and chiming in.

[Elise]

So this one's about Caro and Nate.

[Tina]

And they are college sweethearts who marry despite their family differences.

[Elise]

Caro comes from a strict Chinese immigrant.

[Tina]

Family and Nate's family is from Appalachia.

[Elise]

They're white and a working class family. They met in college and have been together for years. And they're mostly happy though, as they enter midlife, they're taking stock of everything and wondering like, hey, is this it?

[Tina]

Like, how. How are we doing? And what I love about the story is that it's told and we come to know the couple via vacation houses. And they've got sort of three separate sections.

[Elise]

The first is a beach house in.

[Tina]

Cape Cod that they rent out for a month.

[Elise]

And they invite her parents for a.

[Tina]

Week and his parents for a different week. And they're separate because they don't exactly get along. And the book is about them as they navigate their family.

[Elise]

They take care of their giant sheepdog.

[Tina]

And they sort of look into family politics and entertaining unexpected guests. And they tackle questions of how do you cope when your spouse and your.

[Elise]

Family of origin clash?

[Tina]

How many people or dogs does it take to make a family?

[Elise]

And when the pack starts to disintegrate.

[Tina]

What can you do to shepherd everyone back together? So, Hannah, what did you think of this one?

[Hannah]

I think that this might be our favorite community read that we have done. Yeah, I really liked this one. I. Yeah, I. I really, really liked it. I gave it 4.5 stars. What about you?

[Tina]

I enjoyed it a lot. I gave it 4 to 5. But for me, I'm a girl that enjoys it. I love a long book.

[Elise]

I want to really sink in.

[Tina]

And I feel like I might have liked this even more if I got some of their home life, like when.

[Elise]

They'Re not on vacation.

[Tina]

But I know that's not the story. And I. It just felt abrupt. The ending, I'm like, oh, no, that's it. Because the ending was abrupt. Great. There was this really good scene at the very End. And I'm like, oh, now it's over. Okay. But I really liked it. I was surprised that it was polarizing in our group in some ways, but the critiques were very fair and it's.

[Elise]

Interesting now as we've been doing these.

[Tina]

Community reads for a while, I'm coming to know some of our patrons tastes and like, I can see why people didn't like certain things. I think by and large a lot of people said that they found Caro and Nate unlikable. And I laughed. Cause I'm like, they didn't strike me as unlikable at all.

[Elise]

They were flawed.

[Tina]

But now that you say that, okay, fair. I can see what you mean by that.

[Hannah]

Sure. Yeah. I really liked the structure of this one. I do enjoy books that play with structure a little bit. And so although I think I would have enjoyed seeing some of their home life, like as a reader for enjoyment purposes, I think I would have loved that because I love character driven stories. I do like that she really wanted to kind, kind of give us a glimpse of their relationship and dynamics, like through this really specific context. And so I thought that that was kind of cool. And I do think that some things were being hinted at, like with Nate's mental health or with Carew's mental health, but it wasn't explicitly said. It was just kind of something that definitely probably impacted their relationship and some of the arguments that they had. But I liked that it wasn't explicitly discussed because a lot of times in the relationships and in real life they aren't discussed. But it does impact your relationship. And so I kind of liked that. Very true. Like some of the arguments that Nate and Caru had, I was just like, that's a very real argument. And they are both being silly gooses. But you've been there.

[Tina]

But you've been there. They are very real characters. They felt very authentic to me. Even their parents.

[Elise]

And someone had mentioned that the parents.

[Tina]

Were both very sort of almost stereotypical. But then I was thinking, well, I've met at least the Midwestern family. I'm like, yes, this tracks really hard. I've met them. And I was less sort of interested in Caru and Nate as individual people.

[Elise]

And more interested in what the author.

[Tina]

Was saying just about marriage and long term marriage and midlife and not having.

[Elise]

Children and being very conscious in that choice.

[Tina]

And I loved what she said about interracial marriage and sort of there's this scene at the beach that was so incredible for me. And I'm like, oh my God, it.

[Elise]

Like made me reflect on ways that.

[Tina]

I've interacted in similar situations. So I thought this was so good.

[Elise]

The storytelling is really taught. She does a.

[Tina]

She's a really good. I don't know how to explain it. Her writing is just solid and it's almost funny in quirky. Like the characters have these odd quirks and I'm like, hello, what is this about? And you don't really get much spoon fed to you. But I like that. I like that a lot of. Like you were saying, a lot of.

[Elise]

The like impact was left unsaid, but.

[Tina]

Still very much a prevalent part of the story. I thought the length was great for this time of year. I will say that I finished this in two days. I did.

[Elise]

The audio. Audio was really well narrated.

[Tina]

But I do highly recommend this one. I think it was really interesting and, you know, kind of a quick read.

[Elise]

That tackles family and I think it's.

[Tina]

Very relatable to a lot of people.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Now I agree with everything you said. I noticed in the chat yesterday you had mentioned that you had read her other book, Joan is okay. How do you think that compares with this one?

[Tina]

I didn't care for Jonah's okay as much I seem. It was truncated. It's a shorter story. And so again, I like to sink in a little bit more.

[Elise]

Joan is okay.

[Tina]

She's a doctor and it took place during a pandemic. And that's about all I can recom remember. Cause I think it did come out in 2021 maybe. I thought this one was much stronger for me.

[Hannah]

Okay, cool. Good to know. I know Joan Is okay has been on my TBR for a long time, but it's definitely one of those books that. That's on more of my ephemeral tbr.

[Tina]

Right.

[Hannah]

Like, it's not. I don't. I don't own it, but I have been curious about it. So I was just curious after hearing you mentioned that you had read it.

[Elise]

I did.

[Hannah]

What your thoughts were comparing the two.

[Elise]

I would like to read her book Chemistry.

[Tina]

I know that was her debut and I've not read that one, but she's an author. I'd try again for sure this one.

[Hannah]

Okay. Well, good to know.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Tina]

And this one was Rental House by Wyke Wang.

[Hannah]

Good pick.

[Tina]

Now it's time.

[Elise]

It is time.

[Tina]

So we in real time, have not spoken to each other, you know, verbally in well over a week, which is too long. Typical. So, yes, we're like chomping at the bit to get on the mic and have some Conversation. So before we dive into our favorites.

[Elise]

Of the year, the Best of the.

[Tina]

Best, which is a lot. I mean, we have both read combined.

[Elise]

What is it?

[Tina]

About 220 books.

[Elise]

Like, that's insane.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that's a lot.

[Tina]

With a. With only a few titles that overlap. So these are going to be the best of the best. I don't think we'll have any overlap. I would be surprised. But before that, I want to do some superlatives that I kind of suggested, because I love a good superlative. The first one that I had suggested was the best cover.

[Elise]

And I'm very curious to see which one you really enjoy, because I know.

[Tina]

Like, you're interested in that and design.

[Elise]

My favorite cover was Allow Me to.

[Tina]

Introduce Myself by Anya Wabanelli. And this one I just loved. It's about the daughter or the stepdaughter.

[Elise]

Of a mommy blogger who grows up.

[Tina]

And no longer wants to be exploited by her family. And the COVID is teal and, like, this really rich green. It's definitely one of my favorite colors.

[Elise]

And it's this closeup of a young woman's face, and she's in this beautiful, colorful head wrap.

[Tina]

And it's just really striking. I remember that as one of the reasons why I read it, because I'm.

[Elise]

Like, ooh, what is this cover about?

[Tina]

Like, give me some more information. So allow me to introduce myself for best cover.

[Hannah]

Yeah. And it has that, like, almost cartoony. Not. Not cartoon. How do I describe it? Like. Like graphic novel. Like that graphic. That graphic look. Anyway, it is a really striking cover.

[Tina]

I called it a cartoony, too. And then I was like, it's not a cartoon, but it's like.

[Hannah]

Exactly.

[Elise]

It's not.

[Tina]

Not a. It's very vivid. It's a very vivid drawing. It's not sort of muted.

[Hannah]

Yeah, agreed. For my favorite cover. So for my superlatives, these are just books that I read this year, so I didn't do same. Okay, cool. Yeah, I didn't do, like, came out in 2024 necessarily. These are just from the books that I read. My favorite cover was Mave Fly by CJ Lead. This creepy. And it's really busy, and it's really striking. Like, I can actually picture every part. If I close my eyes, I can picture every part of that cover.

[Tina]

I hate it. I actually hate this cover. I hate it so much.

[Hannah]

Oh, I love it.

[Tina]

The teeth aren't in directions that make sense to me. I don't enjoy them. There's an eyeball. I can't. There is an eyeball it definitely gives you, you know what you're getting when you pick this book up.

[Hannah]

It's perfect for the book that it is. I'll say that.

[Tina]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Okay. What's your next superlative?

[Elise]

My next superlative is best debut.

[Tina]

And I had a lot to choose.

[Elise]

From on this list.

[Tina]

I have a few favorites.

[Elise]

I do a couple different favorite books of the year list.

[Tina]

And the one I want to spotlight is Dixon Descending by Karen Uten. This one's about two brothers who aspire to be the first two black American men to summit Mount Everest.

[Elise]

And this one is heartfelt and heart pounding.

[Tina]

It's so good.

[Elise]

And I'm excited to see what else.

[Tina]

This author will bring to the table down the line.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I remember hearing you talking about this earlier this year and I did try it at one point and then I, I kind of like didn't mean to not finish it. It was just one of those ones I started and didn't pick back up. But I was really early on and it's definitely one that I want to like intentionally pick back up, especially after hearing you talk about it. Cause it sounds like one that I would really enjoy.

[Tina]

I think you'd like it.

[Hannah]

Yeah. My best debut that I have is the Eyes Are the Best Part by Monica Kim, apparently. Eyes, you know, eyeball, whatever. But this was really, really unique. And yeah, just one of the more unique horror books that I read this year to the point where I think about it often. And it also has a really striking cover. Horrible cover. Great cover, depending on how you think about that. But I still think about this book all the time. And I'm really excited to see what other books that this author comes out with.

[Tina]

That's one that I wanted to read. Hey, maybe that's what I do in my self imposed. I'm done reading for the year is I read books that you've read.

[Hannah]

That's a good idea.

[Tina]

All right, so for biggest. But that's a great idea. There's some awesome titles in there. Okay. Biggest disappointment for me is Everyone is.

[Elise]

Watching by Heather Gudenkopf.

[Tina]

I don't even think I brought this to the show because I disliked it so much. And this one I grabbed one. I don't. I think I've only read if I've.

[Elise]

Read any by the author.

[Tina]

It might have been one.

[Elise]

And it was a while ago, so wanted to try her again. And it's about a reality TV tie in.

[Tina]

Like there's these characters that go to compete on a reality show.

[Elise]

I still search for a reality TV tie in. That really is a slam dunk.

[Tina]

I've only read a handful that are even good.

[Elise]

I've read a bunch that are disappointing. This one was the worst.

[Tina]

I actually read like 4 reality TV.

[Elise]

Tie in books this year and they.

[Tina]

Were all disappointing and this one was the worst. I don't know, maybe my standards are.

[Elise]

Too high with that.

[Tina]

But.

[Elise]

Yeah, didn't care for that one. That was.

[Tina]

Everyone is watching.

[Hannah]

Heather Gudenkopf, have you ever read Patricia Wants to Cuddle?

[Tina]

Oh, that one's fabulous. That book is out of this world. Weird. And so good.

[Hannah]

It's so good.

[Tina]

It's so good.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I read that one. I read that one too. And it also has a reality TV tie in.

[Tina]

Yes, that's right.

[Hannah]

But that one is so weird that, like, it works. It doesn't try to do anything. I don't know.

[Tina]

Exactly. No, it's so weird and, like, so out there. It's like a thing of its own.

[Elise]

It's not.

[Tina]

It didn't feel derivative, like boring, like, oh, I know where this is going. It's like. What?

[Hannah]

Yes, agreed. Okay, what's our next. Oh, wait, no, I have to go.

[Tina]

You tell me. You better share. You're just listening again.

[Hannah]

I am. So I've already talked about this book, so I'm going to kind of mention it as like an honorable mention. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors was disappointing for me, but I feel like we've brought that one up a lot, so I wanted to mention another one, which is all this and More by Peng Shepard. I've really enjoyed this author in the past. This was one of our community reads over the summer, and it was on my summer bonanza, and I was really disappointed by it. I don't think it was a bad book per se, but I really was hoping for more, especially with the, like, choose your own adventure kind of setup. I ended up getting so frustrated by that element that I just read it straight through and. Yeah, I don't know, that one was a big bummer. I think that this author has really creative ideas and sometimes they work and sometimes they're just too out there.

[Tina]

I actually almost picked this one too, because I just read it as well for a community read.

[Elise]

And I was so excited.

[Tina]

I think you brought it to my attention in the beginning. And I was like, this sounds so amazing.

[Hannah]

And I was like, yeah, it does.

[Tina]

Yeah. What was that one called again?

[Hannah]

All this and More.

[Tina]

All this and More Puncture. Okay, this one. I don't know if you know what I meant, but Best title.

[Elise]

Like, the title that you enjoyed the most.

[Tina]

Like, the actual words of it. Okay. Like, does that make sense?

[Elise]

But this one for me is Margo's Got Money Troubles.

[Tina]

And the reason I pick it is because it's so unique and it's memorable. I don't like character names and titles typically, because I never remember them. I'm like, oh, this?

[Elise]

Who is this about?

[Tina]

What do I care about them? But for this one, Margo's Got Money Troubles. It's just so. It's just so stands out. Like, I just. It's a good title.

[Hannah]

But anyway, the COVID is good, too. Like, the COVID is striking.

[Tina]

Great.

[Hannah]

So funny.

[Tina]

That one's my fave.

[Hannah]

I really want to read that book, especially after hearing you talk about it on Brett's podcast.

[Elise]

You should.

[Tina]

I feel bad for you that you've not read it, because it's great.

[Hannah]

You know, it's a short one, and I'm trying to read more books.

[Tina]

It's very good.

[Hannah]

Okay. So my favorite title of all the books I read this year was I who have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman. That's just such a great title. You can't not remember it. And, yeah, I loved it. And it's also such a good book.

[Tina]

So. So, yeah, that's one that I gotta read.

[Elise]

Maybe I'll squeeze that in. Who knows?

[Hannah]

Yeah, you might be hearing about it later, but.

[Tina]

You might.

[Hannah]

Oh, you might.

[Tina]

You might.

[Elise]

Oh, good.

[Tina]

Okay. All right. So we'll get into our lists then. And a fun fact about my list.

[Elise]

Maybe this is not that fun for.

[Tina]

People, but I had so many debuts on this, but not 20, 24 authors. Of the 10 that I'm bringing, I have one. Seven are debuts. Isn't that weird? Wow. That's seven of their debuts.

[Hannah]

Great stats.

[Tina]

I'm like, how about that?

[Elise]

I just noticed it as I'm reading.

[Tina]

Because, you know, I'm starting. The thing that most people do naturally is like, oh, an author.

[Elise]

I enjoyed their book. What else have they written?

[Tina]

I started doing that. I'm like, wow, this is their only book. Or it is a book that. That it was their debut and they have other things since then, but.

[Hannah]

Cool. Well, shall we get into it?

[Tina]

Shall we get into it? Should we kick it off? Okay.

[Elise]

I will tell you about my first one. It is if We Were Villains by ML Rio.

[Tina]

And this, if I'm doing superlatives, would.

[Elise]

Be my biggest surprise. I can't believe that I enjoyed this one as much as I did.

[Tina]

I picked this up when I was.

[Elise]

Recovering from Gallbladder surgery.

[Tina]

And I just needed something that I knew was going to hook me. I don't actually. To that end, I don't know why I grabbed this one. I think I was trying to read for our episode the Dark Academia, and it opens with a character reflecting back.

[Elise]

On his time in college.

[Tina]

And I was like, okay, I really like that setup. And he's talking to a detective.

[Elise]

So, you know, there was a crime.

[Tina]

Lo and behold, I think I was just gonna sample it.

[Elise]

And all of a sudden I'm into the book, I'm into the story.

[Tina]

The characters, they're college kids at a Shakespeare conservatory, and they're so pretentious and just perfect college people.

[Elise]

And then something really, really bad happens.

[Tina]

And they have to deal with the ramifications. I thought this one was just a great novel, just a fantastic ride, and I loved it.

[Elise]

That's if we were villains.

[Tina]

ML Rio, I was surprised to see.

[Hannah]

This on your favorites list. I knew that you had liked it a lot, but I didn't know that it really was that impactful for you. So that's great. And I love when it's for a really specific episode that we did too, because you never know with those.

[Elise]

Yes.

[Hannah]

You know, so exciting. Okay, so my number 10 is the lost Story by Meg Shafer. And I was kind of surprised that this ended up on my list because I was, you know, putting my list together and bumping things up and down and. And trying to figure it out and. And similar to what you had said with Biggest Surprise, this one really surprised me with just how much I loved it. This is a book that was inspired by C.S. lewis's the Chronicles of Narnia. It's a portal fantasy. There's a bit of a mystery. It was. It's a fairy tale for adults. And I just really liked how nostalgic it made me feel. It was really beautifully written. There's a really tender and sweet love story in it between two of the main characters. And this one just really made me feel things. And I was surprised by that because it's kind of like a lighter, you know, fairy tale for grownups. So I wasn't really expecting that from this one. And it really surprised me in a really good way. And that's the Lost Story by Meg Shafer.

[Elise]

I'm so glad that major list. And for some reason, like, when I think about who Hannah is as a.

[Tina]

Reader that, like, books like that stick out to me, like, that's what I think of mixed with the totally messed up stuff like Mayfly, like That's like your. It's, like, sweet. You're like a sour patch, kid. Sweet and sour patch. Not your personality, your reading life, your reading taste. Mine's like. Mine's like a Werther's original. I'm, like, the most. I've gotten really into literary fiction this year, and, like, I'm like, I love it, though. I'm reading these books, and I'm like, people are gonna think this book is so flipping boring, and yet I'm riveted, so.

[Hannah]

But other people are, too. I mean, you know, I think that there's a reason why literary fiction books, too, are the ones that win awards and stuff. I mean, is this the. Are you coming around to being an award book girl?

[Tina]

I. I think I am. I don't know. Who can say? There are some.

[Hannah]

I'm so excited to hear about your reading in the upcoming year.

[Tina]

Well, yay. Now I'm nervous. No, I think 2025 is definitely going to be a new release year because there are so many good ones coming. It's like, oh, there are so many of my favorite authors are coming out with new books. I'm like, I'm feeling anxious.

[Hannah]

Literally.

[Elise]

Literally anxious.

[Tina]

Same.

[Hannah]

Oh. So, okay, well, let's hear about your next one.

[Elise]

My next one is not boring.

[Tina]

This is a wild book. It's the Paper palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. I know you read it, and thank you to you and Renee because both of you loved this. And I'm like, all right, fine. Let me give it a whirl. And I finally picked this up when it was Thanksgiving.

[Elise]

I was cooking, and I'm like, I.

[Tina]

Need a book that's going to hook me. And I was reading it again. I had posted a poll on my Instagram asking which book people wanted me to hear me talk about.

[Elise]

This one won by a landslide.

[Tina]

And I was so surprised by that. So I picked it up, got past the dragonfly scene and fell in love with it. And I thought this one was so good. It's about a woman, and she is.

[Elise]

At her family house, her family vacation home, and she's dealing with her residual.

[Tina]

Feelings for her best childhood friend and grappling with that. And this book, you know, goes into the past and talks about what happened.

[Elise]

When they were kids, and then it.

[Tina]

Goes back to the present.

[Elise]

This one is dark.

[Tina]

It is disturbing. But I can't stop thinking about it.

[Elise]

And I loved it.

[Tina]

So.

[Elise]

Paper Palace. Miranda Cowley Heller.

[Hannah]

Yeah, Cosign. I. I read that a few years ago, and I still think about it all the time. So it is. Definitely sticks with you.

[Tina]

I would pay her a little bit of money to write an epilogue. I want to. I want more.

[Hannah]

Oh, yeah. Give me a little bit of what happens next.

[Tina]

I'm a girl that loves reading a lot. I'll take a full book, too. I don't care.

[Hannah]

Okay, so mine is. I did decide to go with this one, and this is one that I haven't talked about on the show before, but I loved it. And it has been one that. I don't think this is because of recency bias. I just can't stop thinking about it. The Indifferent Stars above by Daniel James Brown. This is a nonfiction journalistic account of the Donner Party, which was a famous party of people who did the Oregon Trail. I'm not using my words. Very cannibals.

[Tina]

There's cannibals.

[Hannah]

But, yeah, it was. And that wasn't reluctant cannibals. There is some. It's a really interesting story. I don't want to spoil anything, but he really does a ton of research and really uses all of their journals, and he actually ends up following one character. I say character. This is a real person. One person in history named Sarah Graves. And she really uses her story and her family's story as kind of like, the catalyst for everything else. And she is one of the survivors of the Donner Party. And what was really cool about this book, too, is that he really does focus on the women and how. I mean, the women were some of the last to die. They were some of the people who, like, made the decisions that ended up allowing some of them to survive. And he really does focus on a lot of that, and it's just kind of cool about how resilient we are, specifically women and what we'll do to protect our children. And, yeah, really wild adventure horror story that actually happened. And that was the Indifferent Stars above by Daniel James Brown.

[Tina]

Oh, I can't wait to read that one.

[Elise]

I. Yeah.

[Tina]

And I don't mean to minimize what happened, but, you know, I think that's.

[Elise]

The association when you hear that.

[Tina]

At least when I hear it, I'm like, oh, that's.

[Elise]

Something happened, you know?

[Hannah]

Yeah, something happened. And a pretty wild story. He also, like, ties in some other fun survival tidbits of, like, you know, when. When certain things would be happening, he'd be like. And here's this other story of, like, the similar thing that happened, that kind of, like, confirmed, firm, different, like, scientific facts of what happens when your body does X or Y. It was just really, really interesting.

[Tina]

My holds can't come in quick enough for this. I would love to read it.

[Hannah]

Yeah. So good.

[Tina]

I have a question for you. It ties into my number eight. Have you read We Used to Live Here yet?

[Hannah]

No.

[Tina]

Poor Hannah is getting browbeaten.

[Hannah]

I gotta read it.

[Tina]

You gotta read it.

[Elise]

My number eight is We Used to.

[Tina]

Live Here by Marcus Klur. And this one, I will never forget my reading experience. It's one of my favorite, like, podcast memories of that. I was so creeped out while reading.

[Elise]

This because it's about a family that.

[Tina]

Comes to the home or comes to.

[Elise]

A person's house and is like, hey, we used to live here.

[Tina]

Can we come in and take a look around? And stuff goes completely haywire. And as I was reading the setup, somebody came to my door with like, very suspicious things.

[Elise]

Asked.

[Tina]

I think they were solar panel people. But I was so creeped out that I called the cops. Cause I'm like, are these legit people or somebody casing my house? But it was all kind of set.

[Elise]

I was primed to have that reaction.

[Tina]

Because of this freaking book.

[Elise]

This one's better if you don't know much going in.

[Tina]

It's horror. It's off the wall. It's so incredible. I thought this was great. I had a really good time with it. I'm excited for the adaptation. I have no clue in this world how they're going to do that, but.

[Elise]

I will be interested to see it.

[Tina]

This one's We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kluwer.

[Hannah]

I have a lot of books to catch up on and to catch you up on and to say that I've read them. I'm really excited to read this though, and I have been since I heard you first talk about it.

[Tina]

So it's a goodie.

[Elise]

It's a goodie.

[Hannah]

I'll have to get to that. My number eight is Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. And I know every. This is on so many people's Best of Books for the year. I think it totally deserves it. I have read a couple books by this author at this point. This one is definitely my favorite. As of right now, this was a. I'm trying to think of, like, some of the tropes that were in this one. It's. I mean, it's a summer romance. It starts with this couple who meet on a Reddit thread and then decide to date each other for the summer. It definitely has some hard topics that are discussed. Like, this is not like a light and fluffy, just a rom com which I really like in my romance. There are also some characters that tie into her other books in the series. It's a companion series, so you can read them out of order, but, like, some of the characters kind of show up in all of the books. I read the first book in the series and then I skipped the second and then I read this one. I still really enjoyed both. I do wanna read the second, which is yours truly. Maybe I'll read that one before the end of the year. I don't know, you guys. I am just. I have so much to read. I know. But yeah, Just for the Summer definitely was my favorite romance that I read this year. And, yeah, in my top 10. So good. And that's Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez.

[Tina]

Yeah, I'm excited to read her again.

[Elise]

I've only read one.

[Tina]

It's the pink cover one. And I know, I realize it's a book two, so I didn't know some of the characters that were in it.

[Elise]

But we have one of her books.

[Tina]

On our Book talk, et cetera, community.

[Elise]

Read list for next year, so we'll.

[Tina]

Get to read that together.

[Hannah]

First Romance, I think.

[Tina]

First romance for sure. Yes. My number seven is one of those.

[Elise]

Literary books that's probably gonna bore a.

[Tina]

Lot of people, but I was sat and ready. It's the Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden.

[Elise]

And this one's about a house. It's about a woman who's very set in her ways and her entire world.

[Tina]

Gets upended when her brother moves his girlfriend in and he has to go away for work. And so now she's sort of like, stuck staying with this stranger for several weeks. And it's about what happens.

[Elise]

This one.

[Tina]

Oh, my God, it's so subtle. It's so unexpected. I really like the main character. I think her name was Isabel, and she's so prickly.

[Elise]

She's such a jerk.

[Tina]

But it's like, also in the, I think I want to say 60s in the Netherlands. And so she's like a jerk, but, like, in a way that's retro. But the jabs were great, the banter's great, and I completely loved this story. I think if you maybe want to.

[Elise]

Try literary stories that are historical fiction.

[Tina]

Maybe a bit unexpected, this one could.

[Elise]

Be a good one to try.

[Tina]

I loved it. It's the Safekeep. Yael van der Wooten.

[Hannah]

Well, you are not alone because, I mean, this was shortlisted for the Booker. This has been on a lot of people's favorite books of the year. So I Think that it's safe to say that this is a good one. It's not.

[Tina]

It's not just me.

[Elise]

True.

[Hannah]

It's not just you. This is a good book. I think that this is one that I would enjoy too. So good pick. My number seven is the Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich. And I did read this one recently, but I just know that this is gonna stick with me for a long time. This is a mother daughter story. This is a story of coming of age. This is a story about figuring out who you are. A small town, definitely like a Midwestern small town. It was so beautifully written and I was really surprised by it because I read the sentence by this author and I thought that it was okay, which is one that is so well loved. And I do wonder if I did listen to this on audio. And I remember not loving the audio for the sentence. So I'm almost like, well, I loved the Mighty Red so much. Do I go back and read her other one in print? Or maybe that one just didn't work for me. But the Mighty Red really did. I absolutely loved it. It's one of those books that I like. You have a hard time talking about it because you liked it so much and you're like, I don't know. I'm still thinking about what exactly really worked for me, but I just thought that it was such a smart book and I really fell for the characters, even though they were really flawed. Which is definitely something that sticks out for me in books is the characters. And this one had great ones. Yeah. I'm so excited to read more from this author. That's the Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich.

[Elise]

That one is one I want to read.

[Tina]

I have a physical copy. So someday I'm collecting Louise Erdrich's books. Not, like, actively, but I have a couple. Just because she's one of those authors where I love the sentence, but boy, is she. It's layered.

[Elise]

Her writing is layered.

[Tina]

And you're going to love the characters. You got to pay attention too, because otherwise, yes, a lot of it could.

[Elise]

Go over your head.

[Hannah]

You definitely have to pay attention.

[Tina]

My number six is surprising. It's Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. And fun fact is that this was.

[Elise]

Not on my halfway top 10 list.

[Tina]

I left it off for some reason. But when I walked away from when.

[Elise]

I was thinking about my list for.

[Tina]

Best books of the year, I'm like.

[Elise]

Which ones are going to stick with me? When I think of this book, I'm going to be like, yeah, I read that in 2024.

[Tina]

This is definitely worthy of the top 10. And it's sort of stuck with me again and again. And I want to read it again in print, I think next time, because it does so much. This one's a story of two sisters who have very different trajectories in their life. One gets sold into slavery and one marries a slaver. And it follows their family tree throughout.

[Elise]

Years and years and years of their history and what happens to each of their ancestors.

[Tina]

I mean, this book. What am I saying?

[Elise]

You probably all listening, have read it.

[Tina]

If you haven't, I do recommend that you pick it up. The audio was great, and I am so glad that I finally got around to this one. It's homegoing. Yeah.

[Elise]

Jesse.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that's one that I think might end up being like a modern classic one day. You know, like, it's just.

[Tina]

So you read it, right?

[Hannah]

So powerful.

[Tina]

Okay, good.

[Hannah]

I read it a few years ago and I. It was definitely on my favorite books of the year, the year that I read it. It's such a fantastic book. My number six is Stealing by Margaret Verbel. And this is another one that surprised me. This is a backlist historical fiction title. It's about a young indigenous girl ends up being sent to a boarding school. And it's the story of kind of how she got there, her experience there, which was really horrific and traumatizing. And it's one of those books that has two timelines, and you're following this past timeline with the present timeline as the past timeline catches up to the present. And you're trying to kind of piece together how she ended up where she ended up. And so it really kept me on the edge of my seat. It's a historical fiction book, but it also had, like, thrilling elements because the things that happened were horrific. And also you're kind of like, okay, how did we get here? And what's going to happen? And are these people going to be okay? And you're really feeling for the characters. And it's also one of those ones that's told from a child's perspective, but it's not immature, and it's not. It's definitely. It's not so precocious that you're like, oh, was this told from a kid's perspective? I mean, it is clear that it is a child. However, I really like that you were able to be able to tell that. And she didn't feel out of her age, but it wasn't hard to read or didn't feel immature. It didn't Dilute the writing or anything like that. So I thought that it was just brilliantly written, really well told. It plays with structure a little bit, and I was just really impressed by this one. And that is Stealing by Margaret Verbel.

[Tina]

All right, next for me is A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza. I am desperate for the author to come out with another book. This one came out in 2018, and it gave me my five plus star reading experience, which we found out from. So that was. I read this book and I was like, oh, my God, it was five plus stars. And then it inspired us to do an episode on five plus star reading. And I did not enjoy my time trying to force that to happen because I think it's one of those things you can't force it. It just has to happen organically. But this one's about a family, and.

[Elise]

It starts off with a wedding.

[Tina]

The eldest sister is getting married, and you come to find out that their.

[Elise]

Brother has been estranged for years.

[Tina]

And the book is very interesting in.

[Elise]

Terms of how it's told.

[Tina]

You said you like books that play with structure. I think this one plays with structure.

[Elise]

Well, because you're not reading a linear, linear story, start to finish.

[Tina]

You're finding out about the characters when.

[Elise]

They were young, and then they're older and this and that.

[Tina]

But, gosh, are they complicated, complex.

[Elise]

You find out about their parents. And I simply loved this.

[Tina]

There are some sentences that I wept while reading, toward the end especially, and.

[Elise]

I should just stop saying this. But it's another one I want to reread and highlight because it was so fantastic. This Is a Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza.

[Hannah]

I think that one has been on my TBR since it came out. And what was the. Doesn't it have. Wasn't the publisher, like. It was a unique publisher. I don't know why I'm remembering that.

[Tina]

Oh, yeah, you're absolutely right. It's a Sarah Kodeska Parker book.

[Hannah]

Sarah Jessica Parker. That's right. I mean, did anything happen with that publishing house? With her publishing house? Does she even do anything anymore? Or did that kind of fall off?

[Tina]

It does.

[Elise]

I think she has.

[Tina]

It's now with Hogarth, though.

[Elise]

It's SJP for Hogarth.

[Hannah]

Okay, interesting.

[Tina]

But I freaking love that book.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Tina]

And I don't know how many, like, what her deal is, like, if she's still coming out with them. But I was like, well, now I have to go down.

[Hannah]

But that one worked, right?

[Tina]

Exactly.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Okay. So my number five is the God of the woods by Liz Moore. I've talked about this one a bunch. I mentioned it on the overhyped and underhyped episode that we put out. And I think everybody has heard of this one, so I won't go on for too long. But it had to make it to this list. This is a literary suspense novel set at a camp in the Adirondacks. It is about a child that goes missing. It is tied to a previous mystery of another child who went missing at this same camp years ago. We're following several different perspectives across several timelines to try to piece together. You know, are these two cases related? Who are these people? Why is this happening? Et cetera. The way it was pieced together and the kind of depth of the characters involved in the story are what really worked for me. I mean, even, like, mystery aside, some of these characters, I would have read entire books just about them and their lives and how they got to where they were. So great character depth here. And the mystery was really great. I have seen a lot of people say, this was not a thriller. I didn't like it. And that is true. It is not a thriller. I think if you go into this one expecting it to be a slow literary novel that has a splash of mystery, then it could work for you. But if you've heard it pitched as a thriller, it is definitely not that. But I loved it. It really worked for me. And that's the God of the woods by Liz Moore.

[Tina]

Can we just stop saying. There are certain things I need to stop saying.

[Elise]

One, that I need to reread this in print and highlight.

[Tina]

And two, I'm going to read that book that Hannah loved because it sounds so incredible like that one.

[Hannah]

I know. I keep saying it too.

[Tina]

I know, but we influence each other.

[Elise]

That might be one that I need to try here pretty soon, before the new year.

[Tina]

I don't know.

[Elise]

We'll see.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Keep me updated. We have so many books to just update each other on.

[Tina]

Update Corner. Okay, my next one is these Impossible.

[Elise]

Things by Salma El Wardani.

[Tina]

Thank you to Hannah for this because I was in a pickle. I had just DNF'd a book and I hated it. And I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what I wanna read. I had a streak of bad books for me. I was getting very fussy and I had asked you, can you recommend a book? And you're like, well, how do you want to feel after reading it? I'm like, well, I Want to read a book with characters I won't forget and you recommended this and it is fantastic.

[Elise]

This is another author I need more from.

[Tina]

This came out in 2022 and it follows the story of three close British Muslim women and it's about their friendship and how their friendship gets tested and it's about faith and love and, and femininity and country of origin and it's just so incredible.

[Elise]

There's another one that I cried at.

[Tina]

The end with and I completely God, are these characters flawed but memorable.

[Elise]

And there's just so many things this.

[Tina]

Uncovers that again, I thought it was incredible. This would be a great book club pick and I loved it. It's these Impossible Things by Salma El Hordani.

[Hannah]

Well, good call out about it being a great book club pick because I completely agree. This one really would have a lot to discuss and I'm so glad that you enjoyed that one. That is the best feeling when you recommend a book to someone and they're like I loved it. So I'm so happy that that worked. My number four. We're getting up to the top. This is exciting. Is I who have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman. This is a book that I had heard so many people talk about specifically on TikTok. It is a short. It's a really short book. I want to say it's under 200 pages. It is a dystopian post apocalyptic novel, but it is unlike any other post apocalyptic book that I have ever read. It is not action packed, it is very philosophical, it is very slow moving. It is about this group of women who are at the very start of the novel, they're trapped in this cage and that is how the book starts. And then shortly after they are set loose and then they kind of like open the gate and they're trying to figure out but there's no one there. So it's just this group of women that you're following and they make their way through this desolate and completely changed world and we're following their thoughts and how they communicate with each other and what makes a life when all you've ever known are, you know, very certain things. And I don't know, this was just a really smart, impactful book. Anyone that I've ever seen or heard read it has been like kind of blown away by it. It's just one that's hard to explain unless you have read it. But I think that if you like kind of slow, thoughtful, a little bit meandering, but not so much so that they're, like, boring. It's thoughtful and intentional. And if you like post apocalyptic books or books that kind of describe, like, what makes a life, what makes a relationship, what makes a community, then you should check this one out. And that is I, who have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman.

[Tina]

Ooh, good one. All right, my next one is one that I have not talked about on the show yet. It is my number three.

[Hannah]

Ooh, looks up there.

[Tina]

Yeah, it's my number three.

[Elise]

And I love this book so much. It's Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.

[Tina]

And y'all, this book is so good.

[Elise]

I heard about it first.

[Tina]

I mean, I don't know, eight years ago, I remember exactly where I was. I was at a book swap in Chicago.

[Elise]

I think her name was Tyler. Had talked about this being her best novel, her favorite book.

[Tina]

And I'm like, what is Fingersmith?

[Elise]

What a weird word.

[Tina]

I'd never heard of it before. And it is a historical novel set.

[Elise]

In Victorian England and tells the story.

[Tina]

Of Sue Trinder, who is a young woman who'd been orphaned, and she lives.

[Elise]

With this group of Fingersmiths who are essentially fraudsters.

[Tina]

And she gets pulled into this scheme, sort of the big granddaddy scheme, with.

[Elise]

This man, and he is planning to.

[Tina]

Defraud a wealthy heiress.

[Elise]

This book is so incredible.

[Tina]

I don't want to tell you much more than that. It's set into the three different parts, I believe. And I was shook at the end of part one. This book is so subtle. It's so good. It's also quite long. It's something like 500 pages. But I just remember I was chatting with this person online, his name is Christopher Metz. And he was talking about he was having, like, his Sarah Waters era. And I was like, let me. Anyway, I knew he was reading it and had read it recently, but I messaged him and I'm not super close to him, but I was like, I know you'll get this. And I had to say what I had to say to somebody that had already read the book. Book. Because I was so shooketh. This book is. I don't know. I freaking loved it.

[Elise]

Sort of slower moving, right?

[Tina]

But it's also quite funny, quite cheeky, and I just thought it was excellent. I am really happy to have discovered.

[Elise]

This author this year. I've already purchased another one of her.

[Tina]

Books and I would love to read it.

[Elise]

This is Fingersmith, Sarah Waters.

[Tina]

I loved it.

[Hannah]

And isn't this one an older one as well? Yeah, it came out a while ago.

[Tina]

Yeah, 2002.

[Hannah]

Cool. I don't know why, but I. I thought that it came out, like, even further back than that. And. Wow, 2002 is. I mean, that's a. That's a bit back now. And that's wild to think of. That's wild to think about.

[Elise]

Careful.

[Tina]

That's the year I graduated high school. And I'm like, wow, that is a long time ago.

[Hannah]

It's like, simultaneously a long time ago, but also not. And it's like. I don't know.

[Tina]

Compressed time is so weird.

[Hannah]

Okay. My number three is also one that came out a while ago, the year that I was born. So I'm teaching myself a little bit. I know I've always wanted to read a book that came out the year I was born, and now I finally did it. And that is the Secret History by Donna Tartt. And it came out in 1992. This is a literary mystery. Do I even need to set this book up for anybody? I feel like everybody has read it. I feel like I was the last person to read it. I think this is kind of like when people think of dark academia. This is the first book that comes to mind. We are following a group of really pretentious college students, and at the very beginning of the novel, we know that one of them ended up dead. And we spend the rest of the book trying to figure out what happened, who was involved. Again, this is very character driven. It is very, like, slow, thoughtful, intentional. But it was also like, I could not look away. I mean, this is. This book was like, I could not look away. It. Yes, it's slow moving, but also some of the things that happen, you're like, what? Like, it is just also kind of balls to the wall. So, yeah, really interesting book. I was. I knew that I was gonna like it. I didn't know that it was gonna end up being one of my favorites. I have not stopped thinking about this one. And that is the Secret History by Donna Tartt.

[Tina]

I feel like this is a good. Not thematically, but, like, reading experience wise to Fingersmith.

[Elise]

It's not one where you're gonna fly.

[Tina]

Right through it, but you're gonna really.

[Elise]

Get into the characters.

[Tina]

It's gonna be slower, then there's gonna be shocking scenes, and it's gonna stick with you. Like, I think those would go together well.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I mean, that's. You just described the Secret History, so. Yeah.

[Tina]

All right.

[Elise]

My number two book. My number two book is the Light Pirate by Lily Brooks Dalton.

[Tina]

And I'm really questioning myself because this is a book I dnf'd. Previously as I DNF'd the paper palace. But I'm so glad it came to me when it was meant to come to me.

[Elise]

I think I read this one for.

[Tina]

Our, like, apocalyptic, post apocalyptic, dystopian episode.

[Hannah]

Climate fiction.

[Tina]

Thank you. Climate fiction. All of those words apply because this.

[Elise]

One follows the story of Wanda, a young woman who was born during a hurricane in Florida.

[Tina]

And we come to find out that Florida is ravaged and, you know, there's.

[Elise]

Rising sea levels due to climate change.

[Tina]

And she's growing up and is forced to adapt in this new world.

[Elise]

They're taking boats, places, they're homesteading, all.

[Tina]

Of that, and that's all you need to know. The writing is stunning.

[Elise]

This is one that I did the thing.

[Tina]

I listened to it and I went back to a print copy and I was like, let me just highlight some pages.

[Elise]

And I found myself literally rereading the.

[Tina]

Whole thing and it took me forever, but I did annotate it because I was, like, so hooked. Again, gorgeous writing.

[Elise]

Subtle, thought provoking, character driven, surprising.

[Tina]

Will make you cry, will give you.

[Elise]

A glimmer of hope.

[Tina]

Even though it's super bleak. I just loved it. And I'm, like, not even sure that.

[Elise]

This is number two.

[Tina]

It might be number one, but I think it's number two. We'll keep it there. That's the light pirate. Lily Brooks Dalton.

[Hannah]

Wow. You are really good at talking about books.

[Tina]

Am I? It's like, I do this a little bit.

[Hannah]

No, I read this one earlier this year and also really, really, really liked it. I mean, I also really loved it. And every time I hear you talk about it, it, like, makes me remember how good that it was.

[Tina]

So good. It's so good.

[Hannah]

It really is a good one. My number two and I. It's so funny. I feel the same as, like, my number two. And number one could. Could kind of hop back and forth depending on the day. Right now it's sitting at number two, and that's Open Water by Caleb Azuma Nelson. This is a. Another short book, apparently that really worked for me this year. It is a story about two people who meet, who are friends, and they also. It's. It's a love story. It's definitely not a romance, but it is a love story. And we're also kind of following these two characters. It's a man and a woman and they're also dealing with their own stuff and then they kind of deal with their own stuff and they come back together. Yeah, we're really just following them through a season of life. I don't remember how long the book goes on for. It's not like they're not lifelong friends or anything. They meet in adulthood. Gosh, I don't know. What is it about the books that we really love? I'm like, how can I even just pick up one? What is it about? It's about two people who are dealing with hard things who find comfort in loving one another and they also find hardship in loving one another. And it's both all at once at the same time. This is some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read. I had to stop annotating it because I was like, I'm going to annotate every single page. This is an author that really has a great way of describing really universal and specific hardships in a way that is concise but just very profound. And I cannot wait to read the rest of this author's work. This was their debut, but I do believe that they have come out with another book since then and I'm really looking forward to reading that. And that is Open Water by Caleb Azuma Nelson.

[Tina]

That's one I purchased after hearing you talk about it from Pango. I immediately purchased. I'm like, gotta have it. I need to read this book. Okay, I loved hearing you talk about that Again. My number one book is a surprise.

[Elise]

To nobody because it has not changed. It is James by Percival Everett. When I think back to 2024, this.

[Tina]

Is going to be the book that I'm reminded of. And this is everywhere with very good reason. It is a book that is a.

[Elise]

Sort of retelling, if you will, of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved James.

[Tina]

And it's about him, you know, and you know the story possibly if you, you know, read it in high school or whenever, but it turns it on its head.

[Elise]

It's so sharp, it's so smart.

[Tina]

I thought it was oddly a little bit funny.

[Elise]

Even though given it's like obvious tough.

[Tina]

Subject matter, it was just so. It's satire and it's just freaking brilliant. I did the audio. I really liked the audiobook for this one and it is again, I think the books that I'm walking away with.

[Elise]

As my favorites are books that have. Have turned the author into auto read authors for me.

[Tina]

Now I want to go back and try more. Percival Everett. I think this book is worth all.

[Elise]

Of the accolades that is getting and I'm happy to be a part of.

[Tina]

The bandwagon for James. And that is James by Percival Everett.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I think that this year, like, 2024 James was like, the book of this year. And I. I'm not gonna not say it. I'm still gonna say it. I am excited to read this one. Okay. I am. And this is one that I definitely like. I feel like I can't be a reader in this community and not. And, like, pass this one up. You know, this is. This was the book of the year. I know that I'm gonna love it. It is on so many people's. Like, this was my number one, and clearly for very good reason. So I. I really happy that that one ended up on your list as well. My number one is Same as It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo. And this. Yeah. And this is one that. I mean, I do think that this book was really good. I think that it was beautifully written. I think it was a great exploration of a marriage. We're following one woman, really, throughout her marriage, and it's really messy, and she deals with postpartum. She deals with midlife. She deals with a lot of really unique marital struggles within their. Their own unique marriage, but also very universal marital struggles. And. And this one, I think, was just. Like I said, I think it was a really good book in terms of an exploration of marriage, but it also was really impactful for me. Some of the things that this character felt and went through were things that I have felt and went through as like, a new mother and really struggling with other moms and feeling like you're not like other moms. And I don't know. I hate saying it because this has such a negative connotation, but, like, the. Not like other girls, but the mom version, you know, like, I don't know. I felt some of those things. And it's really funny because this character. I've heard so many people talk about this book being like. I really struggled with this because I really hated the main character, Julia, and I related a lot to her. But I also know that I have been very unlikable in many seasons of my life. And I think that it was just an experience to grapple with that and to understand that that doesn't make someone a bad person. It doesn't. It just makes us human. And I really felt that in this book. This was another one that I annotated like crazy. And, yeah, it just. It was my favorite of this year. I loved it. And that was Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo.

[Tina]

I love what you said about seeing yourself in an unlikable character and realizing that there's still space for her and she's still valuable. And, like, knowing that you two have been unlikable in some seasons of your life. Well, good insight. I feel like I didn't do a good job at my number one. I'm like, loved it. It was great. Yours was, like, very. I mean, I just love that for you. I love that you had that reading experience. I've certainly been there myself, where I'm like, yep, yeah, this is stuff that I've done. It's not great. Not a great look, but also human.

[Hannah]

Human. I did it. I was there. And I'm still living a happy life with, you know, my husband and my two kids. And they like me.

[Tina]

That's right.

[Elise]

And I do, too.

[Tina]

Damn it.

[Hannah]

I like you too, Tina.

[Tina]

I know.

[Hannah]

I'm so glad that we get to do this together. And. And I'm so glad that we got to share our favorite books today.

[Tina]

Me too. Yes. I'm so delighted that we. You know, I'm not that surprised that there wasn't a ton of overlap. I've just enjoyed podcasting with you so much, but I feel like now I. I have so many books, I'm like, dang it, I want to get to those because we have similar reading tastes. And yet, you know, there's not always that direct overlap. Like, I do more mystery thriller.

[Elise]

I know you have some more romance.

[Tina]

Fantasy, but together, I think we made a. We make a pretty good team.

[Hannah]

We make a really good team. I really loved hearing you talk about books, and I think we should do an episode or something. I think you have mentioned it. Next year where we read some of each other's books or do one where we choose some books for each other. So that might give us some fun, a fun way to kind of include that overlap that we do have.

[Tina]

I mean, that's a great plan.

[Hannah]

Fun things to come in 2025 things to survive.

[Tina]

Yes. Can't wait. Well, with that, we love you, listeners.

[Elise]

Thank you so much for listening to us this year.

[Tina]

It's been such a good reading year, and I have such hope for next year. I feel like there's lots more good reading times to come and.

[Hannah]

Absolutely.

[Tina]

Thank you so much.

[Hannah]

It'll be my first full year of podcasting, so I'm excited to wrap up a whole 365 days as a book talk, et cetera. Co host. Yay.

[Tina]

Heck, yeah. All right. But for now, that's it for today. We thank you so much for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books can be found in the show Notes. And if you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners, grows our audience. And don't forget, if you'd like access to exclusive bonus content and community, you can join us for $5 a month on Patreon.com if you'd like to connect.

[Hannah]

With us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both oktalk etc on Instagram and Tinabrec and Hannah @handpickedbooks. Talk to you next week.

[Tina]

And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books. Yay.

[D]

What do you think would be good rules for living in the New year? Keep the ball low. Don't leave your crayons in the sun. Use dental floss every day. Don't spill the shoe polish. Always knock before entering. Don't let the ants get in the sugar. Never volunteer to be a program chairman. Always get your first serve in at and feed your dog whenever he's hungry. Will those rules give me a better life, Chuck? A better life and a fat dog.