My Top 10 of 2024!
Here we are: Today is December 31st and WE MADE IT! 2024 is finally closing out; BRING ON 2025! 2024 was definitely not my year and it brought all kinds of unexpected changes that I won’t go into, but if you follow this page, Facebook, or Instagram then you already know what those are. Today we are ending the year with My Top 10 of 2024. I am selective with the books I give 5 stars too: In fact, I only had 11 books with 5 star reads this year. Two of the books in this Top 10 are actually book club reads, both being my choice!
I read a total of 60 books in 2024, with my goal of 52 books this year. 52 books is a book a week, and I made it over that! This is not bad with the way 2024 went. I had more audiobooks listened to rather than books read for 2024. I really hope that will change for 2025. Instead of listening to the news I have started listening to my audiobooks as I get ready for work. I am still working 10 hours a day for four days a week. In the past few weeks I was transferred to an office closer to home, so my commute is no more than 15 minutes now. I was needing this for me, and work knew this and things happened the way they did and I am very happy about this change!
I know, I know, two of these book covers are very similar! And I actually listened to them relatively close together.
Here is my Top 10:
10. Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss
My friend Beccie has been on me for way to long to read this one, and I FINALLY did! This book gives you all the feelings and you can see that Twiss did his research on the historical aspects of the novel. If you cry easily, which I don’t, you will cry with this one.
My full review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-four-years-trapped-in-my-mind-palace-by-johan-twiss/
9. The One by John Marrs
John Marrs is just brilliant!!! This year it was a re-read and was a book club pick and I listened to the audiobook, which had multiple narrators! If you haven’t read a book by Marrs, you must start!
My full review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-the-one-by-john-marrs/
8. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
This one was also a re-read and book club pick! This is another one that if you haven’t read and enjoy thrillers you MUST pick up, especially if you are a parent! This book is a wild and crazy ride!
My full review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-the-one-by-john-marrs/
7. The Teacher by Freida McFadden
This book comes with a few trigger warnings which you can see on my review. McFadden’s books are very hard to put down and have twists galore! And this one pulled it off!
My review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-the-teacher-by-freida-mcfadden/
6. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book: It is historical fiction, but just seems like it is reality. This is a book that MUST be listened to on audiobook. It is a full cast narration with some known names. These narrators really bring the characters to life and like I said” It just feels real! I will be watching the mini-series that is based off this book sometime!
My full review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-daisy-jones-the-six-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/
5. 25 Days by Per Jacobsen
This book was all over Facebook and has a unique premise: A horror novel meant to be read advent style: IE. one chapter a day. I did fall behind three times but did get caught up and finish like the reader is meant to on December 25th. I Really enjoyed this book and the advent style was a real pull to get readers. There was also a Facebook group that ran during December where readers, the author himself, and his wife whom is also his publisher could all come together and comment on the book! I will definitely be reading more Jacobsen novels in the future.
My review has not posted yet and as of now, it is scheduled to post on January 3, 2025 before we pass by Christmas too much into the new year!
4. Baby X by Kira Peikoff
This book is a mix of the movie Gattaca and The One which also made my Top 10 this year! This is a book that is Science Fiction, but could also become Science fact. I figured out the ‘big twist’ but still really enjoyed it! It was ok that I figured it out as it is not a thriller I enjoy books like that that could become reality and leave you thinking after finishing.
My review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/book-review-baby-x-by-kira-peikoff/
3. The Guilty One by Kiersten Modglin
Kiersten Modglin is just… WOW! Her books are short and very fast moving! There was no way I was figuring out this one! It begins with a phone call that no wife ever wants to receive: A call from the local police department informing you that your husband was in a car accident and did not survive. Then when you go to identify the body: It’s not your husband!
My review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-the-guilty-one-by-kiersten-modglin/
2. You Better Watch Out by James S Murray and Darren Wearmouth
Oh man! Another thriller/horror book taking place at Christmas time! It could be read then or even in October for Halloween! This one is extremely gory and I loved every minute of it!
My review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/alc-review-you-better-watch-out/
And my #1 Read for 2024 is…………
My Daughter’s Revenge by Natalie Simmonds
This one is a revenge thriller with spice and unexpected twists. And when I got to the ending I was completely shocked!
This one I loved and it made my number one read of 2024! This is really saying something since the spice was thisclose to being too much for me.
My review is here: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/audiobook-review-my-daughters-revenge-by-natali-simmonds/
This is my list! I want to know what some of YOUR favorites were in 2024! Did we have any in common? Are there any of mine that you are interested in reading? Let’s bring on 2025 and a new year of reading!!
My December 2024 Reads
We are at the end of December and it is time to share what I read this month and my top 10 of 2024 will come tomorrow! I read/ listened to six books in total, five of which were audiobooks and one was a short story. I read one paperback book which was also unique as it is advent style!
December was a better month reading wise, with the books ranging from 3.5 stars to five stars. Two of the books were five stars!
Here are the books in the order I finished them:
Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews- Audio- short story-3.5 stars
Booked for the Holidays by Liz Maverick- Audio- 3.5 stars
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Audio- 5 stars
Where the Darkness Goes by Kiersten Modglin- Audio- 4 stars
My Time to Stand by Gypsy- Rose Blanchard- Audio- 4 stars
25 Days by Per Jacobsen- Paperback -5 stars
My ‘favorite read’ was very hard to choose from since I had two five star reads and they are very different genres! I ultimately decided that 25 Days was the winner. Both are very unique but 25 Days gets a slight advantage for the advent style book that it is meant to be read in. It definitely kept me reading!
My ‘least favorite’ was Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews. Let’s just say that MKA should stay with full length novels. And I hate to say this as she is one of my ‘will always read’ authors.
What did YOU read in December?
[Top]Short Story Sunday: The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid’s Wedding
Series: The Housemaid #2.5
Author: Freida McFadden
Published: November 22, 2024
Paperback: 63 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 26, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Short Story Description:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a winter-themed short story meant to fill in the long gap between Book 2 and Book 3 of The Housemaid series . It can be read either between Book 2 and Book 3, or after Book 3.
Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
I’m engaged to the man of my dreams, and in a few short hours, I’m going to stand before a judge, who will declare us husband and wife, till death does us part. Despite some bumps in the road, this day is everything I dreamed it would be.
There’s only one problem:
Someone out there doesn’t want me to live long enough to say my vows.
And if I’m not careful, they may very well get their wish.
Jessica’s Review:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a short story and just 63 pages. It is meant as a quick filler between books two and three of the Housemaid series. It’s not to be taken seriously; and is a fun and very quick read for the fans who wanted to read about Millie and Enzo’s wedding.
I didn’t have to read about their wedding, but when McFadden mentioned it and I was able to buy a paperback copy for the inexpensive price of $2.79 I jumped at the chance! McFadden wrote this for the fans and is not making any money off this short story being written. I enjoyed it and I listened to the entire Housemaid series on audiobook, I heard the narrator Lauryn Allman’s voice as Millie again as I read this one! Allman is perfect as Millie for me with the audiobooks. I can’t wait to see how the movie will be.
Read it or not, that is up to you as the reader. If you have enjoyed The Housemaid series then I say go for it. Just remember, it’s a very short and quick read!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK