my most favorite stories of 2024 ♥

Happy New Year!

It's been a minute since I last posted, and I had fully intended on sharing more Christmas themed posts in December. And I know fully well that I did not post the book club gathering for December as well. Please forgive me. We had some personal things going on that needed our full attention which were quite stressful. I was barely hanging on by a thread for most of that time and just didn't have the capacity to write or share posts. Sometimes life happens and needs tending to, and that's why I've been away for a while.

But I am back today with a short and sweet post sharing my top five favorite stories from last year. These are books that I am literally still thinking about often even though I read them in the first seven months of 2024. They are the books that captured my heart. {{smiles}} 

And I do intend on starting my book club back up again in February. More on that in a few days.

So, pour a cup of something warm and soothing, curl up under a soft blanket, and enjoy this little bookish recap of 2024...

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My 2024 Favorite Stories:

Ivy Lane was such a feel-good, hopeful, comforting read. I absolutely loved the characters and their little found family. This was a book that filled my soul to overflowing and just made me smile, and is what I would definitely call a "healing book". This was my very first book by Cathy Bramley, but it spurred me on to order a pile of her backlist because I just loved this one so much.

 The Telephone Box Library was a book that I couldn't put down. It had all the elements I love: quirky characters, a gorgeous English village setting, cozy vibes, multi-generational friendship, a bit of history and mystery, and a sweet and gentle romance. This book was totally different than I was expecting, yet everything I wanted and needed at the time; I was so sad when it ended. It was my perfect cup of tea in book form!

 A Place to Hang the Moon was recommended to me by my sister. She kept after me about this book and how much she just knew I would love it. And she was right! This is by far, hands down, one of the sweetest stories I've ever read. It's one of those books that makes you believe in the goodness of the world and that it still exists, and I love (and need!) those types of stories. I wish there were a hundred more books like this one because I'd have to read them all.

 Love and Other Great Expectations was quite the exception to my reading because I hardly ever read YA books. Aside from the stunningly gorgeous settings around the UK and the fun scavenger hunt aspect to the story, the thing that stands out the most to me is the main male character, Luke. He was such a breath of fresh air for a male character, and I really, really think more authors need to write more male characters like him. Just sayin'.

 Lost Lake is by a favorite author of mine. I'm working my way through her books and only have two left...and this one was such a enthralling, engaging, enchanting story. Sarah Addison Allen writes in a way that feels magical. Her storytelling skills are so amazing, and how she invites you into the story through her descriptions of the setting and such, you feel like you are actually there. This book was just a pure delight to read.

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What were your top five favorite reads from 2024? I'd love to hear what you loved about these stories that captured your heart!