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Jan 15, 2025

The 24 Best Books of 2024

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At WeBuyBooks, we’re not just book lovers – we’re book obsessives. We’ve stayed up late, laughed, cried, and devoured countless pages to bring you the ultimate list of the 24 best books of 2024!

As 2024 draws to a close, one thing is clear – this has been an extraordinary year for literature. From stories that transported us to new worlds to non-fiction that expanded our horizons, the books of this year have sparked conversations, offered comfort, and left lasting impressions.

Whether you love epic fantasy, cosy romance, gripping thrillers, or thought-provoking memoirs, there’s something here for every kind of reader. If you’ve been keeping up with every new release or are on the hunt for your next great read, we’ve rounded up the must-reads that defined the year and stole readers' hearts. So, clear some space on your bookshelf – these are the books you won’t want to miss.

Fiction

1. "James" by Percival Everett

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Description: James is a daring and powerful reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, told through the eyes of Jim, the enslaved man at the heart of Twain’s classic. Everett’s lyrical, unflinching prose peels back the layers of identity, freedom, and the often-overlooked perspectives of Black Americans in historical literature. This isn’t just a retelling – it’s a reclamation of voice and narrative, bringing to the forefront the pain, hope, and resilience of a character who has long been a literary afterthought.

Why We Loved It: Reading James felt like stepping into the shoes of someone history tried to erase. Everett’s writing is sharp and emotionally raw, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths while re-evaluating a beloved classic. It’s rare for a book to feel both urgent and timeless – by the final chapter, we were left with goosebumps! This is the kind of novel that sits with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

2. "Funny Story" by Emily Henry

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Description: In Funny Story, Emily Henry crafts a heartwarming and hilarious romance that’s as much about rediscovering yourself as it is about falling in love. When two heartbroken people – one freshly dumped, the other left at the altar – find themselves sharing a living space, their awkward encounters turn into genuine friendship (with a dash of reluctant attraction). Packed with Henry’s signature humour, witty banter, and characters who feel like old friends, it’s a joyful exploration of love, healing, and second chances.

Why We Loved It: Henry’s novels always feel like comfort food, and Funny Story is no exception. Her characters are flawed, relatable, and so easy to root for. The romance unfolds naturally, full of sweet and laugh-out-loud moments, but it’s the emotional depth beneath the surface that kept us hooked. This book is pure serotonin – we didn’t want to put it down.

3. "Intermezzo" by Sally Rooney

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Description: Intermezzo is a quietly powerful novel that follows two Dublin brothers navigating the complexities of love, grief, and personal growth. Rooney’s trademark minimalist prose shines here, drawing readers into the subtle tensions and unspoken connections that shape the brothers' lives. As their relationships with each other – and those around them – evolve, Rooney explores the delicate ways in which we hurt, heal, and attempt to bridge the emotional gaps between us.

Why We Loved It: Rooney has a way of making the small, everyday moments feel monumental. The understated emotional currents of Intermezzo pulled us in deeply, and the quiet intensity of the brothers’ relationship felt painfully real. It’s intimate, relatable, and lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve finished.

4. "House of Flame and Shadow" by Sarah J. Maas

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Description: In the third instalment of the Crescent City series, Sarah J. Maas delivers a heart-pounding, epic tale brimming with betrayal, forbidden magic, and fiery romance. As Bryce and Hunt face war on the horizon, they must uncover long-buried secrets and forge new alliances to protect their world from destruction. House of Flame and Shadow weaves together thrilling action with emotional depth, further expanding Maas’s richly detailed fantasy universe.

Why We Loved It: Maas has perfected the art of high-stakes fantasy and swoon-worthy romance. This book is packed with jaw-dropping twists that had us gasping aloud. One minute we were cheering, the next we were in tears – it’s an emotional rollercoaster in the best possible way.

5. "Long Island" by Colm Tóibín

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Description: A long-awaited sequel to Brooklyn, Long Island revisits Eilis Lacey’s life as she settles into 1960s suburban America. While Eilis has built a comfortable life for herself, old wounds resurface when she is forced to confront decisions that could reshape her carefully constructed existence. Tóibín’s gentle, evocative prose delves into themes of longing, regret, and belonging, exploring how the past never fully loosens its grip.

Why We Loved It: Tóibín’s writing has a quiet, reflective quality that sneaks up on you emotionally. Eilis’s story feels like reuniting with an old friend, and the nuanced portrayal of her inner life makes this novel as moving as it is unforgettable.

6. "All Fours" by Miranda July

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Description: Miranda July’s latest novel is as delightfully strange and chaotic as you’d expect. All Fours follows a 45-year-old artist on an impulsive road trip that leads to unexpected encounters, bizarre situations, and surprising self-discovery. Blending surreal moments with deep emotional truths, July crafts a story that is equal parts funny, uncomfortable, and thought-provoking.

Why We Loved It: July’s weirdness is her strength, and this novel is the epitome of her unique voice. It’s messy, unpredictable, and at times hilariously awkward – but that’s exactly why we loved it. All Fours celebrates the absurdity of life in the most charming way possible.

7. "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley

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Description: The Ministry of Time is a genre-bending mix of espionage, romance, and time travel. As a spy navigates dangerous missions across different timelines, she becomes entangled in a web of secrets that threaten to unravel both her personal life and the future. Bradley’s debut is thrilling, imaginative, and brimming with heart.

Why We Loved It: A novel that combines espionage and romance with time travel? Sign us up. Bradley crafts a plot that feels cinematic, and we were completely absorbed from start to finish. It’s fun, smart, and utterly captivating.

8. "Bright I Burn" by Molly Aitken

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Description: Inspired by the true story of Alice Kyteler, the first Irish woman convicted of witchcraft, Bright I Burn reimagines her life as a tale of ambition, power, and survival. Aitken’s Alice is a formidable heroine, navigating a world that fears her independence and condemns her choices. Interspersed with the judgmental voices of villagers, the narrative offers a fascinating exploration of how society punishes those who refuse to conform.

Why We Loved It: Aitken’s writing is poetic and sharp, with a protagonist you can’t help but root for. The novel’s themes of defiance and resilience feel timeless, making it a gripping and thought-provoking read.

9. "The Familiar" by Leigh Bardugo

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Description: In The Familiar, Bardugo introduces a dark, sprawling fantasy world where hidden societies, forbidden magic, and morally ambiguous heroes collide. The story follows a reluctant protagonist drawn into the world of dark magic after discovering an ancient artefact that holds unimaginable power. As rival factions close in, loyalties are tested, and the line between good and evil blurs. Bardugo’s signature intricate world-building and lush prose make this a standout fantasy epic.

Why We Loved It: Bardugo has a rare gift for crafting worlds so vivid and intricate that they feel like places you could step into. The Familiar is no exception. The morally grey characters, unexpected twists, and emotionally high stakes had us hooked from the first chapter. It’s intense, magical, and beautifully dark – everything we crave in fantasy. We stayed up way too late for this one, and we regret nothing.

10. "The Book of Doors" by Gareth Brown

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Description: The Book of Doors is a spellbinding fantasy in which ordinary doors become gateways to extraordinary worlds. When a rare book falls into the hands of a disillusioned bookseller, he discovers that it contains the power to open doors to realms beyond imagination. But with great magic comes danger, and soon he is pursued by forces desperate to control the book’s secrets. Brown’s novel is filled with wonder, danger, and the timeless allure of hidden worlds just out of reach.

Why We Loved It: This novel tapped into that childhood sense of wonder – the belief that magic might just exist if you know where to look. Brown’s storytelling is rich, imaginative, and full of heart. The blend of mystery, adventure, and whimsy made us feel like kids again, racing through the pages to uncover the next secret. It’s the kind of book you finish and immediately want to recommend to everyone you know.

11. "Flint Kill Creek" by Joyce Carol Oates

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Description: Flint Kill Creek is a chilling collection of noir-inspired short stories that delve into the macabre corners of the human psyche. From tales of twisted family dynamics to unsettling medical procedures, Oates explores the fragility of the human condition with prose that is precise, haunting, and unforgettable.

Why We Loved It: Oates’s ability to craft tension and unease is unmatched. These stories are disturbing yet impossible to put down – a masterclass in literary horror!

12. "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore

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Description: The God of the Woods is a spine-chilling thriller set in the eerie forests of Pennsylvania, where a teenager’s disappearance sends shockwaves through a small town. As secrets begin to surface, the community’s carefully constructed facade starts to crumble. Liz Moore’s evocative writing turns the forest into a living, breathing character – dark, tangled, and full of unsettling possibilities. The lines between myth and reality blur, creating a story packed with tension and surprises.

Why We Loved It: This book had us hooked from the first page. The atmosphere is so vivid you can almost hear the rustling leaves and feel the creeping dread. Moore’s ability to combine small-town drama with psychological depth makes this a standout thriller. It’s the kind of book that keeps you up at night – partly because you can’t stop reading, and partly because it’s so haunting.

13. "The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio

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Description: The Husbands is a genre-bending feminist novel that poses an intriguing question: what if you could custom-create the perfect partner? In Gramazio’s sharp and satirical take on modern relationships, the protagonist finds herself in a bizarre town where women can design their ideal husbands – but as the cracks in this seemingly perfect system begin to show, she must confront what ‘perfect’ really means.

Why We Loved It: This book had us laughing and raising our eyebrows in equal measure. Gramazio brilliantly balances humour with biting social commentary, and the absurd premise is grounded by the very real dilemmas many of us face in relationships. It’s witty, bizarre, and endlessly entertaining – a novel that makes you think about love, gender roles, and whether perfection is all it’s cracked up to be. We finished it and immediately wanted to discuss it with someone.

14. "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray

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Description: The Bee Sting is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that blends comedy with heartbreak as it tracks the slow unraveling of a once-wealthy Irish family. As financial struggles mount and long-held secrets come to light, each family member grapples with their own regrets and missteps. From awkward teenage rebellion to midlife crises, Murray captures the full spectrum of human experience with piercing honesty and tenderness. It’s a book about love, failure, and the unpredictable ways life stings you – sometimes when you least expect it.

Why We Loved It: Murray’s ability to pivot from laugh-out-loud moments to gut-wrenching emotional punches is nothing short of masterful. One minute you’re chuckling at the family’s chaotic interactions, and the next you’re hit with a line so profound it knocks the wind out of you. It’s rare for a book to make you feel such a wide range of emotions, often within the same chapter. The characters linger long after the last page, as if you’ve known them forever – flaws and all. It’s a story about resilience, love, and the ways we quietly sabotage ourselves. A true standout this year.

15. "The Names" by Florence Knapp

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Description: The Names is a thoughtful, poetic novel that centres around a mother’s internal debate about what to name her son – and how that single decision might shape his future. As she contemplates the weight names carry, the narrative gently unfolds into a broader meditation on fate, identity, and the ripple effects of seemingly small choices. Knapp weaves these philosophical reflections into a tender, intimate portrait of motherhood, offering insights into how we project our hopes and fears onto our children.

Why We Loved It: The beauty of The Names lies in its simplicity. Knapp’s prose feels like reading poetry – every word carefully chosen, every sentence carrying more meaning than it initially lets on. It’s a quiet book that sneaks up on you, leaving you pondering your own life long after you’ve finished. By the end, we found ourselves reflecting not just on names but on the paths we’ve taken and how they might have shifted with the smallest changes. This is one of those rare books that feels like a conversation with yourself – intimate, profound, and unforgettable.

16. "Come and Get It" by Kiley Reid

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Description: In her follow-up to Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid offers a razor-sharp exploration of ambition, privilege, and the messiness of campus life. Come and Get It is set in the hallowed yet fraught world of academia, where personal ambitions clash with power dynamics, often in unexpected (and hilarious) ways. Reid’s characters – from overconfident professors to students teetering between self-discovery and self-destruction – are richly drawn and painfully relatable. The novel skewers the contradictions of modern higher education while delivering biting social commentary with a humour that feels effortless.

Why We Loved It: Reid’s writing feels like stepping into a room full of people you know – flawed, complicated, and utterly fascinating. The characters feel so vividly real that at times, it’s uncomfortable – but in the best way. We couldn’t stop talking about their choices, mistakes, and awkward encounters. Reid has this incredible talent for making the mundane feel gripping, and Come and Get It is no exception. It’s funny, smart, and leaves you thinking about power, privilege, and ambition long after you’ve closed the book. Weeks later, we’re still chewing over the themes – a sign of a truly great read.

17. "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach

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Description: Set against the backdrop of a lavish summer wedding in coastal New England, The Wedding People follows a woman returning to her hometown after years away. As she reconnects with old friends and faces unresolved tensions, secrets slowly unravel, testing the bonds between family and long-time companions. Espach masterfully blends humour with sharp emotional insights, crafting a novel that explores love, regret, and the fragile nature of relationships.

Why We Loved It: Espach captures the bittersweet nostalgia of returning to familiar places that don’t feel quite the same anymore. Her characters are flawed and real, making this book feel like attending a wedding full of people you used to know. We laughed, we winced, and we found ourselves reflecting on the past in the best way possible. It’s a heartfelt, captivating read that stays with you long after the final toast.

18. Butter" by Asako Yuzuki

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Description: Butter is a rich, thought-provoking novel inspired by the real-life case of a Japanese serial killer who lured wealthy men through her exceptional cooking. Yuzuki’s protagonist, a journalist investigating the case, becomes increasingly obsessed with the alleged murderer and her sumptuous culinary skills. As the lines between fascination and truth blur, Butter explores gender expectations, appetite (both literal and metaphorical), and the dark undercurrents of desire. It’s a seductive, sensory reading experience that delves deep into society’s relationship with women and indulgence.

Why We Loved It: Yuzuki’s writing is sumptuous – the descriptions of food alone made our mouths water – but the novel’s brilliance lies in its layered exploration of power and perception. It’s part murder mystery, part social commentary, and entirely engrossing. We were captivated by the tension, the lush prose, and the questions it raised about femininity, control, and guilt. This book lingers long after you finish, like the memory of an unforgettable meal.

19."Our Evenings" by Alan Hollinghurst

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Description: Alan Hollinghurst’s Our Evenings is a beautifully reflective novel about love, identity, and the passage of time. It follows Dave Win, a gay man in middle age, as he looks back on his life – from his complex relationship with his mother, Avril, to the joys and heartbreaks of growing up in a rapidly changing Britain. Against the backdrop of cultural and political upheaval, Hollinghurst crafts a narrative that’s intimate yet universal, exploring how we’re shaped by the people and places we hold dear.

Why We Loved It: Hollinghurst’s prose feels like poetry – every sentence is carefully crafted, and the emotional resonance is incredible. This story made us think about our own lives and relationships, especially those quiet moments that often go unnoticed. It’s tender, insightful, and profoundly human. We didn’t want it to end.

20. "Wild Houses" by Colin Barrett

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Description: Wild Houses is Colin Barrett’s electrifying debut novel, set in a small Irish town where violence, loyalty, and loss collide. The story revolves around Doll, a kind-hearted teenager who is kidnapped by a local gang as collateral for his older brother’s debts. As tensions rise and family secrets come to light, Barrett’s razor-sharp dialogue and richly atmospheric prose immerse readers in a world both stark and vividly alive. Equal parts thriller and character study, Wild Houses is a gripping exploration of human resilience and the ties that bind.

Why We Loved It: Barrett captures the raw beauty of small-town Ireland with an unparalleled ear for dialogue and a knack for infusing even the darkest moments with humour. Wild Houses is intense, emotional, and brimming with authenticity – the kind of novel that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

21. "Martyr!" by Kaveh Akbar

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Description: In his stunning debut novel, award-winning poet Kaveh Akbar delivers Martyr!, a deeply moving and wildly imaginative exploration of faith, identity, and the human need for meaning. The story follows Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American immigrant haunted by his mother’s death after her plane was shot down by a US Navy warship. Obsessed with the concept of martyrdom, Cyrus becomes entangled in the lives of historical and fictional martyrs as he grapples with his own sense of purpose and loss. Akbar’s lyrical prose transforms this narrative into a poetic, multi-layered meditation on sacrifice and survival.

Why We Loved It: Akbar’s writing is incandescent – each sentence feels like a work of art. Martyr! is equal parts haunting and hopeful, filled with raw emotion and staggering beauty. The novel’s exploration of grief and resilience is deeply resonant, and its mix of playfulness and intensity makes it a standout debut. This is storytelling at its most ambitious and affecting.

Non-Fiction

22. "The Barn" by Wright Thompson

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Description: In The Barn, acclaimed journalist Wright Thompson turns his sharp, evocative storytelling to fiction. The novel centres on Jack McAllister, a retired sportswriter who returns to his family’s crumbling barn in rural Mississippi after his father’s death. As Jack attempts to restore the barn, he unearths long-buried family secrets, contemplates his fraught relationship with his father, and grapples with the legacy of the land he once called home. Thompson’s rich prose captures the rhythms of Southern life, blending themes of memory, forgiveness, and the ties that bind us to place.

Why We Loved It: Thompson’s storytelling feels as lived-in as the barn he describes, pulling us into a world steeped in history and emotion. This is a beautifully written novel about reckoning with the past and finding hope in rebuilding. It’s intimate, heartfelt, and brimming with quiet power.

23. "The Lucky Ones" by Zara Chowdhary

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Description: The Lucky Ones is a compelling, multi-generational story following the intertwined lives of a Pakistani immigrant family as they navigate love, betrayal, and ambition across three continents. Beginning in Karachi and spanning decades, Chowdhary explores how chance, choice, and cultural expectations shape their paths. At its core, the novel examines what it means to belong – to a family, a community, and oneself – in a rapidly changing world.

Why We Loved It: Chowdhary’s prose is vivid and deeply empathetic, bringing her characters’ struggles and triumphs to life. The narrative is both sweeping and intimate, weaving together themes of identity, migration, and resilience. This is a stunning debut filled with heart and insight.

24. "Grief is for People" by Sloane Crosley

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Description: In Grief is for People, Sloane Crosley steps away from her signature humour essays to deliver a poignant and deeply personal novel about loss, connection, and the complicated nature of healing. The story follows Maeve, a young woman navigating the sudden death of her best friend while uncovering secrets that reshape everything she thought she knew about their relationship. Crosley’s writing is honest, tender, and laced with her trademark wit, making for a profoundly moving exploration of grief.

Why We Loved It: Crosley’s ability to balance heartbreak with moments of levity is remarkable. Grief is for People is raw, real, and beautifully written – a novel that captures the messy, often unpredictable process of moving forward after loss. It’s an emotional gut-punch in the best possible way.

The best books leave a mark, shaping how we think and feel long after the last page. This year’s list celebrates stories that captivated, challenged, and inspired us.

Whether you’re drawn to gripping fiction or insightful non-fiction, we hope these books bring something special to your shelf. Here’s to more unforgettable reads ahead!

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