At work there’s a small group of us who are going to read Frozen River together this month. I have Way of Kings in my 25 to read in 25 because now that I am done with grad school I knew I could devote myself to it.
Yay! The Frozen River was my far and away favorite fiction of the year also. I want to read many of the other books on both your fiction and nonfiction lists.
Krista, I couldn't agree more with your number 1 pick. Thank you for sharing all of your favorite reads. I hope your 2025 reads are just as wonderful. Karin
2:08 I bought Worst Case Scenario a while back! Can’t wait to read it. 14:07 I’ve started calling big books “chunkers” because of you! lol! Sanderson is on my list to read for 2025
Well, Krista, I think you nailed it when you picked The Frozen River for your #1 book. That is my pick too. Martha was remarkably strong woman and I loved the support and respect her husband showed her. I think I need to read James sooner than later. Happy New Year!
Sipsworth and The Small and the Mighty were both on my top reads of 2024. So good! I’m adding James to my TBR for this year based on your recommendation. I have been on the fence about it but you’ve pushed me over! 😂
Lovely curated list, Krista! ❤ I ended up having a big reading slump in 2024 that lasted from February to November, with a move from Texas to New York so I didn’t do the readalong of The Hiding Place when you did it. However, I did read it eventually and that ended up being my #1 read for 2024. 😊 Such an inspiring, moving account of Corrie’s life and her courage through the worst of times.
I just learned about Africatown (Plateau, Alabama) yesterday from another book I’m reading. (I live in Alabama.) A few years ago, Questlove (leader of Roots, Jimmy Fallon’s band on The Tonight Show) was on Finding Your Roots on PBS. They did his family history and found that one of his ancestors was on the Clotilde.
That's so cool. I love finding connections like that. I think you'll like the book African Town. It was a hard read, but so well done too. I recommend tandem reading it with the audio.
Sipsworth was my last read of 2024 and was also a five star read for me. What a wonderful way to end the year! Btw, your hair looks so pretty and I love your glasses.
I love hearing all your year end content and look forward to your goals! Frozen River was my top read and Sipsworth was a fav as well 😊 I think you might enjoy The Unselected Journal of Emma M Lion. The first couple are short and Emma is such a snarky, funny character!
Some of these are on my TBR and I have lined up The Frozen River up next after I finish East of Eden- which has been amazing so far! Thank you for sharing!
Just finished Frozen River (really enjoyed!!) and now tackling The Winners. So, I’m pleased to see both on your list! The Winners is intimidating to me because of its size (I don’t normally read chunky books) but taking it just a page at a time, and I enjoy Backman so much I think I can handle it.
I had no idea the louding voice had a sequel. James was incredible! Every time I closed the book I just sat in a moment of disbelief at how good it is.
I haven't read any of your top 10 fiction but I am next in line for The Frozen River. It has been so long since I put it on hold at library. I have waited almost the whole year. Simon Sort of Says is also one of my favorites of the year.
Great books! The Beartown series is wonderful. The Midnight Library also fabulous. Just read The Frozen River which I loved. James was incredible! I love retellings of classics. If you do as well there is a retelling of the Great Gatsby from POV of the women, Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor.
I added African Town, Wild Hope, Lasagna Means I Love You, and the Track series to my want-to-read. Thanks for the recs! My top read of 2024 was Lady Tan's Circle of Women. Excited for another great reading year in 2025 :)
Just bought The Frozen River this weekend. For the longest time only the hardback was available in Canada and it was insanely expensive. Finally spotted a paperback of it and nabbed it. Love Vera Wong, definitely a fave for me last year. Hiding Place I loved too. My friend just read "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie Ten Boom and said it was awesome so that's on the list for this year. Really enjoyed this video
Sipsworth, James, Frozen River, and Lost ticket were on my top 10 as well. Never heard of Sipsworth before you mentioned it. Thanks for always having the BEST recommendations. Now I must read Vera Wong 🤗
@ Other faves of mine were the Door-to-Door Bookstore, the 4th Thursday Murder Club book and Fountains of Silence (R Sepetys) Also Middle Grade favorite was Iceberg. Hope you guys are doing Middle Grade March this year. I have my first one all picked out!
I think the only book from your list that I've read is The Lightning Thief? It's a really fun series! The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell, The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop were some of my favorites from 2024!
I loved Vera Wong - it made my top list for 2023. I am looking forward to getting the sequel April 1. I need to reread the Percy Jackson series - I think I missed one set when I read them before. The Trials of Apollo ended up as my favorite of the various series. And you reminded me I bought The Lost Ticket based on your recommendation! I need to add that to my 2025 TBR. (My favorite adult fiction was The Bodyguard; my favorite nonfiction was Why I Read; and my favorite middle grade was The Princess Protection Program.)
Always very interesting to me to see what books are peoples favorites. Gives me such great recs. Books that I probably would not have chosen but end up being such gems! 👍
So many books to read👍🤯adding all these to my tbr.📚 I have only 4 favs this year- White bird- R.J Palaccio,Number the stars-Lois Lowry, Letters from the lighthouse-EmmaCarroll & A pinch of magic- Michelle Harrison
These were some great books. My favorite book was probably River East, River West. I had kind of a meh reading year in 2024 though. Hoping 2025 will be better.
I loved Vera Wong! Can't wait for the next book coming out this year! Are you planning to read it as well? Oh I want to read Sipsworth! It sounds heart warming!
My hold for James finally came in, and wow, it's so good. I also enjoyed The Midnight Library, and Beartown is one of my all-time favorite series. My youngest played hockey, and my book bestie gifted me the 1st book.i have The Frozen River on my shelf and added Nowhere Boy and Reign Rain to my TBR. Are you planning on reading Jupiter Rising? I read Hummingbird this month about a girl with that brittle bone condition, and I was unexpectedly crying. I listened to it, and when she describes what it's like when a bone breaks 😭
I definitely want to read Jupiter Rising. I have heard it's also very good. I forgot about Hummingbird. That actually should have been book 10 instead of Wolf Hollow. I loved Hummingbird.
I read "Hiding Place" several years ago. An incredible read. I read "Frozen River" and found this to be my most favorite read for 2024 along with "The Women".
Amazing!! I have liked or think I would like all but two of these. I could get into the one by Sanderson if I could just remember the world building. I’ve started Frozen River so many times but got interrupted so I had to turn it back in. I’m tempted to use one of my credits at Audible to buy it. The other one I wouldn’t pick is the one in verse. My #1 of all the books you mentioned is The Midnight Library. I may reread it this year. A very good list.
Great list! I just finished The Trees by Percival Everett and it was really good! I’m hoping to get to James soon. And yes, I guessed you #1! 😉 A book about a dog!! 😮😂 I want to work on my MG reading in 2025. 🎉
The thing that's shocking about And So I Roar, and the first book, is that it is not historical. They both are set just 10 years ago in the 2010s. I couldn't believe that when I found that out!
Sipsworth is now at the top of my must read list. Diamond Eye was so good that it nearly wrecked my soul. It will be a while before I can tolerate such a heavy story again. You cried over a dog book? I must avoid that one at all costs. My heart cannot take sad things happening to beloved family pets. I still mourn the loss of my first dog, Woof. We lost him back around 1970. I need my book descriptions to tell me “the dog lives”. This was a great list. Thank you.
I hear you about Diamond Eye. Kate Quinn can do that to me too. The tears in Rain Reign were not because the dog died. It is more about the girl's decisions and behavior. It was really special. So let me be the one too say "the dog lives" for this one. haha.
2024 was a great reading year for me: some favs were The frozen river by Ariel lawhorn (audio), Woman of God by James Patterson (audio), All the colors of the dark by Chris Whitaker Elizabeth Bergs Arthur Trulove Lula deans banned books by Kirsten Miller. The change also by Kirsten miller How to stop Time by Matt Haig The women by Kristin Hannah. Joe nuthings guide to life by Helen Fisher. The Romcommers by Katherine Center The funeral ladies of ellerie county by Claire Swinarski. Middle grade favs were Long Way Down and the true confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Just to name a few 😂❤
I definitely plan on getting to All the Colors of the Dark this year. It's on a lot of favorites lists. I hope to read more from Matt Haig too. I think I'm going to enjoy him as an author. I have heard quite a few people love the Charlotte Doyle book. I am not a huge fan of books on ships usually, so I've been hesitant to pick it up. I know I'll probably like it though.
My favorite book of 2024 was probably A Dog Named Mattis by Mark Tappan. It is non-fiction about the amazing relationship between Mark and Mattis, their career in the K9 division and the lessons Mark learned from Mattis in regards to relationships, trusting God and remembering that truths that God shares can be found in the most unexpected ways. As for a favorite middle grade, I have been reading The Adventures on Trains series by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Any of those could be listed here as my favorite. They are all a fun read with a little mystery and some really good artwork throughout the books.
I recently purchased The Winners so I can finish the series. Great story and yes, I totally agree with you about the language, but it makes sense with these books - although I hate it!
I read Anxious People by Backman very recently and it was surprisingly very light on explicit language, so I guess it depends on the book. I DNFd Beartown partly because of that reason and thought that all of Backman's books were like that.
At work there’s a small group of us who are going to read Frozen River together this month. I have Way of Kings in my 25 to read in 25 because now that I am done with grad school I knew I could devote myself to it.
Krista, I love your enthusiasm for your favorites--you've added to my TBR! 👍 🎉🎉
Yay! The Frozen River was my far and away favorite fiction of the year also. I want to read many of the other books on both your fiction and nonfiction lists.
Krista, I couldn't agree more with your number 1 pick. Thank you for sharing all of your favorite reads. I hope your 2025 reads are just as wonderful. Karin
2:08 I bought Worst Case Scenario a while back! Can’t wait to read it.
14:07 I’ve started calling big books “chunkers” because of you! lol! Sanderson is on my list to read for 2025
I'm 41% into The Frozen River. I started it today and I'm obsessed.
Well, Krista, I think you nailed it when you picked The Frozen River for your #1 book. That is my pick too. Martha was remarkably strong woman and I loved the support and respect her husband showed her.
I think I need to read James sooner than later. Happy New Year!
Sipsworth and The Small and the Mighty were both on my top reads of 2024. So good! I’m adding James to my TBR for this year based on your recommendation. I have been on the fence about it but you’ve pushed me over! 😂
Lovely curated list, Krista! ❤ I ended up having a big reading slump in 2024 that lasted from February to November, with a move from Texas to New York so I didn’t do the readalong of The Hiding Place when you did it. However, I did read it eventually and that ended up being my #1 read for 2024. 😊 Such an inspiring, moving account of Corrie’s life and her courage through the worst of times.
I just learned about Africatown (Plateau, Alabama) yesterday from another book I’m reading. (I live in Alabama.)
A few years ago, Questlove (leader of Roots, Jimmy Fallon’s band on The Tonight Show) was on Finding Your Roots on PBS. They did his family history and found that one of his ancestors was on the Clotilde.
That's so cool. I love finding connections like that. I think you'll like the book African Town. It was a hard read, but so well done too. I recommend tandem reading it with the audio.
Sipsworth was my last read of 2024 and was also a five star read for me. What a wonderful way to end the year! Btw, your hair looks so pretty and I love your glasses.
🤗 really enjoyed seeing your top books for 2024. I have not read any of these but James and The Frozen River is on my list - have a blessed day!
Thanks, Sandy.
Loved hearing about all of your favorites! Rain Reign was a top fave for me in 2023! Loved it! I am starting The Frozen River soon!!!
I love hearing all your year end content and look forward to your goals! Frozen River was my top read and Sipsworth was a fav as well 😊 I think you might enjoy The Unselected Journal of Emma M Lion. The first couple are short and Emma is such a snarky, funny character!
Thank you, Krista! I, too, loved The Frozen River, Sipsworth, and James. 📚
Some of these are on my TBR and I have lined up The Frozen River up next after I finish East of Eden- which has been amazing so far! Thank you for sharing!
Just finished Frozen River (really enjoyed!!) and now tackling The Winners. So, I’m pleased to see both on your list! The Winners is intimidating to me because of its size (I don’t normally read chunky books) but taking it just a page at a time, and I enjoy Backman so much I think I can handle it.
I’ve been waiting this!
I just read The Frozen River and I know it's incredibly early but I wouldn't be surprised if it was my favorite book of 2025. I loved it so much!!
I had no idea the louding voice had a sequel. James was incredible! Every time I closed the book I just sat in a moment of disbelief at how good it is.
I’m reading The Frozen River now and WOW not what I expected absolutely loving and Martha is simply a queen in my eyes.
Loved the video, looking forward to Middle Grade March!!!!👍
I haven't read any of your top 10 fiction but I am next in line for The Frozen River. It has been so long since I put it on hold at library. I have waited almost the whole year. Simon Sort of Says is also one of my favorites of the year.
I’m with you , I loved The Frozen River! I plan on reading some of your top 10’s in 2025 ❤
Thanks!❤ Very helpful!
Great books! The Beartown series is wonderful. The Midnight Library also fabulous. Just read The Frozen River which I loved. James was incredible! I love retellings of classics. If you do as well there is a retelling of the Great Gatsby from POV of the women, Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor.
I added African Town, Wild Hope, Lasagna Means I Love You, and the Track series to my want-to-read. Thanks for the recs! My top read of 2024 was Lady Tan's Circle of Women. Excited for another great reading year in 2025 :)
I loved The Frozen River too!
Great video! Thanks! 💝💝💖💖
👏🤟Hi Krista’s I have read several of the Middle Grade books loved them! Outstanding 🎉🤩
María….we miss you on the Patreon zooms. Hope you’re well.
Loved Frozen River too! 💕📚
It was so good!
I enjoyed the video and added some to my list. I really enjoyed Sipsworth this year. 😊❤📚
Sipsworth was a delightful surprise to me. I am so glad I read it.
@BooksAndJams Thank you. Yes, I've recommended it to family and friends too. 🤗
The last letter by Rebecca Yarros was my favorite of last year ❤
Just bought The Frozen River this weekend. For the longest time only the hardback was available in Canada and it was insanely expensive. Finally spotted a paperback of it and nabbed it. Love Vera Wong, definitely a fave for me last year. Hiding Place I loved too. My friend just read "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie Ten Boom and said it was awesome so that's on the list for this year. Really enjoyed this video
I totally agree with your #1 book! 😊
Sipsworth, James, Frozen River, and Lost ticket were on my top 10 as well. Never heard of Sipsworth before you mentioned it. Thanks for always having the BEST recommendations. Now I must read Vera Wong 🤗
Love it. What else was in your list...since we have so much overlap I may need to adjust my tbr when I see! Yes! Read Vera Wong. I hope you like it.
@ Other faves of mine were the Door-to-Door Bookstore, the 4th Thursday Murder Club book and Fountains of Silence (R Sepetys) Also Middle Grade favorite was Iceberg. Hope you guys are doing Middle Grade March this year. I have my first one all picked out!
I also love the way TJ Newman writes her characters! I still haven’t read “worst case…” but it’s on my list. 💯
I will read anything TJ Newman writes. I really enjoy her.
I think the only book from your list that I've read is The Lightning Thief? It's a really fun series!
The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell, The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop were some of my favorites from 2024!
I loved Vera Wong - it made my top list for 2023. I am looking forward to getting the sequel April 1. I need to reread the Percy Jackson series - I think I missed one set when I read them before. The Trials of Apollo ended up as my favorite of the various series. And you reminded me I bought The Lost Ticket based on your recommendation! I need to add that to my 2025 TBR. (My favorite adult fiction was The Bodyguard; my favorite nonfiction was Why I Read; and my favorite middle grade was The Princess Protection Program.)
The Frozen River was my favorite book of the year too. It was just amazing.
The Frozen River was my no. 1 book of 2024 too!
Always very interesting to me to see what books are peoples favorites. Gives me such great recs. Books that I probably would not have chosen but end up being such gems! 👍
I love watching favorites videos too!
So many books to read👍🤯adding all these to my tbr.📚
I have only 4 favs this year- White bird- R.J Palaccio,Number the stars-Lois Lowry, Letters from the lighthouse-EmmaCarroll & A pinch of magic- Michelle Harrison
I loved The Frozen River and continue to think about that story
"Frozen River" was my standout title from 2024 as well!
Yay! It was just so good!
The Frozen River was definitely one of my best books last year.
It was a good one for sure!
🎉 I will be reading Frozen River this month for a book club❤
These were some great books. My favorite book was probably River East, River West. I had kind of a meh reading year in 2024 though. Hoping 2025 will be better.
I loved Vera Wong! Can't wait for the next book coming out this year! Are you planning to read it as well? Oh I want to read Sipsworth! It sounds heart warming!
I am very excited for the next Vera Wong book and am definitely planning on reading it this year.
My hold for James finally came in, and wow, it's so good. I also enjoyed The Midnight Library, and Beartown is one of my all-time favorite series. My youngest played hockey, and my book bestie gifted me the 1st book.i have The Frozen River on my shelf and added Nowhere Boy and Reign Rain to my TBR. Are you planning on reading Jupiter Rising? I read Hummingbird this month about a girl with that brittle bone condition, and I was unexpectedly crying. I listened to it, and when she describes what it's like when a bone breaks 😭
I definitely want to read Jupiter Rising. I have heard it's also very good. I forgot about Hummingbird. That actually should have been book 10 instead of Wolf Hollow. I loved Hummingbird.
Krista- I still don't know all there is about the Cosmere and I'm on Rhythm of War. Glad WoR was number 2.
I am excited to keep going...soon!
I have The Frozen River and The Midnight Library on my favorites for 2024 too!
I need to step up my MG this year for sure!
I'd love to hear what else is on your list!
I guessed your #1. I read Frozen River per your recommendation and loved it. It’s not #1 but in top five for year!
Sweet! What else is on your list?
My favorite of the year was The Women by Kristan Hannah. ❤ I grew up in the 70's and so much resonated with my growing up years.
I read "Hiding Place" several years ago. An incredible read. I read "Frozen River" and found this to be my most favorite read for 2024 along with "The Women".
So many of my favorite books of 2024 are the same as yours & many that are not on my list are because I haven’t read them & they are on my 2025 tbr.
Great reads! I look forward to reading some of these in 2025 ❤️📚
Amazing!! I have liked or think I would like all but two of these. I could get into the one by Sanderson if I could just remember the world building. I’ve started Frozen River so many times but got interrupted so I had to turn it back in. I’m tempted to use one of my credits at Audible to buy it. The other one I wouldn’t pick is the one in verse. My #1 of all the books you mentioned is The Midnight Library. I may reread it this year. A very good list.
Loved Frozen River ….👍
I, too, enjoy fave books of the year videos. My fave book was one I read in Jan 2024, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Great list! I just finished The Trees by Percival Everett and it was really good! I’m hoping to get to James soon. And yes, I guessed you #1! 😉 A book about a dog!! 😮😂 I want to work on my MG reading in 2025. 🎉
Loved Orbiting Jupiter 🎉 Would like to read Sipsworth.
Yeah, Orbiting Jupiter really hit me. I need to read the sequel still.
The thing that's shocking about And So I Roar, and the first book, is that it is not historical. They both are set just 10 years ago in the 2010s. I couldn't believe that when I found that out!
Sipsworth is now at the top of my must read list. Diamond Eye was so good that it nearly wrecked my soul. It will be a while before I can tolerate such a heavy story again. You cried over a dog book? I must avoid that one at all costs. My heart cannot take sad things happening to beloved family pets. I still mourn the loss of my first dog, Woof. We lost him back around 1970. I need my book descriptions to tell me “the dog lives”.
This was a great list. Thank you.
I hear you about Diamond Eye. Kate Quinn can do that to me too. The tears in Rain Reign were not because the dog died. It is more about the girl's decisions and behavior. It was really special. So let me be the one too say "the dog lives" for this one. haha.
@ Excellent news! Adding it to my wish list now!
2024 was a great reading year for me: some favs were The frozen river by Ariel lawhorn (audio),
Woman of God by James Patterson (audio),
All the colors of the dark by Chris Whitaker
Elizabeth Bergs Arthur Trulove
Lula deans banned books by Kirsten Miller.
The change also by Kirsten miller
How to stop Time by Matt Haig
The women by Kristin Hannah.
Joe nuthings guide to life by Helen Fisher.
The Romcommers by Katherine Center
The funeral ladies of ellerie county by Claire Swinarski.
Middle grade favs were Long Way Down and the true confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
Just to name a few 😂❤
I definitely plan on getting to All the Colors of the Dark this year. It's on a lot of favorites lists. I hope to read more from Matt Haig too. I think I'm going to enjoy him as an author. I have heard quite a few people love the Charlotte Doyle book. I am not a huge fan of books on ships usually, so I've been hesitant to pick it up. I know I'll probably like it though.
I enjoyed "The Lost Ticket". I would never have discovered it without you mentioning it on your TBR.
I just finished it too and it was so sweet and real. 😀
My favorite book of 2024 was probably A Dog Named Mattis by Mark Tappan. It is non-fiction about the amazing relationship between Mark and Mattis, their career in the K9 division and the lessons Mark learned from Mattis in regards to relationships, trusting God and remembering that truths that God shares can be found in the most unexpected ways.
As for a favorite middle grade, I have been reading The Adventures on Trains series by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Any of those could be listed here as my favorite. They are all a fun read with a little mystery and some really good artwork throughout the books.
The Frozen River was my #1 book of the year as well. James was #2. I hope that James by Percival Everett wins the Pulitzer Prize this year.
I recently purchased The Winners so I can finish the series. Great story and yes, I totally agree with you about the language, but it makes sense with these books - although I hate it!
Yeah, the language definitely is a turn off, but doesn't take away from my love of Backman.
I read Anxious People by Backman very recently and it was surprisingly very light on explicit language, so I guess it depends on the book. I DNFd Beartown partly because of that reason and thought that all of Backman's books were like that.
@heatherdegreeff1092 His Christmas book - Deal of a Lifetime is very good! Very G rated if I remember correctly.
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Percy Jackson
It was a fun surprise hit for me.
@ I love that series ( all of Rick riordan’s books)
❤📚