I had a good reading year this year. My favorites were: Maybe You should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb (A nonfiction) The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (also a nonfiction / memoir) Un certain Sourire by François Sagan A Fantasy of Dr. Ox by Jules Verne (a classic distopian that I really think you should try!) Also, in regards of Elif Shafak, I've read many books by her and they're always 4-5 stars Last one I read was "How to stay sane in an age of division" which I think you should also try My favourite book by her is "The bastard of Istanbul" and I have the book you mentioned next on my to-read list!
I will admit, you git me to pick up the Neapolitan Series, I did not have you will power I read them all in the same month. Definitely one of my favorite series of all times, thanks for never giving up on this recommendation
If I were objective I would say that The Will of the Many was the best one this year. However, The House in the cerulean Sea came at a time when I really needed that kind of sweet, wholesome story. And then Somewhere beyond the sea. Those were the books I needed. Sweet, innocent. They truly healed my soul. Sometimes it's not about the objective qualities, sometimes it's about how the books make you feel.
Shafak 's newest one "There are rivers in the sky" is my 2024 fav read. "The Island of Missing trees" was my #1 book a few years ago. Amazing storyteller.
Seeing as you are one of the few BookTubers I still watch and we have fairly similar tastes in books, I already have 8 out of 10 of these books on my TBR 😂
Look, I read multiple recommendations from you this year, and you were so right about I Who Have Never Known Men AND Blood Over Bright Haven. I think my fave his year was All Fours; it was very relatable for me as I went through a life shift three years ago.
OMG Emily!!! I used to watch your makeup videos ages go and just lost you after you stopped posting content… just found you today. So nice to see you again!! New subscriber here
My favourite book of the year was an Arc called The Garden by Nick Newman. Speculative, 2 elderly women living in a garden in the apocalypse. INCREDIBLE. Comes out 2025, HIGHLY recommend.
After reading Elif Shafak's latest novel There Are Rivers in the Sky I immediately bought some of her backlist titles, including 10 Minutes 38 Seconds. So glad to hear you loved that one, I will definitely read it next year!
You should ABSOLUTELY read The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak! I haven't read any others but it was SO good and also a genre that I don't read much of at all!
Love your channel, Emily! My 2024 favorites were: Killers of the Flower Moon (David Grann) What Feasts at Night (T Kingfisher) The Haunting of Maddy Clare (Simone St. James)-thank you so much for mentioning this book in one of your videos! Foster (Claire Keegan) Looking forward to more great reads in 2025❤
I read mostly thrillers and horror. My favorite books this year (not all published this year) were Lost Gods and Slewfoot by Brom, The Bog Wife, Weyward, Run on Red, Ask for Andrea, American Rapture and finally the Blackwater Saga.
All the Colors of the Dark ended up being my favorite book of the year! It surprised me and kept me hooked the entire time. I also want to go back and read the authors backlist now.
My top 5 books of the year are: - *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen - *In Other Lands* by Sarah Rees Brennan - *Fellowship of the Ring* by Tolkien - *You Should be so Lucky* by Cat Sebastian - *Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Elves and Faeries* by Heather Fawcett I had amazing year but these books really stood out to me and they are the only ones that I gave full 5 stars (I had a lot of 4.5/4.75 reads). Also I read the Goblin Emperor last year and I loved it as well! It's definitely cosy to me even tho there is so much sadness thst I felt for the main character. Loved, LOVED the setting, I'm always a sucker for steampunk and now I need more books with goblins and elves (or maybe just worlds with different races than humans?), it's so cool!
@@BookswithEmilyFoxdefinitely The Wedding People! I was already curious about it but now I’m convinced. I’m very on the fence about The Shadow of What was Lost but I’m a bit scared about the length of the books in the series considering that the first one is the shortest at 600 pages 😭 but I already had a handful of books on my list that you mentioned here (The Tainted Cup, The Will of the Many, and finishing the Neapolitan Quartet!)
It's a great pick, I'm sure you'll love it! Sounds like you already have thick books/long series so maybe wait until you've read the will of the many to see if you enjoy his writing first!
My best of the year. -The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec -Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See -The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. -The Bird King by G Willow Wilson -The Unmothers by Leslie Anderson -The Lost Village by Camilla Sten -Star Scrapper by J.N Chaney -No Gods No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull -The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
My favs of the year was Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell and The Silmarillion by Tolkien, there were more but these two were absolutely incredible and I'll certainly reread them
Some of my best books of the year were - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan - The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
My 3 best books of the year, I've read because of you, so thank you! It was The Goblin Emperor, Blood over Bright Haven and The Will of the Many (which I'm currently reading, bit it's already SO good). I've discovered that there is a sub-genre called Political Fantasy, which applies to all of them, so I'm delving deeper into that next year.
Okay I loved The Will of the Many, one of my favourite books of the year and I have been hesitant to pick up James' other series but your endorsement of it has made me decide it might be time to pick it up in the New Year. Happy Holidays, thanks for all the great recommendations!
Best books i’ve read this year- The Wager - David Grann Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman The Shadow of the Gods - John Gwyne Emma & Persuasion - Jane Austen And Six of Crows but I’m guessing most people know of it, the hype is deserved imo
Other birds OBSESSED another favorite of mine this year and the cover is beautiful 🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄💚💚🎄🎅🏻❄️❄️🎁❤️❤️❤️❤️🎁🌨️🌨️🎁❤️💚☃️🌨️🌨️🌨️❄️🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻📙📚📚📚📚📙📖📖📖📙📚📚📙📖📙📚📙📙📚📚📙📖📖
Best of the year (in no particular order): * Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer * The Will of the Many by James Islington * Villette by Charlotte Bronte * Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa * One Dark Window by Rachel Gilling * The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy * The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley * The Beach by Alex Garland * The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez * The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sherriff * A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher * Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh
@@BookswithEmilyFox I love (or at least like) all her books and have to say this is one of her best! She has such a unique sense of humor and a real way with twisted fairy tales with a feminist perspective.
Emily!! Elif Shafak was a gem!! 10 Minutes is also my 1st book of her and blew me away 😍😍 her writing style is everything! now i already read 5 of her books, if i can recommend one for you is her latest book : THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY .. a 5stars read for me
My favorites this year were Mondays not coming (only 5 star of the year), The Queen of the Tearling (trilogy) and Strange Sally Diamond (dark and not for everyone but I loved it)
I liked 10 Minutes 38 Seconds but I absolutely loved The Island of Missing Trees. And I bought her newest release recently too. Looking forward to reading it next year. I just put All the Colours of the Dark and Other Birds onto my TBR immediately! ☺
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak was one of the most lovely books I’ve read in awhile. I felt deeply, emotionally, touched several times. It’s one of the only fictional books I’ve read that’s felt more spiritual and truthful than religious texts.
Hi. My best book of the year was Soldier Sailor, by Claire Kilroy. I've also really loved The Neapolitan Series, following your recommendations. I've read all the books in the series, after completely falling in love with My Brilliant Friend. Merry Christmas. 🎄
Oooh I'm so excited to start this video because your best for 2023 is my best for 2024 (Blood Over Bright Haven). You bet I will read whatever you give first place 😂 (unless I read it already of course...I've already read a few of your recommendations this year and I'm currently 90% through Will of the Many, and while it is no Blood Over Bright Haven, it is still very good)
@@BookswithEmilyFox seriously! i think it currently holds the #1 place for favorite book of all time. It was an absolute masterpiece and I probably wouldn't have picked it up if not for your raving recommendation, so I am very thankful that you put it on my radar!
I have Goblin Emperor on my shelf, good to know you loved it. My favorite by Elif Shafak is The Bastard of Istanbul about an Armenian American visiting a Turkish family in Istanbul to search for her roots.
Love your books and added a few to my TBR. My top reads of the year are from your book recommendations. « my brillent friend » I read the 4 books and « I who have never known men » thank you again for all the recommendations.
Regarding wanting complex female characters in thrillers - have you read Department Q by Jussi Adler Olsen? As a Danish woman, I would looooove to hear your thoughts. I added all these books to my TBR 😅 Here's to another year watching you, since 2015 😎
Hearing you talk about The Tainted Cup makes me think you might really enjoy An Academy For Liars. It was one of my top reads of 2024. There’s mystery, fantasy, dark academia and just a lot of twists and turns. Highly recommend
My best books : Betty - Tiffany Mc Daniel / The serpent and the wings of night C. Broadbent / Porcelaine sous les ruines - Ada.Vivalda / Small things like these - C. Keegan / Verity - C. Hoover / La tresse - L. Colombani / Nettle and Bone - T. Kingfisher !!
@ yep 100% ,it got me back into reading so its happy ,sad. If you did a top 10 list of books that are similarly sad, heartbreaking or emotional that would be a great video. 😊
I enjoyed “Warbreaker” by Brando Sanderson, “Girl, 11” by Amy Sulter Clarke, “Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country” by Emily Tesh, almost anything from Nicci French and “The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin. All time favourite is “Slewfoot” by Brom. Currently reading “Krampus, the Yule Lord” by Brom (good seasonal read)
I read '10 Minutes 38 Seconds...' on your recommendation and really liked it, so Elena Ferrante and 'I Who Have Never Known Men' are on my list to pick up early next year based on your recs.
I loved Unraveller by Frances Hardinge 🕸️, she's super underrated but her fantasy books are all super accessible and unique (and they never have random forced romances in them)
My best book of the year is definitely the tainted cup! Already pre-ordered the second one. Other 5 stars were also: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler and the last book in the wayfarer series by Becky Chambers. Not that many 5 star reads overall but they're strong 5 stars at least 😊
I adored the wedding people !! Listened to it and it was so fun :) Maintenant je cherche d’autres livres similaires mais je ne sais pas par où commencer !
I'm soo curious about The Will of the Many, but I'm having a hard time picking it up while it's still ongoing... 🥲 My absolute favorite read of 2024 was: - The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez it became my all time fav book. Other books I really loved and gave 5⭐ to: - Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek - A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft - Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater - One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig - A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid As for series: - The Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat - Heaven Official's Blessing by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù - Shades of Magic trilogy by Victoria E. Schwab (still reading book 3 but I LOVVVE IT). Happy holidays!! 🌠
My Brilliant Friend is on my priority TBR for 2025, really need to get to that series! The Tainted Cup was great 😊 Sadly I didn’t love All The Colors of the Dark but I feel like I’m the only one, haha. I don’t mind a slow burn kind of book but didn’t really connect with the writing or story sadly! And the rest of these are either already on my TBR or on it now because of you, haha. I was surprised by my top 12 list because there’s definitely some fantasy as expected but then there’s also a good mix of different genres! My top 12 (in chronological order) is: Tress of the Emerald Sea The Hate U Give Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands Six of Crows Words of Radiance Seven Days in June Piranesi Just For The Summer The Things We Cannot Say Remarkably Bright Creatures The God of the Woods Beartown
I'm always going to be so happy that you liked The Goblin Emperor. Is Wedding People a romance book? It's not a genre that I prefer but the premise sounds interesting.
I wouldn't say so... but it's a mix of a lot of genre. It's definitely not sickly sweet since she's dealing with a lot. It's more about her finding meaning for her life again
The Neapolitan series is available on DVD and is called 'My Brilliant Friend' it was shown om Sky Atlantic channel, the cinematography is amazing, I loved it! I've since picked up the books, I'm really sad that the series is over on TV xx❤
My best book of the year is a german classic, that's why i'm not sure if you would like it. Is 'The magic montain' Thomas Mann, it was funny, philosophical, with so many conversations about everything and anything.
For all of these I either already gave them 5 stars or they're on my TBR!!! I highly recommend (and hope others are recommending!!) The Mask of Mirrors by MA Carrick. First in a fantasy trilogy (they are all out!) in a Venice-inspired city with a multi layered magic system and all sorts of political vibes and also a Zorro/Robin Hood type character - and the series just gets better and better.
My top 5 this year: Playground by Richard Powers Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Stoner by John Edward Williams The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
I read The Goblin Emperor and Blood Over Bright Haven on your recommendation. I enjoyed both of them, but The Goblin Emperor was really enchanting. I have My Brilliant Friend but haven't started it yet. I think I'll look into The Shadow of What Was Lost... My favorite reads of the year were: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It's an alternate history/fantasy about the return of lost magic in England during the Napoleonic wars. It's a chunky book, but I didn't want to put it down so I listened to it when driving and read it at home. I don't think it's for everyone, it's slow and weird. It's a mood. I loved it. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. 3 separate stories in 3 different centuries that are all subtly tied together by an ancient manuscript. Again, I don't think it's for everyone. Again, it's a mood. Again, I loved it. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. Straight up science fiction. The moon explodes one day, and it's a race against time to save life on Earth. Stephenson does a lot of exposition in his books, but I like all the science theory so that's okay. I probably skimmed a bit of it. But the book is straight up fun and action packed. I also went in for my first Robin Hobb series and read the Liveship Traders trilogy, which is epic high fantasy. Loved it.
I'm shocked by my favorites because they're in two genres that I don't usually read: Remarkably Bright Creatures (contemp fic) and The Women (historical fiction). Both about strong but broken women. Beautiful writing. Complexity of character and of plots.
"The bar is low." And yet, it has to be there! I tend to avoid fantasy by male authors out of habit to avoid SA scenes. Very happy with James Islington and The Will of the Many especially!! It was a five-star for me this year and I only read it in AUGUST. Why did it take me so dang long?! Less to wait for the sequel I guess, but still.
one of my best books this year was Rouge by Mona Awad, i know you weren’t the biggest fan of Bunny, but I truly believe that Awad had something to say with this novel. I’m so so curious to know what you would think of it!! It’s so weird but I really enjoyed it and thought it was super relevant!
One of the best I read this year that I don't think you've read yet is Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. This is the first standalone after the First Law Trilogy, which I'm pretty sure you've read! It's full of female rage and revenge, and it's so good!!
‘Eye of the needle’ was my first Ken Follett, I really enjoyed it - and as I type I realise I don’t think I ever saw you mention Ken Follett, maybe it’d be a good first approach to his books for you as well
What are the best books you’ve read in 2024?
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs and The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Easily Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. And for nonfiction, Eve and Wild Swans.
Pachinko🩵
I had a good reading year this year. My favorites were:
Maybe You should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb (A nonfiction)
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (also a nonfiction / memoir)
Un certain Sourire by François Sagan
A Fantasy of Dr. Ox by Jules Verne (a classic distopian that I really think you should try!)
Also, in regards of Elif Shafak, I've read many books by her and they're always 4-5 stars
Last one I read was "How to stay sane in an age of division" which I think you should also try
My favourite book by her is "The bastard of Istanbul" and I have the book you mentioned next on my to-read list!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you!! Merry Christmas ❤️
The Goblin Emperor is a cosy fantasy for me. Love it.
I will admit, you git me to pick up the Neapolitan Series, I did not have you will power I read them all in the same month. Definitely one of my favorite series of all times, thanks for never giving up on this recommendation
If I were objective I would say that The Will of the Many was the best one this year. However, The House in the cerulean Sea came at a time when I really needed that kind of sweet, wholesome story. And then Somewhere beyond the sea. Those were the books I needed. Sweet, innocent. They truly healed my soul. Sometimes it's not about the objective qualities, sometimes it's about how the books make you feel.
Shafak 's newest one "There are rivers in the sky" is my 2024 fav read. "The Island of Missing trees" was my #1 book a few years ago. Amazing storyteller.
same!! one of my best book of 2024 “The Are Rivers In The Sky”
Seeing as you are one of the few BookTubers I still watch and we have fairly similar tastes in books, I already have 8 out of 10 of these books on my TBR 😂
I’m reading The Tainted Cup right now and loving it…might be a last minute favorite of the year
I read 10 Minutes bc of you and it also made my best of the year. Same with Tainted Cup!! ❤ Love both of them
Look, I read multiple recommendations from you this year, and you were so right about I Who Have Never Known Men AND Blood Over Bright Haven. I think my fave his year was All Fours; it was very relatable for me as I went through a life shift three years ago.
OMG Emily!!!
I used to watch your makeup videos ages go and just lost you after you stopped posting content… just found you today. So nice to see you again!!
New subscriber here
My favourite book of the year was an Arc called The Garden by Nick Newman. Speculative, 2 elderly women living in a garden in the apocalypse. INCREDIBLE. Comes out 2025, HIGHLY recommend.
After reading Elif Shafak's latest novel There Are Rivers in the Sky I immediately bought some of her backlist titles, including 10 Minutes 38 Seconds. So glad to hear you loved that one, I will definitely read it next year!
I'm glad to hear it's good too! I need to try it
You should ABSOLUTELY read The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak! I haven't read any others but it was SO good and also a genre that I don't read much of at all!
That’s the other one I have on my shelf. I will give it a shot next year!
I love that book!
Great list👍🏻❤️
Love your channel, Emily! My 2024 favorites were:
Killers of the Flower Moon (David Grann)
What Feasts at Night (T Kingfisher)
The Haunting of Maddy Clare (Simone St. James)-thank you so much for mentioning this book in one of your videos!
Foster (Claire Keegan)
Looking forward to more great reads in 2025❤
+1 to Killers of the Flower Moon!
I read 10 mins based on your rec. I loved it. One of my top reads of the year.
❄️Merry Christmas❄️ I put Goblin Emperor on hold am my library 🎉
I read mostly thrillers and horror. My favorite books this year (not all published this year) were Lost Gods and Slewfoot by Brom, The Bog Wife, Weyward, Run on Red, Ask for Andrea, American Rapture and finally the Blackwater Saga.
First thoughts starting this video... that red lip stick is stunning and soooo beautiful on you.
Thank you! It’s been a go to this year!
All the Colors of the Dark ended up being my favorite book of the year! It surprised me and kept me hooked the entire time. I also want to go back and read the authors backlist now.
My top 5 books of the year are:
- *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen
- *In Other Lands* by Sarah Rees Brennan
- *Fellowship of the Ring* by Tolkien
- *You Should be so Lucky* by Cat Sebastian
- *Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Elves and Faeries* by Heather Fawcett
I had amazing year but these books really stood out to me and they are the only ones that I gave full 5 stars (I had a lot of 4.5/4.75 reads).
Also I read the Goblin Emperor last year and I loved it as well! It's definitely cosy to me even tho there is so much sadness thst I felt for the main character.
Loved, LOVED the setting, I'm always a sucker for steampunk and now I need more books with goblins and elves (or maybe just worlds with different races than humans?), it's so cool!
I was waiting for your video to complete my 25 books for 2025 template!!
Which books are you going to add?
@@BookswithEmilyFoxdefinitely The Wedding People! I was already curious about it but now I’m convinced. I’m very on the fence about The Shadow of What was Lost but I’m a bit scared about the length of the books in the series considering that the first one is the shortest at 600 pages 😭 but I already had a handful of books on my list that you mentioned here (The Tainted Cup, The Will of the Many, and finishing the Neapolitan Quartet!)
It's a great pick, I'm sure you'll love it! Sounds like you already have thick books/long series so maybe wait until you've read the will of the many to see if you enjoy his writing first!
My best of the year.
-The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
-Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
-The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston.
-The Bird King by G Willow Wilson
-The Unmothers by Leslie Anderson
-The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
-Star Scrapper by J.N Chaney
-No Gods No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
-The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I LOVED The Witch’s Heart! It was my first read of the year and I ate it up.
@leighamontgomery981
It was my 13th and stayed with me the whole year too!
I only heard about three of these but just from the titles they sound really interesting 👀
I live for your videos ❤ Thank you so much. Can't wait to see what next year has in store for you for best books 🎉 December 2025 I will be back here!
One of my top favorites that I read this year was The Tainted Cup. Currently reading Wren Hunt and am enjoying it.
I loved The Tainted Cup ❤
My favs of the year was Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell and The Silmarillion by Tolkien, there were more but these two were absolutely incredible and I'll certainly reread them
Some of my best books of the year were
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan
- The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
My 3 best books of the year, I've read because of you, so thank you! It was The Goblin Emperor, Blood over Bright Haven and The Will of the Many (which I'm currently reading, bit it's already SO good). I've discovered that there is a sub-genre called Political Fantasy, which applies to all of them, so I'm delving deeper into that next year.
OMG the Neopolitan series is on my favourites for this year too!!! It's phenomenal!!
I'll need to read all of these they all sound so good!
My faves this year were Thornhedge, The Tainted Cup, and Someone You Can Build a Nest In.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is my best book of the year
Favs of the year are “The Stationary Shop”, and “Remarkably Bright Creatures”!
Okay I loved The Will of the Many, one of my favourite books of the year and I have been hesitant to pick up James' other series but your endorsement of it has made me decide it might be time to pick it up in the New Year. Happy Holidays, thanks for all the great recommendations!
You’ll have to tell me how it goes!
I absolutely loved The Helm of Midnight and The Cage of Dark Hours by Marina Lostetter, really looking forward to book 3 in 2025!
Best books i’ve read this year-
The Wager - David Grann
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
The Shadow of the Gods - John Gwyne
Emma & Persuasion - Jane Austen
And Six of Crows but I’m guessing most people know of it, the hype is deserved imo
Other birds OBSESSED another favorite of mine this year and the cover is beautiful 🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄💚💚🎄🎅🏻❄️❄️🎁❤️❤️❤️❤️🎁🌨️🌨️🎁❤️💚☃️🌨️🌨️🌨️❄️🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻📙📚📚📚📚📙📖📖📖📙📚📚📙📖📙📚📙📙📚📚📙📖📖
Joyeuses fêtes!! ❤🎉
Best of the year (in no particular order):
* Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer
* The Will of the Many by James Islington
* Villette by Charlotte Bronte
* Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
* One Dark Window by Rachel Gilling
* The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
* The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley
* The Beach by Alex Garland
* The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
* The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sherriff
* A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
* Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh
I'm thinking of reading A Sorceress Comes to Call in my first vlog!
@@BookswithEmilyFox I love (or at least like) all her books and have to say this is one of her best! She has such a unique sense of humor and a real way with twisted fairy tales with a feminist perspective.
Emily!! Elif Shafak was a gem!! 10 Minutes is also my 1st book of her and blew me away 😍😍 her writing style is everything! now i already read 5 of her books, if i can recommend one for you is her latest book : THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY .. a 5stars read for me
I totally want to try that one too!
My favorites this year were Mondays not coming (only 5 star of the year), The Queen of the Tearling (trilogy) and Strange Sally Diamond (dark and not for everyone but I loved it)
I liked 10 Minutes 38 Seconds but I absolutely loved The Island of Missing Trees. And I bought her newest release recently too. Looking forward to reading it next year. I just put All the Colours of the Dark and Other Birds onto my TBR immediately! ☺
The Island... is on my shelf! That and her newest release are on my TBR too for next year!
@BookswithEmilyFox I hope you enjoy them! ☺
I've been meaning to get to The Will of the Many for ages!
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak was one of the most lovely books I’ve read in awhile. I felt deeply, emotionally, touched several times. It’s one of the only fictional books I’ve read that’s felt more spiritual and truthful than religious texts.
That's the one I couldn't finish... I'll try it again next year!
@ could it be the present day storyline? That one interested me the least and felt less meaningful than the past storyline
My best books of 2024 were The Tainted Cup, My Husband by Maud Ventura (original is in French) and The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean.
Hi. My best book of the year was Soldier Sailor, by Claire Kilroy. I've also really loved The Neapolitan Series, following your recommendations. I've read all the books in the series, after completely falling in love with My Brilliant Friend. Merry Christmas. 🎄
My best books of the year: Maame by Jessica George, The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Oooh I'm so excited to start this video because your best for 2023 is my best for 2024 (Blood Over Bright Haven). You bet I will read whatever you give first place 😂 (unless I read it already of course...I've already read a few of your recommendations this year and I'm currently 90% through Will of the Many, and while it is no Blood Over Bright Haven, it is still very good)
It will be hard to beat blood over bright haven!! I’m curious, which book will be my number one of the year 🤞🤞
@@BookswithEmilyFox seriously! i think it currently holds the #1 place for favorite book of all time. It was an absolute masterpiece and I probably wouldn't have picked it up if not for your raving recommendation, so I am very thankful that you put it on my radar!
I have Goblin Emperor on my shelf, good to know you loved it. My favorite by Elif Shafak is The Bastard of Istanbul about an Armenian American visiting a Turkish family in Istanbul to search for her roots.
Love your books and added a few to my TBR. My top reads of the year are from your book recommendations. « my brillent friend » I read the 4 books and « I who have never known men » thank you again for all the recommendations.
Regarding wanting complex female characters in thrillers - have you read Department Q by Jussi Adler Olsen? As a Danish woman, I would looooove to hear your thoughts. I added all these books to my TBR 😅 Here's to another year watching you, since 2015 😎
Hearing you talk about The Tainted Cup makes me think you might really enjoy An Academy For Liars. It was one of my top reads of 2024. There’s mystery, fantasy, dark academia and just a lot of twists and turns. Highly recommend
It's been on my Kindle for a little while... didn't get to it this year, hopefully next year!
My best books : Betty - Tiffany Mc Daniel / The serpent and the wings of night C. Broadbent / Porcelaine sous les ruines - Ada.Vivalda / Small things like these - C. Keegan / Verity - C. Hoover / La tresse - L. Colombani / Nettle and Bone - T. Kingfisher !!
Heck yesssss Gone Girl is the best!!! 😍
Favourite reads for me were Flowers for Algernon and also The Ferryman by Justin cronin. Merry xmas!
I want to reread Flowers for Algernon soon... It will probably break my heart all over again!
@ yep 100% ,it got me back into reading so its happy ,sad.
If you did a top 10 list of books that are similarly sad, heartbreaking or emotional that would be a great video. 😊
Merry Christmas ✨️🎄✨️
I enjoyed “Warbreaker” by Brando Sanderson, “Girl, 11” by Amy Sulter Clarke, “Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country” by Emily Tesh, almost anything from Nicci French and “The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin. All time favourite is “Slewfoot” by Brom. Currently reading “Krampus, the Yule Lord” by Brom (good seasonal read)
I read '10 Minutes 38 Seconds...' on your recommendation and really liked it, so Elena Ferrante and 'I Who Have Never Known Men' are on my list to pick up early next year based on your recs.
I also really loved The Wedding People!! 😍
Will it be in your best books of 2024 too?
Two bangers I read this year, shorties but goodies, were Assembly by Natasha Brown and Address Unknown by Kressmann Taylor!
I loved Unraveller by Frances Hardinge 🕸️, she's super underrated but her fantasy books are all super accessible and unique (and they never have random forced romances in them)
My best book of the year is definitely the tainted cup! Already pre-ordered the second one. Other 5 stars were also: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler and the last book in the wayfarer series by Becky Chambers. Not that many 5 star reads overall but they're strong 5 stars at least 😊
Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb was my favorite series of 2024!
I adored the wedding people !! Listened to it and it was so fun :) Maintenant je cherche d’autres livres similaires mais je ne sais pas par où commencer !
I'm soo curious about The Will of the Many, but I'm having a hard time picking it up while it's still ongoing... 🥲
My absolute favorite read of 2024 was:
- The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
it became my all time fav book.
Other books I really loved and gave 5⭐ to:
- Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
- A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
- Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
- One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
- A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
As for series:
- The Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat
- Heaven Official's Blessing by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
- Shades of Magic trilogy by Victoria E. Schwab (still reading book 3 but I LOVVVE IT).
Happy holidays!! 🌠
My Brilliant Friend is on my priority TBR for 2025, really need to get to that series! The Tainted Cup was great 😊 Sadly I didn’t love All The Colors of the Dark but I feel like I’m the only one, haha. I don’t mind a slow burn kind of book but didn’t really connect with the writing or story sadly! And the rest of these are either already on my TBR or on it now because of you, haha. I was surprised by my top 12 list because there’s definitely some fantasy as expected but then there’s also a good mix of different genres! My top 12 (in chronological order) is:
Tress of the Emerald Sea
The Hate U Give
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Six of Crows
Words of Radiance
Seven Days in June
Piranesi
Just For The Summer
The Things We Cannot Say
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The God of the Woods
Beartown
I'm always going to be so happy that you liked The Goblin Emperor.
Is Wedding People a romance book? It's not a genre that I prefer but the premise sounds interesting.
I wouldn't say so... but it's a mix of a lot of genre. It's definitely not sickly sweet since she's dealing with a lot. It's more about her finding meaning for her life again
@@BookswithEmilyFox Okay, thank you!
My best book of the year was, by far, Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson!
The Neapolitan series is available on DVD and is called 'My Brilliant Friend' it was shown om Sky Atlantic channel, the cinematography is amazing, I loved it! I've since picked up the books, I'm really sad that the series is over on TV xx❤
The Sun Eater series took over my life this year. I read it 3 times. I loved The Wall. I looved Annie Bot!!
My best book of the year is a german classic, that's why i'm not sure if you would like it. Is 'The magic montain' Thomas Mann, it was funny, philosophical, with so many conversations about everything and anything.
Voyage of the Damned! I wish more people were talking about it! It’s so good (fantasy/murder mystery/sci-fi vibes).
For all of these I either already gave them 5 stars or they're on my TBR!!! I highly recommend (and hope others are recommending!!) The Mask of Mirrors by MA Carrick. First in a fantasy trilogy (they are all out!) in a Venice-inspired city with a multi layered magic system and all sorts of political vibes and also a Zorro/Robin Hood type character - and the series just gets better and better.
Love that lipstick please drop the name and shade😭😭😭
The light pirate was by far my favourite book of the year 🎉🎉
My top 5 this year:
Playground by Richard Powers
Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Stoner by John Edward Williams
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
The escape artist by Jonathan Freedland, Safe keeping by Abigail Thomas, Nothing to see here by Kevin Wilson are the best ones I read in 2024.
I read The Goblin Emperor and Blood Over Bright Haven on your recommendation. I enjoyed both of them, but The Goblin Emperor was really enchanting. I have My Brilliant Friend but haven't started it yet. I think I'll look into The Shadow of What Was Lost...
My favorite reads of the year were:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It's an alternate history/fantasy about the return of lost magic in England during the Napoleonic wars. It's a chunky book, but I didn't want to put it down so I listened to it when driving and read it at home. I don't think it's for everyone, it's slow and weird. It's a mood. I loved it.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. 3 separate stories in 3 different centuries that are all subtly tied together by an ancient manuscript. Again, I don't think it's for everyone. Again, it's a mood. Again, I loved it.
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. Straight up science fiction. The moon explodes one day, and it's a race against time to save life on Earth. Stephenson does a lot of exposition in his books, but I like all the science theory so that's okay. I probably skimmed a bit of it. But the book is straight up fun and action packed.
I also went in for my first Robin Hobb series and read the Liveship Traders trilogy, which is epic high fantasy. Loved it.
The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley!!! I will not say anything about it but it has a trope that you love
you read the greenbone saga but my favorite book of the year was jade legacy but a close second or maybe even a 1A 1B type deal…..was howling dark 😩🔥
I'm shocked by my favorites because they're in two genres that I don't usually read: Remarkably Bright Creatures (contemp fic) and The Women (historical fiction). Both about strong but broken women. Beautiful writing. Complexity of character and of plots.
Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak is also great, highly recommend.
"The bar is low." And yet, it has to be there! I tend to avoid fantasy by male authors out of habit to avoid SA scenes. Very happy with James Islington and The Will of the Many especially!! It was a five-star for me this year and I only read it in AUGUST. Why did it take me so dang long?! Less to wait for the sequel I guess, but still.
My 2 fav books in 2024 were We Are the Brennans and Ghost in the Throat.
one of my best books this year was Rouge by Mona Awad, i know you weren’t the biggest fan of Bunny, but I truly believe that Awad had something to say with this novel. I’m so so curious to know what you would think of it!! It’s so weird but I really enjoyed it and thought it was super relevant!
I just finished Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn and it’s a new five stars. It mysterious and gothic and there’s grumpy sapphic witches
My top read of the year was A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon followed by One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I’ve read all but two!🎉
Butcher and blackbird was a favorite for me. It might make you blush a bit if you pick it up though 😂but highly recommend
My favorite books this year were The Frozen River (historical fiction with murder/crime center); Martyr!; and Blue Sisters
My best books!
The last unicorn
The way home
Piranesi
Howls moving castle
This is how you lose the time war
did you tried Leya: Deed In Her Agony?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this book
This year my faves were Yellowface and Any Other Name. ❤
My best books are Slewfoot, We used to live here and The Master and Margarita❤
One of the best I read this year that I don't think you've read yet is Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. This is the first standalone after the First Law Trilogy, which I'm pretty sure you've read! It's full of female rage and revenge, and it's so good!!
I need to get to that!
‘Eye of the needle’ was my first Ken Follett, I really enjoyed it - and as I type I realise I don’t think I ever saw you mention Ken Follett, maybe it’d be a good first approach to his books for you as well
The best books I read were The Reappearance of Rachel Price, Funny Story, Emily Wilde series, The Pairing, Heartstopper, and Yellowface,.
I'd recommend Amatka by Karin Tidbeck for you.
My favorites of the year were Against the loveless world and My brilliant friend