The past few months for me have been all about reconnecting with the things that brought me immense joy when I was younger, including books. Since March of last year, I’ve been delving into books from a variety of genres—even far beyond my usual Speculative Fiction choices. In case you’re looking for something new to read, here’s my mini review of all the books I read in 2024.
(This is part two of a two-part blog. Be sure to check out part one of the list if you haven’t!)
The Getaway – Lamar Giles
Rating: 5/5
What started as a chance find in one of my favorite thrift stores turned out to be one of the most fun reads for me for 2024. I don’t normally gravitate toward YA Fiction, but The Getaway is a solid read from start to finish. I think one of the reasons I loved it so much is its dystopian setting. Jay and his family work in Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. When the end of the world arrives, all the employees are forced to stay—made to answer to the beck and call of the wealthy guests who have paid to live at the resort, an oasis in the midst of all the chaos, permanently. That’s all I can say without spoiling much but if you love a light thriller you should definitely check it out.
Excuse Me As I Kiss The Sky – Rudy Francisco
Rating: 5/5
Rudy Francisco’s third collection of poetry is what I would like to call “one part art, one part masterclass”. Am I biased? Absolutely. But how can I not be when Francsico’s moving spoken word pieces were one of the main reasons I embarked on my own poetry journey in the first place? But I digress.
Excuse Me As I Kiss The Sky takes the reader on a journey through the many poetic forms that Francisco has encountered throughout his years as a poet. This was probably my quickest read for 2024 and it was also one of my absolute favorites.
The Hobbit – J.R.R Tolkien
Rating: 5/5
A book that I think both kids and kids at heart can enjoy, The Hobbit is a children’s story and also a masterpiece. It’s a book that I can see myself reading over and over again without getting bored (though that’s also how I feel about all the Lord of the Rings movies). I love how much time J.R.R. Tolkien dedicates to worldbuilding. Becoming fully immersed in all things Middle Earth is truly so easy. Reading the Hobbit, I laughed, I gasped, and of course, at the end, I cried.
Dungeon Crawler Carl – Matt Dinniman
Rating: 5/5
Dungeon Crawler Carl is one of the best things I could have ever stumbled upon. This book—which I first heard of while watching Daniel B Greene’s Fantasy News—was my entry into the world of LitRPG, a genre that I did not know existed but am so glad that it does.
It’s book one in a series that follows its eponymous main character (and his ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning cat, Princess Donut) through a post-apocalyptic dungeon for the sake of an intergalactic television show. Sounds insane, right? Which is exactly why I love it. While it’s one of the only books that made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions, DCC definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a fan of video games and unserious books that still manage to pull at your heartstrings at times, this is definitely one to consider.
That’s Not My Name – Megan Lally
3.5/5
Technically I finished this in 2025 but I decided to include it here since I read the majority of it last year. That’s Not My Name is a young adult thriller that follows 1) a young girl who wakes up in the middle of nowhere with no recollection of who she is and 2) a teenage boy desperate to find his missing girlfriend even though the entire town is convinced that he murdered her. It didn’t grab my attention much at first but as the plot progressed I did find myself invested in the lives–and eventual outcomes—of our main characters. The end was absolutely heartwrenching, which is what led me to giving it a higher rating than I’d initially intended.
The Deep – Rivers Solomon
Rating: 5/5
I am a huge fan of Rivers Solomon’s work and reading The Deep certainly reinforced that. From the very first couple of pages, this book pulled me in and moved me to my core. The Wanjinru are the water-dwelling descendants of enslaved Africans thrown overboard during the middle passage. None of them remember much about their traumatic history, save for one.
The Deep is not your typical mermaid story and I love it oh, so much. It speaks on the importance of understanding (and remembering) our history through a fantastical lens, following the reluctant Wajinru historian, Yetu. I would recommend this to anyone who loves diverse, immersive, afrofuturistic reads. It was a quick read but one that is sure to stick with you.
Khaila A. Gentle 