Best Reads of 2024
My Favourite Books From Last Year
It's time to look back and see what were the best reads of 2024.
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These are the books that I read during 2024 that had the WOW! factor for me and therefore each get my 5 Star Award badge.
5 Star Reads
Once Upon and Ever After by Caroline L. Thornton
Once Upon and Ever After is a different kind of fairytale. Told entirely from the prince’s point of view it charts the journey he takes from his early days of training to his final quest to rescue a princess.Unfortunately things don’t go to plan when he finds that the princess has already rescued herself and the next one he tries to save has done the same!What happens next? Find out in this modern fairytale for children of all ages.With pop up text and a handy word guide.
War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson
A Financial Times Book of the Year
Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Prize in 2023
An award-winning climate fiction novel that explores unlikely friendships as a group of children with disabilities find themselves at the heart of an eco-mystery.
On a remote Scottish island, 14-year-old Max’s life is changed forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Now, he has to navigate a new silent world alone—even his parents don’t understand that wearing a hearing aid doesn’t mean he can actually hear them, and he’s placed in a special educational needs class surrounded by kids he once picked on.
When people start acting strangely and Max’s hearing aid picks up odd sounds from a new wind farm off the coast, he suspects a sinister scientist is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. Could being different be an advantage? Max enlists the help of his classmates to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control...
Victoria Williamson is donating 20% of her author royalties to The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC).
Five Nights by Rachel Wolf
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A POWERFUL FAMILY. A LUXURY CRUISE. A KILLER ON BOARD...
I recently married Mattia Scarmardo, head of one of the wealthiest – and most ruthless – families in the world.
I invited you on a five night voyage to New York aboard their glamorous new ship because I needed your help.
Someone in the family is threatening me, scared of the new wife who could steal their vast inheritance.
What I didn't tell you is that there would be a chance you would be targeted too. That what you did all those years ago would finally come back to bite you.
You came here to help me, but you don't know the whole truth.
And now we're trapped on a boat with a murderer…
The Last Passenger by Will Dean
.jpg "The Last Passenger by Will Dean")
My phone has no reception, something we've been told to expect from time to time out here, and my stomach feels uneasy. Maybe it's the motion of the waves or maybe it's the fact that Pete didn't leave a note or a text. He usually leaves a note with a heart.
I pull on jeans and a jumper and scrunch my hair on top of my head and take my key card and step out into the corridor.
Thirty seconds later it hits me.
All the other cabin doors are wedged open.
Every single one is unoccupied and unlocked.
My heart starts beating harder. I break out into a run. At the end of the long corridor I take a lift down to the Ocean Lobby.
There's nobody here.
My mouth is dry.
It's like I'm trapped on a runaway train.
No, this is worse.
The RMS Atlantica is steaming out into the ocean and I am the only person on board.
This was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime for Cas. Now she just needs to survive.
A Swift Return by Fiona Barker
Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens.
When Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city.
Inspired by Fiona and Howard’s love for wildlife of all kinds, A Swift Return is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea. Howard’s beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan.
Murder at the Seven Dials by Cara Devlin
The romantic historical mystery series readers are devouring begins with Murder at the Seven Dials...
A murdered opera singer. A duke drenched in her blood. For Bow Street Officer Hugh Marsden, the brutal killing is a straightforward case. Ever since his own exile from polite society, Hugh’s distaste for the ton has grown. Now, an opportunity to take down a peer of the realm has practically fallen into his lap. The only thing standing in his way? Audrey Sinclair, the Duchess of Fournier.
Audrey is certain her husband is wrongly accused, and she’s determined to prove it to the arrogant Bow Street officer, even if she must employ her most peculiar ability—or perhaps curse—to guide her investigation. After all, a duchess can do as she pleases.
Though Hugh is exasperated with the meddling duchess, when her discoveries reveal the true killer is still at large, he has no choice but to join her in the hunt—if only to prevent her from becoming the next victim.
Murder at the Seven Dials is the first book in the addictive Bow Street Duchess Mystery series. Perfect for fans of Lady Sherlock mysteries, the Veronica Speedwell mysteries, and the BBC's "Miss Scarlet & the Duke".
Death at Fournier Downs by Cara Devlin
After a murder scandal nearly sent her husband to the gallows, Audrey, the Duchess of Fournier, has retreated to the countryside to distance herself from gossip—and from the Bow Street officer who proved as irritating as he was intriguing.
But when Audrey’s friend Charlotte, the Countess of Bainbury, dies mysteriously on Fournier Downs parkland, she summons the only person she trusts to uncover the truth: Principal Officer Hugh Marsden.
Ignoring the mounting friction between them, as well as Hugh’s command for her to stay out of his investigation, Audrey uses her uncanny ability to read the memories of objects to discover a web of sordid local secrets. More than one unlucky lady has been caught within its deadly strands, and a single misstep in their hunt for a killer could make Audrey and Hugh the next targets.
Silence of Deceit by Cara Devlin
Secrets and lies simmer to the surface in the third riveting Bow Street Duchess mystery.
For years, the Duchess of Fournier has buried a shameful secret connected to her remarkable, if bizarre, ability. While Audrey’s gift has helped her solve cases alongside the captivating Bow Street officer Hugh Marsden, she longs to forget her previous committal to an insane asylum. But now, a blackmailer with a taste for violence is threatening former patients of Shadewell Sanatorium, and it appears the ghosts of Audrey’s past have finally found her.
Since their last inquiry together, distance and distraction have helped Hugh restrain his forbidden attraction to the untouchable Audrey Sinclair. However, when a woman’s body clothed in one of Audrey's gowns, and bearing her calling cards, is fished out of the Thames, staying away from the stubborn duchess proves impossible.
Hugh and Audrey must join forces to unravel a puzzling revenge plot, but after the scrappy street boy Hugh has taken under his wing is attacked and left near death, they begin to realize just how steep the cost could be for crossing paths with a killer.
Penance for the Dead by Cara Devlin
.jpg "Penance for the Dead by Cara Devlin")
Old scandals and destructive truths are exposed when a woman from Hugh Marsden’s past is murdered in cold blood.
Principal Bow Street Officer Hugh Marsden is used to living in the shadow of disgrace. First, as the illegitimate son of the late Viscount Neatham, and second, as the man who permanently maimed his half-brother in a duel six years ago. Reviled by the posh ton, Hugh happily severed ties to polite society—until the enigmatic Duchess of Fournier, Audrey Sinclair entered his world and turned it upside down.
Now, Hugh’s half-sister Eloisa has done the same. Just days after returning to London and hiring him to find a missing person—someone Eloisa claims holds a destructive family secret—she is murdered in cold blood on a ballroom floor. The prime suspect? Hugh Marsden.
When Audrey learns the Bow Street officer she’s come to cherish is on the run and being hunted for the crime, she vows to clear his name, no matter what it takes. Restricted to clandestine meetings, Audrey and Hugh’s investigation to find Eloisa’s true killer peels back years of Neatham family secrecy, and with it, a diabolical scheme to conceal the circumstances surrounding Hugh’s birth.
The desperate killer will stop at nothing to prevent Audrey and Hugh from unearthing the rest of the wicked truth—even if it means sending them both to an early grave.
Spelled by Betsy Schow
Somewhere over the rainbow, all spell is about to break loose in the first installment of this clever and hilarious YA fairy tale retelling trilogy, perfect for fans of Dorothy Must Die and Jen Calonita's Fairy Tale Reform School series
Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.
Yeah, no thanks. Dorothea is completely princed out. Sure, being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.
Talk about unhappily ever after.
Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.
Fast-paced and delightfully unique, Spelled is perfect for readers looking for:
- a new twist on the Wizard of Oz
- fairy tale retellings and mashups
- whimsical fantasy for tweens and teens
- dynamic and relatable heroines with snark
The Key to Surviving Summer by Sandi Van
It's the summer before sophomore year, and Moe is stuck in the middle of Nowhere-ville, in a broken-down cottage on Lake Ontario with no one her age for miles. Her neighbor's grandson, Zeke, definitely doesn't count. He is only eight, but desperation and loneliness force Moe to follow Zeke on his adventures. After a nasty storm, Moe finds a strange key and begins having visions of a girl roller-skating at sunset and then disappearing into the lake. Moe and Zeke comb the shoreline looking for clues, but when his grandparents find out, they forbid Zeke from spending any more time with Moe. Faced with even more isolation and increasingly vivid visions, Moe must figure out what happened to the mysterious girl and why it forced her temporary hometown into silence.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs by Victoria Williamson
When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes.
Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it - the Firehawk - lies in pieces in the hangar.
Determined to honour her parents’ legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo’s help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.
The Nice List Checklist by Brittany Plumeri
.jpg "The Nice List Checklist by Brittany Plumeri")
Unwrap the Magic of Christmas with The Nice List Checklist!
Dive into a festive adventure with The Nice List Checklist, a charming children's book that whisks young readers away to the North Pole alongside Santa's jolly elves! This whimsical rhyming story reveals the secret to making the coveted Nice List, all while dazzling kids with stunning illustrations that sparkle with holiday cheer.
Perfect for spreading joy this holiday season, this enchanting book features:
- A beautifully designed paperback or hardcover edition, ideal for tiny hands ready to explore
- Captivating, full-color illustrations that bring the North Pole's magic to life
- Joyful rhyming text that turns reading aloud into a fun family tradition
- A heartwarming message that inspires kids to embrace kindness, generosity, and good deeds
Why The Nice List Checklist is a must-have for your Christmas celebrations:
- Perfect for cozy family read-aloud sessions that create lasting memories
- An amazing holiday gift or stocking stuffer that kids will adore
- Encourages children to reflect on their actions and strive to join Santa’s Nice List!
Celebrate the spirit of Christmas and ignite your child's imagination with this delightful tale that promises to be a cherished holiday classic for years to come! 🎄✨
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What were your 5 star reads from 2024? Favourite book of the year?
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