Hello Readers! Happy New Year! Before we say goodbye to 2024, it’s nice to look back on our reading year and see what worked and what didn’t, what goals we met, what new bookish things we discovered, and what maybe we decided to let go. Sometimes it’s only while working on my year-end wrap-ups that I discover what new things I want to focus on for the next year.

Once again, I’m using the amazing spreadsheet created by Kal @ Reader Voracious to track my bookish and blog stats. As someone who is mathematically and logistically challenged, this extensively thorough spreadsheet makes everything simple. And Kal makes it available for free! Be sure to check out her spreadsheet and her blog. She just released an updated spreadsheet for 2025, as well. If you decide to use her spreadsheet, buy her a ko-fi, if you can. 🙂

The last few years, I’ve used Kal’s spreadsheet, my Goodreads Stats, and the Reading Survey shared by Merline @ Merline Reads (originally shared by Gabby @ Gabby Reads). This year I’m also adding stats from StoryGraph, which I used much more this year. I especially discovered how helpful the Popsugar Challenge lists were on StoryGraph.

Previous wrap-ups: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

Let’s wander in!

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Reading Stats

data from Kal’s spreadsheet

Source: 26 ARCs, 10 bought (3 new, 7 owned), 25 borrowed (Libby & Amazon Prime)

data from Kal’s spreadsheet

Genre: 26 Romance, 6 General Fiction, 4 Horror, 4 Graphic Novel, 3 Fantasy, 3 Thriller, 3 Science Fiction, 3 Classics, 2 Literary Fiction, 2 Historical Fiction, 2 Nonfiction, 2 Other (Picture Books), and 1 Mystery

data from my StoryGraph stats

Format: 54 Ebooks (Thank you Libby!), 5 Paperbacks, 1 Hardcover, and 1 Audiobook

Reading Survey

(Link to add on Goodreads through the book title.)

How many books did you read? Did you meet your goal?

Most read genre?

Once again, my most read genre was Romance!

Longest and shortest books you read?

Xingu, a short story by Edith Wharton was my shortest read at 26 pages, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon was my longest read at 864 pages.

Favorite book published in 2024?

Rainbow Rowell’s return to the adult genre lived up to the hype for me. Slow Dance ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year.

My Review

Favorite debut book published in 2024?

Alison Espach’s debut The Wedding People lands in my top 3 favorites of the year.

My Review

Favorite book NOT published this year?

It only took three years, but I finally read Namesake, the follow-up to Fable by Adrienne Young.

A book that lived up to the hype?

I haven’t read an Ali Hazelwood book I haven’t enjoyed yet, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that her foray into paranormal romance would exceed my expectations. Bride deserves all the hype!

A book that did NOT live up to the hype?

I’m a big Katherine Center fan, but The Rom-Commers didn’t live up to my expectations. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, but I’m hoping her next book will be a hit for me!

My Review

Book that felt like the biggest accomplishment?

In a year when I read the least amount of books in eleven years, I was pretty proud of finishing this 800+ page beast. I picked up Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, the eighth installment in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, as I scramble to stay ahead of the adaptation.

Favorite character(s)?

I adore Nick and Charlie from Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series! I finally read Volume 5.

Least favorite character?

Elliot Chase from The Fury. I mean, he is an “unreliable narrator”, which made it entertaining, but being inside his head is not a nice place to be.

My Review

Most shocking book/moment?

I couldn’t think of a shocking moment in any of my reads that stands out above all the rest, but Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera had plenty of surprising moments, even if I saw them coming.

My Review

Favorite couple/OTP?

I was eagerly awaiting Jen Devon’s next novel set in the Brady family world, and once again, I found myself engrossed in Temperance and Duncan’s story in Right Where We Left Us.

My Review

The best written book you read this year?

Devil is Fine by John Vercher is beautifully written, with an opening scene I don’t think I’ll soon forget.

My Review

Book that you pushed most people to read in 2024?

Since I did very little blogging in 2024, I don’t feel like I pushed many books, but I did convince my husband and sister-in-law to read Oh. What. Fun., a short story by Chandler Baker. Their thoughts reflected the current Goodreads ratings (3.10 stars). In other words, it was just okay for them. Not sure why I love this story so much, but I reread it for a third time this holiday season.

Favorite book cover of the year?

The cover of Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North definitely helped me pick it up, and I’m happy to report I enjoyed it, as well. I’ve already been approved to read her follow-up.

My Review

Favorite book adaptation?

So, technically this is the only book and adaptation I read and watched last year. Although I read several books with adaptations I just haven’t watched yet, and several with adaptations in the works. My husband is a fan of Cormac McCarthy, so that’s how I ended up reading All the Pretty Horses. At least there was some romance. 😉

What book made you cry the most?

I’m not a typical crier when I read, but If I Go Missing, a nonfiction graphic novel by Brianna Jonnie, had me feeling all kinds of emotions. It should be read by everyone.

What book made you laugh the most?

I mean, it’s in the title, isn’t it?! I adored Emily Henry’s latest romance, Funny Story, although I didn’t get to read it as quickly as I wanted to. It probably deserves a reread.

A new favorite author you discovered this year?

I read something like 15 new authors this year thanks to all my short stories, so it seems only fair to mention more than one. This list would also include the aforementioned John Vercher and Alison Espach, as well.

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Savor It by Tarah DeWitt (My Review)
• Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
• Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Guilty pleasure read of the year?

No guilt here, but I did make time amid my struggle to get through my ARCs to read Carley Fortune’s latest romance, This Summer Will Be Different, which I had to purchase for myself.

Favorite book you reread this year?

data from my StoryGraph stats

Well, I was back to my rereading slump in 2024 after doing so well in 2023. If ever there was a year I needed a comforting reread, it was last year. But I only managed to reread Oh. What. Fun. by Chandler Baker, which I mentioned above.

What is the best non-fiction book you read this year?

I only read 4 nonfiction books last year, including If I Go Missing, which I mentioned above. But I also read two nonfiction children’s books and one other nonfiction graphic novel to fulfill some specific reading challenge prompts. I enjoyed all of them!

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Green Piano by Roberta Flack, Tanya Bolden, and Hayden Goodman
• Junior High by Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, and Tillie Walden

Were you happy with your reading year?

data from my StoryGraph stats

Well, if you’ve made it this far, you can probably tell that I wasn’t thrilled with my reading last year, especially when you look at the graph above and see I finished nothing in the month of June, but I’m focusing on the positives: I read less ARCs, used Libby more than previous years, and I KEPT READING!

What was your favorite read of the year? Did you reach all your goals? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering & Happy 2025!