Books I read in 2024, organized by category and then alphabetically by author: Non-Fiction—Memoir, Autobiography, Biography, Non-Fiction—Everything Else, Fiction—Romance and Other Genres, Fiction—Everything Else.
(RR) means re-read
(P) means read on paper
(A) means listened to it on audio
Mothertrucker: Finding Joy on the Loneliest Road in America, Amy Butcher
Oof. I should have checked content warnings on this one before I read it. Still would have read it probably but would have been able to armor myself a bit first. I picked it up during a time I’d read a couple other books about long haul trucking then it sat on my Kindle for a while so I’d forgotten anything I knew about it other than the trucking part. I’m glad I finally read it but it had some tough spots for me emotionally.
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, Thad Carhart (P)
I picked this up at the library on a whim while looking for another book I needed to meet a StoryGraph challenge. I don’t play piano and have spent only a handful of days in Paris, but I found this charming and interesting nonetheless.
The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband, David Finch
This has been on my virtual TBR pile for literally years; finally circled back around and found a library I have access to with the ebook. The emphasis here is on memoir, and I think I was originally hoping for more an actual guide to best practices. That’s on me.
98% Funky Stuff: My Life in Music, Maceo Parker (P)
I happened to pick this up at the library when I was looking for a book to meet a challenge I’m doing on StoryGraph. I appreciated learning about times and people I hadn’t really been exposed to. Wish there’d been more emotion in the stories (but maybe that was just a mismatch between my style of relating and the author’s).
The Protest Singer, Alec Wilkinson (P)
Just the right amount of information. Scary to think that if the US election this fall goes to the GOP, we might see a revival of the House Un-American Activities Committee like the one Mr. Seeger was called in front of.
Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Loved how direct this is and how good the ideas are.
Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD, Jesse J. Anderson
I found it quite appropriate that it took me a long time to finish this rather short book because a) I got distracted by other books and b) two separate times it disappeared from my Kindle because I failed to notice that my library loan period had expired before I connected to wifi and I had to get back on the hold list. Some of this was stuff I already knew, of course, but there were a few moments when I felt really validated about why I struggle to do things sometimes.
Polysecure, Jessica Fern
A friend recommended this as a better polyam book than More Than Two (which I struggled mightily to finish). They were right. Think this is helpful even for monoam folks because it lays out attachment theory in an understandable way before getting into the polyam applications of it.
I Love Myself When I Am Laughing … And Then Again When I Am Mean & Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader, Zora Neal Hurston, edited by Alice Walker
I am glad there was some context provided to help me understand the original works. I could have done with a glossary, too, for some of the vernacular.
Pushed Out, Ryanne Pilgeram
Found this very interesting, as it’s about development in a town I drive past regularly here in the Idaho panhandle, and I am myself an “amenity migrant” (though I hadn’t heard that term before I read this book). Appreciated learning more about the history of this area, too. It’s written by an academic, so it has that type of structure, which I’m not used to reading, but it was not at all jargon-y or impenetrable the way some academic texts I’ve read before have been.
Naked at Our Age, Joan Price (P)
Bought this in paper because I wanted to support the local business I stopped in at on a trip. It turned out to be really good. I liked the mix of personal stories and advice from professionals. I liked the breadth of topics covered. I might need to read the author’s earlier book, too.
Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit
As with most collections, some of the essays resonated more for me than others. Glad I read it despite the sometimes challenging material.
Redirect, Timothy D. Wilson
Often this was a slog for me. Same points made repeatedly (though about different programs/approaches). I was looking for more practical advice on how to use the story editing technique in my own life.
More Than Two, Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert
As I’ve widened my social circle in retirement, I’ve met some people who are poly. Picked up this book to get more insight into that style of relationship. I found it slow going to read, then found some postings online about abuse allegations against the male co-author, so put it down for quite a while. Finally decided to finish it because it seems to be a foundational text in the area.
Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us, George Zaidan
Don’t ignore the chemistry part of the subtitle; if that science is not your thing, some of this book will be a challenge. Also don’t miss reading the footnotes, as some of them are rather entertaining. I learned a few things about science and headlines but not much about what to do about my diet, which I guess wasn’t what this book was about necessarily.
Fix Her Up, Tessa Bailey
A contemporary romance that worked for me pretty darn well.
Never Seduce a Scot, Maya Banks
A quick enjoyable read despite a few upsetting moments. Ended rather abruptly.
Educating Caroline, Patricia Cabot
Finding comfort in historical romance now. This is a good one.
Her Soldier, Silke Campion
Felt very much like being dropped into the middle of something and not given enough information to get oriented. Some lack of explicit consent at least early in the story.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse , Natalie Caña
I pretty much put the other books I was reading on hold to finish this one, so that’s a good indication of how much I liked it.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles
Mmm, yes.
Any Old Diamonds, KJ Charles
This went some places I didn’t expect. I liked it.
A Night to Surrender, Tessa Dare
Enjoyable, though some things didn’t click for me.
Top Priority, Cara Dee
Unlike the previous two erotic shorts I read, this one seemed like a complete story to me. I liked it so much I’m thinking I’ll continue the series.
Bringing Down the Duke, Evie Dunmore
I think this is a good historical romance, though some of the elements may be too realistic for me at this particular time in my life.
Preferential Treatment , Heather Guerre
This was on my TBR for ages but none of the libraries I have access to had it, so I kept putting it off because there are plenty of other books I can check out. Finally bought it so I could complete a challenge on StoryGraph and wow was it worth it. Right up my alley, this one.
Dragon Bound, Thea Harrison
Sometimes a plot is just so out there that it just busts right through my tendency to question every little thing. I sped through this and added the rest of the series to my TBR.
Storm’s Heart, Thea Harrison
Enjoyed this almost as much as the first book in the series. Read the teaser for the next one that was included and not as sure about that but will probably pick it up at some point.
The Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, Sarah Hawley
This one grabbed me from the start. Enough fantasy so I didn’t question things but real stakes.
A Little Kissing Between Friends, Chencia C. Higgins
Had a struggle getting into this one and wasn’t sure it was for me … I couldn’t keep the characters straight (one has three names she’s called), I don’t know the slang, I’m just not cool enough. But I persevered and it turned out fine, along with giving me a peek into a part of the world I don’t see in my regular life.
The Beast of Beswick, Amalie Howard
I appreciate being able to escape into a historical even when maybe the history parts aren’t quite accurate. I’ve put the next book on my TBR as I’m curious to see how it meshes with this one.
Krampusnacht, Imani Joy
Super quickie that I wished for more of.
Flowers from the Storm, Laura Kinsale
For me, this had too much frustration and deceit.
Suddenly You, Lisa Kleypas (RR)
Picked this for a re-reading challenge because it came up in another context, and I was about to put it on my “to read” list when I noticed I’d already read it, but that was back in 2007 so I remembered pretty much nothing about it. It grabbed me again. I feel like I probably felt more empathy for one of the secondary characters this time through, but can’t confirm since my notes from 2007 don’t address that situation.
Chasing Cassandra, Lisa Kleypas
One of those books that made me pretty much ignore the other books I was reading. Lisa Kleypas is good at writing romance novels. (Where’s that t-shirt?)
Set on You, Amy Lea
Took me a while to finish this, which is a me problem, not the book’s fault. Contemporaries are harder for me, and this is one, and some of the content was uncomfortable for me (body issue stuff).
Dare to Love a Duke, Eva Leigh
Heroine had a job unlike in any other historical I’ve read. Ending stretched my credulity a bit.
Stolen Desire, Robin Lovett
More than once I had to stop and ask myself “what the heck are you reading here?” I always kept going, though.
A Rogue by Any Other Name, Sara MacLean
Liked this so much that I neglected my other books in progress until I was done.
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, Sarah MacLean
I raced through the first three-quarters of this then stalled out, and I’m not sure why. Maybe because as I got closer to the end, I couldn’t see how things could be wrapped up in the pages remaining, and indeed they weren’t. The HEA is there, yes, but some big questions remain. Perhaps those will be touched on in later books in the series.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Sangu Mandanna
This grabbed me from the start and I pretty much abandoned my other reads in progress until I finished. It’s cozy and the magic feels believable.
The Duke Who Didn’t, Courtney Milan
Glad to read a historical that wasn’t all white folks. The plot and characters worked for me, and I loved the afterword which added context from the author’s research.
Her Night With the Duke, Diana Quincy
Loved this. Did not see how the hero and heroine were going to make it work (though knowing they would made that bearable to read). Wanted more of the world so started re-reading the second book in the series (which I read first) pretty much right away.
The Viscount Made Me Do It, Diana Quincy (RR)
This held up for me on a re-read.
The Marquess Makes His Move, Diana Quincy
Figured I might as well finish the series, though now I’m sad I’ve finished the series because I really like it.
The Duke Gets Desperate, Diana Quincy
Continuing to enjoy Diana Quincy books.
Snowbound Princess, Adaline Raine
This had enough editing issues that my brain got distracted regularly. Things like MMC removes his boots in one scene, then makes several trips out to the car in the snowy driveway without putting them back on. Things like sentences that didn’t quite make sense. The setup seemed a bit sketchy, too … letting yourself into someone’s house with a key you haven’t used in years when you know someone is home who doesn’t know you’re coming (and whom you haven’t interacted with in years) seems wrong to me.
Plush, Alexis Ray
If you’re looking for a short erotica which is a main course of vanilla sex with a small side order of BDSM, this is probably for you. It wasn’t for me, as I was filled with questions this short story didn’t have time to answer.
Every Last Breath, Juno Rushdan
If this weren’t for a reading challenge, I probably would have abandoned it, as it is not for me, being too heavy on the suspense/thrills/violence and too light on the romance for my tastes.
The Kingmaker, Kennedy Ryan
Read this for a StoryGraph challenge. Wish I’d known how it ended (spoiler in content warnings over on StoryGraph). Guess that’s on me for not doing more research, but it came from source that generally doesn’t recommend books with that sort of ending, so I let my guard down. The story is good, though too rooted in current events for me to fully enjoy (current events are pretty depressing, and I prefer not to deal with them in my pleasure reads).
Queen Move, Kennedy Ryan
Took me a long while to get through this book, and I’m not sure why. Maybe if I hadn’t skipped the second in the series? It’s not a bad book, just not for me at this time.
Joy of the Season, Heather Scarlett
A Hallmark Christmas movie in novella form. Perfectly good if that’s what you’re in the mood for, and I was.
We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian
I’m not sure if I’ve read 1950s historical romance before, much less a gay. I liked this one.
You Should Be So Lucky, Cat Sebastian
I want more of this series. Acknowledges the climate these gay men have to live in but doesn’t let that dampen the sweetness and kindness and caring of the main characters’ relationship.
Repeat, Kylie Scott
Contemporary romance is not my go to, but this one worked pretty well for me.
The Devil of Downtown, Joanna Shupe
This felt so familiar to me that I thought I’d already read it. Checked my ebook purchase and library loan history and didn’t find any evidence of that, so kept going. Several chapters in it started to feel less familiar, so I’m guessing I read/heard a preview of a few chapters somewhere. I did like the story, no surprise since I enjoyed the earlier books in the series.
Omega’s Fate, Rosa Swann and Wolf Specter
My first toe dip into the omegaverse (I think this is the omegaverse??). This didn’t sell me on it, seemed like a book that was written quickly as a teaser with KU in mind.
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good, Helene Thurston
Picked this based on the title from a list of books that would meet the requirements for a reading challenge. Wasn’t quite prepared for what the “no good” involved but did like the stories.
All Systems Red, Artificial Condition,
Rouge Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Martha Wells (RR)
Time for these comfort re-reads. (Didn’t quite read them back to back to back but close enough to group them this way here.)
Just Past Two, Elia Winters
At first, this read sort of clunky to me, with awkward narration, but that faded as the action heated up.
Lovers at the Museum, Isabel Allende
Loved this magical realism short story.
Cut and Thirst, Margaret Atwood
Some entertaining moments but in the end this story was not for me.
Melissa (previously published as GEORGE), Alex Gino
This is exactly the sort of book MAGAts are challenging in Idaho libraries. I’m sure none of them have read it. I of course liked it a lot. There were some uncomfortable parts, in the way that middle school can be uncomfortable, but they rang true.
When We Were Friends, Jane Green
I kept waiting for things to go wrong in this but when they did I was more annoyed than shocked.
Natural Selection, Elin Hilderbrand
This short story worked pretty well for me. Left feeling hopeful, not annoyed or sad as often happens to me with non-romance fiction.
Sunshine Nails, Mai Nguyen
I liked it for the look into a part of the world I wouldn’t otherwise see from that angle.
Children of the Whales, Vol. 1, Abi Umeda (P)
I believe this is the first manga I’ve read. I knew from the Japanese quilting magazines I perused back in the day how to read “back to front” and right to left otherwise I might have been more confused. I don’t think I’m going to check the other volumes out of the library; it wasn’t a bad story, just not for me, I think.
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