It’s become an annual tradition for me to post this End of Year Book Survey broken down into three parts (but I’ve combined the last two parts into one). I find this ‘survey’ is an easy way to summarise my year of reading and blogging and I look forward to making it by the time December rolls around. 2024 was frankly a blur and while I started the reading year on a high, I ended it on a lower but still satisfying note. I’m keen to see what 2025 has in store but I sure hope there’ll be more highs than otherwise!
Before I digress any further, let’s get to this survey. If you want to check out my previous years, I’ve linked them all up below. Here’s to an amazing year ahead, friends! 🌟
This survey was originally created by Jamie @The Perpetual Page Turner.
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
- Number of Books Read: 137
- Number of re-reads: 4
- Genre(s) you read most: Romance (45%) and Fantasy (34%) 💜✨🗡️
Compared to 2023, I had more 5-star reads in 2024, especially from the start of the year so I was chuffed about that. As the trend goes, most of my reads were in the 4-star range but this year I also didn’t give a book a rating below 2 stars—although, admittedly, some of these probably should’ve been as I wanted to DNF them but didn’t end up doing so! It’s a work in progress… 🤭
Best book you read in 2024?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
I normally have a tough time picking one favourite out of the 5-stars I read but this year is an easy win. This is one of those books I love so much that I can’t review it cos my brain can’t adequately put into words how much it means to me. Addie LaRue just got me in the feels in a big way. 💜
Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire
This sounded like the perfect cosy fantasy and a potential 5-star read but I was sadly disappointed by how much I didn’t enjoy it. Despite the interesting premise, the characters, setting and entire story fell flat. I know it has and will work for many but it just wasn’t the one for me!
Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read?
I’ll give this to the Leviathan Fitness monster romance series. I didn’t have (m)any expectations going into this but the books just got better as the series went and I ended up loving the second and third books! This series was a delightful surprise and I’d recommend it if you enjoy monster or paranormal romances or are keen to explore this sub-genre! 😊 It’s cute, fluffy, emotional, and sexy AF.
Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
I don’t think there was any one book that took this prize in 2024, at least not that I’m aware of! 😅
Best series you started in 2024? Best sequel? Best series ender of 2024?
Same as last year, I’m assuming that these books don’t have to be published in 2024! Divine Rivals was an amazing series starter, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was a great sequel, and I loved Mirrored Heavens as a series ender!
Favourite new author you discovered in 2024?
Beverly Jenkins
I’m not hesitating to award this title to Ms Bev Jenkins. She has reignited my passion for reading historical romances because she makes them fresh, fun and delightfully sensual. Plus, I learned so much about historical moments I wouldn’t have known otherwise! I highly recommend checking her romances out.
I wanted to highlight some other great authors I discovered this year though: Grace Callaway, Rebecca Ross, Everina Maxwell, and Benjamin Stevenson, to name a few.
Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
I used to read a lot more literary fiction in past years but I’ve not read half as many in recent years due to my brain’s inability to absorb as much. 😅 That said, this was fantastic and ignited my desire to return to this genre in 2025!
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Book you read in 2024 that you would be MOST likely to re-read next year?
Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell
I loved this book but I also read it during a pretty emotionally and mentally tumultuous time in 2024. I’d love to read it again in 2025 to revisit these characters and so I can get my thoughts down. 😅 Both books in this series are incredible though and I’d highly recommend them!
Favourite cover of a book you read in 2024?
Okay, I can’t just choose one here so instead I’ll give you three (even if I only enjoyed one of these books, lol)!
Most memorable character of 2024?
Addie & Henry from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Okay, it’s two characters but both are from the same book and are equally memorable. Like, these two kind of live in my heart now? It’s been months since I finished reading this and I still get teary-eyed just thinking about them! Yeah, that’s how much I love Addie & Henry. 🥹
Most beautifully written book read in 2024?
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
I didn’t think it’d be so hard to choose for this prompt but I read several beautifully written books in 2024! It’s tough to choose but I’ll go for The Starless Sea. While the book didn’t become a new favourite the prose was undoubtedly stunning!
Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2024?
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
I read this with Becky and we both loved it more than anticipated. This book made me rage more than I have in years! And what’s sad is that in many ways, in many countries even, the way women are treated is really not markedly different from back then. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this read!
Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2024 to finally read?
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Again, there were many reads I could’ve chosen from but this was one of my first reads of the year and it has still stuck with me. I knew I would have to gear myself up to read this book because I heard it would destroy me, but wow, I did not anticipate this level of destroying. 🤣 Intense is an understatement!
Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2024?
I still keep poor track of quotes/passages in the books I read. I may highlight them in the read but I don’t jot them down anywhere for future reference. However, this year I did make a post that features ten of my favourite quotes from my favourite read of the year, if you’d like to check it out. 🤭
Shortest & longest book you read in 2024?
- Shortest: In Bed with the Stablemaster by Sophie Jordan ⇢ 31 pages
- Longest: The First Binding by R. R. Virdi ⇢ 821 pages
Book that shocked you the most
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
This was tough cos there wasn’t a book that shocked me in a way that really stood out. This was the first book that came to mind though cos that cliffhanger ending? Illegal, Mrs. Roanhorse! It was illegal and lethal! 🤣
OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!)
I can’t choose one. I can’t even choose three. So I’m going to give you FIVE. I’m also deliberately not including Addie & Henry because they’re already everywhere… 🤭
- Kadou & Evemer from A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
- Billie & Andrew from Destiny’s Surrender by Beverly Jenkins
- Eve & Jacob from Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
- Nevada & “Mad” Rogan from Hidden Legacy Trilogy by Cathy Yardley
- Iris & Roman from Letters of Enchantment Duology by Rebecca Ross
Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
This book was about the unlikeliest but the most powerful and heartwarming of friendships. I loved Lenni and Margot and their story had me crying my eyes out by the end. If you love stories that tug on your heartstrings, look out for this one!
Favourite book you read in 2024 from an author you’ve read previously
Change of Heart by Kate Canterbary
What can I say? Canterbary does hilarious, feel-good, swoontastic, and steamy AF romances so well. I love her books so much!
Best book you read in 2024 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure/bookstagram, etc.
Lady Charlotte’s Society of Angels by Grace Callaway
This would be Grace Callaway’s historical romances. Two popular romance readers I follow and whose tastes I trust (b.andherbooks and melonreads) brought her books up several times early this year and I was immediately intrigued. So glad I listened to them cos I found a new favourite histrom author! 😍
Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2024?
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
Ngl, I don’t really do fictional crushes but damn if Evan wasn’t one heckuva swoony MMC! I loved the way he loved on Ruth and please, can I has too? 🥹
Best 2024 debut you read?
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
I’m still in shock that this is a debut because what!? It’s incredible and I’m so excited to see what Girma comes out with next. Seriously, if you love vampires, dark academia, houses with personality, and deliciously dark enemies-to-lovers romance, then what are you waiting for? Read this asap!
Best world-building/most vivid setting you read this year?
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Again, there are so many to choose from this year but Starling House was unquestionably one of the most atmospheric and immersive reads. The whole time I was reading, I felt as if I was there in this creepy AF town where all the bad things happen.
Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
This short story was SO FREAKING GOOD. I’m smiling like a lovesick fool just thinking about how wonderful and swoonily romantic this was and how CLo managed to make me feel all the feels in a little over 100 pages. This book was magic. ✨
Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2024?
I’m an emotional reader so it doesn’t take much for me to cry but these books had me crying in the club and bawling in the streets! 😭 Ugh, all the emotions these made me feel… I loved them so much!
Hidden gem of the year?
Book that crushed your soul?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
I know, I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record but I can’t help it if it’s true! This was a full-on KO by Schwab.
Most unique book you read in 2024?
Blood Price by Nicole Evans
If you’re looking for a fantasy with a uniquely developed matriarchal society formed around menstruation, a world based on Nordic mythology, and a tough-as-nails FMC warrior who is relentless and has a huge bone to pick with her Gods, then look no further. ✨ Nicole’s debut was stunning! 💜
Book that made you the most mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
I had high hopes for this one but it did not live up to it and I’m still kinda mad about it. This could’ve been SO GOOD. Help. 😭
That’s a wrap on the 2024 End of Year Book Survey: Part I! How was your year of reading in 2024? Was it incredible, just “mid”, or are we not even talking about it? 👀 I hope 2025 will see reading mojos revived, fantastic books discovered and overall, be an amazing year in books for all!
dinipandareads 
Looks like you had a great reading year! Congratulations! I wish you good reading for 2025.
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Thank you! I hope you have an amazing year for reading in 2025 as well! 😍
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You started with such a great stat – MORE 5-star reads. I love that so many great books are finding their way to you. CLo always do a good job of making me smile, but I can feel the happiness just thinking about The Exception to the Rule. I loved the premise so much. And YEAH for Lenni and Margot.
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I had hoped to start this year with another 5-star read but I guess I can only be so lucky. I kicked it off with a 3.5-4 star read though so not too shabby regardless! I hope that it only goes up from here at least for the first half of the year 🤣 It’s so amazing how they can infuse such a short story with so much feeling. It’s really magic! ✨
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Wooohooo for an amazing reading year, Dini. I feel like I have had a lot more 4.5-5 star reads than ever. I’m going to chalk that up to being more in tune with my reading preferences, but who knows. I love this survey so much. I want to do it, but I’m not sure if I have the time at the moment. I do hope you have a fantastic 2025! I look forward to all the recommendations and buddy reads. ❤
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I feel the same with the 4.5-5 star reads! I’m so happy because I’m pretty sure there was a dearth of those in 2023 (the year from hell, I swear lol)! I do think part of it is due to being more in tune with reading preferences. 💜 With all that you got going on, I totally get not having the time to do it but you can also do it whenever you like, doesn’t have to be now! 😉 I mean, tbh, it’s a damn long survey, even creating a modified version to suit you is possible! I can’t wait to buddy read more with you this year. Here’s to an amazing 2025 for reading!
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Yeah, I think it’s just been a tough couple of years.. you in 23 and me in 24. What year was it that we read over 20 books in January?? Where is that reading mojo?! haha!! Yes!! I cannot wait for more buddy reads. We went months without it last year and I did not like that. I missed you too much! ❤
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Such a great reading year 💜 I adored Emily Wilde and I’m pretty sure I say this every year but I need to pick up The Starless Sea
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I gotta say I can’t complain about this reading year 🙂 Emily Wilde is fantastic and I can’t wait to see how the story ends in the final book coming out this year. I hope you enjoy Starless Sea whenever you get around to reading it!
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Ahhh this was so amazing to read, Dini! I’m so glad you had such a good reading year! I think I’m going to have to give Grace Callaway a shot, since I trust your taste in romances so much.
And naming my book the most unique omg 😭😭😭 Brb crying forever
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Ooh, I hope you love Grace Callaway if you check her out! I will say that her histrom can get on the spicier side of things but it fits well with their romance/relationship progression and oof, it can be super steamy! 🤣 And NICOLE!!! I loved Blood Price and I’m not saying this to pressure you or anything but I’m genuinely looking forward to reading more about Ashilde and to see where her story goes next!!! 💜 I hope you had an amazing debut year!
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Honestly, getting on the spicier side just makes me want to read Grace Callaway more (I’m not sure what that says about me). 😂 Any recommendations on where I should start, in her catalogue?
DINI. 😭😭😭 Thank you SO MUCH, omg, this is absolutely going to keep me going. I am making steady progress on the sequel this year, so I really hope to not disappoint! 🖤
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Love this! You’ve tracked your reading so well 🙂
Do you put the books you’re reading into the star rating tier ranking system as you read them through the year or at the end?
This was a great reflective post on the year 🙂
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Thank you! It helped having my blogger spreadsheet for this but also the Year in Reading by Goodreads always comes through my favourite basic stats. For the star rating tier ranking system it’s actually made by Goodreads! You can find it if you go to my books > reading stats (under reading activity at the bottom on the lefthand side) > and if you click the bar for any year, the books will pop up all sorted! 😃 I don’t know who I discovered this from but it’s a great find!
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Great wrap-up! I remember loving the lyrical prose of The Starless Sea when I read it back when it came out, and I’m thinking that 2025 is going to be the year I reread it.
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Yes, lyrical and absolutely stunning prose! Keen to see what you’d think of it on re-read. I hope it lives up to what you remember of it 🙂 Happy reading!
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I picked up the audiobook this time around, so it will be a different experience for sure. 🙂
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The covers for Songs of the Six Realms and To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods are sooooo gorgeous – I love that trend of lush illustrated covers. But I feel like I’d have the same disappointment as you with To Gaze if I picked it up lol. Those kinds of books (ie epic YA fantasy with a strong romance bent) usually don’t live up to what I’m hoping for.
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I felt the same way about House of Frank.
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Trail of Lightning is so awesome though. I need more in that series but it seems to be on hold ._.
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I love doing the End of Year Book Survey every year as well 💞 I also felt the same about House of Frank. I was so excited, but the found family aspect was such a disappointment and I didn’t like any of the characters 😔
I’m happy to see that you liked A Girl Like Her! It’s such a great book and I need to read the rest of the series 🥰
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What a great reading year, Dini! And I’m off to add The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue to my tbr!
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