My Top Reads of 2024
cozy mysteries, essay collections, and my ever enduring love for literary fiction
Quick note: This post is too long for email so I encourage you to read this in the website or the app (which is much cooler anyway 😉).
Hello, you! And happy new year! I realise that this is my first post in a while but with my tech breakdown situation and a lot of things happening in my life at the moment1, it takes more effort than usual to carve some time to do this newsletter thing. Still, I am rising from the dead to bring you this list before it disappears in my endless draft blackhole. I am a bookish content creator first before anything else anyway (mainly because of the fact that this is the topic I can talk about the most anywhere) so I really wanted to keep a record of this in my Substack as well..
So here it is: a list of my favourite reads of 2024!23
Arrangements in Blue: Notes on Loving and Living Alone by Amy Key
This list is not ranked, but if it was, this book would be at the top. I love, love, love this book. It’s my first 5-star read of the year and something that has stayed with me since I finished it. It’s about friendship, love, living, contentment, yearning, and everything in between. It’s a complex book to describe in the sense that it focuses on an idea rather than summarizing a life (as memoirs do). The central theme is this: a life lived in anticipation of romantic love, yet finding yourself partner-less and never truly grasping it at the stage in your life when you initially thought you’d have it. I hold this book so close to my heart. I’ve since bought a physical copy and plan to reread it this 2025 so I can highlight to my heart’s content. [short review] – 5 ☕
St. Marin's Cozy Mystery Series by ACF Bookens (Books 1 to 6)
Isn’t it nice how some of the best things in our lives come to us through happenstance? I have enjoyed not just one but a whole set of books from this series that I’ve read so far – a consistent 4 to 5-star read! This is a classic cozy story where Harvey Beckett moves to a charming town to restart her life. She opens a bookstore, where she inadvertently begins her work as an amateur sleuth. A charming middle-aged female protagonist. A cozy bookstore and café. A lot of pets (including plenty of pups and a cat!). Classic amateur sleuthing tactics. A cast of quirky, fun characters around town. It has all the elements of a cozy mystery that I absolutely love! In addition to having all the elements of a cozy, casual read, I appreciate that they tackle heavy, hard-hitting topics despite the cozy setup. It’s clear that ACF Bookens writes these books with the intention of shedding light on important issues and educating readers. Reading these books has been a learning experience for me—aside from the enjoyment I get from the stories—and I’m really glad I came across this series. (Plotted for Murder, book #4 and pictured above, is my favorite in the series so far!) – 4.5 ☕(average)
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
This book was everywhere in 2024 and I’m glad I picked it up. Butter tells the story of Rika Machida, a female reporter trying to get a big break by attempting to cover the story of gourmet cook Manako Kajii convicted of serial murders of lonely businessmen who she is said to have seduced with her cooking. The catch is, Kajii refused to talk. That is until Rika wrote to her asking for a recipe and she replied. Thus began a tale that will take the reader into unexpected twists and turns. I initially thought this would be a thriller-y/murder-y book but it turned out to be so much more than that. I loved the focus it put on the psychological side - and on Rika trying to uncover the motive / the context of what Kajii did (or did not do). This gave it more interesting layers: this is an unapologetic exploration of the lens through which Japanese society views womanhood, appearance, and being a woman in a working place. The book is engrossing, despite its slow pace and primarily psychological focus. It also gave me a profound, and new (at the time) appreciation of consuming, and taking time to cook, good food. If there’s something to be highlighted here other than the story and the direction the book took in terms of exploring its characters, it’s the gorgeous food writing - I’m pretty sure it’s one of the drivers behind my sourdough and butter obsession of 2024. Overall, this is a very interesting book and I personally believe it’s worth the hype. They’re right: this book is hard to place and hard to describe. [short review] – 4 ☕
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
While I initially picked up this book because of Han Kang’s recent Nobel win, I wasn’t expecting to like The Vegetarian this much. Despite the magical realism angle of this story, it is rooted in actual universal issues existing not just in Korea but I imagine in a lot places all over the world as well. This novel focuses heavily on the societal standards that women are expected to uphold to make others happy and how this grates on their sense of self. The first two parts lean uncomfortably into the absurd, sometimes (personally) reaching the cringe-worthy level you get when trash men’s point-of-views are put at the center. The third part was heartbreaking and probably my favorite, emotionally. I wish we could’ve gotten a Yeong Hye (the vegetarian, in the story) POV – but despite this, I feel that the book is still effective in conveying its message and leaving a visceral impact on the reader (it certainly did on me). It was disturbing and uncomfortable. It is… really something (if it’s not obvious enough). I’m still processing that ending (and probably the whole book), so I think I’ll be thinking about it for a while. – 4.5 ☕
I Feel Bad About My Neck (and other thoughts on being a woman) by Norah Ephron
You could read this book at various stages in your life and, at each time, it will mean different to you. My first Nora Ephron was her roman à clef, Heartburn, and her writing has always been disarmingly funny, while having a lot of heart – the perfect balance of being humorous and poignant. This essay collection is no exception. From the amusing contemplation on ageing in “I Feel Bad About My Neck“, to the very random “I Hate My Purse” – to describing in vivid detail what it feels like to get lost in a book in “On Rapture“; I got absorbed with the hilarious, matter-of-factl-y way she looks at the world – and writes about it. She has a distinct tone that I can’t get enough of. I can actually hear Nora say all of these things in my head even if I actually have not heard her speak. From maintenance (of yourself) to parenting, Nora has something to say – and listen I did. She made me want to buy cook books and spend my free time recreating recipes from them. She made me want to get a blow out from a hair salon once in a while (because ‘It’s cheaper by far than psychoanalysis, and much more uplifting.’). But most of all, she made me want to write (“Write everything down. Keep a journal. Take more pictures.“). [review] – 4.5 ☕
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Blue Sisters, which tells the life of 3 sisters on the aftermath of their sister’s sudden passing, was hard hitting and deeply affecting. This book is deliciously gorgeous. I love Coco’s writing so much. Also, I am mesmerised by its cover (in all iterations). I wanted so badly to be someone that loves her books and, for so long, I was half-afraid that I probably just hyped it up too much in my head. I think that was the reason why I delayed reading her books for so long. But I am glad that I became absolutely in love with this book. It’s the first hardback and (thick) printed book that I’ve finished in a long time and it counted for something. Even though it was a bulky copy, I lugged it around town everywhere because it immersed me like no other printed book had in a while (at the time). It’s not a perfect book by any means – but whatever people say, it’s a solid 5 out of 5 for me. It touches a lot of things – growing up, sisterhood, trauma, pain, identity, family – but most of all, grief. I have a complicated relationship with grief and, I’m not gonna lie, this book had certainly been triggering in certain points. But most of the time, reading about grief feels like a release. And that is the case for me with this book. It might be a polarizing book – I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews about it, which kind of stings a bit, to be honest – but for people with whom this resonates: Hi! I want to be friends if you need someone to talk to. Also, my favourite sister? Definitely Avery (eldest daughter feels through and through). – 5 ☕
The Honjin Murders (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #1) by Seishi Yokomizo
While I expected to like this book, it is curious that I still think about it even though I only rated it 4 stars. The formula is there, it being a classic whodunnit – but what struck me the most was how deeply culturally rooted it is. The motivations and subsequent actions of the characters are driven by social nuances that are fascinating to read and are, in a way, very different from the Western stories written in the same vein. This book played like a movie in my head, and I ended up devouring it relatively faster than I usually do with a book. This made me curious about a genre that wasn’t initially in my radar at the time – but I think because of this, 2025 will be my honkaku era. – 4 ☕
In the Kitchen: Essays on Food and Life by Various Authors
I love essay collections, and this book left a special mark on my heart. It features essays written by various authors with diverse backgrounds. The collection discusses food and cooking, highlighting how the kitchen plays a significant role in people’s relationships and shapes our childhoods and lives in general. I’ve read a lot of affecting essays in this and if there’s something that I realized (more) from reading this book, it’s that food and cooking binds us in a unique way. It means different to each of us, but each time, it means a whole lot. One of my favorites is Mayukh Sen‘s essay, Our Grief Books – where he explored how cooking can be a form of release and how food can hold so many memories, especially of those whom we loved but have already passed. (It also inspired one of my newsletters!) If you’re looking for a good essay collection to read, please give this a try. – 4.5 ☕
"Our Grief Books"
More than 11 years ago, I lost my mom to an unexpected heart attack. Much of that period passed in a haze to be honest; I felt numb and disconcerted. For someone who likes to write her thoughts (and, at the time, post it with abandon in social media, particularly …
Drop Dead by Lily Chu
There’s something about this book that captured my heart. This book was boxed and sold as a trope-y book (rivals-to-lovers with only-one-bed, or in this case, one house) but I find it genre-defying and exciting even to the end. Misogyny in the workplace, familial and work pressure, legacy, familial obligations, ethics, or just even trying to make a difference wherever you’re at – there’s a lot to be had in this book that the eventual romance just fades away in the background. The emotional payoff was really good – 5 ☕
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Coming of age in 90’s Ireland, an extremely layered story that presents a protagonist that is both messy and relatable. It’s a story of a young woman confronted by hard choices to keep on living – a story of friendship, and, sometimes, of love. Another book that took an interesting and unexpected turn, while tackling period-specific issues. Irish lit fic forever! Also, I love this Sentimental Garbage4 podcast episode about this book (together with my queen Dolly Alderton). Trust me: recommended listening after reading this book. 👌 – 4.5 ☕
RUNNER-UPS
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1) by Heather Fawcett
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong, #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
If you (still) want to follow along in my reading journey, you can find me at: Bookstagram, Goodreads, and Storygraph (which I am trying to revive, so please add me if you are also there!).
To close this post, I am leaving you with my favourite quote that I came across last year from above’s Nora Ephron gem, I Feel Bad About My Neck:
Cheers to more possibilities, indeed! 🥂
How about you? Do you have some favorite 2024 reads? Let me know in the comments and let’s talk! 🤓
Please feel free to comment / like / share this post if you liked what you read. Alternatively, here’s a virtual tip jar if you fancy and wants to support my work in another way. I am @pagesandcc (almost) everywhere! Find me elsewhere: Blog | Instagram | Goodreads | Storygraph
Case in point: I am in the Philippines right now, home for the first time in 2 years. I was (and still am, I suppose) in a huuuuge emotional rollercoaster getting here and I am exhausted even before this vacation began. Maybe I’ll talk about it someday, somehow. But right now, I am resting my heart.
As in: favourite reading experiences in 2024. I always feel weird using ‘top books of yyyy’ just because my brain always translates it to only mean ‘top books that are published in yyyy’ whenever I read it. Is it just me?
This list first appeared in my annual Year in Books post in my main blog, Pages and Coffee Cups, along with my 2024 reading stats and a small list of 2025 reading resolutions. Check it out if you fancy! ✨😊
Sentimental Garbage is Caroline O’Donoghue’s podcast. She’s honestly one of the coolest and funniest people in the internet. I discovered her when she hosted the Belfast leg of Dolly Alderton’s Good Material tour that I attended last 2023. She also runs the same newsletter here in Substack, and I am totally obsessed with her post on the best things to buy in Lush. I was influenced!
Blue Sisters is on my 2025 hitlist – hoping I can get to it amidst my already ambitious reading plans!
Loved Blue Sisters 🩵