My Top Ten Favorite Books of 2024 (so far)

It’s that time of the year again! But first, let me say hi and welcome to my new blog! Unfortunately, I couldn’t recover my original blog kath-reads.com anymore. Well I can but it costs a lot and everything is so complicated. So I’ve decided to start fresh. I also thought several times whether I should start again or not. But my desire to blog is strong so here I am.

I have read 25 books so far. I noticed that I haven’t read a lot anymore since I started working last year. It’s challenging so I have great respect to those who still manage to post regularly and work their nine-to-five jobs.

Now onto my new favorite reads. I picked up my top ten favorites from the 25 books I read so far.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Daphne’s fiance Peter calls off their wedding weeks before their big day after he realized that he loves Petra, his lifelong bestfriend. Daphne has to move out of their house because Petra is moving in. To make matters worse, they got engaged! Daphne is in need of a place to stay and lucky for her, a room became available at Miles’ apartment. By the way, Miles is Petra’s ex-boyfriend. I loved everything about this book! I also listened to the audiobook (thanks to @librofm) because it’s narrated by the amazing Julia Whelan. I loved the characters! Daphne is a booklover and a childhood’s librarian. She’s socially awkward and loves to spend her time reading in cafes. Miles is kind, sweet, and he loves listening to sad music! Their chemistry was palpable. The friendship between Daphne and Ashleigh was also my favorite. This book has some of my favorite tropes like friends to lovers, opposites attract, and found family. Definitely on my top favorite Emily Henry reads.

Here After by Amy Lin

A memoir about Amy’s grief after the unexpected death of her husband. She recounts their love story and the aftermath of his death. I cried. A lot. It’s written in poetic vignette style and it’s beautiful. Three words to describe this memoir: intimate, raw, poignant. 

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller

Know My Name is one of my all-time favorites so I immediately requested for an advance copy of this book after reading the author’s name. The illustrations (also by Miller) are adorable and they added more fun to my reading experience. The storytelling was fantastic! This book is about friendship, family, belonging, and kindness. This is a perfect read not only for young readers but for adults as well. 

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura translated from Japanese by Philip Gabriel

I picked up this book without knowing anything about it, and I’m glad I did. I think it’s better not to know much about the plot. The less you know, the better. I was going to give this book 4 stars until the last 15 pages. The revelation was unexpected and bittersweet at the same time. I loved how everything came together in the end. I loved the magical realism, the found family, and the escapism. Be mindful of the trigger warnings such as sexual abuse and bullying.

Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country by Patricia Evangelista

In this memoir, the author recounts the aftermath of former President Duterte’s War on Drugs in the Philippines. I bought my copy last year when we were in the Philippines and started reading it. But I had to stop after the first chapter. This book is heavy, heart-wrenching and disturbing. It’s well researched and Evangelista didn’t hold back. She gave us details, facts, and receipts. It’s painful to read at times but it’s the reality. Evangelista is no doubt a very talented journalist and she deserves all the praise. This is an eye-opener and a remarkable read!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood

Nagare and her daughter Koishi run a restaurant in Kyoto called the Kamogawa Diner. They recreate dishes from their customer’s memories. This book consists of five short stories and they’re all unique. I loved the father-daughter duo. I admired the effort they put into “investigating” and collecting details to satisfy their customers. This was a mouthwatering and heartwarming read. I can’t wait to read the second book. It reminds me of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

Anatomy by Dana Schwartz

This book is set in 1800s Edinburgh, Scotland. Lady Hazel wants to become a surgeon but she is supposed to act like a lady and to marry. Jack is a resurrectionist. He digs dead bodies and sells them. Their paths have crossed and they became partners in crime. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I bought this book. I fell inlove with the cover and the Mermaid Crate edition is stunning. I’m glad that I ended up loving the story. Hazel and Jack are both wonderful characters. A bit of a slow burn but the vibes and atmosphere were on point. This was also an easy and a fast read. The ending was a bit abrupt but it made me more eager to pick up the sequel.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Clementine has recently moved to her late Aunt’s apartment. Her Aunt told her that the apartment can travel in time but she doesn’t believe it. Until she finds a strange man in her kitchen. They get along well except he exists in the past and she lives in the future. This book was beautifully written. The characters are flawed and lovable. I thought the romance was not enough but then again this is more than just a romance novel. Aside from the time travel element which I loved, I also appreciated how the author handles some heavy topics such as grief and suicide. A heartfelt read which made Poston one of my favorite romance authors.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa translated from Japanese by Eric Ozawa

Takako reluctantly accepts her Uncle Satoru’s offer to move in the room above the second-hand bookshop he owns. The timing is perfect since she needs a fresh start. This was a very cozy read! Also relatable because just like Takako, I was never into reading until I moved out of my country in my 20s. I loved the setting (secondhand bookshops), the literary references, and the characters. A heartwarming and touching story about how books can change a person’s life. Also one of my favorite book covers.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I’ve decided to join Penguin Teens’ Ember Quartet readalong. I read An Ember back in 2018 and it was my very first Tahir book. The series is one of my favorites and rereading it brings back so many emotions. I forgot how intense the scenes were and how brutal Tahir is. It was great to meet the characters again eventhough I know what their future is going to be. I’m currently on the 3rd book, A Reaper at the Gates. Also, I cannot wait to read Tahir’s upcoming novel, Heir. I’m also buddy-reading this reading with Joyce. It’s her first time reading it. *evil grin*

There you have it! Have you read any from these books? How is your reading so far?

Have a great day!