I read lots of amazing books in 2024, this was a pretty amazing year book-wise. I read some amazing books like Almond by Sohn Won-pyung, Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, and Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler among others. It was very hard to pick my top 5 but I went with my emotions, I picked the books that stayed with me till the year’s end. And I am sure these stories will always have a special place in my heart.

Punching the Air is about a 16-year-old black boy named Amal who is accused of punching a white boy. Amal is kept in a juvie where he observes the injustices and inequalities faced by the colored races.

The reason this book secured a spot in my top 5 books is the narrative style of this book. The novel is written in the form of short poem-like chapters with amazing illustrations. It will be an amazing reading experience that you will surely love. Here are some images for the reference:

The novel deals with themes of prejudice, racism, and injustice. It is a perfect read for all the artists. This is unlike what I have ever read before. The characters are multi-layered and dynamic. The artwork and poems unveil the chaotic mind of the protagonist. This will surely be the book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

All the Lovers in the Night was my first read by Mieko Kawakami. It tells the story of a freelance proofreader and editor Fuyuko Irie. The book is the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery. It exposes the corporate world and the impact of modern-day work culture on individuals.

The novel also highlights the theme of loneliness and mental health. It is not obvious but the reader can sense that the protagonist is suffering from some mental health problem. She feels dull and stressed most of the time, she says:

“When lying in bed started to bother me, I got up without actually getting dressed and sat down in my chair, gazing out the window as I wondered what had brought about this awful state of mind. Why did I have to feel so awful all the time? How had I let things get so bad that I was unable to do work or anything else? What was going on?”(Kawakami)

Fuyuko Irie is one of the most relatable literary characters, especially for a 90s kid. She is an introvert and suffering from a mid-life crisis. The novel also shows her failed romantic relationship which highlights the complex nature of human relationships.

The novel is perfect for the fans of sad books. This is not the book that will make you cry but it is one of those books that make you stare blankly at a wall and reconsider your entie life.

I have discovered many new favorite authors this year and Backman is one of them. Britt-Marie Was Here is a feel-good kind of book about the slightly eccentric but loving character of Britt-Marie.

The novel is about Britt-Marie’s journey to step away from things that have hurt her and embrace the change in her life. Backman does a great job of spreading the message, he shows that it is never too late to love oneself.

The structure and language of the book are highly beginner-friendly. The humor in the book is just the right amount to have the good feeling that you need after a serious book. One of the main reasons that I loved this book was that I read a lot of sad books this year and it worked perfectly to help me get out of that weird depressed reader’s phase.

Back to the sad book genre – The Hours is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This is one of the saddest yet interesting books I have ever read. The premise of this book is brilliant. It follows three women; Virginia Woolf the author of Mrs. Dalloway, Laura Brown the housewife who is reading Mrs. Dalloway, and Clarissa Vaughan who shares the name of the protagonist of Mrs. Dalloway. The story is told in three parallel timelines, each about a different woman set in a different time and space.

My favorite section of the book is the one that deals with the life of Laura Brown. However, the other sections are equally good. It records the last moment of Virginia Woolf as she committed suicide and Cunningham does an amazing job in reimagining the last moments of the author.

The psychological depth of the book is beyond perfection. There are so many important themes surrounding gender, identity, and sexuality. The author connects these themes with the theme of mental health. It presents a very comprehensive image of feminine existence in the 20th century.

This is one of the most important books you need to read if you want to understand female mental health struggles. Also, the writing is beautiful and tragic. There are many incidents from the lives of three characters that make you reconsider everything you know about gender roles. This is surely one of the best books if you are looking to read something serious and not a random ‘booktok’ approved commercial book.

The book that impacted me the most this year is Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire. The novel is a modern-day retelling of Sophocles’ Antigone. It is majorly set in London and follows the lives of Muslim immigrant siblings against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks. The novel shows the impact of this event on the lives of Muslims living in London by focusing on the Pasha siblings. The novel is also set in Iraq and Pakistan as it follows the lead characters.

The novel highlights the love between siblings and shows how siblings can go at any length to save each other. It also deals with themes of dysfunctional families, extremism, fanaticism, and world politics.

This novel was my favorite read of 2024 because of its broad focus. I love when stories highlight the bigger issues of human society. It proves that literature plays a vital role in exposing and recreating the human world.

The narrative is beautiful with a perfect plot. The story is a fresh take on Sophocles’ Antigone. There is obviously no need to read the Greek classic, you can enjoy the book on its own. This book is surely a tear-jerker. It made me cry ugly tears, the end is devastating and I don’t think I will ever be able to forget this beautiful tale of misery and exploitation. There is also a romantic relationship in the book which is as tragic as the rest of the book.

These were my top 5 reads of the year. I totally recommend these books to everyone, irrespective of your favorite genre or preferred book type. These are the books that everyone needs to read, grab your copy today and have fun reading!