We are back with our 5(ish) favorite reads (and games) of 2024!
We try very hard to keep it to five, but it’s simply not always possible. So, per staff member there may be more or less than five titles, but there can also be an A and a B list, memorable reads or just plain marvelous books.
We’re presenting our lists in bite-size chunks to make them more digestible, as there are more than 150 titles for you to sink your teeth into.
We hope to inspire you to try some of them in the new year.
Happy reading (and playing)!
Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
This is a a beautifully written YA duology by Rebecca Ross. It’s one of my favourite reads this year. To my surprise this blend of young adult fantasy, romance and drama kept me reading at any available moment. The story follows two competing journalists, Iris and Rowan, during a war of gods. As the story evolves, the characters develop a genuine and vulnerable connection which keeps you fully engaged. I especially enjoyed the lyrical style of the books which made me feel all kinds of emotions.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
This was my buddy read with my colleague Naomi. I love how funny and still very honest Henry writes about heartbreaks and re-finding yourself again. Many cute side characters,with their own background stories and the setting of a small town in the summer really worked for me.
In the Blink of the Eye by Jo Callaghan
A very interesting crime novel debut from 2023 which I read as a buddy read with my colleague Jouke (yes, we love buddy reads). I found the idea of AI joining the investigation team very playful, it brings a lot of tension but also funny moments. It is a clash of human instincts vs. modern technology in the context of crime solving. I also read her second book this year: Leave No Trace, also part of our buddy read so if you’d like to see more of them, you can check our collection on the ABC website: Jouke & Julia’s Detective Agency.
The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman
This year I read four books by Richard Osman. Because his new mystery series We Solve Murders came out in September I wanted to finish the Thursday Murder Club series before then, and over the summer I read The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil To Die. They’re perfect reads for the holidays: funny, a bit silly, with crime mystery in the background and by the last one you are so invested in the characters’ lives that you even get emotional. I hope there is more coming but we will see. :)
Parks
Lovely designed game for 2 to 5 people. It’s a board game with beautiful illustrations of 50 national parks in the USA. You are a hiker, traveling through the seasons, through the parks, to collect tokens, parks and memories. It’s a friendly game, with no hard feelings, perfect for annoying winners and bad losers.
The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta by Dan Nadel and Zak Smith
Frank Frazetta has been one of my favorite artists as he has been instrumental in designing the way we see our science fiction and fantasy worlds. His art is bold, dynamic, mystical and tantalizing and transports the viewer to the far-off worlds we can only reach in our imagination. Taschen made a beautiful monograph with a vast overview of his work, lauding the master of fantastic art.
Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel by Aimée de Jongh
This graphic novel was an instant bestseller and with good reason. This adaptation is a very well made and accessible version of Lord of the Flies. The graphic novel follows the full original text by William Golding and makes this story come alive in a way only de Jongh knows how to master.
(Blogmistress’s note: Aimée de Jongh will visit ABC Amsterdam on 27 December!)
Final Cut by Charles Burns
A coming-of-age story by the means of art. Brian is an aspiring film maker who films and produces his first sci-fi film together with his high school friends. One of the actors is Laurie who, during the shooting of the film, becomes Brian’s love interest. He struggles with making his feelings known to her while also trying to express his weird thoughts in his art. Burns again does not disappoint with his striking art work and emotional story.
The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Manu Larcenet
This list contains multiple graphic adaptations and rightly so. The adaptation of The Road graphically captures the bleakness and hopelessness Cormac McCarthy portrayed in his story. A father takes his son across a country in search of a better place in a world where an unnamed cataclysm has happened; society has broken down and lawlessness is rife. The artwork by Larcenet grips you and draws you through the story to the inevitable end.
The Hidden Life of Trees a Graphic Adaptation by Fred Bernard and Benjamin Flao
Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees has been one of the best books for our understanding of trees and the ecosystems they function in. This graphic adaptation gives a great visual rendering of all the information on trees that Wohlleben shares with us. A great gift for nature lovers and comic book aficionados alike.
Pleun
The last couple of years, I haven’t been reading much: too much on my mind or just too tired. After a few pages, I’d often find myself nodding off. But I’ve been reading to my 9-year-old a lot, usually a book or two a week. She loves reading on her own, but she still enjoys being read to, which I hope continues for a few more years, it’s such a great way to bond.
Here are some of the books we’ve loved:
The Witches by Roald Dahl
We first read this a couple of years ago and have since reread it. It’s still amazing, creepy but fun. Dahl really nails the suspense and horror, and the witches are genuinely terrifying! A must-read for any youngster (I’m a huge Stephen King fan, so I’m biased!).
The Elsie Pickles series by Kaye Umansky (Witch for a Week, Wish for a Witch, Witches (Un)Welcome, and Witch in Winter)
Another witch series, but this one is more lighthearted and funny. It’s about a girl with a special gift who teams up with a witch living in a moving tower. The adventures are charming, exciting, and full of humor. We laughed out loud while reading it!
Cat & Cat Adventures: The Quest for Snacks by Susie Yi
This was the first English book my daughter read on her own, and she loves it. The story is adorable, with sweet illustrations and a gentle narrative that really captured her heart.
And a couple of books I’ve read for myself:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I finally picked this up after hearing so much buzz. While I liked it, I thought it was a bit shallow in places. Still, it’s a perfect book to escape into for a day or two, with a unique concept about alternate lives.
The Shining by Stephen King
I keep coming back to this one every few years, along with Doctor Sleep. It’s a masterful exploration of addiction, family dynamics, and the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere of the Overlook Hotel. A must-read, in my opinion!
