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)!
Dear book-lover,
My name is Romy. I‘m 15 years old and am currently living as an exchange student in France. I‘ve been writing reviews for ABC since I was 13 years old and have loved books as long as I can remember. Next to books, there are many other things I’m passionate about: hanging out with friends, volleyball, traveling, music – and I’m obsessed with fashion. I write reviews for ABC, my absolute favorite bookstore, because I think it’s so important to showcase a young perspective on books and inspire others.
I’m so honored to share my Top-5 with you all. This year has been filled with so many amazing stories, interesting books and enchanting novels, so here we go – my absolute must-reads of 2024!
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
This book truly deserves to be on this list. Having traveled through Japan this summer, the story immediately transported me back to this wonderful country. The novel talks about struggling with friendships, feeling lonely, but is also filled with hope and love. Mixing fantasy and feel-good with a hint of fairy tale worked out perfectly, making it an amazing gift for anyone (even yourself 😉).
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
In a world overflowing with parties, glitz, rumors, and lies it’s hard for two people to love each other unconditionally. But Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine somehow manage to navigate this constant whirlwind together – until BJ makes a horrible mistake that changes everything. So is it still possible to amend his faults and set things right? Or has his mistake irreversibly changed the lives of so many in London?
The Gossip Girl vibe had me on the edge of my seat at all times. This novel is a deep dive into BJ and Magnolia’s complex and toxic relationship. The two-perspective writing takes things to a whole new level. If you love yourself some drama and an immersive story, this is the book for you.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Looking for a cozy, hot-chocolate-on-the-couch read? Good Material has got you covered.
Lovely trips to Paris, perfect nights with his best friends, an amazing shared apartment with the girlfriend he’s in love with – and then suddenly, it’s all over. And Andy can’t seem to figure out why.
When his girlfriend Jen breaks up with him, Andy is devastated. But whilst navigating through these tough times, he experiences lots of things. From 80-year-old housemates to a visit at a psychic, and obsessively stalking his ex in the meantime – Andy Dawson is going through it all. But maybe it’s for the better? Good Material unfolds a whole new perspective on a relationship ending. Usually, a love story starts with someone being lost and then finding their ‘happily ever after’. Well, not here. Alderton offers a showcase example of ‘all vibe, barely plot’. You’re living in Andy’s world, not simply visiting.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Long summer nights, a private island and the whole family all together, and of course, the boy you love. Sounds like a dream, am I right? Well, until it doesn’t…
Secrets, lies, mysteries and drama lie on the horizon for Cadence Sinclair. She spends every summer at her wealthy grandfather’s private island, with the whole family. Then one summer, she falls in love with the son of her auntie’s boyfriend. Seemingly perfect, everything goes well. But then… it takes a left turn.
I could not put this book down and the most shocking plot twist at the end had me speechless. If you simply cannot wait for summer, or you just want a book that hooks you from the first page on, look no further.
The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson
If you have some time to dive into an epic story this holiday season, welcome to The Library of Broken Worlds. The book talks about Freida, a young woman, and her encounter with a god. Designed for ‘deicide’, her goal is to kill the god. But the god gets curious, he wants Freida to tell her story. And so, a magnificent tale unfolds. The attention to detail and amazing perspectives are absolutely incredible and suck you into a story you won’t want to leave again.
Johnson keeps you guessing, and whilst reading, the story unfolds, and we discover and uncover mysteries together with the main character Freida. Melting science fiction, fantasy, coming of age and even a hint of philosophy works out perfectly in this extraordinary novel.
I don’t have 5 this year, but 4.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman (5 stars)
Short, sharp, subtle, brilliant…
This book caught me by surprise, I could not put it down and finished in two days.
The story is very character-driven but at the same time has a very intriguing and interesting plot. We follow a nameless girl growing up in this mysterious cage with other 39 women. There are men guarding them and giving them the minimal things to survive, but they have no interaction. They don’t know why they are there, how they got there, they don’t even know if they are still on earth. Then after a few pages something changes, and I could not stop reading after that.
The book asks you: what does it mean to be human? Especially when you are stripped of everything that you think makes you feel human.
The fact that Jaqueline Harpman was Jewish and had lived through the Second World War makes everything even more powerful, because I could really compare the women’s cage with concentration camps.
This time of history is so surreal and inhuman, it actually feels like a history from another world, from an alien world.
I really like the themes of the search for knowledge and the importance of being curious and open to learning. The protagonist is called “the child”, even when she is grown. As a child she is always asking questions, always seeing the world with bright eyes and an open mind.
An amazing modern classic with relevant themes, great pace and great writing.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (5 stars)
Don’t be fooled by the size of this little novel, because this hits like an emotional punch!
We follow Bill Furlong, a coal merchant during the busy season at Christmas. During one of his deliveries at the local convent he discovers something very unsettling, something that moves him on a deeper level and makes him confront his own childhood memories. Bill starts wondering about his own life choices after the convent encounter, and starts questioning what he should or should not do to change the course of other people’s lives.
Based on the real history of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, the author weaves a beautiful and emotional story that will keep you holding your breath until the end.
Claire Keegan makes the narrative very suspenseful and doesn’t waste a word; every sentence is connected and fluid, making this novel a very rounded tale. Also the ending is very interesting, some people see it as hopeful, some as auto-destructive… I saw courage and hope.
Quiet, beautiful and powerful, this story will remain with you for a long time.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (4.5 stars)
This was my first Sally Rooney and I was pleasantly surprised.
The novel takes place mostly in Dublin and tells the story of two brothers dealing with the recent death of their father and the impact of this event in their already broken relationship.
The female characters are also very interesting, very constant and strong, I think they are the spine supporting the whole novel.
The author got some inspiration from Dostoyevski and James Joyce, and you can see the references. The names of the brothers are a direct reference to The Brothers Karamazov and Peter’s long, philosophical walks through Dublin remind me a lot of Ulysses.
The writing style is quite interesting and unique. The brothers are very different, not only in age but in personality, so their chapters read completely differently. Peter is erratic and anxious; his sentences are very introspective and short. On the other hand Ivan is more logical and takes time observing the world around him, so his sentences are long and contemplative. I have to say it took me a few chapters to get into Peter’s mind, but once I did it was very rewarding.
I loved all the dialogues in this book, they are very believable and it feels like these could be real people. From what I heard this is one of Rooney’s great writing qualities and I agree.
It was super well written, mature, with great characters and relevant subjects. Also some very memorable passages, with beautiful and deep depictions of grief which really resonated with me.
I’m giving 4.5 stars because even though I loved the entire book, the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion, even though it was a beautiful ending.
Shame by Annie Ernaux (4 stars)
This was my first Annie Ernaux and now I want to read all of her books.
It was a very precise, quick read, but nonetheless beautiful and impactful. It took me a few pages to get into her flow of thoughts, especially after the first few pages when she starts to describe her childhood village. It was a very photographic description, with turns and street names and places, which makes you feel a bit lost.
For a moment I thought it was boring, but then I remembered my own childhood place, and how those streets and corners and shops were my whole world, how they became the bones that sustained the body of my memories, and so I understood her need of explaining and trying to build in words the structures of her own childhood place.
Her relationship with her father really resonated with my own father/daughter experience and the study of shame was on point, especially when talking about the beginning of the teenage years, when the veil of childhood falls apart and you start to discover the adult world.
It is so interesting to see how this really tiny book gave me so many things to think about.
Short and beautiful.
Dracula by Bram Stoker (5 stars)
This was so much fun!
Of course everybody knows Dracula, it is the OG vampire novel of all time and it created the ground rules for every vampire story out there (even though this wasn’t the first vampire novel ever written).
The fun starts with the layout of the novel: the chapters are interlocked with letters and newspaper clippings, which makes you feel like a detective, discovering things alongside with the characters. I wasn’t expecting this dynamic and it made the reading very addictive.
This is a great gothic story with heroes and villains, paranormal activities, mysterious castles and haunting ruins.
It is also a great discussion on Victorian culture, the position of women in society and their sexual desires, modernity and science against religion and the huge prejudice that Victorians had against everything foreign and different, since Count Dracula is a weird man from the east.
The book is very atmospheric and has an ambiance of darkness and fog that makes a perfect reading during the winter months.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Set in the unique backdrop of Naples in the 1950s, this is a moving story of two “frenemies” growing up together, their relation in a constant flux between envy and admiration, hate and love, devotion and egoism. In a way, the two girls compete their entire lives to prove that each is worthy of remaining in the other’s life, fearing that they will be forgotten, inferior, or left behind. The complex dynamic between Lenu and Lila felt so heartbreakingly real and touching that it feels like a story that will stay with me for years to come.
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
Here is possibly one of the best modern takes on Greek mythology (particularly when it comes to Hades/Persephone), and I honestly can’t stop raving about it. Lore Olympus just sweeps you away with its humorous and emotional ride, bolstered by absolutely gorgeous artwork and funny punchlines. I love everything about this series. Luckily, there are currently 7 volumes ready to be devoured, read and reread, with an 8th one expected to come out in May 2025.
Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
A melancholic story of innocence lost told through the eyes of a 17-year-old girl, who is simultaneously narcissistic yet insecure, superficial yet strikingly insightful, overly dramatic yet tactful, as she is swept up in the torrents of life, love, and family, all the while staying aloof. The narration really struck a magical balance that somehow gave me a similar feeling to The Bell Jar and My Year of Rest and Relaxation, which are both a favorite of mine, and I was very much enamored with the whole thing. I feel like this is one of those books you go back to every once in a while, savoring the heartbreak and the drama each time.
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
As blood chilling as it is entertaining, this is a foodie book with a killer twist – literally. Dorothy Daniels is a successful food critic with a passion for fine dining and fine men, although she cannot always find either up to her standards. Until she takes matters into her own hands (which combines her two interests in the shape of cannibalism, obviously). She may be unhinged and an absolute villain, but it is impossible to resist the magnetism of her deliciously dark, witty, and knife-sharp narrative. It was so powerful, so messed up, and so unique that I had a hard time putting it down once I started.
This is one foodie book that won’t have you running to your fridge door.
The Art of Diablo Volume 2 by Micky Neilson
Diablo has been an absolute favorite game of mine ever since I first played it (although I was definitely not old enough to be allowed to play it, but the 90s were a different time). Almost 30 years since its first release, the franchise with its 4 core games continues to be a world-renowned classic in dungeon-crawler games, and with good reason.
This book is the perfect guide to explore the striking visuals of the game with its signature dark gothic atmosphere. The world of Diablo comes alive in its beautifully illustrated pages featuring concept and character art, as well as insights from the game’s creators.
A perfect gift for the gamers and fantasy/horror lovers in your life.
Honorable mention:
Haruki Murakami Manga Stories vol. 1 & Haruki Murakami Manga Stories vol. 2 by Haruki Murakami
Typical Murakami stories in a new format, in all their magical-realism glory. I had no idea that his unique story building style would lend itself so well to a visual medium. I was already familiar with most of the stories in this edition from his previously published short story collection (Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman for those familiar with his works). The stories were actually quite surprisingly more enjoyable in this form.
Perfect for those looking for a way into the magical/realism-infused world of Murakami for the first time.
