Counting Down My Top 5 Books of the Year

Nikki Giovanni's personal library is in the process o being categorized and organized at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
Nikki Giovanni's personal library is in the process o being categorized and organized at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville, Tenn. | Saul Young / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

I've said before that 2024 was a year marred with many three stars, and unfortunately, not many books stuck in my memory. That's not to say I didn't have any standouts, though! So this is the countdown for my top 5 books of the year.

5. Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

The Rebel Blue Ranch series was my first foray into cowboy romances, and I had an enjoyable enough time with the first two books to decide to read #3. Lost and Lassoed makes it so high on my list because Teddy and Gus felt like real, complex, sympathetic characters; they're two sides of the same coin: loyal, protective, fierce, and guarded, and each has to learn how to vulnerable. I had a great time (and got emotional) watching Teddy and Gus open up, grow with each other, and get the happy ending that they deserve.

4. Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde was high on the list because it was one of a few fantasy series that kept me hooked in a year when I wasn't particularly drawn to the genre. The novels follow scholar Emily Wilde as she studies faeries, which was a selling premise: I find scholarship and academia fascinating. Likewise, as a big fan of epistolary fiction, the story being told through Emily's field notes was a unique form of storytelling. Emily Wilde did something different in fantasy, which is exactly what I didn't know I needed.

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

It's true that the best is saved for last, as I believe Pride and Prejudice was the last in my Jane Austen reading order. I found the novel to be easy to follow, which attributed to it getting so high on the list. More than that, the novel's themes of growth, family, flaws, deception, and expectations feel timeless and just as relevant today as two hundred years ago. Likewise, the characters of Lizzie and Darcy are relatable in their flaws and their projected growth arcs, which makes the development of their relationship a love story to cheer for.

2. Go Like Hell by A.J. Baime

Coming off the heels of Ford v Ferrari, I was interested in delving more into the earlier history of Formula 1 and motorsports. Go Like Hell was a captivating read as it cultivated a thorough understanding of the events, and particularly the people who made this history happen. It's clear how much research and care went into this project: it shows in the way the it's not an account of facts, but rather an account of human stories. I learned a lot about those who are dedicated to progress, innovation, and speed, as well as the things that shaped them and in turn how they shaped motorsport.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

This classic tale was the most rewarding of the year: The time I put in was worth the experience I had. Even though it is 1000+ pages and the scope of the novel is intimidating at times, the craftsmanship and episodic nature kept me reeled in. I appreciated the attention to detail and the mysteries of The Count of Monte Cristo, as it felt like an epic adventure. To me, the sheer amount of themes and complex characters was the most fascinating part. It's a tragic story that brings out the worst, most desperate, and most hopeful parts of people. Though the sheer amount of mastermind energy of The Count of Monte Cristo, deserved 5 stars on its own.