
Inspiration
The best books of 2024 – as voted by you
Jan 15Hello, 2025! Every year, we like to inspire each other to get reading again by looking back at our favourite books of the last year. And, importantly, we get you involved! You’ve been voting in your hundreds, and the results are in! It’s official: these are your best books of 2024.
A little disclaimer before you discover some fantastic fiction: the only rules are that this list is community-voted, and we don’t include books we’ve included a previous year. So, if you want to look back, you can find the best books of 2023 here, and of best books of 2022 here (such good lists!). Ok, let’s get stuck in. Here it is, your best books of 2024…
The best books of 2024 – as voted by you
The Women by Kristin Hannah

Top of your best books of 2024 is Kristin Hannah’s profoundly moving novel, The Women. You voted for this in your droves, so it’s definitely one to add to your TBR list if you’ve not read it yet! This is bestselling author Kristen Hannah’s latest book and was widely voted as the top historical fiction book of last year, including in the Goodreads Choice Awards 2024.
The story is about Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young woman whose world is turned upside down when she volunteers as a nurse during the Vietnam War. As well living through the horrors of war, she has to come home to a changed and divided America. A story of resilience, friendship, and love, with a wonderfully memorable heroine, The Women will have you gripped.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
You know we love Emily Henry here at Martha Brook! (We’re still not over the Insta live that Martha did with her in 2023, which you can catch up on here.) So, it was no surprise that you highly voted for it in the best books of 2024 with her latest book, Funny Story!
Meet Daphne, a down-trodden thirty-something woman whose life is in tatters – she has no friends or family close by, and she also found out her fiancé is madly in love with her childhood best friend, Petra. Make that ex-fiancé! Daphne’s dream job of being a children’s librarian is still in tact, but despite her love for her job, she is struggling to make ends meet on a solo salary. Desperate to keep her job, Daphne proposes to be roommates with the only person who can understand what she’s going through, Petra’s ex, and together they craft a master plan. Will living her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex-fiancé get the revenge they both desire or will it be the start of a brand-new chapter Daphne never expected?

Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan

If you’re looking for a novel that will move you, challenge you, and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan is one you absolutely cannot miss. This heartrending historical fiction novel by V. V. Ganeshananthan won the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024, and you absolutely loved it too.
Set during the Sri Lankan Civil War, Brotherless Night is the story of sixteen-year-old medical student Sashi. Her dreams of becoming a doctor are derailed by the brutal conflict unfolding around her. Through her eyes, we witness the devastating personal cost of war and the impossible choices she faces. Ganeshananthan’s writing is beautifully compelling and feels so very real. Adding it to your TBR list straight away!
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This modern masterpiece that won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction takes Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield and breathes new life into it, setting the story in the rugged Appalachian hills of America.
At the heart of it is Demon, a boy born into poverty and addiction who faces more than his fair share of hardship. From a broken foster care system to the devastating grip of the opioid crisis, Demon’s story is gut-wrenching and incredibly human. However, through it all, our main character is funny, smart, and fiercely determined, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him on every page. Demon Copperhead is a novel that will break your heart and then piece it back together in the most unexpected ways. It’s an absolute triumph. If you’re ready to be moved, inspired, and completely immersed in a world that feels all too real, this book is for you.

All The Colours Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker

If romances and thrillers are your go-to genres, you won’t want to miss All The Colours Of The Dark! A missing person, a serial killer, and a love story are all combined into this atmospheric thriller. Set in a small, close-knit community, the town is shattered following the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl.
What follows next is decades of an epic search with lots of twists and turns, during which you’ll find yourself questioning not just the characters’ motives but also your own perceptions of good and evil, right and wrong. This is the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages late into the night, unable to stop until you know the truth, yet reluctant for it to end because it’s just so beautifully written.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Next up on your best books of 2024 is Emilia Hart’s Weyward, a spellbinding tale of three generations of women bound by a mysterious legacy. In 1619, Altha faces trial for witchcraft, her knowledge of healing plants both her gift and her curse. In 1942, Violet struggles to break free from her family’s oppressive expectations. And in 2019, Kate escapes an abusive relationship to find refuge in a remote cottage tied to her family’s haunting history.
Through these interconnected lives, Hart explores themes of empowerment, survival, and the enduring connection between women and nature. With vivid, lyrical writing and characters you’ll root for, Weyward is a moving celebration of freedom, resilience, and the quiet magic of being true to yourself.

The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn

Plenty of you voted The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn as your best book of 2024! Set in the aftermath of World War I, this is an utterly enchanting and sweeping tale about courage, imagination, and finding your place in the world.
The story begins in Dorset, where twelve-year-old Cristabel Seagrave discovers a beached whale and, with her siblings, transforms its bones into their very own theatre. This magical, free-spirited childhood sets the stage for a life of adventure and resilience, as Cristabel grows up and faces the challenges of World War II, working as a spy in occupied France. It’s a story about the power of creativity, family, and courage in the face of great adversity. The Whalebone Theatre is a joyous, poignant, and deeply satisfying read that will sweep you off your feet and leave you cheering for Cristabel’s incredible journey.
You Are Here by David Nicholls
If you’re after a cosy book to devour this January, this is the one for you! You’ll undoubtedly have heard of David Nicholls, the celebrated author of One Day, and this is his latest Sunday Times bestselling book.
Marnie and Michael, two recent divorcees, are thrown together by fate in this stunning romance that sees these two often frosty characters embark on a ten-day hike through the British countryside. Can they survive not only the journey, but each other? As they encounter people of all sorts, plenty of mud and some pretty terrible weather, this unlikely pair might come to realise they are exactly where they should be. Best read cosied up under a blanket with a packet (or two!) of tissues.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake is set against the backdrop of a Michigan cherry orchard in the spring of 2020. Three daughters come home to during the pandemic and are forced to help their mother Lara pick cherries in the family’s orchard. While picking cherries, the daughters beg Lara to tell them the story of her romance with a now-famous actor. As they listen, the sisters discover truths not just about their mother’s past but also about love, sacrifice, and the choices that shape a life. Tom Lake is perfect for anyone who loves a deeply human story, one that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the defining moments in your own life. We can also highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by Meryl Streep no less!
Songlight by Moira Buffini
And we finish our list of the best books of 2024 with one Martha absolutely loved. This young adult novel is the first book in the Torch trilogy and is set in a post-apocalyptic future where those who have developed the gift of telepathic connection known as ‘songlight’ are ruthlessly hunted down and persecuted. Think The Hunger Games crossed with The Handmaid’s Tale!
The jumping between different characters’ points of view keeps you completely hooked, and rooting for the young heroines. It’s a truly heartwarming and uplifting read that Martha can certify is impossible to put down! We already cannot wait for the second in the trilogy!

That’s it! Here are the best books of 2024 as voted by you. Have you read any of these yet and if not, which will you be reading in the new year? Come let us know in the comments!
And if you want to record your reads and stay on track with your reading goals for 2025, don’t miss our Any Text Book Journal personalised with your favourite book quote or our original Personalised Book Journal, embossed with the phrase ‘Just One More Page’.
P.S. Want to tick these books off as you go along? Download and print off our Best Books of 2024 A5 Printout by clicking here, It’s the perfect size to stick in your Book Journal or pin to your noticeboard!

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