(Review by: Madeline Hobbs)

Welcome to a review of my year in books! These were all my very favorite titles from 2024, and are stories you should absolutely add to your TBR in 2025!

Here’s how my rating system works: 1 star = Would not recommend/very little of the categorized content. 5 stars = Cannot recommend highly enough/a great deal of the categorized content.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

TW: The topics of domestic abuse and alcoholism are present.

Plot Twists ****/*****

Sexual Content **/*****

Profanity **/*****

Character Development *****/*****

Political Agenda */*****

Overall Rating ****/*****

This book was by far one of my best reads of 2024! Lisa Jewell is a masterful writer with a genuinely chilling knack for creating characters of depth that pull you into the story from page one. The plot twists were amazing, and the profanity and sexual content was included only where “necessary” and was not overused, which is always a plus for me. Add this title to your TBR stat!

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall

TW: The topics of domestic abuse are heavily present throughout. As are the topics of drug use, abortion discussion, and slight sexual harassment.

Plot Twists ****/*****

Violence ****/*****

Sexual content ***/*****

Profanity ***/*****

Character Development *****/*****

Political Agenda ***/*****

Overall Rating *****/*****

I was skeptical of whether Kate Alice Marshall was an author I would ever really enjoy because I DNF her first book, What Lies in The Woods, due to so many politically correct opinions I felt overshadowed the story. While there were still elements of this through No One Can Know, she definitely scaled it back, which made the story 100x better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I flew through it in under 48 hours! The characters were so intricate and had all been affected in such different, complex ways because of the same event it had my head spinning in the best way. 

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

TW: Topics of drug use/overdose are present, as are bullying, abandonment, and parental death.

Plot Twists ***/*****

Violence **/*****

Sexual Content ***/*****

Profanity **/*****

Character Development *****/*****

Political Agendas */*****

Overall Rating ****/*****

Ruth Ware is an instant buy for me when she comes out with a new book. While this wasn’t her newest title, it is by far her best IMO. I devoured this story while I basically lived in my pool this past summer, and the atmospheric writing of this book is unmatched. I felt as if I were with the characters on the Reach (where this story is set) and wanted to be part of their friend group so badly! The only reason this book didn’t get a five-star overall rating from me is because the ending is a bit sad, but nothing crazy. I love a happy ending myself, but this definitely wasn’t a deal breaker.

Final Girls by Riley Sager

TW: Topics of self-harm, mental health struggles, PTSD, and gruesome violence are present.

Plot Twists ****/*****

Violence ****/*****

Sexual Content ***/*****

Profanity ***/*****

Character Development ****/*****

Political Agendas **/*****

Overall Rating ****/*****

Riley Sager tends to be a toss up author for me. Sometimes I love his stories, other times not so much. Final Girls was definitely a love for me! The premise of this story is so interesting in the first place, but the way he writes the main character is just the cherry on top. You can literally feel her emotions as you read, which makes the story just pull you all the way in. My jaw was literally on the floor while reading the final few chapters which were packed with a balanced mix of expected and wholly unexpected twists. If you want to read any of Riley Sager’s stories, read this one!

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Plot Twists ***/*****

Violence */*****

Sexual Content */*****

Profanity */*****

Character Development *****/*****

Political Agendas */*****

Overall Rating *****/*****

While this one is a little different from my other favs on this list, I had to include it. I’ve loved P&P since I was 11 years old watching the 2005 movie adaptation, but there is really something different about reading it just as you come into adulthood and start dealing with your own romantic perils. Jane Austen does romance like no other, and there is so much value in actually reading this incredible work! Don’t let the fact that this is a classic intimidate you! The characters in this book are unmatched and truly so well developed and written.