The moment you’ve been waiting all year for is finally here! It’s your chance to vote for your favorite books of the year — the ones that changed your life, that made you laugh, or cry, or lend it to a friend, or buy an extra copy for your shelf. This year, we are once again weighing in and hoping to sway your vote on the best books of the year. (Check out last year’s predictions.)
Last year we even got a few predictions right… let’s see if we can do even better this year!
On December 5, Goodreads will announce picks from readers for their 16th annual Goodreads Choice Awards. Last year we saw a major change, with the removal of the Children’s & Middle Grade, Poetry, and Graphic Novels categories, and the addition of the beloved Romantasy category. But this year, the Humor category is gone, and there’s a new contender in the mix — Audiobooks!
Join BookTrib editors Megan Beauregard and Katie Bloomer as they name their picks for the best titles of the year. And if you spend enough time browsing BookTrib, you may even recognize a few of the nominees…
Come back on December 5 after Goodreads has announced the winners to see how many predictions we got right!
Fiction
Megan: Intermezzo became a status symbol when it was released this year. With only a limited number of advanced copies, the people who got ahold of one made sure it was peeking out of their tote bags, artfully posed with for Instagram photos, or ferociously unwrapped in BookTok influencer videos. Needless to say, Sally Rooney’s books, loved by “it girls” and “sad girls” around the globe, have made their mark. Intermezzo features romance, grief, family drama, a pair of brooding Irish brothers, and, well, competitive chess playing… What more could a Sally Rooney fan want? Maybe these Rooney-esque books.
Katie: Who doesn’t love a lighthearted comedy? Especially during an election season! I think many readers this year have enjoyed I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, a heartwarming office comedy starring an admin worker who’s had enough of her coworkers. When Jolene is caught secretly inserting petty workplace grievances in her emails, she’s sentenced to sensitivity training with the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff. But an IT mix-up grants her access to all her colleagues’ private emails and DMs — now she has some tantalizing dirt plus precious intel that will help save her job. But as she’s drawn further into her coworkers’ private worlds, Jolene’s carefully constructed walls begin to crumble, and she must decide if she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle and come clean to everyone. Read more here.
Historical Fiction
Megan: James by Percival Everett is sweeping the literary world. It has already won the National Book Award and the Kirkus Prize, was a finalist for the Booker Prize, is on the New York Times’ list of 100 Notable Books of 2024 and is Barnes and Noble’s Book of the Year, among numerous other awards and accolades. Retelling the story of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved man Jim, this sprawling piece of historical fiction has made itself a modern classic. Percival Everett is well known for deftly tackling the issue of racism while maintaining a humorous and witty levity. Whether this book wins the popular vote (because this is, after all, a popularity contest), it is certain to have made a mark on the publishing industry and readers of propulsive American literature.
Katie: I’d have to be living under a rock not to have seen the cover of Kristin Hannah’s latest masterpiece, The Women. I’d be shocked if this one doesn’t take home the gold! This epic historical novel paints an intimate portrait of an army nurse’s coming-of-age in a nation divided. When Frankie’s brother is shipped off to Vietnam, she eagerly follows, leaving behind her conservative upbringing and imagining a different future for herself. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal. In war, she meets ― and becomes one of ― the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America. I love a good story that portrays the strength of women, and boy does this one deliver! Read more here.
Mystery & Thriller
Katie: I’ve seen the cover of Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods everywhere, but it’s always thrown me off — because it doesn’t scream mystery/thriller. Maybe that’s because this is just one aspect of Moore’s rich story, which NPR’s Maureen Corrigan said was “extraordinary,” reminding her of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. The story begins when 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar disappears from her summer camp bunk — actually, it really began 14 years earlier, when her older brother vanished in the same fashion, never to be found. The Van Laar family owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. So the panicked search for Barbara begins, revealing the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow. Sounds like a thrilling mystery to me!
Megan: I was going to cast my vote for We Solve Murders by Richard Osman, but I have to agree with Katie that the amount of buzz for The God of the Woods is pretty impossible to ignore. Katie is right that the cover of this one is also so compelling! I love the new trend of using pink in thriller and horror covers. I’m requesting the audiobook from my library right now — it says I’ll have to wait a whole month.
Romance
Megan: When a high-profile book club makes a selection, it’s best to pay attention. Good Morning America selected Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez for their book club, and this romance that puts a new spin on the fake-dating trope was a great choice. Two people with bad luck in love decide to date one another to break their curse — after every breakup, their exes seem to find soulmates. So will dating each other cancel this curse out, or will they realize they’ve found true love after all? Things only get more complicated when real life interferes, and feelings grow real as the couple must support one another. It was supposed to be a fling, just for the summer…
Katie: Just For The Summer has “winner” written all over it, so I’ll have to vote for the same title!
Romantasy
Megan: Sarah J. Maas is a name that has circulated in the world of romantasy for years. House of Flame and Shadow is the third book in her Crescent City series, and these books continue to be viral TikTok sensations. Torn apart lovers, questions of loyalty, kidnapping and danger are sure to make any romantasy lover’s heart pound — and that’s before the steamy scenes appear! I guarantee a lot of loyal fans will be voting for the romantasy queen, Sarah J. Maas, for this category. Read the BookTrib review.
Katie: There are so many good romantasy options this year! Granted, I’ll usually read anything romantasy. While I think Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout are going to be tough to beat, I’m rooting for this year’s surprising up-and-comer, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. This title just seemed to pop up out of nowhere and quickly soared to popularity — and I can see why! When a revolution begins and The Great Library of Alyssium is burned down, librarian Kiela is forced to flee her job and home with a handful of stolen spellbooks. Back in her hometown, Kiela opens up the remote island’s first-ever — and much-needed — secret spellshop. It’s the perfect mixture of cottagecore fantasy and a hometown Hallmark movie, fueled by magical sweet jams and a nosy neighbor who’s too handsome for his own good.
Fantasy
Megan: I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but I know that under my Christmas tree, there’s a wrapped TJ Klune book with my dad’s name on it. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the much-anticipated follow-up to The House in the Cerulean Sea, an incredibly popular cozy fantasy novel that everyone (including my dad) loved. The newest book follows a cast of characters at an orphanage on a remote island, and the strange and powerful abilities that connect them. Who doesn’t love a good found family story of misfits brought together?
Katie: Again, there are so many good options here! On the one hand, I’m really rooting for Leigh Bardugo’s lush historical fantasy, The Familiar, where the lines between magic, science and fraud are blurred in a servant girl’s rise to magical prominence in the Spanish Golden Age. On the other hand, I’ve seen the incredible popularity of Mai Corland’s Five Broken Blades (and upcoming sequel, Four Ruined Realms), which follows five killers — strangers with a hunger for vengeance — joined together to kill a king. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other… but only one can take the crown. Both of these books are astounding in very different ways, and I’m sure one of them will prove to be the people’s favorite.
Science Fiction
Megan: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is on its way to the small screen, and I think adaptations always get a little extra attention from readers. Time travel suspense meets a workplace romance in this one-of-a-kind new release. Whether you’re swooning over the handsome male lead, Commander Graham Gore of the 1845 Arctic Franklin Expedition, or rooting for the leading lady who guides him through modern-day life, there’s something in here for all kinds of readers. Humor, heart, ethical dilemmas and unlikely relationships abound in this Good Morning America book club pick that will hopefully also be the Goodreads Choice Award pick. Read my review.
Katie: I’m not one for science fiction, but the premise of The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei might just change my tune. In recent years, we’ve seen more and more novels with anti-colonial themes rising in popularity, a trend reflective of our changing cultural values. Couple this with the ever-popular heist theme, and you’ve got a thrilling anti-colonial space heist that readers will love. Graduate anthropology student Maya Hoshimoto has retired from her days as the best art thief in the galaxy, but she’s dragged back in when an old friend shows up with a job she can’t refuse: find a powerful object that could save an alien species from extinction. Maya sets out on a quest through a universe teeming with strange life and ancient ruins — all the while haunted by disturbing visions of betrayal and destruction.
Horror
Megan: I recently had a friend call me “Stephen Graham Jones’ number one fan,” because I talk about his books a LOT. I’m trying to get everyone to read a little SGJ, because the way he writes makes me appreciate his craft, while also feeling like I’m watching a movie in my head. I Was a Teenage Slasher, his most recent standalone novel, is no exception, and I wouldn’t vote for anything else. This book is told from the perspective of the slasher, 17-year-old Tolly Driver. In 1989, in his small west Texas town, Tolly is an outsider. He’s a good kid with a lot of potential who doesn’t always apply himself — until he’s cursed to kill for revenge.
Katie: If there’s one thing I love more than queer fiction, it’s poking fun at tropes. I knew I’d love Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle the moment I read the title. For those who don’t know, “burying your gays” is a common literary and film trope where the queer characters are killed off, whether it’s from AIDS, suicide, a serial killer or a stray bullet. The trope is so prevalent in history — thankfully less so today — that people often struggled to find a queer romance with a happy ending. Both funny and thought-provoking, Bury Your Gays follows a jaded Hollywood scriptwriter who’s about to make it big — but he has to kill off his gay character in his series finale. Refusing puts a target on his back, and he’ll have to outrun the horrors from the silver screen hell-bent on finding a way to bury him for good.
Debut Novel
Megan: I am not kidding when I say I’ve had the audiobook of Martyr by Kaveh Akbar on hold at Libby since July (it’s November right now). I finally got tired of waiting and caved last week by buying a beautiful hardcover copy at my local bookstore. It’s sitting on my nightstand, ready to be devoured this weekend. I have never heard so much glowing praise for a single book, and I am known to love novels written by poets. (On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, anyone?) Without having read it, but going on the rave reviews from friends and strangers online, I’m backing this book 100% as my pick for best Debut Novel. I’ll likely finish reading it by the time the winners are announced, so let’s hope I loved it as much as I think I’m going to.
Katie: Everyone loves a book about books, that’s why I think readers have absolutely fawned over Gareth Brown’s The Book of Doors. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s high on my TBR! (If only I could get through the books I already own first.) The Book of Doors falls into one bookshop worker’s hands after the death of her favorite customer, and she soon realizes there are many willing to kill to obtain its secrets. Complete with a mysterious and haunted stranger offering her help, and a shadowy villain hunting her down, I’m sure readers will vote for this perfect mixture of magic, adventure and romance — I definitely will!
Audiobook
Katie: Now I haven’t listened to any of these audiobooks personally, but given Emily Henry’s soaring popularity and the good quality of the Audible preview, I’d bet anything that Funny Story will take home this prize. Henry is well-known for her romantic comedies as well as her unconventional publicity tactics, relying mostly on natural social media circulation, especially TikTok. And it works! She’s got at least four film adaptations signed off already, including Funny Story, which was signed off only a couple of months after publication.
Megan: I agree with Katie on this one — Emily Henry is a sure winner! Who doesn’t love to immerse all of their senses in a love story? Plus, we gave the book a rave review on our site, and that’s worth sticking by.
Young Adult Fantasy
Megan: There hasn’t been any YA Fantasy on my bookshelves in years, so I admit I’m a bit underqualified to pick a winner in this category. But I continue to hear buzz about Lauren Roberts’ Reckless, the sequel to Powerless. When fellow BookTrib staff members gush about a book, I have to trust their judgment. This YA romantasy book is packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, multiple POVs, an odyssey across the desert, and a quest for revenge. Sounds like a winner to me!
Katie: I thought I’d outgrown the YA genre, but Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli was by far my favorite read this year. And I CANNOT wait for the sequel! Described as a “steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter” by #1 NYT bestselling author Kendare Blake, this book is perfect for fans of more mature YA fantasy. This enemies-to-lovers features unique magic, dual POV and a rebellious FMC, making it the perfect contender for this year’s award.
Young Adult Fiction
Megan: Two years ago, in 2022, Heartstopper Vol. 4 won the Graphic Novel and Comics category. With that category eliminated from this year’s awards, Heartstopper Vol. 5 has been grouped in with other works of YA Fiction. It certainly stands out on the list of finalists as the only graphic novel, and the recent season of the Netflix series has kept Nick and Charlie’s story at the forefront of our minds. With one final volume of Heartstopper on the way, fans are already feeling sentimental as the internationally sensational story comes to a close. Let’s keep the Heartstopper love going, and give Alice Oseman a much-deserved win.
Katie: Romantic shenanigans and discovering your identity are pivotal to the YA genre, and among this year’s contenders, none do this better than Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher. This queer medieval rom-com follows Arthur, a descendent of King Arthur, and his betrothed, Gwendoline. The only problem: they hate each other. That is, until Gwen finds Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur discovers Gwen’s hidden crush on the kingdom’s only lady knight. Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, they make a reluctant pact to cover for each other. Chock full of sword fights, found family and romantic mischief, I’d be shocked if this medieval romp didn’t win.
Nonfiction
Megan: “History is not inert, but contains within it a story that implicates the present. And framed a certain way, a story can be told that justifies the present political order.” I had to choose The Message for this one because I think the message (no pun intended) that resonates throughout Ta-Nehisi Coates’ work is deeply prevalent today. He discusses visits to Senegal, South Carolina and Palestine, witnessing book bans, discrimination, oppression, and the way in which we are fed nationalist narratives that shape our realities.
I hope that a lot of people read this, and even more people vote for it (or at least add it to their TBR). Read the review on BookTrib.
Katie: More and more people are discovering just how rampant — and often racist — injustice has been in the US. Bringing this injustice to light is important if society is ever to improve. That’s why John Grisham, known as “the master of the legal thriller” (Associated Press), teamed up with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries to share 10 harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions in Framed. The stories in this book are raw and heartbreaking, revealing the lives of innocent Americans forced to sacrifice friends, families, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty remained free. I think people realize how important these kinds of narratives are, and I don’t think anyone who read it walked away unchanged.
Memoir
Megan: I am heartbroken to see that Hanif Abdurraqib’s There’s Always This Year didn’t make it to the final round of this category. I’ve read it twice this year, and it’s by far my top book of 2024.
Instead, I’ll place my bets on the popular choice, because who doesn’t love a good celebrity memoir? From Here to the Great Unknown by mother-daughter duo Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, tells an interesting story. Upon the passing of Lisa Marie in 2023, her daughter, actress Riley Keough, vowed to continue telling her story, piecing together the memoir from recorded audio her mother had left behind. What results is a raw and vulnerable account of life with her father Elvis Presley, growing up in Graceland, and a life as heir of one of America’s most famous families. Read more here.
Katie: To be honest, I haven’t heard of this book before, but just the title of Tia Leving’s memoir makes me feel it has a good chance of winning. A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy is a beautiful, honest, and harrowing memoir that’s sure to resonate with a lot of people today. Leving’s story reveals the ways extreme views can manifest in a marriage, and how she eventually began to resist and question how they lived. In a post-Roe v. Wade America, where fears of Project 2025 and the growing threat of Christian nationalism loom ahead, Leving’s tale of heroism and bravery is sure to draw readers in.
History & Biography
Megan: True crime scares me. But it seems to be a popular genre — we all have this strange gravitation towards the grotesque, horrifying and dark parts of history and humanity. Douglas Preston diverted from his usual FBI thriller writing to tap into his journalism skills for The Lost Tomb, sharing 13 essays inspired by real history. He shared his motives for writing in an interview with BookTrib, “What I was looking for was the dark stories. Stories of murder, mass death, cannibalism, unsolved mysteries, and serial killers. I’m fascinated with the nature of evil.” Darkness is abundant in these tales of buried treasure, enigmatic murders, lost tombs, bizarre crimes, prehistoric ruins and serial killers. Even I’m intrigued by what Preston uncovered…
Katie: I’ll have to agree with Megan on this one. If there’s one thing the masses love more than true crime, it’s a big name slapped on the cover. This jaw-dropping collection is sure to take home the prize — and perhaps leave a nightmare or two in its wake.
