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2024 Book Report: Must-Read Recommendations

January 9, 2025 /

Besides a serious case of wanderlust and running ALL the miles, you may be surprised to know we LOOOOOOVE books. In fact, whenever we visit a new city, finding at least one independent bookstore is at the top of our list of things to do. We thought it might be fun to share with you all the stories we had the pleasure of reading this year. If you love books like we do, join us this week for our 2024 book report: must read recommendations.

Non-Fiction Reads

At least twice a week, I spend time reading non-fiction books. Since I LOVE listening to people talk about their lives, I picked up these three very different titles. Two of the books focus on some questionable decision making (something to which, I can relate) and the other explores issues of faith and trust.

White cat, sticking his face through a hole. Above it reads “The Culprit”
Brown bear peeking into the camera, with a forest behind him. Above him is written “A Walk in the Woods” and “Bill Bryson”
Old note book that looks like it is held together with rubber bands. On it is written “Mitch Aubum” “Have a Little Faith”
  • In “The Culprit“, the author and his wife decide to adopt a Bengal kitten. Keep in mind that this is a type of large, domestic cat and not an actual tiger.
  • And in “A Walk in the Woods“, an average, middle-aged man decides he should hike the Appalachian Trail – you know, as people do.
  • And lastly, in “Have a Little Faith“, Mitch Album explores the Jewish and Christian faiths through two very different men. That particular book made me cry, so be warned!!

My must read pick? A Walk in the Woods. Though I’ve never felt the urge to walk the Appalachian Trail, I have randomly signed up for a race while enjoying an adult beverage. I think it’s a pretty similar idea. This book was funny, at times very exciting and completely relatable.

Life Coaching Stuff

Ralph Emerson said, “Life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood”. And while I agree with this very famous man, I think you can also learn a lot from what other people have experienced. You know, it’s the whole, work smarter and not harder thing!

Cover of a book with a grizzly bear. On it reads “The Art of Taking it Easy” “Dr Brian King”
Book cover half blue and half red with a mustache on it. On it is written “Lead it Like Lasso” “Marnie Stockman and Nick Conigilio”
White book cover, with a light tan circle in the middle. On it is written, “How to Walk into a Room” “Emily Freeman”
  • In “The Art of Taking it Easy“, comedian turned psychologist, Brian King, shares how we can beat our “fight or flight” response by leveraging humor and doing a little advance planning. (Personally, I think avoiding the bear completely is the BEST plan.)
  • I picked up “Lead it Like Lasso” because I LOVE the show and I felt I could use some tips on how I can do my job better.
  • “How to Walk into a Room” helps you identify the signs that’s it’s time to move on, even from a place you once loved. If you’ve ever had a tough “leave”, this book is really healing.

MUUUUURDER!

For years I only read non-fiction because it seemed the most practical. After all, if you only have so much time to read, you really need to make the most of it. But a few years ago, I read this great article on how reading fiction increases empathy in the reader, so I decided to add fiction into the rotation. It turns out, my favorite fiction genre includes dead bodies. Do you think I’m doing it right?

  • A Slow Fire Burning – When a young man is found brutally murdered on a house boat, everyone is suspect.
  • In Darling Girls, three women have their lives upended when a child’s body is discovered under the foster home they grew up in. This one is pretty dark and creepy. I think Nicole Kidman should play the foster mom.
  • I’ve Got My Eyes on You – A party for teenagers, a pool, and drinking. What could POSSIBLY go wrong??
  • The Perfect Couple – Yes! This is the one the Netflix made into a GREAT mini-series. When the maid of honor dies on Nantucket, the investigation exposes FAR MORE than just “who done it”.
Book cover showing flames. On it reads “A Slow Fire Burning” “Paula Hawkins”
Book cover showing a pool and the reflection of a home. On it is written “Darling Girls” “Sally Hepworth”
Book cover showing a fully dressed woman, under water in a pool. On it reads, “I’ve Got My Eyes on You” “Mary Higgins Clark”
Book cover showing a beach and the ocean. On the sand is a yellow umbrella with feet sticking out under it. On it is written “The Perfect Couple” “Elon Hilderbrand”
When the maid of honor is found dead on the wedding day, the investigation exposes far more than just “who done it”.

Women Heroines (and MUUUURDER)

  • The Lady in the Lake – A “mid-life crises” causes a suburban housewife to leave her husband, become a journalist, and solve two murders in the city of Baltimore. I get the need to shake things up but I think the most I’ve ever done is cut bangs into my hair.
  • The Woman in Cabin 10 – What life is like when you think you’re going to report on the latest luxury cruise ship and instead end up trying to convince everyone you’ve witnessed a murder.
  • What Lies in the Woods – Based on the story of the Slenderman Stabbings, three young women wrestle with what really happened in the woods all those years ago.
  • Zero Days – A security test goes horribly wrong when a member of the team is murdered and all signs point to an inside job.
  • MUST READ….The Writing Retreat – Young authors are given the chance of a life time to attend a writing retreat with their favorite author. Everything changes when they are snowed in, and the bodies begin to accumulate. Between the giant mansion, the remote location, and a winter storm…all you need is Tony to ride into the room and say “REDRUM”!!
Book cover with two women’s faces. Behind the woman on the left is an underwater scene. Behind the woman on the right is a forest scene. Over them reads “Lady in the Lake”. Below them reads “Laura Lippman”
Book cover showing the window of a boat on the sea. On it is written “The Woman in Cabin 10” “Ruth Ware”
Book cover showing branches in the dark. On it is written, “What Lies in the Woods” “Kate Alice Marshall”
White book cover. On it is written “Ruth Ware” “Zero Days”
Book cover showing a snowy forest and the pages of a book. On it is written “The Writing Retreat” “Julia Bartz”

Must Read Pick? How to Sell a Haunted House

Book cover showing a house at night. On it is written “How to Sell a Haunted House” “Grady Hendrix”
When their parents unexpectedly die, siblings are forced to get their home ready for sale. One problem, the house is completely haunted.

I liked this book so much, that I immediately contacted all my “reader friends” to recommend it. However, it is SO SCARY that I won’t read it twice. If you enjoy a good scare, you gotta get this one. Fun, unpredictable and actually scary. Must read!

Edge of Your Seat

If you dig suspense but can do without a body count, I’ve got you covered!

  • The Heiress – When the super rich die, all their secrets tend to surface. This delights me more than I can really explain.
  • Just Another Missing Person – A young woman disappears after entering a dead-end alley and never comes back out. I COULD NOT figure this one out!
  • Fan Fiction – Who sent the threatening fan letters sent to Star Trek’s Mr. Data? And will we uncover the truth in time to save him? If you liked “Next Gen” as much as I did, you’ll love this fun read!
  • Two Nights In Lisbon – When a woman awakes in Portugal to find her husband missing with no note or phone call, the investigation focuses not only on where he went, but why he was ever there.
  • None of This is True – A podcaster gets the story of a lifetime. And she will DEEEEPLY regret it.
Book cover showing ornate wall paper and the corner of a picture. On it reads “The Heiress” Rachel Hawkins
Book cover showing buildings in shadow, with a multicolored sky behind them. On it reads “Just Another Missing Person” “Gillian McAllister”
Red book cover displaying an envelope with a kiss mark on it. From the open envelope pops out a stylized man holding a letter. On it is written “Fan Fiction” “Brent Spiner”
Book cover with wavy navy and purple lines. In the purple lines are glimpses of a person and a place. On it reads “Two nights in Lisbon” “Chris Pavone”
Book cover showing a row of houses at the bottom, reflected on the top. On it is written “None of This is True” “Lisa Jewell”

Unexpected and Fun

I found that I couldn’t read only mysteries. It was making WAY too suspicious so I had to mix things up a bit. I like to think of these picks like a pallet cleanser.

  • The Bad Beginning – Three rich orphans are sent to live with their estranged uncle Olaf, who has nefarious intentions. Though this is considered a “kids book”, it was still really enjoyable!
  • Counterfeit – When a bored housewife reconnects with a college friend, she’s roped into the crazy world of counterfeit designer handbags
  • Squeeze Me – What if someone decided to unleash a bunch of giant boa constrictors on Mar-a-Lago?
  • Bad Summer People – While the rich folks on Fire Island aren’t really “good”, could one of them be capable of murder?
  • A Funny Story – A sweet story about two people who are forced together when their SOs run off with each other. Lucky for them, they’re in beautiful northern Michigan, where the views and wine are on point.
  • Husbands – Imagine you had an attic that gave you a different spouse every time someone climbed the ladder? How many spouses would you go through before finding the perfect one???
Book cover showing a mansion, with a group of children in front of it. On it reads “The Bad Beginning” and “Lemony Snicket”
Book cover showing a woman, lowering her glasses to look at the reader. On it is written “Counterfiet” “Kirstin Chen”
Yellow book cover showing a snake wrapping around a martini glass and the words “Carl Hiaasen” “Squeeze Me”
Book cover showing a beach, the ocean, and a woman sitting in the sand. On it reads “Bad Summer People” “Emma Rosenbaum”
Blue book cover with a man and a woman, sitting at a counter. On it reads “Funny Story” “Emily Henry”
Cream book cover with the word “Husbands” falling down a ladder. It also reads “Holly Gramazio”

Thanks SO MUCH for joining us for our 2024 Book Report: Must-Read Recommendations. This year we covered a little bit of everything, so if you’re looking for your next read…we just might have what you’re looking for. And if you like to talk travel, running, books, art or books, let us recommend subscribing to us for free! You’ll get the latest plus super secret stuff we reserve just for our subscribers.

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