Happy New Year! Whether your New Year’s goal was reading-related or not, I have all of the recommendations to get you into your reading era. To help you accomplish your reading goal this year, here are my top five most anticipated reads for 2024!
1. “Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter
Let’s address the elephant in the room: I am late to the game on this one! Lynn Painter’s “Better Than The Movies” has been an evergrowing sensation since its release in May 2021. I am excited to see if this book lives up to its hype, and I cannot wait to dive into Liz’s story and live through her happily-ever-after story!
“Better Than The Movies” follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic teen who is trying to catch the attention of her long-term childhood crush. Liz gets help from her boy-next-door neighbor, Wes, as they scheme together to get the attention of her crush, Michael. This book is described as the ultimate rom-com book that features a myriad of popular rom-com references!
2. The “Magnolia Parks” series by Jessa hastings
I truly have no expectations for the “Magnolia Parks” universe. I have heard little to no spoilers—which is always a win in my book—except that it loosely resembles a London-based version of “Gossip Girl.” The last book in this five-book series is due to be released on February 13, 2024, so I will be bingeing this entire series soon. I am excited to dive into the “Magnolia Parks” universe, and hopefully, you come along with me this year!
The first book in this series, “Magnolia Parks,” follows protagonists Magnolia and BJ. Magnolia and BJ are seemingly destined to be together but only end up hurting each other most of the time; their relationship is a consistent push and pull. This book takes the reader through their journey as they navigate their relationship and answer the question they have been dreading their entire lives: “How many loves do you get in a lifetime?”
3. “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts
I have heard nothing but rave reviews for “Powerless!” It is described as a beautiful romantasy with the perfect banter. “Powerless” is the first book in its trilogy with the second book in the series, “Reckless,” due to release in summer 2024. I am excited to begin another series in 2024 and fall in love with another world of fantasy!
“Powerless” follows Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary who poses as a Psychic to blend in with the Elites and survive in the kingdom of Ilya where Ordinaries have been banished. When she saves a prince, she is drawn into the Purging Trials where the Elite’s powers are highlighted. Paedyn must hide her lack of Psychic abilities during these deadly trials all while she starts to develop feelings for the prince she saved.
4. “Funny story” by Emily Henry
After the release of “Happy Place” last spring, I have been dying for another Emily Henry book! “Funny Story” is due to release on April 23, 2024, and it is to be yet another romance book written by Henry. If it’s anything like her other books, it will have more depth and beautiful life lessons compared to other romance books.
“Funny Story” follows Daphne and Miles who are a pair of opposites who happen to share the wrong thing in common. Daphne finds herself down on her luck after her ex-fiance discovers that he is still in love with her childhood best friend, Petra. Petra’s now ex-boyfriend, Miles, finds that Petra is in love with Daphne’s now ex-fiance as well. Daphne proposes to be roommates with Miles when she finds herself stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan with no friends or family because he is the only person who could understand what she is going through.
5. “Bride” by Ali Hazelwood
I have never been the biggest fan of Ali Hazelwood’s romance books, but once I heard she was releasing a romantasy this year, I was immediately hooked. “Bride” is due to be released on February 6, 2024, and I am so excited to see how Ali Hazelwood will expand her writing style with “Bride,” a book full of vampires and werewolves!
Misery Lark is the daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman. She finds herself called upon to maintain the historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and the Weres–their mortal enemies. Misery agrees to a marriage of convenience with the Werewolf Alpha, Lowe Moreland, not due to the alliance or politics, but motives of her own. Lowe greatly distrusts Misery, but maybe he’s not so far off as she is so willing to accept the marriage that casts her into a solitary life in the Were territory with only Lowe.