Every year, She Reads reaches out to readers to discover the books that they thought were the best of the year! This year we had over 8,000 of you cast your vote and the results are in. In our roundups of all the Best Books of 2024, we’ll include the number one book, chosen by you and some favorites from our professional book loving editors. We hope this reading year was as wonderful for you as it was for us!
Best Debut of 2024: Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
Grown Women is a compelling debut that unravels the lives of four generations Black women navigating motherhood, trauma, and the bonds that both heal and wound. Sarai Johnson’s evocative prose and emotionally raw storytelling bring their struggles and triumphs to life. Captivating readers by the fierce love and generational resilience that pulse through this unforgettable multigenerational saga, Grown Women offers a moving exploration of resilience, love, and the imperfect beauty of family.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The debut novels of 2024 deliver unforgettable stories that redefine love, survival, and identity. From multigenerational sagas to bold reimaginings of history, these fresh voices captivate with their depth and originality. Whether you crave poignant family dramas or thrilling tales of resilience, this list spotlights the must-read debuts shaping the future of fiction.
Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung
Daughters of Shandong is set during the tumultuous backdrop of the Chinese Civil War. A gripping novel inspired by Chung’s grandmother, follows four sisters and their mother as they fight to survive after being abandoned. Chung vividly captures their perilous journey and the strength they find in each other amid harrowing odds. Daughter of Shandong draws readers in with raw tension and unflinching portrayal of resilience that make this story unforgettable.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
In a reimagined America where a cataclysmic event changes everything, this provocative novel explores identity, loss, and connection. Charles Brunton’s journey as a wrongfully convicted man turned professor collides with the unexpected reappearance of his estranged daughter. Campbell’s ingenious premise and deeply human characters create a story that lingers long after the final page.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Martyr! is a haunting, poetic novel following Cyrus Shams as he untangles his family’s violent legacy and his own personal demons. Akbar’s lyrical storytelling and evocative imagery bring to life a world where war, art, and identity collide. The blend of raw emotion and philosophical depth has readers reflecting on martyrdom, what it means to truly live and the legacies we inherit.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Swift River by Essie Chambers
It’s 1987, and Diamond Newberry is stuck in the small town of Swift River, where she’s the only Black girl and the subject of relentless teasing. With her father missing for seven years, learning to drive is Diamond’s opportunity to take control of her life, even as the weight of her family’s struggles bears down on her. Swift River is a coming-of-age story equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, capturing the quiet power of a girl learning to forge her own path.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Perris, California by Rachel Stark
Perris, California is a tender and raw portrait of resilience, love, and second chances. Tessa’s journey from a traumatic childhood to unexpected love and redemption is as raw as it is inspiring. Stark crafts a deeply emotional tale of survival and self-discovery. Readers are drawn to the nuanced characters and their ability to find light amid life’s darkest moments.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica
Daniel de La Luna arrives at an elite university, carrying the weight of his family’s expectations and his late uncle’s name. His life takes a transformative turn when he falls for his roommate, Sam, but their budding romance is derailed by tragedy. Reeling from loss, Daniel spends a summer in his family’s ancestral hometown in Mexico, searching for connection and healing. As he pieces together his identity, Daniel grapples with the question of how to honor the past while forging his future. Andrés delivers a heartfelt exploration of love, grief, and the search for belonging.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Malas by Marcela Fuentes
In 1950s Texas, a bitter curse leaves a family reeling for generations. Decades later, Lulu Muñoz is dodging her father’s volatile moods and secretly singing in a punk band while preparing for her quinceañera. When her grandmother dies, Lulu is drawn to a mysterious, glamorous stranger who crashed the funeral, only to uncover family secrets that change everything. With sharp prose and vibrant characters, Marcela Fuentes crafts a story that’s as haunting as it is exhilarating.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
Eight teenage boxers arrive in Reno for the national championship, each carrying their own dreams, struggles, and sacrifices. In this blistering debut, Rita Bullwinkel captures the intensity of the matches and the lives of the young athletes outside the ring. From triumphs to heartbreaks, their stories are raw and electrifying, full of humor, grit, and unexpected tenderness. Headshot punches hard, delivering a vivid portrait of ambition.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The SafeKeep by Yael van der Wouden
Set against the backdrop of postwar Europe, The SafeKeep is a taut, atmospheric exploration of desire, memory, and the ghosts of history. This novel unfurls a tale of obsession and paranoia in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961. As Isabel’s tightly controlled world is upended by her brother’s mysterious girlfriend, long-buried secrets begin to surface. Van der Wouden’s chilling prose and masterful tension keep readers captivated until the shocking conclusion.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Leave A Comment