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Are you a physical book reader or an ebook kind of gal? For me, nothing beats the feel of a hard copy book in my hands and the smell of printed pages. There’s something magical about stepping into a bookstore, surrounded by endless shelves of stories waiting to be discovered.
Speaking of bookstores, where do you shop for books? Your local indie shop? Amazon? Maybe you grab a book during you’re I only need shampoo run to Target. If you haven’t already heard about Bookshop.org, let me introduce you to this game-changing site. It’s an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.
Think of Bookshop.org as the Amazon alternative for book lovers who care about your community. Yes, the prices might be a bit higher, but the trade-off is worth it. You can choose a local bookstore to support with every purchase, and they’ll receive the full profit—30% of the book’s list price. Even if you don’t pick a specific store, your purchase contributes to a shared profit pool among all participating bookstores.
Bookstores are more than just places to buy books; they’re cultural cornerstones. They connect authors with readers, introduce us to voices we might not otherwise hear, and give children their first taste of the joy of turning a page. Supporting local bookstores through platforms like Bookshop.org isn’t just about buying books—it’s about investing in our communities and keeping the magic of reading alive.
Books I Read in 2024
My Favorite Books of 2024
There are no similarities between my two favorite books this year other than that neither ended predictably. I love reading books that you can’t guess the endings of. I can’t recommend either of these books enough.
Books I Bought on Vacation
When I was looking to find these books to share with y’all, I realized that neither of them are available for purchase in the US. I was so confused! I brought books with me on vacation to South Africa, but I still had time to read when I finished them. Love at First Flight by Jo Watson was purchased at a bookstore in O.R. Tambo Airport mall in Johannesburg. But it appears it’s unavailable for purchase in the US until March 2025.
I also purchased Don’t Look Back in Ongar by Paul Howard. I can’t tell you why I grabbed this book other than the cover made me laugh. But Paul’s also written two episodes of the Apple TV+ show Bad Sisters and if you’ve ever watched, you know it’s hilarious. I haven’t finished reading it, but learning that it was the final book in a series of 24 gave me pause to wonder if I needed to read the other 23 first.
Books I Did Not Finish
For the first time in memory, I actually quit reading a book. That honor belongs to Here and Only Here by Christelle Dabos. It’s a translated book and was hard for me to follow. Not my jam, but you might like it.
While I finished Amy Among the Serial Killers by Jincy Willitt, I didn’t read it in its entirely. Described as a wickedly smart and funny take on the thriller genre, I made it through the first 200 pages, then skipped to the last two chapers. It felt too long…and it was not funny.
But Really, Why Were So Many Book Covers Pink?
Many of these books have the color pink on their covers. What does that say about me? I certainly don’t discriminate in choosing books by other covers, but admittedly, I will choose a colorful book spine to add to my ROYGBIV bookshelf. Pink is a cheerful color and catches my eye, but maybe it hints at a subconscious draw to stories with warmth, optimism, or a sense of fun? 🤷♀️ Did you read any of these books in 2024? What was your favorite book in 2024?
