Our book critic Linda Hill has been reviewing new releases throughout the year, but what were the titles that affected her the most? Read on for her pick of the best books of 2024…
7 sensational books to read this season
Linda Hill
It’s always difficult to choose the ‘best’ books, so I keep a spreadsheet and as soon as I’ve finished reading a book I add a gut reaction score out of 100 for how much I was affected by the read – I might have been uplifted, entertained, terrified or emotionally moved, for example.
Those books achieving 95+/100 are automatically my books of the year, but the seven books I’ve selected below all scored 97 or above!
Maybe you’ll want to add them to your reading stash – you won’t be disappointed!
Click on the titles below to read the full reviews.
1. Frank and Red by Matt Coyne (Wildfire)
Brimming with warmth and compassion and packed with laugh aloud humour, Frank and Red is a gorgeous and uplifting story of unlikely friendship and family that tugs at the heart strings.
Tissues may be required!
2. Seven Summers by Paige Toon (Penguin Century)
Emotional, intimate and intense, Seven Summers is a story that hits right into the soul of the reader.
Be prepared to have your heart broken on several occasions – but don’t worry, it’ll be repaired to be so much stronger.
3. I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This by Clare Mackintosh (LittleBrown Sphere)
Packed with wisdom, humanity and kindness, I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This could be just the book you need right now – especially if you’re missing a loved one this Christmas.
It’s the perfect Christmas gift for those in need of support and understanding.
4. Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton (Penguin Figtree)
Reading Lessons is a glorious, sensitive, and essential celebration of books and reading that transports us to our youth and provides a mature and compassionate insight into who we are as humans.
It’s simply wonderful for anyone who loves books.
5. All the Colours Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker (Orion)
An intense, beautifully and brutally written exploration of love and obsession which may well be my favourite read of all time. All the Colours of the Dark defies genre, being part thriller, part police procedural, part domestic drama and part romance.
Its cumulative effect is astonishing and I’m not sure I’ll recover from it.
6. Ice Town by Will Dean (Hodder and Stoughton)
Chilling, thrilling and claustrophobic, Ice Town is a standalone book in the Tuva Moodyson series coming to screens soon and starring Rose Ayling-Ellis.
It’s the perfect, unsettling, winter read that makes the pulse race.
7. The Good Liars by Anita Frank (HQ)
An historical murder mystery filled with intrigue, threat and menace that has the reader on the edge of their seat.
The Good Liars is exquisitely written and is totally gripping, with unreliable characters and dark secrets to unsettle and entertain brilliantly.
You’ll find more book reviews and recommendations from Linda here.
This post was originally published on here
