A Weekly Newsletter

Celebrating the joy of reading without the pressure—exploring books that entertain, inspire, and enrich your life.

Happy New Year!

🤦🏼‍♀️Yikes! Apologies for the email earlier today. Was supposed to have been the version I sent myself for proofing. Ugh. The only thing different from this one? Correctly formatted.

You probably haven’t been hitting refresh a dozen times a day waiting for my list of favorite 2024 books—and if you have, bless you. But let’s be honest, the world’s been spinning just fine without it. That said—after four rewrites—I’m finally ready to spill the tea (or the bookmarks).

It’s been a fun reading year for me. Kindle tells me I topped 100 titles read—a pretty cool number, to be sure. But I’m much more proud of the variety of books and authors I read in 2024. I read books that made me uncomfortable. I’ve read non-fiction that read like fiction. And I’ve expanded my interests—Robert Harris historical fiction took me from the Dreyfuss affair to ancient Rome, and to WWII Berlin.

So, to kick off 2025 with inspiration, here are my favorite reads of 2024—along with why they stood out and how they shaped my year.

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📚 Books That Made Me Uncomfortable—And Changed Me

These two books didn’t just challenge me—they changed me. They pushed me to think about identity, relationships, and empathy in ways I didn’t expect.

​James by Percival Everett​

Featured on nearly every “Best of 2024” list—from The New York Times Book Review to Amazon’s top literary fiction pick, and even TIME magazine’s standout novels—James reimagines a classic we’ve all heard of but might not have fully understood.

Everett flips Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on its head, giving us the story not from Huck’s perspective, but from Jim’s—except here, he’s James. That subtle shift sets the tone for a story that’s as entertaining as it is transformative. Everett doesn’t just retell Twain’s classic—he gives it a glow-up.

By stepping into James’ inner world, we see the sharp divide between his two realities: the one where he’s “Jim,” a slave defined by White narratives, and the one where he’s James, a fully realized, literate, complex human being.

​Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan​

This book pushed me. It made me uncomfortable. And it reminded me that sometimes reading isn’t about staying cozy—it’s about empathy, compassion, and seeing the universe through someone else’s life.

I’ve seen reviews from readers upset that they grew to like all the characters, only to discover a secret about them that made them uncomfortable.

This reminds me of when I learned a family member's secret as a kid. I was so upset and disappointed.

My mom asked, "Tracy, what do you love about [family member's name]?" I cried as I made a long list. My mom hugged me tight and said, "They're still all of those things. The only difference is that now you know something different about them."

Mad Honey is about love—between mothers and children, between families, between people who are trying to understand themselves and each other.

Mostly, Mad Honey is a riveting courtroom drama that kept me on the edge of my seat with twists, turns, and tears. If you’re ready for a story that challenges assumptions and leaves you better for it, this is a book worth reading.

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😮 Gripping Stories with Real-Life Stakes

I dove into Cold War history and stories of global impact this year, and these books stood out for their mix of suspense, humanity, and unforgettable details.

​The Billion Dollar Spy by David E. Hoffman​

This real-life spy thriller about Adolf Tolkachev, a Soviet engineer who passed intelligence to the CIA for years, is unforgettable. The details stick with me—like the small, seemingly random things agents smuggled to him: American record albums, razor blades.

Hoffman captures the danger, the tension, and the human cost of espionage. If you’re in the mood for a historical thriller that happens to be real, this is a great pick.

Honorable Mention: The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson (recommended by several readers) 🤩

😊 Favorites from Two Talented Friends

There’s nothing like cheering on friends who write amazing books. These two titles—from different genres—made me laugh, cry, and reflect in equal measure.

Mentioning these two books gives me a chance to mention my favorite local independent bookstore. Chapters on Main in Van Buren, Arkansas. If you visit for a coffee, try the Sidecar—an espresso shot, paired with a silky cortado. ☕️🤩

Should you want to snag a copy of this book, please consider buying from Chapters on Main’ online.

​The Improbable Existence of Life After Divorce by R.M. Snider (Chapters Online link)

I’m so proud of my friend Rachel for this one. Set in Searcy, Arkansas—a place I know well—this book introduced me to quirky, imperfect characters who were funny, sweet, and broken in all the right ways. It also brought me back to Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step program I was part of for nine years that changed my life.

It’s short, a quick read, and just plain fun. If you’re looking for hope, healing, or a story with lovable, imperfect characters, you’ll find it here.

​Diary of a Guinea Pig by Ariel Schaper (Amazon Affiliate link)

Listen, if you haven’t read a guinea pig’s diary yet, what are you even doing with your life? Ariel nailed the voices of her two fluffy, sweet guinea pigs, and it’s pure joy on the page.

Written as a collection of diary entries, this book gives you a peek into the distinct personalities of two guinea pigs—how they see each other, their humans, and even the same events from wildly different perspectives. It’s warm, funny, and surprisingly insightful.

The book captures not just the quirky behaviors of animals, but their unique ways of thinking—reminding me of how humans, too, bring their personalities and perspectives into everything we do. It’s a quick read that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

☕️ Daily-ish Reads That Keep Me Grounded

These are my go-to books for inspiration and reflection. Short chapters, big ideas, and the perfect way to start (or reset) my day:

• ​ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction - from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. & John J. Ratey M.D.
• ​Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave by Ryan Holiday
• ​The Writer’s Devotional by Amy Peters
• ​Jesus Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount by Richard Rohr

😭 Heart-Wrenching Favorites

These books made me cry, but in the best way. They’re about resilience, relationships, and finding hope in the midst of heartbreak.

• ​The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• ​Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
• ​The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Note: Kristin Hannah and Taylor Jenkins Reid are easily my two favorite authors of 2024.

If there’s one thing 2024 taught me, it’s that reading doesn’t just entertain—it opens doors. It connects us to people, places, and perspectives we might never encounter otherwise. Whether you’re unraveling a Cold War thriller, laughing with quirky guinea pigs, or ugly crying through a story about love and loss, every book leaves a mark. And sometimes, the best reads aren’t just the ones we enjoy—they’re the ones that stick with us and change the way we see the world.

Thank you for taking time to respond to these newsletters and to share about your favorite books.

Looking forward to a 2025 brimming with stories that linger long after the last page.

— Tracy

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This email contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my reading habit (and, let’s be real, my Kindle Unlimited addiction).

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