What books to read in 2024?

The year 2024 promises to be an exciting one for book lovers, as many new and anticipated titles are set to hit the shelves. Whether you are looking for romance, fantasy, mystery, or nonfiction, there is something for everyone in the upcoming releases. Here are some of the best books to look out for in 2024, based on the current trends and predictions in the publishing industry.

Romance: The Rise of Subgenres

Romance is one of the most popular and profitable genres in the book market, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, romance is expected to diversify and expand in 2024, as more subgenres emerge and gain popularity. One of the hottest subgenres is romantasy, or the fusion of romance and fantasy. Romantasy books feature magical worlds, mythical creatures, and epic love stories that appeal to both romance and fantasy fans. Some of the most anticipated romantasy books of 2024 are:

• The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Laura Sebastian: The finale of the bestselling Ember Quartet, this book follows the heroine Theodosia as she faces her final battle against the Kaiser and his dark magic, while also trying to save her love, Soren, from a terrible curse.
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese: The author of the acclaimed novel Cutting for Stone returns with a sweeping saga that spans three continents and four generations, centered on a forbidden romance between a young Indian doctor and a British nurse during the colonial era in Ethiopia.
• Tress of the Emerald Sea by Julia Ember: A queer retelling of Rapunzel, this book follows a mermaid princess who is trapped in a tower by a witch, and a human prince who is sent to rescue her. But their love is threatened by a war between their kingdoms, and a dark secret that could destroy them both.

Other romance subgenres that are expected to grow in 2024 are romantic comedy, speculative romance, and historical romance. Some of the titles to watch out for are:

• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano: A hilarious and heartwarming romcom about a woman who is hired to write a biography of a famous actor, and ends up falling in love with him.
• The Right Move by Nicola Yoon: A speculative romance that explores the concept of parallel universes, this book follows a chess prodigy who has the ability to see the outcomes of her choices, and a boy who challenges her to take a risk and follow her heart.
• The Wager by David Grann: A historical thriller based on a true story, this book tells the tale of a 17th-century shipwreck, a mutiny, and a murder trial that hinges on a wager between two survivors.

Fantasy: More Escapism and Diversity

Fantasy is another genre that is booming in the book industry, as readers seek more escapism and diversity in their reading choices. Fantasy books offer immersive and imaginative worlds, where anything is possible and where readers can explore different cultures, identities, and perspectives. Some of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2024 are:

• Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton: The Booker Prize-winning author of The Luminaries returns with a dazzling and ambitious novel that blends Shakespearean drama, Norse mythology, and environmental themes. Set in a remote forest in New Zealand, the book follows a group of characters who are drawn into a mysterious and deadly game of power and deception.
• King: A Life by Jonathan Eig: A biographical novel that reimagines the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., this book blends historical facts, magical realism, and alternate history to create a portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.
• The Sun and the Star by Kat Cho: A YA fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, this book follows a girl who is the descendant of a star goddess, and a boy who is the son of a sun god. They are destined to be enemies, but they fall in love and must face the consequences of their forbidden romance.

Other fantasy trends that are expected to continue in 2024 are urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and historical fantasy. Some of the titles to watch out for are:

• Blackouts by Justin Torres: A gritty and gripping urban fantasy that follows a group of young people who have the power to manipulate electricity, and who use it to survive and fight in a dystopian New York City.
• The Male Gazed by Manuel Betancourt: A dark and twisted fantasy that explores the themes of gender, sexuality, and power, this book follows a man who has the ability to see the desires and fears of others, and who uses it to manipulate and seduce them.
• The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Héctor Tobar: A historical fantasy that blends adventure, romance, and magic, this book follows a young woman who travels from Morocco to Spain in the 16th century, and who becomes involved in a plot to overthrow the Inquisition and restore the glory of Al-Andalus.

Mystery: All Things Cozy

Mystery is another genre that is thriving in the book market, as readers enjoy the thrill and challenge of solving puzzles and uncovering secrets. Mystery books offer suspense, intrigue, and entertainment, and they often reflect the social and political issues of the times. One of the most popular subgenres of mystery is cozy mystery, which features amateur sleuths, quaint settings, and light-hearted humor. Cozy mystery books are ideal for relaxing and unwinding, and they often have a loyal and devoted fan base. Some of the most anticipated cozy mystery books of 2024 are:

• A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales: A charming and witty cozy mystery that follows a young woman who inherits a bookstore in a small English village, and who becomes involved in solving a murder that is linked to a rare book.
• The Bee Sting by Paul Murray: A quirky and clever cozy mystery that follows a beekeeper who is accused of killing his rival, and who teams up with a journalist to clear his name and find the real culprit.
• The Housemaid’s Secret by Diney Costeloe: A historical cozy mystery that follows a housemaid who discovers a body in the attic of a grand country house, and who unravels a web of secrets and lies that span decades and continents.

Other mystery subgenres that are expected to be popular in 2024 are psychological thrillers, spy novels, and historical mysteries. Some of the titles to watch out for are:

• The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue: A psychological thriller that follows a woman who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who she is or what happened to her, and who becomes obsessed with finding out the truth about her past and her identity.
• The Deadline by Jill Lepore: A spy novel that follows a journalist who is recruited by the CIA to infiltrate a secret organization that is plotting to assassinate the president of the United States.
• The Wager by David Grann: A historical mystery that follows a journalist who investigates a 17th-century shipwreck, a mutiny, and a murder trial that hinges on a wager between two survivors.

Nonfiction: More Ideas and Insights

Nonfiction is another genre that is in high demand, as readers seek more ideas and insights to understand and navigate the complex and changing world. Nonfiction books offer information, education, and inspiration, and they often challenge and provoke the readers to think and act differently. Some of the most anticipated nonfiction books of 2024 are:

• Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance: A revised and updated edition of the bestselling biography of the visionary entrepreneur and innovator, this book covers the latest achievements and controversies of Elon Musk, from SpaceX and Tesla to Neuralink and Starlink.
• Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Adam Grant: A self-help book that offers practical and evidence-based advice on how to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life, based on the principles of generosity, curiosity, creativity, resilience, humility, courage, and integrity.
• The Graham Effect by Malcolm Gladwell: A social science book that explores the phenomenon of how one person can have a significant and lasting impact on the lives of many others, through the lens of the life and legacy of Billy Graham, the influential evangelist and preacher.

Other nonfiction trends that are expected to continue in 2024 are memoirs, biographies, and essays. Some of the titles to watch out for are:

• My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand: A memoir that chronicles the life and career of the legendary singer, actress, and director, from her humble beginnings in Brooklyn to her global fame and acclaim.
• King: A Life by Jonathan Eig: A biographical novel that reimagines the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., blending historical facts, magical realism, and alternate history to create a portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.
• Greek Lessons by Han Kang: A collection of essays that reflect on the author’s personal and literary journey, inspired by her fascination and connection with ancient Greek culture and mythology.

Young Adult: Not Coming Back

Young adult, or YA, is a genre that has been popular and influential for many years, especially among teen and young adult readers. YA books feature stories and characters that resonate with the experiences and emotions of the target audience, and they often tackle important and relevant topics such as identity, diversity, and social justice. However, YA is also a genre that has been facing some challenges and changes in recent years, as the market becomes more saturated and competitive, and as the readers become more discerning and demanding. One of the trends that is expected to emerge in 2024 is the decline of the comeback trope, or the plot device that involves a character returning to their hometown or past after a long absence, and having to confront their old friends, enemies, secrets, and feelings. This trope has been used in many popular YA books, such as:

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: A YA novel that follows a black girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend by a police officer, and who has to deal with the aftermath of the incident, both in her predominantly white private school and in her poor black neighborhood.
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: A YA romance that follows two misfit teens who fall in love in the 1980s, and who have to face their abusive and dysfunctional families, their bullying peers, and their uncertain futures.
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: A YA novel that follows two terminally ill teens who fall in love and travel to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author, and who have to cope with their impending deaths and their unfinished lives.

The comeback trope is appealing because it allows the readers to relate to the characters’ struggles and growth, and to explore the themes of nostalgia, regret, forgiveness, and redemption. However, the comeback trope is also becoming overused and predictable, and it often relies on clichés and stereotypes, such as the mean girl, the bad boy, the nerd, the jock, and the outsider. Moreover, the comeback trope is often unrealistic and idealized, as it implies that the characters can easily resolve their past issues and find closure and happiness, without addressing the deeper and more complex causes and consequences of their problems.

Therefore, in 2024, YA books are expected to move away from the comeback trope, and instead focus on more original and diverse stories and characters, that reflect the current and future realities and challenges of the young generation. Some of the YA books that are expected to do this are:

• The Future Is Ours by Jennifer Niven: A YA novel that follows a group of teens who are selected to participate in a secret project that involves traveling to the future, and who discover that their actions in the present have drastic and unexpected effects on their future selves and the world.
• The Sound of Silence by Ruta Sepetys: A YA historical fiction that follows a deaf girl who survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and who joins a group of other survivors who are trying to rebuild their lives and find their voices in the aftermath of the tragedy.
• The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner: A YA sci-fi fantasy that follows a prince who falls from the sky and lands on a planet that is ruled by magic, and a girl who is destined to be the next goddess of the land, and who must work together to save both of their worlds from a looming threat.

These books are expected to offer more innovation and diversity in the YA genre, by featuring different genres, settings, cultures, identities, and perspectives, and by addressing more relevant and urgent topics, such as climate change, social justice, technology, and spirituality.

Conclusion

The year 2024 is going to be a great year for book lovers, as they will have plenty of choices and opportunities to discover new and exciting books in various genres and subgenres. The books that are expected to be the best and the most popular in 2024 are those that offer more creativity, diversity, and quality, and that cater to the needs and interests of the readers. Whether you are looking for romance, fantasy, mystery, nonfiction, or young adult, there is a book for you in 2024. Happy reading!