2. Less

By Andrew Sean Greer (273 pp)(ebook)

I used to keep track the Pulitzer fiction winners and make sure to read them but it's slipped away from me the last ten years or so. I picked up this knowing nothing about it except for the award and it was a wonderful surprise. It's about modestly successful novelist who sets out on a trip around the world so he can avoid his boyfriend's wedding. It is funny and relatable and he experiences quite a variety of adventures. I think my favorite was the ancient restaurant in Japan. Love this writer's writing and plan to read him again.

1. Project Hail Mary

By Andy Weir (496 pp)(ebook)

I loved this book. I did not enjoy Artemis and haven't paid attention to this author since then. This book is about a guy who wakes up and has no idea who he is or what's going on -- and gradually figures out he is on a space ship, his shipmates are dead, and he is on a last chance mission to save humanity by going to another solar system. I read about 25% and wondered how this was going to be an entire book. No spoilers but I very highly recommend for people who like books in space and like The Martian -- having to solve problems with science. I see it is going to be a movie with Ryan Gosling and I can't wait.

40. The Vaster Wilds

By Lauren Groff (253 pp)

The last book I read in 2024! I love this author's writing. This story is about a young servant girl who runs away from an early colonial settlement that is starving. It's winter, conditions severe, and the whole thing nerve-wracking like how is she even going to do this? It's a riveting story but not my favorite by this author. The MC is dreamy and out there and I didn't relate.

39. Livesuit (Captive's War 1.5)

By James SA Corey (90 pp)(ebook)

This is a novella set in the world of The Mercy of Gods. In it, humanity is in a great war across the galaxy and the story is more military action. Humans are recruited as soldiers and use suits that are integrated with their human body. It's very dark but really good.

38. The Mercy of Gods (Captive's War 1)

By James SA Corey (422 pp)

I LOVED The Expanse -- books and show. I would love to read and watch again if I didn't already have such a stacked TBR and "to watch" list. This is the first book in a new series by the same authors. I was barely a few chapters in when I was already having anxiety about having to wait another year to get the next one. In this book, humans live on a world they colonized at some point and they learn that something alien is headed their way. The alien invasion is quick and violent and our characters, a group of researchers, are taken to the alien home world. Nothing is as it seems. I would read it again now but I'm going to wait and re-read right before I read Book 2. Fantastic!

37. Butcher and Blackbird

by Brynne Weaver (351 pp)

Continuing the theme of reading things I normally wouldn't -- I grabbed this popular romance where the two main characters are serial killers. Serial killer Sloan targets bad men and kills them in her signature way. She runs into a little trouble but is rescued by another serial killer Rowan who also targets bad people. The meeting leads to a connection. I liked the set up -- that in this world, serial killers know about each other and also we don't see or hear much about law enforcement. But oof, take the content warnings to heart -- this got a little rugged for me. Thought it was a good book but not for me.

36. Perfect Cover

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (275 pp)(ebook)

I am writing this in Jan 2025. I didn't realize I never finished putting up the books from 2024. This book was on sale. The elevator pitch was something about cheerleaders who are secretly government operatives. I had to try it. In this story, Toby Klein is more of a computer hacker type but she's recruited to join the cheerleading squad and there is no option to say no. Turns out, she's really been recruited to join the government operatives. It was a quick, fun read but I thought it was more of a good idea than great execution. The side characters blended together and the plot was kind of generic. I did love the character of her little brother.

35. Guarded by the Spider

By Cassie Alexander (346 pp, ebook)

I have heard of these monster romances and thought I would check one out and sorry, not for me. No judgement! I think people should read and enjoy whatever they want but this was too much for me. There's a man-spider bodyguard sent to retrieve a kidnapped billionaire's daughter who they assume is dead. She is not and she and the bodyguard have to escape danger while being super hot for each other. Somehow it turned out I was always reading the super steamy stuff on the bus.

34. Love Lettering

By Kate Clayborn (303 pp, ebook)

Another contemporary romance. In this one Meg is become local famous for doing hand-lettered planners and journals. She used to do wedding materials and as the book opens, the groom, Reid, from her last job comes in with the wedding program and asks her how she knew his marriage would fail. Pretty good opening, huh. He ended up not getting married and they slowly get to know each other. Then there's a big dramatic thing that they have to overcome if they will end up together. I liked this one - there is some wonderful friendship stuff and great setting in NYC.

33. Spoiler Alert

By Olivia Cade (409 pp, ebook)

This is another contemporary romance and I loved the beginning. It's about a super famous actor in a fantasy tv series who after a social media kerfluffle asks a fan on a date. The fan, April, is a woman who write fan fic and does cosplay. The set up is so fun but the longer it went on, the most angsty and dramatic everything got. By the end it was hard to root for the main characters. Still, I would read this author again. There was some fun dialogue and characterization in there.

32. Wicked Deeds on A Winter's Night

By Kresley Cole (401 pp, ebook)

Another in my Kresley Cole 3-pack. This one isn't that much different than the other one. There's a werewolf with a cartoony Scottish accent and the fated mate has some kind of powers that she hasn't fully understood burbling under the surface. This one threw in a lot of world building and a lot of characters and factions and creatures. Maybe if I read all the books in order it would be okay but at times I couldn't keep up. Perfect fun reading for the bus.

31. In the Unlikely Event

By Judy Blume (512 pp ebook)

It's Judy Blume! If you haven't seen the documentary about her, prioritize at once! Most of this story is set in the 50s in Elizabeth, New Jersey where there are 3 tragic plane crashes within 2 months. It sounds like an insane plot device except this really happened. Judy Blume grew up in Elizabeth. The story follows a collection of families and characters and has lots of 50s specific details and ends at an event in the 80s to wrap up some story. It took me a little bit to connect with it but ultimately I enjoyed it.