My 2024 End of Year Book Club Book Review

Here is my 2024 end of year reviews for some books I’ve read recently for book club! I realized I haven’t done a book review for a while. So, I figured we’ll jump back with some popular titles from my favorite writers you may have heard of: Throne of Glass, The Do-Over, The Cruel Prince, and more! If you’re a reader, I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on these books!

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Read with Me and My Book Club!

If you know me, you know reading is my favorite way to unwind and relax. Whether it’s with a physical copy or listening to an audio book while I’m doing something creative. I also LOVE discussing these books. This week, I’ve been reading so many new series I’ve been hearing so much about, I had to share my reviews. If you’re also a book lover like me, make sure to check out my Bestseller Book Review!

Do you also love reading? Come join me and so many other book worm friends in my DISCORD BOOK CLUB, where we read, discuss, and share!

Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas (4.75/5)

I just stayed up all night to finish Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, so I thought this would be the perfect one to start this book review with. I was a little nervous to start this one because there’s so much debate on the the recommended reading order, but ultimately went with the publication and romantic order. This series is so big so it seems a little intimidating to start, but the book actually gets you really, really excited to follow along the series.

I actually find this book to be a lot more fast-paced compared to the first book of ACOTAR, so don’t worry about getting bored. It can be difficult to keep up with all the different world building aspects of fantasy books, from characters, to new language and vocabulary – but I was immediately hooked on this one.

Overall, I gave this one 4.75/5 stars because I know there’s just so much more to come. I’ve heard the rest of the series just keeps getting better, and I can’t wait to keep reading. I wanted to take a few days to digest what I read on this one, but I’ve already caved and started reading Crown of Midnight!

The Do-Over – Lynn Painter (10/10!)

Our next book is The Do-Over by Lynn Painter. As you know, Lynn Painter is my absolute favorite author ever – if you’ve read any of my book reviews in the past, her books are always an automatic 5 stars for me. They’re always so cute, if not a bit cheesy, and are the perfect contemporary romance books that reminds me of K-dramas.

I devoured this book cover to cover on my flight to Vegas. It’s a book that’s about love, friendship, family, and self-development that gets you laughing, crying, and swooning for the main characters. You really fall in love with the characters!  If you’re looking for a cute quick romance book, or if you’re love the other books from Lynn Painter, definitely give The Do-Over a try!

One True Loves – Taylor Jenkins Reid (4/5)

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid was my book club’s Book of the Month! It’s a book about love and grief, is by another one of my favorite authors. Our main character, Emma, is put in an impossible situation: pick between her husband, presumed dead from a crash, or her new fiancé who has helped her heal over the past 3 years. If you’ve ever read any of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, they immerse you in the story as if you’re watching a documentary – just like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.  

Overall this was a 4 out of 5 stars for me. This book really was about so much more than just the conflict of Emma’s love and grief. It was a reflective journey on rediscovering and rebuilding the sense of self you lost in grief. I really connect with the story, but the ending felt little rushed, so I couldn’t give it a full 5 star rating.

One Of Us Is Lying – Karen McManus (3.75/5)

I decided to change up my next genre and read YA thriller One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. This book has been adapted to a Peacock Original TV Series, so you can watch the show and compare with the book too! Basically, 5 students go into detention, and one ends up dead.

This book got me hooked in the beginning, but turned out a little too predictable for my liking, so I ended up giving this one 3.75/5. There’s two more books in the series, and I’m deciding if I should finish them Let me know in the comments if you think I should push through and continue the rest of the series!

Love on the Brain – Ali Hazelwood (3.75/5)

I went back to my tried and true contemporary romance book with Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, the same author who wrote “Love Hypothesis” (4.5/5). I might have read these two books too close together, because it felt so similar to me. Same plot, same storyline, same characters, just with some details changed. It was a little bit spicier, but it seemed choppy. 

I ended up giving this one a 3.75 out of 5 stars – it was a fast read and easy to get through in a few days, but the plot just felt too repetitive. Overall, if you’re wanting to read something from Ali Hazelwood, I would recommend Love Hypothesis. If you really enjoy her writing, wait a few months in between the two!

The Cruel Prince (3/5) – Holly Black

Last but not least, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, another fantasy series that I was really trying to get into. I switched back to fantasy after a few romance books, and picked up this book because I’ve heard so many good things about it. Some people even swear it’s better than Throne of Glass.

However, I just had a REALLY hard time getting into this one. I actually had to re-read so many chapters because I was forgetting what happened when I put the book down. It just didn’t have that ‘hook’ to keep me interested, so it ended up with a 3/5. I know you definitely have to commit to fantasy series and I’ve heard the next few books in the series gets a lot better. I have had a lot of people tell me this is their favorite series, so I’m determined to try again. Comment and let me know if you’ve read these and if it’s worth it for me to continue!

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