This Week's Monstrosity: The Annual Reading Recap

... plus a cover reveal!

Dec 27, 2024

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I’m sharing quarterlyish peeks at my works in progress and readerly rambles about what I’m reading and loving.

Update

Goodreads has released its most anticipated books of 2025—what are yours?

The Atlantic rudely offers three theories on why you never have time. Is it too much to ask to be left alone to loudly complain about how busy I am?

Jane Friedman’s annual recap of the year in publishing.

Goodreads is looking ahead to the most anticipated books releasing in 2025 — what woudl you add?

Finally … my annual reading recap.

What E. J. Read in 2024

I read 46 books in total: 27 in the science fiction/fantasy/horror (SFFH) genres, 10 romance (including two romantasies, counted in both genres), 3 thrillers, 3 “other” fiction novels (weird fiction, capital-L literature, contemporary young adult), and 5 nonfiction books (a high nonfic count for me this year!). Diversity-wise, 26% were from (openly) LGBTQIA+ authors and 43% were from authors of color. Thanks to being able to collect a lot of great diverse sources to get my recommendations from, this occurs pretty organically, but I do keep tabs a bit to try to prioritize a breadth of perspectives and stories.

Finally, I’ve got a high have-not-finished count this year! Not to be confused for Did-Not-Finished (DNFs)! A total of six of the books on my 2024 list are not yet finish, due to a combination of being a slow reader who compulsively starts new books regardless of what else I’m in the middle of, and Libby taking back audiobooks I’m still in the middle of—I’ve got a good handful I’m waiting to come back around to me from the wait list.

And I have to say. This year was a stressful one and a tough one for politics, but for reading? It was a pretty nice reading year on a personal front. Some of my top favorites from the year were:

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells (Yes, my podcasting co-host! I’m biased but I’m not wrong!)
Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh
Funny Story by Emily Henry

What were your best reads this year?

If you want something new (and also old) to add to your TBR, I’ve got something exciting to share … The Third Realm War full series omnibus is coming soon! Yes that’s right! All of the same books you already know! Squished together in a single ebook edition!

But hey it’s a new cover, so here’s the universe-wide first look at this new shiny TRW omnibus cover: