Starcat's Favorite Books of 2024

Here's the best of what I've read over the past year.

This post is for my fellow bookwyrms. I see you. January is the perfect month to curl up with a book. As I write this, I’m eyeing my reading nook and patiently waiting until I can head there with my current read (Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, if you must know). I hope this annual Best Books post is just what you need during this cold, gloomy season.

As always, please note that these aren’t necessarily books that came out in 2024, just ones that I encountered and very much enjoyed.

I read 72 books in 2024. According to the Fable app, which I joined early in 2024, I read fantasy, historical fiction, romance, science fiction, young adult, personal growth, and mystery (though I’m not usually a mystery reader, and I’m not sure which books were considered that genre).

Here are the 11 books that stood out the most:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I’ve wanted to read this novel for years, and just hadn’t gotten around to it. As promised, it’s a heartbreaking, lyrical love story that will make you laugh and cry. It reminded me of my late friend Jenn’s mantra of “keeping it real” during her final year with terminal cancer. I haven’t seen the movie, but I hear that’s good as well.

Lost & Found by Geneen Roth. I read this because I liked her book Women, Food, and God, and I’ve been studying prosperity and the psychology of money for a while now. This was an intimate look at how one family relates to money. It includes thoughtful suggestions for improving one’s own money relationship.

The Art of Money by Bari Tessler. Another one for the prosperity study. This one was more of a how-to, and I loved how the author includes both spiritual practices and practical tips for upgrading one’s prosperity. While it was less of a memoir than Lost & Found, she does include plenty of anecdotes and examples to keep the reader engaged.

The 3-Body Problem and Dark Forest by Cixin Liu. BlackLion brought this sci-fi trilogy to my attention. I read the first book before watching the Netflix series. Both are rather good, but the book (of course) is better. The second book was absolutely excellent! The ending was a complete surprise. I have the third volume, Death’s End, beside my bed to read soon. Just note: they changed the characters around quite a bit for the TV series. It was confusing at first, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Tara: The Liberating Power of the Female Buddha by Rachael Wooten, PhD. This book is about the Goddess Green Tara and all of her aspects (there are 22 emanations). It’s a useful guide on how to work with Her sacred energies, and includes meditations, prayers, and mantras. I attended a Green Tara empowerment in late May, and this book has guided me on my journey with Her. It’s uplifting and healing.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I read the author’s other two books years ago and enjoyed them, but somehow missed this one. I received it as a gift, and when I started reading it, I found that it was perfect timing for where I am on my spiritual path. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in spiritual growth.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I’d never heard of this, but found it in a used bookstore and started reading it right away. I was totally captivated. It’s an epic adventure based on a true story. The tale is set in India in the 1980s, and what a wild ride! There is violence and sorrow, but also wisdom and joy, to be found this this novel.

Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful by Acharya Shunya. I loved Shunya’s book Sovereign Self, so when this one came out, it was on my radar right away. She’s an expert at taking ancient scriptures and practices and making them accessible for modern readers. This book is centered around three Hindu Goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. An excellent read for those interested in working with the Feminine Divine.

The Great Awakening ed. by Mike Dooley. This book is a collection of channeled material from six well-known channels. Released in October, the content feels fresh, new, and very on-point for what we’re going through here on planet Earth. My copy has lots of highlighted passages, and it’s one of the few books I plan to re-read. It’s a relevant guide for those who wish to thrive in chaotic times.

The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter. Another 2024 read that felt extremely well-timed, though I wasn’t familiar with it until a spiritual book club chose it. A lot of the practices I’ve been learning are captured in the system that the author created. Seriously good stuff for anyone who is doing energy work (or wants to). I highly recommend it.

What did you read last year that you loved? What’s on your TBR stack for 2025?