thoughts on reading in 2025
& favourite books of 2024
I read 128 books in 2024. To be honest, I’m not very happy with this number. While there were some good ones and a few exceptional reads, there were also quite a few meh ones—the kind of books I forgot as soon as I closed them. So yes, I read a lot in 2024, but not all of it felt like quality reading. This year, I don’t want to feel rushed. I want to take my time with stories, allowing them to linger. I want to remember why a book felt so special even 12 months later.
For the last couple of years, I’ve set my reading goal to just one book, simply because I don’t care about the numbers anymore. Numerical goals were helpful when I first got back into reading in 2017 and wanted to prioritise it—to make it a habit again after losing touch with it due to life, school, and work.
In 2024, I noticed I was a little less critical when it came to my ratings. If a book wasn’t perfect but left me with an overall good feeling, I often gave it 4 stars. If it was just okay, it got a 3. I’m still not particularly into star ratings, but this year, I want to be more intentional about the books I pick up. I’m determined to avoid getting swept up in the hype. If a new release sounds intriguing, I’ll aim to get the audiobook first (via Libby or Everand). If it seems really promising, I’ll borrow a physical copy from the library. However, my main goal is to prioritise the 124 unread books on my TBR. Yes, I said it—and no, I’m not proud of it. We all want to tackle our TBR, yet it feels like an endless battle. A nice one to have, though!
Five years ago, when I moved to the UK, I arrived with just one suitcase and a single book. This country is truly a paradise for book lovers. New releases are more affordable than in Belgium, and the charity shops are unmatched—you can find barely touched books for a bargain. Over time, my collection has grown far beyond what I can reasonably read, especially as I also struggle to resist my library’s excellent catalogue.
I recently reorganised my bookshelf. It might look ‘small,’ but don’t worry—I’ve got my classics and French books tucked away in another spot, and my non-fiction titles live on top of my wardrobe. This reorganisation helped me take stock of what I own, and I was reminded of the abundance of lovely books waiting to be read.
a look back on my year in reading
While reviewing my stats on GoodReads, The StoryGraph, and my Excel sheet (because tracking in one place is apparently not enough for me), I noticed some interesting patterns. Of the 128 books I read, only 12 came from my own bookshelf, while 50% came from the library—a habit I love but one that overshadows my home library. Audiobooks made up 60% of my reading (via Everand, Libby, and a handful from BookBeads), while ebooks lagged at just 9.38%, despite my Kindle being packed with interesting titles.
Non-fiction accounted for only 12% of my reading, and my most-read genres were fantasy, contemporary, and historical fiction. I read 23 translated books, and 45% of my total reads were by US-based authors. Lastly, 80% of the books I read were written by women, 14% by men, and the remainder by multiple or non-binary authors.
intentions to inspire my reading
In 2025, I’m eager to deepen my reading, explore new writers, and spend time with those I already adore.
Reading modern classics. Many new releases I read feel too similar in plot, whether contemporary or fantasy. I’d like to explore the works of authors who paved the way for some of my favourites and challenge my brain a bit more.
Revisiting old favourites. All year, I kept telling myself I’d reread The Bell Jar—and never did. It’s not the only one. Some books I loved and want to revisit to see if they still resonate; others were okay at the time but now wonder if I might appreciate them more. Or maybe not—perhaps they’ll just confirm my initial feelings: good, but not favourites, and that’s fine too.
Reading diversely.
This is something I’m continuously working towards. While I have a fondness for Japanese and South Korean literatures, Asia is far broader than these two countries. In 2025, I’d love to explore more stories from across the world. After all, if you can’t travel physically, books are the next best thing.
This also applies to the genres I read. Fantasy is my comfort zone, and I adore escaping into magical worlds. It seems like a lot of escapism was necessary in 2024. But this year, I want to read more books that challenge me—whether it’s contemporary or literary fiction—or delve further into non-fiction.
I’ve noticed horror has been my fourth most-read genre since 2023. I want to continue this trend. The horror books I love aren’t about jump scares but rather dark, gruesome stories with stunningly eerie writing that make you squirm.
Reading the books on my shelves. As mentioned, I love my local library, but my own shelves deserve some love. I need to give the dusty unread books in my collection the attention they merit.
2024 favourites
When it comes to reading, it’s all about how a book makes me feel. These were my favourite reads of 2024. They aren’t listed in any particular order, but I’ve grouped them where they naturally fit. I hope you find something here to add to your own TBR.
horror books that make your skin crawl
Over the last couple of years, horror books have slowly crept into my hands. These aren’t the kind that will make you leap out of your chair, but they’ll definitely make your skin crawl—books that might compel you to leave the light on as you read. The writing is eerie and haunting, with just enough detail to let your imagination fill in the gaps, transporting you to dark forests, scenes of putrid decay, or the turbulent mind of a female protagonist obsessed with eyes. What makes these stories truly shine is their ability to pair gripping plots with well-drawn characters and impeccable writing. Krystal Sutherland and Kelly Andrew were already auto-buy authors for me, and Monika Kim has now joined their ranks.
Krystal Sutherland - The Invocations
Kelly Andrew - Your Blood, My Bones
Monika Kim - The Eyes Are the Best Part
historical fiction to sweep you away
Growing up in Belgium, our history classes heavily focused on the First and Second World Wars and European history. While there’s only so much you can cover in school, I’ve loved continuing to learn as an adult. History books are wonderful, but historical fiction can truly sweep you away with its storytelling. Add a compelling family dynamic to the plot, and I’m hooked.
Lee Geum-yi - Can't I Go Instead (translated by An Seonjae)
Set during World War II and the Korean War, Can’t I Go Instead is perfect if you enjoyed Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Lee Geum-yi offers a fresh perspective that is deeply immersive.
Cecile Pin - Wandering Souls
Wandering Souls follows a family escaping Vietnam and trying to rebuild their lives post-war.
Katherine Arden - The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Set during the First World War (more precisely in Belgium!), The Warm Hands of Ghosts combines the harrowing experience of war with a family narrative and a touch of magical realism—or is it just their troubled mind playing tricks?
fantasy with enemies-to-lovers & a dash of a heist
Fantasy was my favourite and most-read genre in 2024. Out of the many fantasy books I devoured, these three stood out.
Kristen Ciccarelli - The Crimson Moth / The Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth series)
It’s no surprise this book has landed on so many favourite lists. Kristen Ciccarelli nails the enemies-to-lovers trope with all the angst and yearning you could hope for. This romantasy also delivers a strong plot—something often lacking in the genre. I’m already counting down to the sequel, Rebel Witch, out on 18th February 2025.
Veronica Roth - When Among Crows
I already reviewed this novella read in May and reread in November, but in short, it’s an urban fantasy inspired by Slavic and Polish folklore. With an unlikely trio, a dash of romance, and a sort of heist, it’s amazing how much Roth packs into just 166 pages—and she does it flawlessly.
I just gasped. As I was adding hyperlinks to all the books, I saw that When Among Crows is now part of a series (Curse Bearer) and the next book, To Clutch a Razor, is set to be published in September 2025. I’m so excited!
Mai Corland - Five Broken Blades (The Broken Blades series)
When publishers or critics compare books to others, it often feels like a marketing stretch. However, Five Broken Blades genuinely earns its comparison to Six of Crows. It’s not an exact adult replica, but it delivers similar vibes—heists, liars, murder, and treachery. If you’re craving a well-executed heist story, this is the one. Plus, with the sequel released on the 7th, you can dive into the entire series at once. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
stories that feel like real life (or are)
Sometimes, a book feels so authentic that you wonder if the author is writing from personal experience or channelling the life of someone they know. These stories tugged at my heartstrings for their rawness and lingered in my mind long after I finished them.
Hwang Bo-reum - Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop (translated by Shanna Tan)
Sigrid Nunez - The Friend
Margaret McDonald - Glasgow Boys
Madeline Docherty - Gender Theory
Annie Ernaux - Simple Passion (translated by Tanya Leslie)
(This last one is nonfiction and part of the author’s memoirs, but I’m including it here because it fits nicely.)
I haven’t thought much about my 2025 TBR yet, so I’d love to hear your recommendations! What books did you love in 2024, or which one do you always find yourself recommending to friends?
Until next time,
Amandine
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Je suis assez fière de mon année 2024 en termes de lecture ! J’ai lu 45 livres, je n’avais pas lu autant depuis des années. Il y a eu quelques belles lectures, mais aussi pas mal de lectures moyennes haha. En 2025, j’aimerais lire plus de non-fiction et de poésie. Comme toi, j’aime beaucoup la littérature coréenne et japonaise, donc j’aimerais en lire plus aussi (l’année dernière, j’ai seulement lu un roman coréen et deux romans japonais). J’ai découvert il y a quelques jours que je pouvais écouter des livres audios avec mon abonnement Spotify, donc je vais essayer, mais je ne sais pas si je vais réussir à bien me concentrer durant l’écoute. Aussi, je réfléchis à m’acheter une liseuse, moi qui avais pourtant juré de ne jamais passer du côté obscur (haha), mais je commence à ne plus avoir de place dans ma bibliothèque et on ne peut pas noter que les liseuses sont vraiment pratiques, donc à voir !
As you're also native from a non English speaking country, I wonder, in Belgium... books in foreign languages are translated by Belgian people? I understand there are at least two languages spoken there but I mean... Do they sound... natural in either of them? I've a serious problem here because 95% of the books translated to Spanish are done in Spain, and although I can obviously understand almost everything (some words i need to look up), they don't sound natural to me, we speak a different type of Spanish, and it's really annoying for me reading, let's say Virginia Woolf speaking with Spanish lingo. It's ridiculous.