We have arrived at the halfway point of 2024 and as is the case every year, it’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown. It is a good time for a reading recap and to share some reviews of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I have read a total of 16 books since the start of the year and most have been excellent. I don’t like to speak badly of books that might just not have been my thing so I won’t name names, but I had one DNF this year, which isn’t a bad run. Okay, so here is my list – as per my usual preferences, there is a mix of mystery, contemporary fiction, a little magical realism and a non-fiction in there.

In order of reading:

Accidental Magic, Iris Beaglehole (2022) (Myrtlewood Mysteries series: 1)

Accidental Magic is the perfect book for lovers of small town mother/daughter stories and some light-hearted witchcraft. Although, I say light-hearted but there are some more dramatic scenes, some magical and others emotional. However, on the whole, it is a book that entertains through the adventures of Rosemary and her teenage daughter Athena as they discover their magical origins, while navigating their complicated relationship with each other. This is cosy witchy reading at its best and I look forward to reading more in the series.

Tales from the Café, Toshikazu Kawaguchi (2017) (Before the Coffee gets Cold sequel)

I think this book falls under the category of magical realism and I am completely enamoured with it. We learn early on in the book that there is a little coffee shop in Tokyo where visitors are able to travel through time as their coffee is served by a particular waitress. There are rules about what they can and can’t do, including returning before their coffee gets cold (hence the name of the first book). It is a genuinely lovely story with diverse and interesting characters who share their experience of time travel to difficult times in their lives, often struggling to leave them behind. It is the kind of book that gets your imagination turning over what you would do in their position and if you would be able to follow the rules. Highly recommend this one.

Summer Sisters, Judy Blume (1998)

Summer Sisters is likely to appeal to long time Judy Blume fans (ie. those of us who were teens in the 90s teens or earlier!!). Friendship is at the centre of the plot as we follow Vix and Caitlyn’s relationship from early teens to their 30s. It is a complicated friendship with betrayal and hurt, but also great loyalty and kindness. Truthfully, I don’t think I would have picked this up if it wasn’t for my deep nostalgia for Judy Blume, but I still enjoyed it. Read more from my autumn reading post.

The Opposite of Success, Elanor Elliott Thomas (2023)

Looking to read something that will make you feel better about how your own life is going? Pick up The Opposite of Success and you will find comfort in knowing your aren’t alone if life has been kicking you down lately. Lorrie has lived by the book, following all the rules, and is ready to be rewarded for her hard work. Unfortunately, things are not going to work out as she hoped. Her best friend Alex has walked on the wilder side, living more reckless than Lorrie, but her past is about to come back to bite her. A great book about friendship, life and working out what we really want. Read my full review here.

The Revenge Club, Kathy Lette (2024)

This is the book to read if you’re after some fun, female friendship and something a little farfetched (in the best way). Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy reconnect 30 years after finishing uni together, quickly realising that they have all had their lives unfairly upended by the men in their lives. They devise a plan to right the wrongs and make sure everyone knows the truth about their injustice. A great read for a laugh, female solidarity and a satisfying ending. Read my full review here.

Emergency Exit Only, Michelle Upton (2023)

I felt like I would relate so hard to this book and was delighted to discover it. The story begins with Amelia Harris quitting her accounting job in the most dramatic and entertaining way. It was brilliant. She goes on to explore a career change by trying out different jobs every couple of weeks on a mission to discover her true passion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a love match for me as I found myself losing interest in her story long before the end. However, there are many rave reviews of this book so definitely give it a go and decide for yourself!

What Happened to Nina? Dervla McTiernen (2024)

I had some complicated feelings about this one, which you can read about in my review if you are interested. It is an excellent suspense that moves steadily, revealing the mystery one step at a time. However, the core plot line revolves around intimate partner violence and I found this disturbing. I would love to talk more about this and hear other reader’s thoughts so if you have read What Happened to Nina?, please do let me know what you think.

Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth (2024)

I make no secret of my love for Sally Hepworth’s books and Darling Girls is no different. I don’t know how she does it but once I start one of her books, I cannot stop reading until the end. I did a full review a few posts back but suffice to say, this is definitely high on my recommendation list.

The Wife who got a Life, Tracy Bloom (2021)

The Wife who got a Life will resonate with women over a certain age who are reading to take back life on their own terms. Cathy Collins is in the middle stages of life with a husband, two teenage children and other family who depend on her. When her husband announces he is quitting his job to return to uni, she is confronted with having to decide what she wants from life. Humorous, relatable and told in an engaging conversational tone, I recommend the audio version of this as it sounds like a friend sharing their story with you as it unfolds.

Devil’s Delight, R.W Green (Original series by M.C Beaton) (2022)

Devil’s Delight is 33rd in the long-running Agatha Raisin series, although it is written by R.W Green, as the original author M.C Beaton has sadly passed away. The series centres around Agatha Raisin, a woman in her mid-50s who has retired to a little cottage in the Cotswalds. Life is never dull as the surrounding villages have no end of murders to be solved by a amateur sleuth Agatha and her friends (and friends with benefits). This series is the classic who-dun-it story, set in picturesque English villages, with the bonus of a feisty, funny and flawed protagonist. Devil’s Delight is just as entertaining as the rest of the series and well worth reading.

Hey Hon, Emily Lynn Paulson (2023)

I wrote a full review of Hey Hon in my Best Vacation Reads post so check that out for all my thoughts. I will say that I couldn’t get enough of this book and loved hearing all the dirty, dark secrets of MLMs. Emily is honest, self-depreciating and ready to share every last detail of her time in an MLM. It’s just so good!

The Ex-Hex, Erin Sterling (2021)

Fun, sexy and a little bit silly, The Ex-Hex is the book to read if you like witchy fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Similar to Accidental Magic with its small town backdrop and strong family of witches theme, it is a modern witchy book that is filled with adventure and its own take on practicing witchcraft. However, The Ex-Hex is an American book and the difference is that it feels a little more risqué (ahem, sexy scenes, ahem) than the cosiness of the small English town style of Accidental Magic. Depending on what sort of story takes your fancy, you will like this if you’re in the mood for romantic witchy fiction.

The Dry, Jane Harper (2016) (Aaron Faulk series: 1)

If you are ready for an Australian outback mystery with the strong silent type male protagonist, The Dry will tick all those boxes. Aaron Faulk is a Federal Police Officer who is in his hometown for the first time in decades, returning for the funeral of his childhood best friend. His arrival sparks long held anger from the locals who still blame Faulk and his father for a long unsolved missing person case. While Aaron is in town, he finds himself working to uncover the truth of what happened all those years ago – and what really happened to his best friend. This is a gripping story that is almost frustrating with so many unanswered questions for much of the book, but is tied together so brilliantly at its conclusion. Excellent Australian mystery fiction that is definitely worth reading.

The Maid, Nita Prose (The Maid series: 1)

The Maid is the quintessential cosy who-dun-it, in the perfect setting and with the most likeable main character, Molly. Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel where she goes largely unnoticed, besides being treated poorly by some of her colleagues. This is all about to change when she discovers a guest who has died under suspicious circumstances when she goes to clean his room. It turns out that there is a lot more going on at the Regency Grand than Molly realised. Read my review here but if you like a cosy mystery then I am certain you will find The Maid a treasure to read.

The Mystery Guest, Nita Prose (The Maid series: 2)

If you find yourself loving The Maid as much as I did, then you will want to read the sequel, The Mystery Guest. My review is here but I must tell you that I think it is even better than the original. Another guest meets their untimely end at the Regency Grand Hotel, this time in front of a captivated audience, one of whom is guilty of foul play. Molly must revisit some difficult memories from her own past as she works to uncover who is responsible for the murder in the hotel. Another perfect cosy mystery.

Weyward by Emilia Hart (2023)

I read Weyward during Winter Solstice here in Australia and you can read my full review in last week’s blog. It is a historical witchy fiction book told from three points of view. Altha, Violet and Kate are family by blood, but from different generations, separated by time. Kate is in 2019, Violet in 1942 and Altha in 1619. They each have their individual battles to overcome, but they are intertwined as each of their lives are changed by those who came before them. The women have a powerful connection to nature and are able to harness it to make things happen.  Their witchcraft is about understanding plants and the rhythm of the natural world and using this power to rise up against injustice. I absolutely loved Weyward.

One of Us is Next, Karen McManus(2020) (One of Us is Lying series: 2)

I have reviewed the first in this series, One of Us is Lying, in a previous post and I enjoyed it so much. The sequel did not disappoint and was an excellent mystery suspense with some old and some new characters. McManus has the skill of devising a clever mystery that keeps readers guessing, but also creating characters with equally engaging stories of their own. In this instalment, there has been another death of a Bayview High student, this time in what looks like a freak accident. However, there is a new twist as a disturbing game of truth or dare has been circulating the school. Did Brandon die because of a dare? I loved seeing what Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper from the first book were up to and getting to know the new characters who were just as good. I highly recommend One of Us is Next if you’re up for some teen drama and an addictive suspense. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series!

So that is my half-year recap of what I’ve been reading in 2024. I’m currently working on my TBR for the rest of the year so stay tuned for that post. I have plenty to choose from as my phone is currently jam packed with screenshots of book recommendations and new releases I see on social media that I can’t wait to read.

See you next time!