Best Books of 2024: The Honorable Mentions, Fiction Edition

Because you can't have too many book recommendations, right?

Photo by grace wang on Unsplash

Here we are in The Season of Best-Of Lists, the most wonderful time of the year that seems to come earlier and earlier (I think I saw the first best books roundup right before Halloween). Year-end recaps bring great joy to my heart because there’s always the thrill of hope that one might discover a new favorite, or, you know, several dozen.

For my own Best Books list, I’m attempting a new twist this year. In addition to publishing my favorite reads, I’m also giving you my Honorable Mentions. Every year I always feel bad about excluding books that deserve attention, especially ones that may have gotten overlooked elsewhere, and this year there were quite a few above-average reads that I’d like to highlight. And because of that, I’m doing these Honorable Mentions in two separate editions — fiction and nonfiction.

Plus, I recognize that I’ve been rather lax about writing here lately and this additional bookish content is a small way of making that up to you.

My usual disclaimer applies: these are titles I read in 2024, not necessarily ones that were published in 2024.

And now, for the Honorable Mentions, Fiction Edition, all of which I’ve rated 4 stars. I’m planning to post the Honorable Mentions, Nonfiction Edition soon…ish, followed by my favorite books (aka the 5 stars) during the week between Christmas and New Years or shortly thereafter. One can hope, anyway.

Honorable Mentions in Fiction

Interpretations of Love by Jane Campbell (Grove Press, 2024, 240 pgs)
At age 82, Jane Campbell’s excellent short story collection Cat Brushing was published, giving proof to the adage that it’s never too late to realize a dream. Now she’s back with her debut novel, Interpretations of Love, which centers on Agnes, whose parents died when she was four. Her Uncle Malcolm has been keeping a family secret for decades and now, as an old man and on the eve of Agnes’ daughter’s wedding, is torn whether to share what he knows. The family-gathering-leads-to-secrets-being-revealed is a well-trod trope, to be sure; however, in Campbell’s hands this is a page turner.

The Widow's Guide to Edible Mushrooms by Chauna Craig (Press 53, 2017, 173 pgs)
A collection of 12 stories and flash fiction set in Arizona, Montana, Idaho and other Western locales. Women and their feelings are afterthoughts by the men in their lives. Craig’s focus is that moment when, in the midst of their own wilderness of emotions, they understand the truth about their relationship. I found myself wanting to reach through the pages to say get out, he's never gonna love you, your self-worth is worth much more than whatever this immature man-child can give you, you deserve so much better than this chump. Tense and atmospheric.

The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein (Europa Editions, 2008, 140 pgs)
Leda, a divorced mother with two adult daughters, takes a solo vacation to an Italian beach where she meets a young mother. As the reader learns about Leda’s past and what led up to the divorce, this novella becomes akin to a calm beach day that suddenly turns dark. Reminded me of the brilliant movie The Bad Seed with its creepy undertones.

In Tongues by Thomas Gratton (MCD, 2024, 288 pgs)
It’s the summer of 2001 in New York City when Gordon, a gay 24-year-old transplant from the Midwest, takes a job as a dog walker. He’s a bit out of his element and still healing from a previous relationship when he gets swept up into the lavish art dealer world of his wealthy clients, Phillipa and Nicola.

This wild ride is the type of book where you want to reach through the pages and stop the protagonist from making a terrible decision or mistake, all while you turn the pages emotionally salivating to know what happens next. Thomas Grattan’s writing is superb, and I loved how he used the metaphor of tongues in various ways throughout this fast-paced, gripping novel.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (Berkley, 2024, 400 pgs)
Daphne is thrilled about marrying Peter, decorating their beautiful house in his hometown of Waning Bay, Michigan, and working as a children’s librarian. Everything is falling into place until Peter’s bachelor party when he realizes he’s in love with another woman—Petra, his best friend since childhood. The wedding is cancelled and devastated Daphne has a week to find someplace else to live.

Enter Miles, Petra’s equally brokenhearted boyfriend, who lets Daphne move into his two-bedroom apartment. Bonding and commiserating about their exes over action movies, Daphne and Miles delight in pretending to Peter and Petra that they’re a couple until they can’t ignore the sparks between them.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (Forever, 2022, 388 pgs)
Big-city rich doctor Alexis Montgomery meets jack-of-all-trades Daniel Grant and falls in love with him and his small town. Will she find the courage to defy her parents’ expectations (and her emotionally abusive ex) and give up all she knows for a chance at happiness? A satisfying, feel-good romance. Enjoyed this on audio.

So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan (Grove Press, 2023, 128 pgs)
Three crisp and concise short stories (“So Late in the Day,” “The Long and Painful Death,” “Antarctica”) about love, grief, and expectations.

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2022, 442 pgs)
I’m currently reading this delightful LGBTQ holiday rom-com and, at slightly more than halfway finished, I feel confident including it as an Honorable Mention. (Bonus points for Roan Parrish being a Philly author.) Even though it means missing Chanukkah, Greta is desperate to escape her well-meaning but overbearing family, not to mention her hometown of Owl Island, Maine. Equally despondent, Truman wants to be anywhere but New Orleans after a romantic betrayal. Enter their mutual friend Ramona who suggests a house swap for the holidays, complete with the requisite (and somewhat predictable) romantic entanglements. I’m loving that this is a non-Christmas holiday novel and that Truman is a bullet journal enthusiast.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these and what you thought!