Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. That’s such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
There’s so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year I’m adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. I’m including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. That’s The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. That’s the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These aren’t in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
My Must Read/Bedside Books Found In 2024
🔷The Women by Kristin Hannah Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Wome…The Women: A Novel – Hannah, Kristin: Books
🔷Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill
Book 1 of 1: The Team Huntress Flights
🔷The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. That’s the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
🔷Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
The Badger in His Burrow (Beyond the Veil Book 8)
🔷SOS HOTEL: series by Adam Vex (Ariana Nash)-7 books complete
🔷Goliaths of Wrestling series by Lily Mayne
Impromptu Match (Goliaths of Wrestling Book 1)
🔷The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx series by Shelby Rhodes
Book 4 of 5: The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx
Fantasy
🔷Mammoths At The Gates (The Singing Hills Cycle Book 4) by Nghi Vo- all the novels
Book 4 of 5: The Singing Hills Cycle
🔷Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros (not LGBT specifically)
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1)
🔷Kings of Chaos by Jocelynn Drake
Two Thousand Promises (Kings of Chaos Book 5)
🔷Gary of a Hundred Days: MM Fantasy Romance (The Unwanted King Book 1 and 2) by Isabel Murray
Book 1 of 2: The Unwanted King
🔷On the Wind series by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes 3 books
🔷The Summertide Chronicles by Sam Burns
Book 2 of 4: The Summertide Chronicles
🔷How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy Book 12) by A. J. Sherwood – 13 books?
Book 12 of 13: How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy
🔷Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I by MJ May (sequel to the Pixie series)
Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I
🔷Smoke and Mirrors (Fortune Favors the Fae novel) by Kai Butler
See series below
🔷Silver & Gold : Seth and Raider Book 2 by Katherine Diane (the entire duology in fact)
🔷Tournament Mage (Fledgling God Book 5) by Michael Taggert
Misfit Mage: Fledgling God: book 1
🔷Enchanting Exposition (Demon Magic Book 4) by Alice Winters- finale
Contemporary Romance – Novels and Series
Many of the ones I read and loved fell under holiday collections, including the great Christmas Falls, season 2.
🔷Winnie Takes Paris (Love and Travels #2) by Lane Hayes
🔷The Christmas Keeper (Laurel Holidays Book 6) by V.L. Locey
🔹Once Upon A Goth Dog Solstice (Once Upon a Holiday story) by R L Merrill
🔹Second Song: Second Chance School by Con Riley
🔷The Nannies of Manhattan by K Sterling -7 books so far
🔹The Play (Charleston Condors Book 4) by Beth Bolden – finale
Fiction
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson- LGBT book list of the year/ Quietly stunning
Historical
🔹Death In The Spires by K. J. Charles
🔹A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8040641/type/dlg/http://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781538753767
Science Fiction
🔹Chaos Station series by Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen
🔹Cosmic Soul: A MM Sci-fi Romance (Cosmic Romance 2) by Mars Quinn
🔹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( I’m still working on the larger collections)
🔹Tales from the Tarot – 22 books
Part of: Tales from the Tarot (22 books)
🔹Christmas Falls, season 2- 10 books
Part of: Christmas Falls: Season 2 (10 books)
🔹Once Upon a Holiday Story –
Part of: Once Upon a Holiday Story (8 books)
🔹Fortune Favors the Fae series – 15 books
Part of: Fortune Favors the Fae (15 books)
🔷Subpar Heroes- 15 books
Part of: Subparheroes (14 books)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they weren’t available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. I’d lost track because I read so many.
It’s a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and author’s voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
I’m so thankful for the authors and books I’ve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
🫶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
Some favourites.
Random in Death by JD Robb
Hotshot by Lane Hayes
Star Cruise Captains Prequel by Veronica Scott
Star Cruise Captains Story by Veronica Scott
Poison Evidence by Rachel Grant. In fact all of Rachel Grant’s books who I only discovered this year and glommed them all
Danger in the Stars by Veronica Scott. This was a reread
Avenger of Sins by Jordan L Hawk
The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton
Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardóttir. Again, the whole series
Death in the Spires by KJ Charles
Mind Games by Nora Roberts
The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan
The Duke at Hazard by KJ Charles
Gill
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