“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.”
Another year is done and dusted, and once again we here at What We Reading have been treated to some of the best books we’ve ever read. In all, we managed to read nineteen books across the year, jumping from absurd comedic adventures to pulsating crime thrillers. We were able to cross some of the most revered and poignant classic novels off of our TBR list and fully gave in to our new dark academia obsession. So, from icy cable cars at the end of the world to organ-fuelled experiments, join us today as we take a final look back at our favourite books from 2024!
5. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
We’re kicking off our list of the best books we read in 2024 back in October when we finally got around to reading Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Undoubtedly one of the most iconic and influential dystopian novels of all time, The Handmaid’s Tale has received near-universal acclaim for its interpretations of power, freedom rebellion and gender roles across society. And, spoiler alert, it’s a novel that is well worth its place in literary history.
The Handmaid’s Tale follows Offred, a Handmaid living in the Republic of Gilead, a near-future version of what was once the United States. She lives with a man called the Commander and his wife and, once a month, must lie on her back and pray that he makes her pregnant. In an age of declining birth rates, Offred’s viable ovaries are one of society’s most valuable commodities. Atwood’s tale describes this dystopian world through Offred as she struggles to survive and keep a hold of what remains of her past and her identity.
In a real world that feels increasingly like rights and freedoms are being constantly monitored, manipulated and challenged, The Handmaid’s Tale was a timely and cautionary tale that truly struck a chord with us. Atwood’s intricate worldbuilding is incredible, and the tragedy of Offred paints a vivid portrait of a world that feels dangerously plausible, which is what every great dystopian book should strive for.
Check Out Our The Handmaid’s Tale Book Review
4. The Drift – C.J. Tudor
C.J. Tudor made it into our best books from 2023 list last year with The Burning Girls, and we’ve become huge fans of her work ever since launching this site. But, in September, we may have been treated to our favourite C.J. Tudor book of all The Drift. Blending a dark apocalyptic backdrop with bone-chilling mysteries, this thriller had us on the edge of our seats from the first chapter to the last.
The story is split between three characters: Hannah, Meg and Carter. All three find themselves in mysterious and dangerous situations where everything from the frozen temperatures outside, the strangers they find themselves surrounded by to a deadly virus plaguing the world soon makes each scenario a matter of life or death.
The post-apocalyptic setting in The Drift really allowed Tudor to embrace the dark and tragic elements that often define her work. The three storylines are all adrenaline-pumping and high-stakes, standing well enough on their own to work as a gripping survival storyline, but the way in which they are all tied together to resolve the overarching mystery hanging over the narrative was truly what left our jaws on the floor.
Check Out Our The Drift Book Review
3. The Bellwether Revivals – Benjamin Wood
When we picked up Benjamin Wood’s The Bellwether Revivals back in March, we already knew we were in for one of our best books for 2024. A compelling exploration of the disconnect between the brilliant minds of the academic world and those living in the real world, we owe The Bellwether Revivals so much for being one of our first forays into the dark academia genre.
Wood’s novel is told through the perspective of Oscar Lowe, a care worker living in Cambridge. One evening, he meets and falls in love with the charismatic Iris Bellwether and is introduced to her enigmatic brother, Eden. As he grows closer to the Bellwethers, he is pulled further and further into their world of intellectual brilliance, which soon leads to a series of increasingly disturbing experiments.
From the Cambridge setting to the captivating characters, The Bellwether Revivals is a beautifully written tale that firmly immerses readers in its tale. The themes around the fine line between brilliance and madness are thought-provoking enough to help make this a must-read for book clubs and the way in which Wood depicts Eden may still leave him as our favourite character we’ve read this year.
Check Out Our The Bellwether Revivals Book Review
2. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is rightly regarded as the founding father of contemporary dark academia books, and we knew that we had to read it sooner rather than later. We were a little intimidated by the novel’s infamously long length; but, when we were able to sit down with it across November, we were treated to one of the most absorbing and captivating tales we read across 2024.
The Secret History follows Richard Papen, a Californian native who enrols at the elite Hampden College in Vermont. There, he meets and befriends a group of eccentric students studying classics under their mysterious professor, Julian Morrow. Led by the brilliant prodigy Henry Winter, the students indulge in their studies and philosophical ideals. However, they soon find themselves caught in a single shocking act that leaves them spiralling into guilt, obsession and paranoia.
On the back of Tartt’s breathtaking writing, The Secret History more than earned its spot as one of the most defining and dark academia thrillers of all time. The haunting environment and layered characters help make this one of the most darkly atmospheric narratives we’ve ever read, and the themes of intellectualism and moral ambiguity linger with you longer after you’ve conquered the final page.
Check Out Our The Secret History Book Review
1. Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Another one of the most famous modern dystopian novels, Never Let Me Go, was another book we knew was heavily lauded when we picked it up in August. Having recommended it in a few of our listicles, we were keen to see if Kazuo Ishiguro’s exploration of growing up, friendship, identity, loss, and life itself was worth the hype we had been paying for it. And we’re overjoyed to say this very much was the case.
Never Let Me Go is told through the narration of Kathy, a woman who recounts her childhood growing up in a pleasant and prestigious boarding school named Hailsham. The children are taught about art and literature inside the school’s walls and form friendships and connections. However, only when Kathy and her friends leave Hailsham do they begin to understand the horrifying reality behind the school and the role they are supposed to play in the real world.
Whilst it might not be the archetypal dystopian read, Never Let Me Go is a book brimming with themes and messages that are all profound and deeply moving. The tragic sense of inevitability lends weight to the characters’ journeys and their relationships, and Ishiguro’s beautiful delivery helps make this one of the most evocative books we’ve ever read.
Check Out Our Never Let Me Go Book Review
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
