The cover of Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Because I live in a rural area, tv reception is non-existent. I end up reading a lot of books, especially fiction. These are my favorite books of the 76ish books I read in 2024:
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. A small town murder/mystery book with a twist at the end that I didn't expect.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. A British story of intergenerational women's trauma.
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford. An alternate timeline crime noir that posits the question of what life would have been like if the Native Americans had retained some power in the US.
The Codebreaker's Secret by Sara Ackerman. A female codebreaker's experience in Hawaii in WWII.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. The multigenerational story of a family from 1900 to 1977 exploring their familial "curse."
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier. The story of a young midwife during the Black Plague.
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty. An American mortician travels the world to explore other cultures unique customs and relationships to death, many of which vary wildly from our American traditions.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. A summer camp and society based murder-mystery that spans two missing persons over several decades.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A young Black woman lives in two cultures, one a working class, drug-filled Black neighborhood and one a private school where she is on a scholarship.
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. A story of Blacks and Jews trying to survive in small town America.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. The story of four Catholic women and their children growing up in Chicago and the man who comes between them.
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias. A metaphysically rooted horror novel looking at the drug and infrastructure problems in Puerto Rico.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. A woman chemist attempts to find her way in a patriarchal industry.
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. A story of intergenerational Jewish wealth and trauma.
Memorials by Richard Chizmar. An exploration of roadside memorials by three college students that leads to a horrific metaphysical discovery.
The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods. A story of a home for unwed mothers in Minneapolis in the 1890s.
A Million Junes by Emily Henry. A teen romance which evolves into a metaphysical puzzle.
The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar. An Indian-American man returns to India to potentially adopt a baby only to find his estranged mother in the hospital in critical condition.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. A young woman becomes a member of the French Resistance during WWII.
The One by John Marrs. A science fiction novel about a DNA test that can match you to your perfect romantic partner with many unexpected results.
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. A young seamstress raised in poverty is betrayed by Hollywood and sets up a business in Seattle.
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson. The multi-generational story of a Dakota family preserving seeds and wrestling with modern agriculture.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. The exploration of a silent murderer incarcerated in a mental health facility.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune (highly recommend the audiobook). A sequel to the amazing fantasy tale of a home for mythical creatures, many of whom are queer.
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner. A family spends one last summer at their multi-generational summer home.
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop. The memoir of Kelly Bishop exploring her life as a dancer and actor.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep). A woman tells her adult children the story of her adolescence as an actor.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. A brother and a sister both serve for Canada in WWI in Europe.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. A young enslaved boy from Barbados is given a unique chance to be educated and explore the world.
© 2025 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. A small town murder/mystery book with a twist at the end that I didn't expect.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. A British story of intergenerational women's trauma.
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford. An alternate timeline crime noir that posits the question of what life would have been like if the Native Americans had retained some power in the US.
The Codebreaker's Secret by Sara Ackerman. A female codebreaker's experience in Hawaii in WWII.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. The multigenerational story of a family from 1900 to 1977 exploring their familial "curse."
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier. The story of a young midwife during the Black Plague.
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty. An American mortician travels the world to explore other cultures unique customs and relationships to death, many of which vary wildly from our American traditions.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. A summer camp and society based murder-mystery that spans two missing persons over several decades.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A young Black woman lives in two cultures, one a working class, drug-filled Black neighborhood and one a private school where she is on a scholarship.
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. A story of Blacks and Jews trying to survive in small town America.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. The story of four Catholic women and their children growing up in Chicago and the man who comes between them.
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias. A metaphysically rooted horror novel looking at the drug and infrastructure problems in Puerto Rico.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. A woman chemist attempts to find her way in a patriarchal industry.
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. A story of intergenerational Jewish wealth and trauma.
Memorials by Richard Chizmar. An exploration of roadside memorials by three college students that leads to a horrific metaphysical discovery.
The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods. A story of a home for unwed mothers in Minneapolis in the 1890s.
A Million Junes by Emily Henry. A teen romance which evolves into a metaphysical puzzle.
The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar. An Indian-American man returns to India to potentially adopt a baby only to find his estranged mother in the hospital in critical condition.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. A young woman becomes a member of the French Resistance during WWII.
The One by John Marrs. A science fiction novel about a DNA test that can match you to your perfect romantic partner with many unexpected results.
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. A young seamstress raised in poverty is betrayed by Hollywood and sets up a business in Seattle.
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson. The multi-generational story of a Dakota family preserving seeds and wrestling with modern agriculture.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. The exploration of a silent murderer incarcerated in a mental health facility.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune (highly recommend the audiobook). A sequel to the amazing fantasy tale of a home for mythical creatures, many of whom are queer.
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner. A family spends one last summer at their multi-generational summer home.
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop. The memoir of Kelly Bishop exploring her life as a dancer and actor.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep). A woman tells her adult children the story of her adolescence as an actor.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. A brother and a sister both serve for Canada in WWI in Europe.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. A young enslaved boy from Barbados is given a unique chance to be educated and explore the world.
© 2025 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance
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