Last semester had a lot of highs and lows on my reading list. I hit a reading slump towards the end of October and into November and really didn’t know what to read. However, I found redemption by Thanksgiving and for the last few weeks of the semester I had quite a number of great reads that I would love to share. Here are my top five books of the fall of 2024:
You’re Not Enough (And That’s OK) by Allie Beth Stuckey
Allie Beth Stuckey is a political analyst and commentator and host of the podcast “Relatable.” Published in 2020, the short and sweet book dives deep into the modern culture of self-love and how to clear your mindset of having to measure up to the world’s expectations.
Her Daughter’s Dream by Francine Rivers
Francine Rivers is one of my all-time favorite authors so I was very excited to dive into this novel. The sequel to her book “Her Mother’s Hope,” both books follow five generations of mothers and daughters–from the late 1800s to the early 2000s–comparing how mistakes made in the past can have major impacts on the future, loosely based on the author’s own family story. It’s a deep read at over 500 pages long, but every chapter keeps you wanting more.
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
I recently discovered Lynn Austin while searching for new authors to try in 2024, and I am glad I decided to give her a read! Out of the six books I’ve read by her thus far, this is my favorite. It can be a bit confusing, since it jumps timelines between the early 1950s, back to the 1930s and into World War Two, but it keeps you reading. The plot follows the lives of two best friends in England–a servant girl and the daughter of the wealthy family she works for. Together the girls grow up, find work, join the war effort, fall in love, and get caught up in a web of lies.
The Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
As much as I love reading the children’s adaptations of classic books, I have never read “Robin Hood.” I loved the movie, and I loved other stories he appears in, like “Ivanhoe,” so I am a little embarrassed it took me so long to get around to reading this one. Set in England in the 1200s, the book is a set of stories about Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws living in Sherwood Forest.
Aftermath by Terri Blackstock
Terri Blackstock is another author new to me, and I already know I’m going to enjoy her books. The story picks up in modern times after disaster strikes a concert/political rally and follows three protagonists during the fallout: a survivor, the man accused of the crime, and the lawyer defending him. The Christian themes in the backstory help move the characters towards healing from their own checkered pasts and keep them going amid this crisis.
All things considered, I had a hard time narrowing down my favorite reads over the past few months. Never hesitate to pick up a book, whether you think you’ll like it or not. You might be surprised!
Needless to say, I’ll be back at the end of this semester with a few new recommendations, so stay tuned!