I may have mentioned once or twice that I love to read. Getting lost in a different world, time period, setting, or situation is a great way to decompress, relax, and even learn a little–or to remind yourself that things aren’t quite so bad out in the real world. If you’re anything like me, and want to get lost in some good books this coming year, you came to the right place.

Below are my favorite reads this year.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
This story is set in 1932 and follows four orphans who take off from the Lincoln Indian Training School in Minnesota, making their way down to St. Louis in search of a better life. It’s a long book, but I never felt the pace dragging. Instead, I became invested in the characters’ lives, and wanted to keep turning the page to make sure things would turn out alright for them. And it’s a book I would happily read again.

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
Inspired by true events, this WWII tale had me in tears. It is about a Jewish woman who pretends to be married to a Christian farmer in order to survive the Nazi invasion. Life on the farm is a tough change for her, but it’s nothing compared to what happens after she gets caught.

The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth by Sam Quinones
I don’t know if a book has every made me so angry. Seems strange that I’d be recommending it then, right? But I don’t mean angry at how it was written. It was the truths about the drug industry (both legal and illegal) that got my blood boiling. How dealers, doctors, and pharmaceutical reps alike prey on people and put their lives in danger just to make money. But as the title suggests, there was also hope and redemption weaved throughout that kept the book from being a total downer. If you’re into nonfiction, I’d definitely suggest this eye-opening book.

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Historical fiction at its finest. The story, set on the Korean island of Jeju, follows two women who spend their lives working as haenyeo. The haenyeo are free-diving fisher women, supporting their husbands, children, and village with whatever they can harvest from the sea. Please note that this is a not a feel-good book. But if you’re in the mood for a good cry or are interested in some perhaps lesser-known history, give this one a try. You won’t regret it.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
This is another heavy story to read, but an important historical account inspired by true events. It takes place in Alabama in 1973. The main character is Civil Townsend, a nurse at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, who tries to help two young girls who are egregiously wronged by a doctor at the same clinic.

Freckled: A Memoir of Growing Up Wild in Hawaii by T.W. Neal
I love Hawaii so when I saw the title of this book, I was highly intrigued. And the book lived up to my expectations. The descriptions of the islands made me feel like I was there. And the situations that the author faced growing up, most due to much-less-than-ideal parents, made my jaw drop more than once.

Don’t Be Trashy: A Practical Guide to Living with Less Waste and More Joy by Tara McKenna
For the last few years, I have been trying to make better, more sustainable choices (i.e. switching to reusable sandwich bags; using shampoo bars instead of buying yet another plastic bottle). So when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Did it make me drastically change the way I live? No. But it did open my eyes to how wasteful we can be as a society, and give me more ideas for how I can continue changing for the better.

After the Hurricane by Leah Franqui
This book follows a woman who travels to Puerto Rico to search for her missing father (and find out the truth about his past) after Hurricane Maria. I love how deep the author dug into these characters, and also the descriptions and historical facts about the island.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Sometimes I’m in the mood for a book that will keep me on the edge of my seat in suspense, and this one definitely hit the mark. It is about a house cleaner who realizes that the perfect family she works for is hiding some very dark secrets. This book is the first in a series. I also read number 2 and enjoyed it as well.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
Not going to lie–the plot of this one sounded a little odd to me, but the cover and title totally drew me in so I gave it a chance. And I’m glad I did. It is about a graduate student who rents a house in rural Illinois to study birds. But then a young girl named Ursa shows up, bruised and claiming to be sent from the stars on a mission to witness miracles. Along with a neighbor they meet, they form an unlikely trio and spend the summer trying to heal each others’ pains.

Honorable Mentions:

• The Fire and the Ore by Olivia Hawker
• Haven Point by Virginia Hume
• Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho
• The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

I hope this list is helpful and I wish everyone a happy 2024, full of great books!