December Booklist – Books of the Year

At The Reading Agency, we have read a lot of brilliant books over the past year; books that have made us laugh, cry and left us with a lot to discuss. Our team have picked the books that have stood out for them in 2024. We hope you find some inspiration for your next read, or perhaps spot a few titles you have enjoyed yourself! 

Our team have shared three words to describe each book to help you decide if the book is for you. We would also love to hear what books you’d recommend for the list on social media using #booklist and tagging @readingagency.

Books

Younger children

• The Best You by Nima Patel (Author) and Cally Johnson-Isaacs (Illustrator)
• The Boy Who Painted the World by Tom McLaughlin
• The Chattysaurus by Rachel Bright (Author) and Chris Chatterton (Illustrator)
• Mouse on the River: A Journey Through Nature by Alice Melvin

Older children

• Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch by Jamie Smart
• FACTopia!: Follow the Trail of 400 Facts by Kate Hale (Author) Andy Smith (Illustrator)
• In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
• Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight by Alex Wharton (Author) and Ian Morris (Illustrator)

Young people (14+) – please note these may have mature themes and you can find more specific age ratings on publisher websites

• Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite
• The List by Keith Gray
• The Thread That Connects Us by Ayaan Mohamud
• Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Adults

• Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh
• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
• James by Percival Everett
• River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure
• Tales Accursed: A Folk Horror Anthology by Richard Wells
• The Book of Witching by C. J. Cooke
• The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
• Ottolenghi COMFORT by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh
• The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
• You Are Here by David Nicholls
• What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
• Wild Women: Empowering Stories from Women Who Work in Nature by Philippa Forrester