As the year comes to a close, here are my Top 10 recommended reads from 2024, listed first by genre, then by author’s last name. I also challenged myself to read at least 10 Catholic authors (read 10) and 10 indie-published books (read 15). Have you read any of these? Which books should I add to my must-read list in 2025?

* equals indie-published book

It was so hard to make a Top 10 list for historical fiction, which is why I moved Time Travel to its own category below. These 10 are the ones that stood out to me as Must Reads. Several are from a series, and I recommend beginning with Book 1. For a full list of my 4 and 5 star historical fiction reads, visit my Goodreads page.

Dual Timeline Civil War and Modern Day: A Million Little Choices by Tamra Alexander, Regency: Lost in Wonder by Liz Chapman, 1890s: The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan, 1920s: *Purest Joys Restored by Jennifer Q. Hunt, Regency: The Christmas Foundling by Martha Keyes, Medieval Fantasy: *Perilous by Susan Laspe, Mid-19th Century: *A Class Inherited by Susie Murphy (Note for my clean readers: I would not consider this book “clean,” but it is a wonderful series.), 1880s: The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano, French Revolution: To Crown with Liberty by Karen Ullo, 1920s: *Cocktails Before Midnight by Tanya E. Williams

I didn’t read as much Contemporary Fiction, so it wasn’t as difficult to decide on my 10 favorites. These are all solid romantic reads. With the exception of Hannah Hood Lucero’s books, the others are either first-in-series or standalone.

All In Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk, Mind of Her Own by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, One Foggy Christmas by Kortney Keisel, Beau on the Bayou, Crossfire at the Precipice, and Dereliction of the Heart by Hannah Hood Lucero, The Great Date Experiement by Ashley Mays, Love in the Eternal City by Rebecca W. Martin, Bram Baxter Marries the Wrong Sister by Latisha Sexton, Hear the Falling Snow by Storm Shultz

Time Travel and Dystopian are two of my favorite genres, but I find that really great reads are becoming fewer and farther between. I’m happy to say that wasn’t true this year with some really wonderful selections.

Time Travel: In Another Time by Jillian Cantor (Note for my clean readers: I would not consider this book “clean,” but it is a unique story.), Estuary, Riptide, and *Three Wishes by Lisa T. Bergren, When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer, *All These Threads of Time by Sarah Crowne. Dystopian: The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes, Death Panels by Michelle Buckman, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (I recommend listening to this one on audiobook.)

My Catholic reads were extremely varied this year from historical to fantasy to dystopian to non-fiction with all but two being new to me authors.

Contemporary Fiction: *All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk, Dystopian: Death Panels by Michelle Buckman, Non-Fiction Inspirational: He Leadeth Me by Walter J. Ciszek and Daniel L. Flaherty, Historical Fiction: The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan, Time Travel: *All These Threads of Time by Sarah Crowne, Non-Fiction Inspirational: Behold the Mystery: A Deeper Understanding of the Catholic Mass by Mark Hart, Historical Fantasy: *Perilous and *Delirious by Susan Laspe, Contemporary Fiction: Love in the Enternal City by Rebecca W. Martin, Non-Fiction Devotional: *Breathe Deeply by Allison Ramirez, Historical Fiction: To Crown with Liberty by Karen Ullo

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Until next time, happy reading!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Kelsey

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