VIKKI PATIS

In 2023, I basically stopped reading. I couldn’t concentrate properly, couldn’t stop my mind from going a million miles a minute. Instead of curling up with a book, I needed to watch ASMR videos to fall asleep. I’ve been a huge reader all my life (I used to run a mildly popular book blog!), so this really affected me. I made some changes at the end of last year that, amongst other things, helped bring my anxiety levels down, and my reading levels up. So far, I’ve read 61 books in 2024, and I wanted to share some of my recent favourites.

The last book I finished was THE DEVIL AND MRS DAVENPORT by Paulette Kennedy. Described as a genre-bending novel which mines the subtle horrors of 1950s America in a gripping novel about a woman under pressure―from the living and the dead, this is a real treat of a novel, chilling and enchanting in equal measure.

HEADS WILL ROLL by Josh Winning is described as brilliant new slasher with a slit in its throat and a smile on its face, and I couldn’t agree more! It’s a fun, fast-paced story perfect for the spooky season.

THE UNWORTHY by Agustina Bazterrica and translated by Sarah Moses is a dark, seductive dystopian tale that will haunt me forever. If you loved TENDER IS THE FLESH, this new novel by the same author won’t disappoint. Coming March 2025.

I picked up DREAMLAND by Rosa Rankin-Gee on a whim and fell head over heels. In the coastal resort of Margate, hotels lie empty and sun-faded ‘For Sale’ signs line the streets. The sea is higher – it’s higher everywhere – and those who can are moving inland. A young girl called Chance, however, is just arriving. This book is packed with queer longing, and a dystopia so close to our own world that it’s like looking into a funhouse mirror.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tinera is a sharp take on the whodunit trope. I’m not usually a fan of reading different media types such as podcasts (but they often work well in audio), but I found this format didn’t take me out of the story. Both dark and fun, I enjoyed this twisty thriller.

I found the cover for THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART somewhat off-putting, but clearly not enough, because I devoured this book. This literary horror novel by Monika Kim is unhinged and uncomfortable, with themes of fetishism and female rage.

HOW TO SLAY AT WORK by the brilliant Sarah Bonner is a slick and brilliant, with a twisty plot, captivating characters, and a splash of dark humour.

I credit Lucy Rose (THE LAMB, coming January 2025) for making me pick up THIS IMMACULATE BODY by Emma van Straaten. I’m not usually one for heterosexual obsession tales (but give me all of the queer obsession!), but this lyrical tale is also a reflection of what it is to inhabit a woman’s body in today’s world. Out in February 2025.

Special mention to THE BAD SEEDS by C.J. Skuse, the final instalment of the Sweetpea series (now a major Sky TV series) which came out this month. Rhiannon Lewis is one of my favourite serial killers, with her razor-sharp wit and disturbing mind, and I’m sad to see the series end.

In audio, I’m currently listening to ON THE SAVAGE SIDE by Tiffany McDaniel, who is arguably one of the best authors of our generation. Inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six, this coming-of-age story is breath-taking and heart-breaking.

WHALE FALL by Elizabeth O’Connor was one of the first audiobooks I listened to on BookBeat. A short, powerful novel that lingers long after the last page, it’s described as a devastating debut that tells a story of longing and betrayal set against the backdrop of a world on the edge of great tumult.

I enjoyed BRAT by Gabriel Smith way more than I expected to. Read by the author, whose narration brings out the humour in the best way, BRAT is a twisty, mind-bending tale that I won’t forget in a hurry.

PIZZA GIRL by Jean Kyoung Frazier is weird girl fiction at its best. More vibes than plot, it’s described as an electrifying debut which charts the unlikely relationship between a pregnant teenage pizza delivery driver and a stressed-out, middle-aged mum.

If you’d like to try out BookBeat, I’ve got a code which gives you 60 days free (and me 30 days!) with 40 hours of listening time. Click here or use code BBG2DGU4. Valid until 1st December 2024. Or there’s an Audible offer at the bottom of this post.

Since becoming an author myself, I only share reviews for books I’ve enjoyed. This is partly because I know how it feels to receive negative reviews (and even worse when they’re from peers!), and because review spaces are not for authors. I’ve found it tricky to balance both, so I deleted my Goodreads account and only track my reading on Storygraph. I shout about books I love on social media, but I’ve missed blogging and wanted to bring it back. I’m hoping to do a 2024 reading round-up and a post about the books I’m most looking forward to in 2025.

Have you read any of the books on this list? What have you been reading recently?

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