Cassie DeNisco

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Top Books for 2024!

I am so excited to be sharing my top books for 2024 with you! This post is dedicated to all the books I’ve read this past year and the ones that really stood out to me! Posts like this really help to grow my to be read list and I hope it gives you some inspo for this new year!

I love this recap because it really forces me to go through my Good Reads and see what books I truly enjoyed this year. Everything is linked below through an affiliate link so I make a small commission if you choose to purchase! I hope you love this post as much as I do!!

The Rules of Magic

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top books 2024

I always love the Reese’s Book Club picks but this one was just extra good. I love the movie practical magic but to explore and dive into the story lines before the movie was just so fascinating to me. This was so well written and I just loved it.

Daisy Jones and the Six

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top books for 2024

I snuck this book in as quick as I could before the series came out and boy am I glad I did. This love story is epic and I still think about it to this day. I loved the uniqueness of how the book was written and I seriously couldn’t put it down.

The Woman in Red

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This historical fiction read was a game changer for me. It gave me all the girl boss vibes with little hints of romance and adventure. I’ve never heard of the main character from this book but I’ve actually done a lot of research on her since because this read was fascinating.

The Nightingale

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The story of The Nightingale itself is amazing but this book really opened me up to Kristin Hannah and her writing. She really helped me fall back in love with historical fiction this year. Her attention to detail with the time periods she sets her stories in is epic and the stories themselves are so amazing and heartwarming.

Books of the Month 2023:

January– Confess

February– The Luckiest Girl Alive

March– The Hollywood Spy

April- The Woman in Red & The Housemaid

May- The Cuban Heiress & The

June– Meet Me at the Lake

July- The Senators Wife & The Rules of Magic

August– Did you hear about Kitty Karr?

September– Summer of ’69

October– The Great Alone

November– The Four Winds

I hope this top books for 2024 gives you some great ideas for next reads! This has become my favorite post to write for the year because I love looking back at great books! You can check out last year’s recap here Books to Read in 2023!!

The Great Alone Book Review!

I can hardly believe this is my first October post for the month! I have finally surpassed 50 books this year goal and I am so excited to share one of my favorite reads of the summer with you! The Great Alone book review by Kristin Hannah was such a great read and one that I often find myself thinking about, even today!

This is a historical fiction read, which we all know is one of my favorite reads. I devour books like this, even with a page count of 549 because of how interesting the read is. This post has an affiliate link to shop for the book but as always, there’s no pressure to purchase!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

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the great alone book review

This book follows the Allbright family as they navigate very big life changes. Leni, their daughter is forced to move with the family to an extremely remote part of Alaska. Mom Cora will do anything for her husband Ernt, even though he’s working through PTSD and is extremely abusive towards her.

Once they move to Alaska things only get harder as they realize life up there is rough. It’s essentially a full time job just prepping for Winter in order to stay alive. The community around them welcomes them with open arms but Ernt still struggles with his mental health.

I found myself captivated by what life would be like up in a remote part of Alaska. They had no running water in the house so they’d have to collect and boil water for cooking. It’s such a different way of living that I’m not sure I would survive.

We read as Leni starts to grow up and move into her teen years. Navigating being a girl is hard enough but with a toxic home life and just the harshness of Alaska, you find yourself routing for her to make it through.

With really tough topics, like domestic abuse, this book does need a trigger warning. If you are able to get passed that, the themes of community and resilience are popping off the pages. We read as Leni falls in love for the first time and has to battle her father who is very much against it.

I loved this book because you route for Leni and her mom on every page. Kristin Hannah really gives you insight into toxic relationships but finishes off the story with an ending that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and so incredibly proud and happy for Leni.

Final Thoughts

I’ve reviewed another book by Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale which I absolutely loved! It’s safe to say for me Kristin Hannah has really become one of my top author’s! She writes so beautifully that you really become transported back to the time period the book is in.

I also recently read Four Winds and if you’d like a book review on that let me know! I’d give The Great Alone Book Review a 4.25/5 and would consider it a must read! Be sure to check out my other book reviews here!

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Book Review

Sharing another book review for my summer of reading and today’s post is all about, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? book review! This was on Reese’s Book Club so I of course had to read it!

A lot of the books I read from her book club I just read. I don’t really research what they’re about so this one was definitely very interesting. As always this post has an affiliate link where I make a small commission if you purchase the book through me!

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Paul Smith

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did you hear about kitty kart

This book bounces between the past and the current present in the book. I was honestly pleasantly surprised about the depth this book actually went to. At first glance it seems like just another book about Hollywood but you realize it’s so much deeper.

One thing I really appreciated was how well this was written. The twists and turns of the book are so well hidden in the writing you don’t really know what will come next. I really ended up loving this book because of how Crystal Smith Paul writes.

This book discusses race in both the lens of the past and present, and without giving too much away, it shows that life isn’t always as it seems. This book is shocking in a good way and once you start, you won’t put it down until it’s done.

It touches on Hollywood like your average book would however it just makes you critically think about how the world we live in is and how we might not have come as far as we thought!

This Did you hear about Kitty Karr? book review is one of my favorites because I really just was pleasantly surprised with this book. I hope you give it a read and let me know what you think! I have other book reviews that you can read here!

The Senator’s Wife Book Review!!

I am so excited to be reviewing the latest book by Liv Constantine! Other books by this author like The Last Mrs. Parrish were amazing. I’m excited to share my thoughts on this one!

I purchased this book on my own so all of these thoughts are my own! I do have an affiliate link for you if you’re interested in getting a copy!

The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine

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the senator's wife book review

Before I get too deep in this review, I want you to know I at least think you should read it. I might be a little harsh but I still really love the author, the story is just a bit confusing.

The book opens with two couples vacationing together. The husband of one couple and the wife of the other are actually cousins and then men are on capital hill. As you can see, it’s already getting twisted and that’s only the first few pages.

The cousins end up dying and the other two are left to pick up the pieces. (I’m summarizing so I don’t give out spoilers) The book then follows Sloane and Senator Whit as they navigate politics, marriage and Sloane’s chronic illness.

They introduce so many characters that it’s a bit difficult to get into. When I thrillers, I think of them as a build up and since something so crazy happened at the beginning it was hard to imagine where the book could go from there.

There were also a few “fluff” characters as I like to call them. These characters had story lines but didn’t play into the final piece. I did like the twist at the end but getting there was rough.

Overall this book wasn’t bad, it was just a bit more tricky to navigate than other books by this author. I just didn’t love it like I loved the others so I’m giving this a 3.5/5! Still read-worthy, just not one of my favorites!

If you liked this review of The Senator’s Wife, you can read more book reviews here!

Meet Me at the Lake Book Review!

The second this book dropped I knew I would have to review it! Carley Fortune became one of my favorite authors last summer after reading, Every Summer After. I absolutely adored that book and knew I would probably love this one too!

Let me know if a review of Every Summer After is something you will read! I’m actually surprised I didn’t write one last summer! I was not paid for this review however I have used an affiliate link if you’d like to purchase the book through me I make a small commission!

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

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meet me at the lake

First off, I have to shout out this STUNNING cover. It really draws you in and gives you that summer sunset we all love.

I will preface this by saying I feel like I might’ve went into this book with expectations of it being like her previous. I absolutely loved that book so I had really high hopes of what this book would be.

The story actually follows a mother and daughter who own a resort on a lake in Canada. Long story short, the mom dies and the daughter is has to decide to take over or not. Fern, the daughter, originally left the small town to go to a bigger town in Canada where she had dreams of opening her own coffee shop.

In the big town, she meets someone named Will and they spend the whole day together. Which leaves an impression on both of them. Fast forward to after her mom passed, Will is actually someone who her mom hired to help rebrand and market the plummeting resort.

The story then follows Will and Fern picking up the pieces of where they left off while Fern decided what to do with the resort. I feel like their love story just wasn’t the epic summer love I was searching for. This is not to say the book isn’t great on it’s own.

Wrap Up

I love how Carley writes and am so impressed that this is only her second book. I just think Every Summer After is a one and a million books that can’t be replicated! Meet Me at the Lake is great in it’s own way too!

As I’m writing this I feel like I should probably review it so that you guys all see why I’m obsessed! Let me know if you have any other books you’d like me to review this summer too! Check out more reviews here!

The Nightingale Book Review

I’m slowly making it through my master to be read list and this book I’ve had on it for awhile! I’ve heard great things about The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah so I was excited to read it. I’ve been on top of my reading game this year which is why you’ve been getting so many reviews like the nightingale book review!

As always, I have an affiliate link for you to purchase the book! I make a small commission if you use that link but there’s no pressure to purchase! This review is my own and I purchased this book on my own!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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the nightingale book review

Based in France during World War II, we follow the stories of two sisters leading two really different lives. One is a mother and doing all she can to keep it together as her is sent off to war. Her younger sister is taken in by the war effort and swept away by the idea of freedom and making the country better.

This story had so much heart and courage that I couldn’t help but be in awe. Although this is not based on a specific true story, I know that the women during this time were doing these exact things. Putting myself in their shoes I just couldn’t help but be in awe of their strength through such uncertain times.

This story intertwines with the present when we find out that one of the sisters survived. She’s heads back to France for the first time since the war with her son that she didn’t tell anything too. There’s such a slight twist at the end of the book but you just can’t help the tears. I’m not usually one to cry over a book but this one will be with me for awhile.

Books like this and historical fiction in general transports you back in time to a specific time period or event. When done well, you’re able to feel the feelings of the character and in turn the people who lived through that event. This book does just that and I know you’ll love this after reading it.

It’s definitely a longer read but I think it’s so crucial to educate yourself on the Holocaust. It was such a heartbreaking and traumatic event that everyone needs to learn how to do better. This book is heartbreaking but at the same time filled with hope and courage.

If you loved the nightingale book review, be sure to subscribe to the blog for more! Read my latest review on the HouseMaid here! Let me know if you guys like this kind of content, I’m in a weird phase where I just want to write book reviews!

The Housemaid Book Review

I had to double post a book review this month because I seriously loved this too much to not share! This post is dedicated The Housemaid book review by Freida McFadden! This book gave me Last Mrs. Parrish vibes and I could not put it down after I started it.

I’m always bouncing between genres and just really looking for something that keeps me wanting more. The twists and turns in this book hook you in and you just never really know what’s coming next. As always there’s an affiliate link to purchase the book where I make a small commission but there’s no pressure to purchase!

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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housemaid book review

We start off meeting Nina Winchester who’s trying to hire a housemaid for her lux home. Nina actually interviews Millie and ends up hiring her, without checking her background according to Millie. Everything starts out great but we are slowly lead to believe that Nina has something wrong with her.

She makes Millie do one thing but then quickly turns on her. To the outside world, they know Nina as a crazy woman with a perfect husband. Millie initially thinks nothing of it but slowly starts believing the narrative that there is something wrong with Nina. Because of this Millie starts to resent her and begins to fall for Andrew, her perfect husband.

This back and forth goes for a little while until Andrew and Millie actually sleep together. Andrew decides to leave Nina and that’s wear the story begins to twist and turn. We find out that it was Nina’s plan all along to hire someone like Millie so she can break free from Andrew.

I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil it for you but as the secrets start to unravel, you won’t be able to put this book down! I wasn’t expecting what happened at all and it was such a welcome twist. This is a great quick read if you need to get out of a book rut!

I hope you consider picking up this book after reading the Housemaid Book Review! I seriously enjoyed this and love thriller type stories like these! You can read more book reviews here!

The Woman in Red Book Review

You ever pick up a book not knowing anything about it but end up loving it? The Woman in Red was definitely that book for me. I found a book outlet on vacation and it was like a buy 3 deal. After much looking around, I needed a 3rd one and stumbled on this striking cover.

I am so glad I stumbled on it because it truly was fascinating. This is a historical fiction book that leaves you feeling so empowered and in awe of the main character. I actually did some research after because I was just so interested in the story.

The Woman in Red by Diana Giovinazzo

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the woman in red

This book follows us on Anita Garibaldi’s story as she navigates love, lift, and politics. Her story starts in South America where she’s growing up and has to marry after her father passes. We see that Anita is resilient and truly a force to be reckoned with. She meets rebel leader Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Brazilian revolution.

They fall in love and run off to fight in the battle to make Brazil a better place. The two of them really bond on their ideas for how the world should look and the type of world they want to live in. Anita is not accepted where she went as a woman but her husband believes in her and together they made a great team.

The story finishes off in Italy where they are fighting for a unified Italy and you can just feel how amazing she is. While her husband was fighting these battles she rallied the woman and kept them busy. She did this all while raising her children and battling illnesses without her husband’s help.

Eventually, Anita is murdered in Italy by the opposition. I actually shed a tear because the writing was just so phenomenal that you actually felt like you knew her. I’m telling you this was just one of those rare books that sticks with you because of how amazing it is.

The fact that this was a true story was even more mind blowing because Anita was so courageous for a woman of her time. She wasn’t afraid to fight for freedom and the world that she wanted to live in. The Woman in Red is a story of marriage, freedom, and courage is one that definitely will be with me for awhile!

If you liked this book review, read last month’s here!

The Hollywood Spy Book Review

Another month, another book! This month’s The Hollywood Spy book review is a good one! With historical fiction, romance, and murder mystery this book has something for everyone.

Not to mention this character is part of a series so you have plenty of reading if you love this book as much as I did! As always this book link is an affiliate link that I earn a small commission off off! No pressure to purchase but it’s definitely a good read!

The Hollywood Spy by Susan Ella Macneal

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hollywood spy review

I initially picked this book up at my local store because I loved the cover art. It really drew me and I’ve been on a thriller/mystery kick these days. I wasn’t anticipating the historical fiction aspect but if you’ve been here awhile, you know I love that! This book immediately hooked me in as the murder takes place immediately.

In order to set the stage Macneal, the author, spends each chapter with a different character. Whether its the spy herself Maggie or the cops or other nefarious groups, this book keeps you reading page after page.

The mystery itself seemed to come together pretty easily for me but what I appreciated most was the attention to detail. This might be one of the best historical fiction books I’ve ever read. I finished the book learning something new about a time period I previously didn’t know about.

It was so well written and just seamlessly meshed in with solving the mystery of the murdered movie star. I ended up taking a lot away with this book because of how important the themes were. In the climate we’re currently in, this book was even more important to read with it’s themes of segregation and racism, nazis, and World War 2.

Another thing I loved about this book was I didn’t realize how much I liked it until it was over. When a book makes a lasting impact on you and you’re thinking of it even days after you’ve read it, you know it’s great!

You can check out more book reviews here!

The Luckiest Girl Alive Review!

I definitely am late to the party on this book since it’s already a movie, but The Luckiest Girl Alive review has been on list for so long! I’ve committed to 50 books again this year and this was book 3 for me.

I actually didn’t previously watch the movie not because I wanted to spoil the book but I honestly was super interested in it. It didn’t look really great to me but I am definitely going to be checking it out now.

The Luckiest Girl Alive

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the luckiest girl alive review

Trigger Warning: SA, School Shooting

I won’t lie, this one started out slow for me. For some reason I couldn’t quite get into it and was almost just like confused at where it was going. Once the flashbacks started it slowly started to piece together and make sense. I really liked looking at Ani’s life in the present and how she got there.

This book has the NYC girl boss feels with twists and turns towards the end that you’ll never have guessed. When Ani is asked to do a documentary about an incident that happened in her Pennsylvania private school, the reader doesn’t find out about the incident until the end.

You almost think you know what it is about and then there’s another turn that twists even more. I loved that you got to see a sneak peak into her glamorous current NYC life juxtaposed to her less rich and exciting high school life.

There are definitely heavy topics that this book dives into which is why I listed the trigger warnings above. I really liked this book because you just didn’t expect the ending so it kept me on my toes. Sometimes thrillers miss the mark and are too easy to guess but this really was it for me.

I hope you enjoyed this Luckiest Girl Alive Review! I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars so I definitely recommend to read it! You can check out my January book of the month post here!