Before tallying up my totals, I thought I had read fewer books than I actually did. To my surprise, I surpassed last year’s count of 24 with 26 books read, although two of them were rereads.

To break it down, this year, I read 8 books of fiction, 16 nonfiction, and abandoned 5 books. I didn’t listen to a single audiobook—I’m still a sucker for good old-fashioned text.

While the excellent nonfiction books made up for it, I had a lackluster year when it came to fiction. Most of the books I abandoned were novels, and the two books I anticipated the most ended up being just okay. I failed to get past 100 pages of Infinite Jest... again. Ah well. There's always next year.

I'm excited for my 2025 reading list, which includes a bunch of novels with messy, neurotic female protagonists. Halle Butler, Weike Wang, Miranda July, let's go.

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Fiction

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

I went into this knowing little about the plot or the author and came away pleasantly surprised. Set in small-town Ireland in 1985, it follows a working-class man faced with tough moral choices. This quiet, reflective novella is a quick read and the first book in 2024 to get me excited about literature again. Keegan’s novellas are perfect for winter.

Foster by Claire Keegan

Set in rural Ireland, a young girl is sent to live with relatives for the summer, where she experiences kindness and care she’s never known before. Another sweet, brief read from Keegan.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Andy, a struggling stand-up comedian, grapples with the sudden end of his relationship with Jen. Alderton’s writing is witty, but Andy’s endless self-pity dragged on and I found myself skimming pages. Jen’s perspective in the final chapters is far more compelling and ultimately saved the story for me. A sharp and depressing look at modern relationships.

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

This is the kind of novel that people like to dump on because the female protagonist is selfish, unlikeable, and totally unhinged, but I seek them out for the same reason. Gimme the crazy.

My First Book by Honor Levy

I was curious what the Gen Z writers were up to. I want to believe they haven’t all been driven insane growing up with social media. This collection tries to make something meaningful out of memes and internet slang. The first story is funny and clever, but the rest aren't as baked. There are a few good moments, but Levy is still figuring out what she wants to say.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

I’m a big Sally Rooney fan and usually breeze through her books, but this one is taking me a lot longer—I’m only halfway through. I’ve never had trouble with her lack of quotation marks before, but I keep having to reread bits to figure out who’s talking or thinking, especially in Peter’s dense, stream-of-consciousness sections. I heard she’s inspired by Virginia Woolf and Henry James, and I can appreciate that she's challenging herself with her writing. At its core, it’s still classic Rooney: attractive, socially awkward people—now creeping into their mid-thirties—fuck and struggle to connect emotionally.

Parade by Rachel Cusk

The Outline trilogy was a masterpiece, and her last novel, Second Place, was packed with sharp insights, but this one is taking way too long for me to finish. I usually appreciate how she pushes the boundaries of fiction, but maybe she’s taken her experimental style a bit too far for this one to really work. That said, I’ll hold off on my final judgment until I finish.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This novel pulled me out of a reading rut—I finished it in just a couple of days. The prose is nothing fancy, but the author has a talent for getting to the heart of her characters. It’s a fun ride, especially for fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It reminded me that reading fiction can be fun.

Non Fiction

Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz

Known for her reporting on Internet culture, Taylor Lorenz’s first book dives into the history of social media and influencer culture. For millennials who’ve grown up online, the stories are more of a rehash than a revelation. It's a nostalgic account of how social media has evolved in a short time, for better and for worse. Lorenz’s deep dives into early influencers are entertaining, even if they don’t break new ground.

How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone by Cameron Russell

You might remember fashion model Cameron Russell from her viral TED Talk on image. When I saw she’d written a memoir, I had to check it out since I was doing research for my essay on women’s bodies (read it here). It’s an eye-opening look at how the predators in the modeling industry spare no one. Her memoir is a bit experimental, so I’d recommend reading it rather than listening to the audiobook.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Banned in many prisons in the US, this book is a ruthless, calculating guide for gaining power, drawing lessons from history and psychology. Some of the laws contradict each other, and many seem to dissect the tactics sociopaths and con artists use to manipulate and deceive. I doubt I’ll ever actively apply these laws, but they’re interesting to learn as a way to recognize and defend against such strategies. A few of the laws did stick with me, and one I fully agree with is Law 10: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky.

The Hidden Power of Your Past Lives by Sandra Anne Taylor

This book explores how your past lives might influence your present and provides practical tools to uncover and heal those patterns. As part of my energy healing training, I’ve already worked with past life exploration, so I didn’t actively use the regressions in this book. However, I bought a copy as a reference in case I ever need additional tools. The updated edition even includes audio downloads for meditations and regressions.

Infinite Potential: The Greatest Works of Neville Goddard

This collection brings together Neville Goddard's key teachings on using imagination and consciousness to shape your reality, along with selected transcripts from his rare recordings, live lectures, and student Q&As. This year, I discovered a strange connection to Neville Goddard. I like this book as an introduction to his work, but The Power of Imagination is the anthology with most of his published books.

Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton

Dr. Newton used a unique hypnosis technique to help people access memories of their past lives. In Journey of Souls, he shares 29 cases where clients describe their experiences in the time between lives. The details about what it feels like to die, meet guides, and what happens after death are so specific—and fascinating. I already bought the next book, Destiny of Souls. 

Everyone Loves You When You're Dead by Neil Strauss

From the author of The Game, the infamous pickup artist manual, this is a collection of his best celebrity interviews. I'm sure he used his Game tactics to get these celebs to reveal some weird-ass secrets. I only read the interviews with the musicians I was interested in and skipped the rest. They're pretty funny. That interview with The Strokes is iconic.

Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg

I have mixed feelings about this method of communication. On the one hand, I can see how it can be a useful tool to refrain from judgment, make the other person feel heard, and develop overall clarity and empathy in communications with others. On the other, it builds emotional intimacy way too fast. Do you really need to get emotionally intimate with everybody you come across? I don't see myself speaking the way he recommends. Also, I doubt this works on narcissists. I'd recommend taking what works from the book and leaving the rest.

The Silva Mind Control Method by José Silva and Philip Miele

José Silva's book, first published in 1977, teaches techniques for mental focus using meditation and visualization. When he talks about "mind control," he means controlling your own thoughts to gain clarity and even tune into higher intelligence to receive answers for problems. It basically trains you to be more psychic. One tool I use regularly from this book is asking higher intelligence for answers in my dreams.

How to Be Old by Lyn Slater

I'd heard about Lyn Slater in the media over the years but never followed her blog or Instagram. The title of her memoir is bold and made me want to read it since we've all been brainwashed to dread aging instead of learning how to embrace it. I am inspired by how she lives life at her own pace. She got her PhD in her 50s and became a fashion influencer in her 60s. I adored the earlier chapters in her book when she wrote about why she connected to certain designers and how she viewed fashion as art. When she got too popular, she started losing herself to lucrative brand deals, so I guess that happens to influencers of any age.

Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain (reread)

This is a reread. This is the first book that got me started on manifesting, which helped me land my first real job after graduation. Since then, I've manifested many things with visualization. This is a concise, no-nonsense book on how to creatively visualize.

The Healing Code by Alexander Lloyd (reread)

Another reread. I first picked it up a few years ago on the recommendation of another healer. It's a simple yet powerful method to heal the root causes of stress and illness by targeting harmful cellular memories. The idea is that these memories are stored in the body and can keep us stuck in patterns of imbalance. By addressing them, the technique helps restore balance and promote overall well-being, and it's easy enough to learn to do on your own.

Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution by Chris Powell

I completed the 75 Hard program during the summer, and the diet I chose was carb cycling. This book is a decent guide to how to carb cycle properly, although a lot of the chapters are filler, and the core teachings could be summarized in a long blog article. One big takeaway is Powell’s recommendation to eat more—strategically—to lose weight. He explains how many people unknowingly follow a “sumo wrestling diet,” starving themselves all day and then eating one massive meal at night, which actually slows the metabolism.

The Body Code by Dr. Bradley Nelson

Building on his earlier work, The Emotion Code (a book I often recommend), The Body Code delves deeper into more ways emotions can become trapped in the body. The book is designed to pair with an app, which I tried during the 30-day free trial. While I found the app useful, I can’t justify spending $400 CAD per year to keep using it.

Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza

I was urged to read this years ago, but I’m glad I waited until discovering Neville Goddard because his work helped me understand why Dispenza’s meditations are so effective. What he teaches feels like a modern continuation of Goddard's work, especially from a medical science point of view. I started meditating using his guided meditations in September. His dramatic voice might seem over the top, but it really works to put me in a trance. I'll have to write about my meditation experience once I get better at it.

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza

I probably should've started with this Joe Dispenza book since it lays the groundwork to better understand his ideas. However, if you just want to jump in, Becoming Supernatural is still amazing on its own. I recommend owning both. In Breaking the Habit, Dispenza explains how your thoughts and emotions shape your reality. He offers practical tools, including meditation, to break old patterns, rewire your brain, and create a new "self" that is aligned with the desired reality you want to create.

Abandoned Books

Circe by Madeline Miller

A reimagining of the infamous witch from Greek mythology, following Circe’s journey through exile, encounters with gods and mortals, and her transformation as she discovers her strength and power. It might resonate more with readers who are into Greek mythology. I couldn’t get into it and found Circe herself pretty dull.

The Nix by Nathan Hill

The Nix is a sprawling novel about a professor and failed writer who reconnects with his estranged mother after she becomes the center of a political scandal. I couldn’t connect with the characters enough to stick with it, but I’m still intrigued enough by Hill’s writing to give his next novel Wellness a try at some point.

No Judgment: Essays by Lauren Oyler

Lauren Oyler is known for her witty but bitchy takedowns of the literati. With No Judgment, she finds herself on the receiving end of harsh criticism. With these essays, it's clear Oyler does care about what people think, but I’m not that interested.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Originally a hit play, I can see why the premise is compelling—a café where customers can travel back in time to rewrite their wrongs. Unfortunately, the transition to fiction doesn’t work. The book is full of clunky exposition and amateurish prose. I couldn't put myself through it. This story probably works far better in its original stageplay format.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Inspired by Little Women, this story follows William Waters and his relationship with the Padavano sisters. I was far more interested in William and his budding basketball career—the author wrote those scenes so well that I wished the book focused on him. I didn’t really care about the sisters, and once I realized the story wasn’t going to stick with Will’s basketball journey, I got bored. A friend spoiled the ending for me since I wasn't going to finish and WTF.

Books Purchased

Most of the time, I borrow books from the library and only buy books if I know I'll reread them. From all the books I read this year, these are the ones I purchased or have already owned for some time:

1. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
2. The Hidden Power of Your Past Lives by Sandra Anne Taylor
3. The Silva Mind Control Method by José Silva and Philip Miele
4. Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain (reread)
5. The Healing Code by Alexander Lloyd (reread)
6. Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza
7. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza

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