My 2024 recommended reads
The five books I’d give for Christmas
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My TBR (to be read) list never seems to get any shorter. That doesn’t stop me from buying more lovely, wonderful books. There’s just something about the feel of a dust jacket, the smell of freshly printed pages, or the mysterious stains on something preloved that turns each book into a thing of beauty. 2024 has been a fantastic year for readers, and with the festive season fast approaching, today I’m sharing five book recommendations to give to the ones you love. Just don’t blame me if you end up keeping them for yourself! Obviously, you could also buy my book – HUSBANDS – but if you’re reading this, chances are you already did that!
One more chapter
The thing about a David Nicholls book is that they’re incredibly hard to put down. They exude serious ‘just one more chapter’ energy. You Are Here was an absolute pleasure to read, transporting me—just like the lead character, Marnie—away from the urban sprawl and into the Lake District, in the company of two people who both should and shouldn’t be together. If your first encounter with Nicholls was through the wonderful Netflix adaptation of One Day, you’ll adore his latest novel. And if you can get your hands on the hardback with its stunning cut-out cover, you’ll have a true piece of art to showcase on your bookshelf. For me, this is probably book of the year.
Potty mouthed but poignant
Justin Myers has a gift for striking the perfect balance between potty-mouthed gossip and poignant storytelling, and Leading Man is undoubtedly his best yet. It’s a coming-of-age novel that left me wanting to start again the moment I finished, just to see how far off the mark I was in guessing the (actually perfect) ending. Drama teacher Leo has a sense that life—not to mention his friends, boyfriends, and boss—isn’t playing fair, if only he could prove it and conquer his many dragons. And Leo certainly has his fair share of dragons. Leading Man marks Myers’ final gay rom-com for a while, as he takes a darker turn next year with a book that’s already destined for my 2025 “five you need to read” list.
Spite and salt
When you’ve worked out the best way to kill your family, what comes next? What a Way to Go is one of the darkest yet most engaging books I’ve read in years. Bella Mackie crafts the kind of story I can only dream of writing. Obnoxious millionaire Anthony Wistern meets his tragic (and graphic) end midway through his over-the-top 60th birthday party. That should be the end of him—but it isn’t. If Anthony wants any chance of resting in peace, he must navigate a set of afterlife admin rules to uncover how and why he died. His Succession-style children are just as awful as he is, and his spite-fuelled widow adds to the chaos. This is the perfect salty counterpoint to the sweetness of You Are Here, with an ending you’d wish on anyone who’s ever bagged the last seat on the bus or the prime parking space outside Sainsbury’s.
Gloriously uplifting
Any book that winds its way through the canals of Amsterdam is an instant must-read for me. That said, Fellowship of Puzzlemakers was not at all what I expected—and in the best possible way. This gloriously uplifting debut restored my faith in the world at a time when I was on a bitterness bender. It’s rare to come across a first novel that feels so perfectly crafted, but Samuel Burr’s story is an absolute treat on every level.
As a newborn, Clayton Stomper is left on just the right doorstep, and his life unfolds in the company of an extraordinary group of men and women whose unbreakable friendships withstand everything life throws their way. Even better, the book includes a collection of puzzles to ponder and solve as you read. If you’re looking for an escape from decking the halls with boughs of holly—or from dealing with overbearing relatives—this is the perfect getaway.
Perfectly imperfect
I’m wrapping up my list of five with Matt Cain’s epic One Love. Matt credits David Nicholls for inspiring him to tell this story, which spans years of a solid friendship that meanders and drifts before blossoming into something so much more. Every perfectly imperfect character earns their place in even the hardest of hearts (including mine).
Having spent my formative years pulling pints at one of Manchester’s Canal Street gay bars, this book felt like a nostalgic trip back in time, capturing every painful detail to perfection. The story moves at a cracking pace, blending spice, bite, and sweetness in equal measure. Matt’s writing just keeps getting better and better—this is an author at the absolute top of his game. Annoyingly, he’s bound to get even better still.
I hope I’ve inspired you to discover something new—or to revisit an old favourite. I’ve read so many incredible books this year that narrowing it down to just five was no easy task. If you think I’ve missed out on a must-read, do let me know—I’d love to hear your recommendations.
And because the world is a circle without a beginning, blah blah, time for a quick mention of something new and very lovely coming your way in June 2025 – and already taking preorders!
Click to preorder
