Last year I created the very first P. J. Picks Book Awards to show some love to all the great books I had the opportunity to read. This year, I’m continuing the tradition! I’ve cut out some of last year’s awards and brought in some new ones, which I hope you’ll enjoy. This year, I also added a few honorable mentions. So without further fluff, here are my best reads of 2024.
The MVP Award
I could say a lot about this book. (And in my Goodreads review I do!) It is a remarkable piece of fiction.
The Moxie Award
As someone who reads a lot of women’s fiction, this one was tough to pick, but not as tough as my girl Shiori, who spends WEEKS plucking and peeling fiery nettles to save her brothers, among other things. She earns the very first Moxie Award!
The BIPOC Award
After earning the Break My Heart Award last year for Someday, Maybe, Onyi Nwabineli is at it again, pulling heart strings and stripping characters bare in her latest novel. This BIPOC Award is well deserved.
The KidLit Award
This one is whimsical, heart-rending, and fun, and if you haven’t seen the movie yet, I highly recommend both!
The Magic Carpet Award
Being swept away into East Asian lore was a treat in this Korean retelling of Shim Cheong.
The Truthteller Award
I resonated deeply with Beth Moore’s account of living a life of faith, and all the knots and twists that come along with it. I took a lot of notes and truly felt her sentiments in a lot of ways.
Honorable Mention: Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
The Break My Heart Award
The first installment of Abi Daré’s series required a deeper level of concentration, but it really paid off. My heart broke over and over again for this beautiful, resilient character.
Honorable Mention: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris
The Whimsy Award
I’ve had Raybearer on my list for a while, but once I finally started reading, it did not disappoint. I’ve been singing its praise ever since. It’s beautiful, whimsical, inspiring, mysterious, and so very unique in its premise. I LOVED it!
The Vegas Award
The swashbuckling lady pirate I didn’t know I needed in my life. It was so fun to read, and I laughed so much!
The Swoon Award
I want more romance just like this. It’s awkward, and relatable, and these two had so much chemistry. Give me more of this!
The Back in the Day Award
I’ve been reading more historical fiction and needed a new award to recognize them. This one gets the Back in the Day Award for the care and dedication given to the subject matter and the people most affected. Well done!
Honorable Mention: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Youngblood Award
The Youngblood Award is a new addition this year. There is so much great YA fiction out there, and this one is no exception. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. It’s authentic and carries weight.
Honorable Mention: Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe
The Not After Dark Award
Another new award for the spooky reads that really get the blood going. This one was so hauntingly creepy. Not my typical read, but so very good.
Honorable Mention: All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
The Chuck-It Award
Miss Avery did a stunning job on her debut, and her main character was absolutely infuriating. The way I worried about her, I know I was talking to her the entire time. So ridiculous. I loved it!
And that does it for this year’s awards. It was a great year of reading, and I’ve got all my top-rated reads below for your perusal. Happy Reading in the New Year!
The Best Reads of 2024
