Audiobooks I Loved (and Gave Up on) in 2024
...because I have the attention span of a gnat and have finally admitted I can't/won't read books, so audiobooks are the way forward. Along with what's queued up for 2025 in Audible.
HNY my Substack folk - I’m back! As in, I finally located my desk again under a mountain of washing (yes, my office doubles as a laundry and storage room), and couldn’t wait to get back to you lovely lot here on SS.
I love this time of year for reflection and looking forward - all the things we learned from last year coupled with renewed optimism for this, makes for exciting times. Although you won’t catch me making a 2024 reel to trending audio anytime soon!
So, it’s during this time of reflection (which is only permissible until 6th of Jan when my kids go back to school and reality bites!) that I wanted to offer a round up of the books I loved (and didn’t) in 2024. But first, I have something to tell you…
It’s about time I publicly confessed - and have perhaps chosen the worse platform on which to do so (as a community of writers and readers) - that I simply can’t/won’t read books. I start reading and then I find my mind somewhere else; the author will describe a beautiful town and before I know it, I’m on Airbnb checking out where to stay; the protagonist will have a quick bite to eat, and I’ll start mentally making that week’s shopping list; a Fair Isle jumper will be described and I’ll be on Vinted in the blink of an eye on the hunt.
Needless to say, the same book has been on my bedside table for over a year; it’s gone on 2 holidays and numerous train journeys, but alas I’ve not made it past page 35! Maybe that should be my first goal of 2025?! Finish the bloody book - LESS, by Patrick Grant for anyone wondering. And my apathy towards picking it up is absolutely no reflection on the book - the fact it’s so well travelled shows I love it.
I love the words and stories within books, but a few years ago after starting and never finishing sooooo many good books (I know they’re good because everyone on the internet tells me so!) I finally admitted to myself that I’d be better off listening to audiobooks. This was hugely helped by the massive amount of time I’ve spent travelling to and from football training and matches, all over the UK in recent years - thus listening to them on my merry way. And so, my love of books was rekindled.
So, here’s my audiobook roundup of 2024…
The Ones I loved…
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The descriptions and characters were plentiful in their depth. I felt submerged in the surroundings. I loved the setup of a 24-hour, in the present, time frame for the whole book - with the backstory of the past shared along the way. If you like lakeside cabins, relationships, love, a bit of sex and secretive family histories - all intertwining with day-to-day life; and a modern-day Where the Crawdads Sing (one of my all time faves FYI) then The Paper Palace might be worth a listen (or read if that’s your thing, you little rebel!).
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
I need to start by mentioning that I love Lisa Jewell’s books - they’re a guaranteed page turner (in an audible sense), cos I just need to know what’s happened and now! I feel like a kid in a sweetshop when picking a Lisa Jewell book to read/listen to. None of this is True was one of my faves - an emotional rollercoaster, with characters I could 100% believe.
If mystery, murder, unhinged female characters, lies, manipulation, nice London homes and a great story are your bag - don’t hesitate to get on this one!
Lived Up to the Hype…
How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
Ohhhh, this was good! So good! Yeah, I’m constantly late to parties, but I’m counting on the fact you might have been too busy in the last few years to have gotten around to reading this one yet.
I’d found the physical book in a ‘free to taker’ pile on my school run, but in true ‘me style’ I’d read to page 15 over the course of 18 months and then lost it in my car. But I already liked what I’d read, so when I was at a loss as to what to listen to next, I jumped at this one.
It’s dark but very funny. It does exactly what it says on the tin, with a few twists along the way. If copious amounts of comedic murder is your thing - get involved. The characters are likable (well, the ones that are supposed to be) and to a certain extent believable. Never before have I wanted someone to succeed in slaying their entire family more.
Didn’t Live Up to the Hype…
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Controversial maybe, but I just didn’t feel drawn to keep going with this book - but I did, convinced that ‘everyone’ must be raving about it for a reason.
The characters and general premise of the story just didn’t seem real - too much ‘oh that’s convenient’ for my liking. I felt uneasy at the lies being told, and stressed that the lies (part of the story) were being uncovered. Yes, I’m aware that I’m happy with multiple murders (as above), but not about lies - maybe my inner sense of fairness?! Overall, not a bad read, but not one I can hand on heart recommend.
Little Bit Weird, But Worth A Listen
The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
In all honesty, I expected slightly better from the writer of the Handmaid’s Tale - maybe my fault from the outset to have those expectations.
The Heart Goes Last is weird, but worthy of your time. The usual Atwood dystopia is abound; I love the way she creates these worlds which seem absurd but yet only a few years and political decisions away.
The story follows a couple who volunteer for a ‘new way of life’ only for it to slowly crumble (did you expect any less) with love, affairs, murder and Elvis (told ya it got weird). I kept reading hoping for a better ending - it ended, but it wasn’t as dark or gritty as I would have hoped.
The Ones I Gave Up On…
I don’t give up on that many audio books, as I feel like they fill my time (usually when driving) without requiring too much of me in return; so a mediocre listen isn’t the end of the world. I only tend to quit an audio book if the reader’s voice is beyond irritating, or the characters grind my norks quickly.
People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd
I did, however, give up on People Like Her - and not because it sailed a bit too close to my wind with having an ‘influencer’ at the core of the story. It just seemed a little outdated in terms of the saccharine-style mummy influencer it portrayed, which seemed the norm in 2016, but thankfully not so rife in 2025 (or have I just curated my insta feed enough that I don’t see them anymore?!). The type to refer to themselves as ‘mama’ on the regular and have a child named after wildlife - they annoyed me then, so reading a book about them now just wasn’t the one, even if it was plotting their downfall.
The characters were annoying and the story wasn’t enough to keep me hanging on. I bailed.
All Fours by Miranda July
I got about 1/4 of the way through this one before I called it a day. I wanted to love it. Afterall, Courtney Adamo told me (via instagram) that it was ‘life changing’ - who doesn’t want a piece of that pie?
I found it frustrating and the main character selfish beyond reproach. I didn’t feel like the story had legs, I was bored. I simply couldn’t care less what this selfish woman, who spunked a load of money in search of her true self, ended up doing. Maybe I well and truly missed the point? Maybe there wasn’t enough murder for me? Who knows!
What’s On My List for 2025…
Wintering by Katherine May
Yes, I’m 100% a cliche! But after trying to read it for the last 2 years, I finally caved and got the audio book a few weeks ago. So far, so good.
The Bee Sting
Recommended by Ella Wells on insta (who seems to have similar taste to me), she had me at the words ‘off grid living’.
Meanwhile, I remain optimistic that 2025 will be the year I finish a book. I think the last book I read from start to finish was The Da Vinci Code in 2005 on a beach in Antigua - maybe I just need copious amounts of all-inclusive pina coladas, no kids and an Antiguan beach to succeed. I still have Less on my bedside, and this has now been joined by A Voyage Around The Queen by Craig Brown, bought for me by my brother-in-law as a birthday present. So fingers crossed folks.
