1. "Love and Other Words" by Christina Lauren
If you enjoy alternating past and present timelines in a book, "Love and Other Words" is a must-read to put on your TBR list. Macy and Elliot grow up as nothing short of BFFs, and they remain close to one another as they get older despite not being in each other’s every day lives. As other feelings start getting involved, they decide to explore those feelings until something happens that causes them to cut off contact completely. Years later, they meet again and we find out where it all went wrong. Bonus stars if you like a West Coast setting, as this read takes place in moody San Francisco. Read it!
2. "Don't Let Her Stay" by Nicola Sanders
If you're well-versed in the world of #BookTok, you've definitely read "The Housemaid" by Freida McFadden by now. Thriller fanatics have been searching high and low for similar reads to this chilling mystery, and BookTok has uncovered the perfect find: "Don't Let Her Stay" by Nicola Sanders. Joanne lives in a gorgeous remote house with her older husband and their newborn daughter. Everything is amazing until Joane's husband's 20 year old daughter, Chloe, shows up. She hasn’t spoken to her father since he re-married, but now she wants to meet her baby sister and put the past behind her. But when Chloe begins acting strange, Joanne becomes increasingly worried. Is she losing her mind, or is Chloe actually dangerous? If you enjoy being able to finish a book in one sitting, you have to try this popcorn thriller out. Read it!
3. "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros
Although you may be apprehensive toward leaning into adult fantasy reads this year, the "Fourth Wing" series is here to help ease you right into the genre. “Fourth Wing” is a steamy mix of fantasy elements, such as a battle between good and evil and fire-breathing winged dragons, with iconic enemies-to-lovers romance tropes. Yarros plans to release five total installments to the series, with the sequel "Iron Flame," released this past November. Read it!
4. "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is notorious for blending historical fiction with a contemporary storyline that never fails to manage to tear at the heartstrings. "The Great Alone" tells a story of a desperate family post-Vietnam war seeking a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska, only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature. Many BookTok creators have called this book their Roman Empire, so if you know, you know. Read it!
5. "Things We Never Got Over" by Lucy Score
Most avid readers know about the "Things We Never Got Over" series by Lucy Score, however it has recently been adapted by Amazon for a TV series, making it all the more important to delve into this series in 2024. The first book, which has sold over one million copies, tells the story of runaway bride Naomi Witt as she heads straight from the altar into trouble when her estranged twin sister, Tina, calls her to small-town-Virginia. "Things We Never Got Over" provides the perfect blend between a steamy romance and a thriller, which is why BookTok fans believe its transition to a TV series will be seamless. Read it!
6. "First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston
What kind of social media-savvy BookTok fans would we be if didn't include the January Reese's Book Club pick for our final read? This month, Reese chose "First Lie Wins," by Ashley Elston, which will be sure to propel you right into your 2024 reading journey. Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a literal white picket fence and a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. Did anyone else get instant chills? Read it!