188 Books, Countless Adventures: My 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Well, I did it! My 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge was to read 165 books, and somehow I managed to finish 188 books! That's 23 books over my original goal, and I couldn't be happier with how my reading year turned out.

If there's one thing my reading list proves, it's that I don't like to stick to just one genre. My 2024 reading journey was a little bit of everything, and that's exactly how I like it.

A Little Bit of Everything

Romance definitely had a place on my bookshelf this year. From contemporary love stories and holiday romances to paranormal romance and hockey-themed love stories, there was no shortage of happily-ever-afters, complicated relationships, and entertaining escapes. Books like The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, Betting on You by Lynn Painter, Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, and The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce kept the romance flowing.

But I also ventured into darker territory. True crime and criminal psychology made up another big part of my reading year. I explored everything from infamous serial killers and notorious criminal cases to investigations, disappearances, and the psychology behind why people commit crimes. Columbine by Dave Cullen, American Predator by Maureen Callahan, The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn, and The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson were among the titles that took me down some fascinating and sometimes unsettling rabbit holes.

I also made room for thrillers, mysteries, horror, and supernatural stories. From The Monster of Florence to Horror Movie, Fang Fiction, and the Moriarty novels, I clearly wasn't afraid to mix things up.

The Cookbook Collection Deserves Its Own Shelf

One thing that stands out when I look back at my reading list is just how many cookbooks I enjoyed this year. And I mean A LOT!

From baking and desserts to pasta, pizza, air fryer meals, healthy recipes, and everyday cooking inspiration, I spent plenty of time exploring books that could take me from the reading chair straight into the kitchen.

Christina Tosi made several appearances with All About Cake, Milk Bar, and All About Cookies. I also explored recipes from Nadia Caterina Munno's The Pasta Queen, Erin French's Big Heart Little Stove, and Max Miller's Tasting History.

Whether I was looking for a new weeknight dinner, a fun baking project, or just inspiration for what to make next, there was always another cookbook waiting to be explored.

Some Unexpected Favorites

My reading year wasn't all romance, crime, and recipes. I also picked up poetry collections, memoirs, biographies, and books about books themselves.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears offered a glimpse into her life and experiences, while Why We Read by Shannon Reed celebrated the joy of being a book lover. I revisited a classic with Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and enjoyed books like A Street Cat Named Bob and Water for Elephants along the way.

There were also plenty of quirky and unexpected additions, proving that sometimes the best reading experiences come from picking up something completely different from what you normally read.

The Final Tally

My 2024 reading challenge was ambitious, but I managed to go above and beyond.

• Goal: 165 books

• Books completed: 188

• Books over goal: 23

• Goal completion: 114%

Looking back, I'm thrilled with the variety of books I read this year. Some were five-star favorites, some were just okay, and a few reminded me that not every book is going to be a winner. But that's part of the fun!

Every book offered something different: an escape, a new perspective, a fascinating story, a recipe to try, or simply a few hours of entertainment.

Here's to 188 books, countless characters, plenty of plot twists, some questionable fictional relationships, fascinating true-crime rabbit holes, and a whole lot of cookbook inspiration.

2024, you were a great reading year. Now, what's next? 📚❤️