Best Fiction of 2024: Andrea’s Ten Recs

Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: Historical fiction set in India in the 1940s, the era of independence and partition. The plot centers on three adult sisters and how their lives are changed by the upheaval around them. Stands out for sense of place and character development.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow: Contemporary fiction set in a small river town in Kentucky that has been coal-mined into poverty. The story is told in alternating chapters from two points of view: Opal, who grew up in poverty, and Arthur, the last remaining Warden of the local haunted mansion. Stands out for Gothic atmosphere and dark fantasy elements.

The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair: Fifth in a historical mystery series set in London in the years following World War II. Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge run the Right Sort of Man Marriage Bureau in London, and they keep finding themselves involved in crime. Stands out for historical setting and a strong continuation of a series.

Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee: An intense contemporary novel set in Boston. The protagonist is Ranita, a Black Queer woman who was incarcerated for four years on a drugpossession charge. There are two timelines here: one in the years of Ranita’s re-entry and one in her childhood. Stands out for alternating timelines and first-person narration.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman: Historical mystery set in Regency England. The protagonists are two sisters in their forties, who take advantage of the fact that their age and status make them invisible to solve crimes and advocate for women. This is a series launch. Stands out for first-person narration and historical setting.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul: Family drama and family secrets abound in this complex novel. One timeline is in 2017, focusing on a high-profile Black family in the entertainment business. One is from 1934-1969, focusing on a Black woman who raises a daughter who can pass for White. Stands out for family secrets and thought-provoking themes.

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske: Swashbuckling mashup of fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery. Second in a trilogy. Maud and Violet are sailing across the Atlantic in an alternate Edwardian world full of magic. The plot includes a shipboard menagerie, a budding romance, and LGBTQ+ themes. Stands out for worldbuilding and an entertaining plot.

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman: Short, contemporary novel about Ash, whose best friend from childhood, Edi, is dying of cancer. Told in first person by Ash, italternates between Edi’s cancer journey and Ash’s childhood memories of the two together. Stands out for its reflective, but not overly sad, tone and handling of a sensitive subject matter.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim: This novel is set in the Washington, D.C. area in 2020, and narrated by Mia, a twin sister whose college years have been interrupted by the pandemic. I especially enjoyed Mia’s musings on language and communication, especially in regard to her nonverbal younger brother. Stands out for family drama and clever use of language.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio: This laugh-out-loud novel is about Lauren, who returns from a late night out to find a strange man in her flat who insists that he’s her husband. When he goes up into the attic, a different husband comes back down. This happens over and over, and watching Lauren flip through husbands is very, very funny. Stands out for humor and fantasy.