If I had to summarize the book industry in 2024 in one sentence, it would be a year full of disappointments. Every single book that I read in 2024 was a horrendous disappointment. There wasn’t one single book that was worth reading for its price. However, there are a select few books from 2024 that were exquisitely horrid.
I say this in the sense that I’m still going to have nightmares about them in 2025. With this being said, let’s take a petrifying adventure. The moment you’ve all been waiting for … (imagine a drum roll) revealing the most horrid books of 2024! Hold tight and fasten your seatbelts, because you’ll never see the book industry the same.
Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
So, let’s just start by saying that just about every Nicholas Sparks book is terrible. They all fall flat and have zero emotion. In fact, I experience more feelings while staring at a blank page. However, Counting Miracles is officially the worst Nicholas Sparks book ever. It seems there was supposed to be an immediate connection between Kaitlyn Cooper and Tanner Hughes, but there was absolutely nothing. This book was meant to be romantic and I did not feel it in the slightest. And then, what’s with the white deer? I’m confused. You’re probably confused now, too. Exactly my point. This book is a major disappointment.
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
This book is supposed to be a mystery thriller full of suspense. However, I did not sense any suspense. Cleo is a student at NYU who is the complete opposite of her mother, Kat. However, things change when Kat goes missing. Cleo puts their differences aside and begins to investigate her mother’s disappearance. As she takes the role of a detective, she starts uncovering her mother’s shocking secrets. But unfortunately for readers, the secrets are not shocking. My grandma has better and juicier secrets than this. Kimberly McCreight tried to create a suspenseful book but failed. Justice for the mystery book genre in 2025!
Funny Story by Emily Henry
This book features a story that is everything but funny. I thought this book was going to be a lighthearted romance with some plot twists. Well, for the first time in my entire life … I was wrong. Daphne was engaged to Peter until she realized that he was in love with his childhood best friend. Emily Henry, are we serious right now? This is not a funny story. The storyline actually gave me flashbacks of my ex. Why would you title a book Funny Story if it’s not a funny story? All I’m saying is that we must do better in 2025.
Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez
This book also gave me flashbacks to my summer fling that I completely forgot existed. Justin and Emma agreed on a summer fling but began to catch real feelings. Fate brought them together and they unexpectedly became the perfect pair. This book is fueling unrealistic expectations and causing romance book lovers to be more delusional than they already are. (I’m the most delusional person on this planet and this book did not help my case.) Therefore, it’s completely unfair that this book is available for purchase in bookstores. I’m starting to think my love life and the book industry need improvement in 2025.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
Okay, picture this. A normal-looking tearoom from the outside that is actually a secret eatery for vampires who are eager to indulge in blood. Sounds absolutely repetitive, right? How many vampire books do we need? When will it be enough? These are all great questions that I would love to receive the answers to in 2025. The whole vampire storyline is super played out and needs to be dropped at this point. It’s 2024 and we need to start acting like it. Vampires are so 2012. This book is trying to keep the vampire allure alive but it simply didn’t do its job. Do better.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney
Are we serious right now? The first Diary of a Wimpy Kid was published in 2007. It’s 2024 and they’re still publishing these books? Goodness gracious! It’s been seven years, get a grip. And believe it or not, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess is the nineteenth volume of this boring series. Yup, you read that right — the nineteenth volume. I just don’t understand why they’re continuing the series if kids no longer take an interest in these books. They are so unpopular among children and they’re not a special part of childhood. Let’s leave Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 2024.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
I just finished airing out the beef with vampires, and here we go again. What is it with these overrated mythical creatures? And to make matters worse, not only does this book include vampires but it also features werewolves. Now it’s really starting to feel like 2012 again. Misery Lark is the daughter of the most powerful vampire and she’s forced to marry Lowe Moreland, a ruthless werewolf. She must surrender herself to the exchange but she has secret intentions of her own. Sounds lame. I’ve had enough and I’m sure you’ve had enough as well. Another book failure of 2024.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
If you want to throw yourself into a whirlwind, then you must read this book. This is the most confusing yet boring book I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s like reading a book full of kindergartner’s attempts at writing in script. Peter and Ivan are brothers who have the most dull yet peculiar lives ever. Peter can’t sleep and struggles to balance his two relationships with two very different women. Ivan is an introverted chess player who falls in love with an older woman. I mean … what is even happening here? How do these two fools have an entire book about them?
Now that we have brought attention to 2024’s most disappointing books, you know what to avoid and we can make adjustments for the quickly approaching new year. Luckily, 2025 is just around the corner and the book industry can get a fresh start! (It desperately needs it.) 2024 was overflowing with bookish disappointments, so let’s make sure we don’t repeat these same letdowns.
Click here to check out 2024’s not-so-terrible books.
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