With 2024 nearing its epilogue, book lovers everywhere are buzzing with excitement for the Goodreads Choice Awards. This annual celebration of reader favorites is like the Oscars for bookworms, where the best plots, characters, and twists vie for the coveted title of “Best Book.” Whether you’re a fan of spine-chilling thrillers, cozy romances, epic fantasies, or something else, there’s a category for every kind of reader. And the best part? You can play the role of judge! Voting in the Opening Round is open until November 24, so get in your cozy place and keep reading to find out everything you need to know before casting your vote for the stories that kept you up all night.
Eligibility and Categories
To be eligible for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2024, a book must have been published in the United States in English between November 16, 2023, and November 14, 2024. Think of it like the literary version of a debutante ball, where only the freshest titles get to dance. The competition is fierce, with categories that cater to every reader’s taste, and the range to vote on is vast, catering to every literary taste:
- Fiction, Mystery & Thriller
- Historical Fiction
- Fantasy
- Romance
- Science Fiction
- Horror
- Humor
- Nonfiction
- Memoir & Autobiography
- History & Biography
- Science & Technology
- Food & Cookbooks
- Graphic Novels & Comics
- Poetry
- Debut Novel
- Young Adult Fiction
- Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
- Middle Grade & Children’s
- Picture Books.
From the thrilling to the heartwarming, there’s a category for everyone! The Opening Round nominees must be books with an average rating of 3.50 or higher, and they can only be entered in a single genre category — unless it also snags a spot in the Debut Novel category. Note: An author may receive multiple nominations within a single category if he or she has more than one eligible book.
Popular Books This Year
The list of nominees will take some time to wade through, but here are just three of the top contenders that have captured the hearts and minds of readers everywhere. These standout titles have not only garnered rave reviews but also amassed a legion of devoted fans, making them the favorites to win the prestigious Goodreads Choice Award for their genres.
The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
When Clem Woodbury’s daughter, Erin, falls into a coma after a tragic hiking accident on the remote Orkney Islands, Clem’s world is turned upside down. But when Erin awakens, she claims to be someone else named Nyx. Now Clem is on a quest to uncover the truth, leading her down the dark history of the Orkneys, where a 16th-century healer named Alison Balfour was wrongfully accused of witchcraft. As past and present collide, Clem must navigate ancient curses and modern-day mysteries to save her daughter in this haunting, heart-pounding journey that will leave you enchanted and eager for more.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum and Shanna Tan (Translator)
Readers are invited into a charming slice-of-life tale set in a quaint Seoul neighborhood. Yeongju, feeling burned out from her high-flying career and demanding life, decides to take a leap of faith. She quits her job, divorces her husband, and opens a cozy bookshop in Hyunam-Dong, a small residential neighborhood outside the city. As Yeongju navigates the ups and downs of running an indie bookstore, she discovers a community of kindred spirits, each with their own stories of heartbreak and hope. From a lonely barista to an unhappily married coffee roaster to a writer who sees something special in Yeongju, the bookshop becomes a haven for those seeking solace and a fresh start. It’s a heartwarming reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your own story and find healing in the pages of a good book.
Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
This delightful YA rom-com brings together the worlds of theater and tabletop gaming. Riley, a musical enthusiast with Broadway dreams, gets into trouble and finds herself grounded, sentenced to work at her dad’s game shop after her rebellious joyride. Desperate to save her high school’s spring musical, Riley strikes a deal with Nathan, a sweet, nerdy coworker: he’ll cover her shifts if she helps him win over his gamer-girl crush. But Riley didn’t anticipate joining Nathan’s Dungeons & Dragons game — or discovering how much fun role-playing could be. As the lines between acting and reality blur, Riley realizes that her feelings for Nathan might not be all make-believe. It’s a charming tale of fake dating, unexpected friendships, and the magic that happens when you roll the dice on love.
Don’t Miss the Final Reveal!
As the voting period heats up, now is the perfect time to cast your vote and champion your favorite reads. Whether you’re rooting for a world-bending sci-fi, a sweetheart romance, or an epic fantasy, your vote can help decide the winners. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for December 5, when the winners will be revealed!
The 2024 National Book Award finalists have also been announced — check it out here.
Browse our bookshelf to find books released in 2024.
