Staff Bests of 2024Like this list

21 items

• Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

  a Cozy Fantasy Steeped With Love

  Thorne, Rebecca, 1991-

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  This is a cozy fantasy with delicious banter between two people who are already in love. They fight the world to create their own slice of paradise -- which is a bookshop that serves tea of course.

• Wintering

  the Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

  May, Katherine,

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  Wintering is a cozy and enchanting book about navigating through challenging periods in our lives.

• The Collectors

  An Anthology

  King, A. S. (Amy Sarig), 1970-

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  This anthology of short stories is really great for when you're in between books or in a reading slump. These highly rated young adult authors have each written a story about a unique collection - whether it be a collection of items,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Lost Among the Living

  St. James, Simone

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  I love every book I've read by Simone St. James. They are full of mystery and intrigue, and St. James' writing style is such that you just never want to put her books down.

• Somna :

  a Bedtime Story

  Cloonan, Becky

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  A graphic novel drawn by two authors in collaboration. So expect to see traditional comic art mixed in with 70s dark fantasy inspired art. The setting is also cool -- the 1600s during the witch hunts of the western world.

• The London Séance Society

  Penner, Sarah

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  The London Séance Society evolves around the séance craze of the 1800s and, of course, involves the supernatural. This was the first audiobook I listened to in a very long while and it was as well narrated as the story was compelling.

• Bake From Scratch

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  Cozy baking inspiration!

• This Time Tomorrow

  Straub, Emma

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  Hands down my favourite novel of 2024. While I am not usually a fan of fantasy, Emma Straub suspended my disbelief enough to convince me that time travel is real in her story. This novel features the relationship between a father and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mr. Villain's Day Off. Volume 01

  Morikawa, Yuu

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  No action, no mystery, just a guy who loves pandas...and is also an alien? It's cozy and cute even if it's a little weird in its premise.

• Bookshops & Bonedust

  Baldree, Travis, 1977-

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  This is a great prequel to "Legends and Lattes" where we get to know more about the main character. It has enough action to keep the story going and enough world building to dig in and get cozy.

• Never Whistle at Night

  An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

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  Monsters and ghosts, curses and legacies, desperate deeds and chilling acts of revenge - what more could you want? This was a captivating collection of short stories by Indigenous authors, some who were familiar to me and some who were new…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Divine Rivals

  a Novel

  Ross, Rebecca (Rebecca J.),

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  The writing was lovely, lyrical, and metaphorical. The magic system is soft and seamlessly fits into the worldbuilding; and the themes of war, the fragility of life, and community are very well-done. The rivals-to-lovers love story is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Th1rteen R3asons Why

  a Novel

  Asher, Jay, 1975-

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  I like how the narrators, Joel Johnstone and Debra Wiseman, portrayed the characters of Clay and Hannah. Although this book covers a serious topic it does so in an insightful way. The ending leaves you feeling hopeful that everything will…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

  A Novel

  Miller, Kirsten, 1973-

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  Packed with laughter, this is a wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books…and the little lending library that changes everything. Guaranteed to brighten your day.

• Longlegs

  Add Longlegs to your for later shelf

  Nicholas Cage is super creepy in this tension-filled serial killer horror movie. There are a couple of jump scares but it's all about the ominous feelings and it layers those on well.

• Like Mother, Like Mother

  a Novel

  Rieger, Susan, 1946-

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  A beautifully written novel about the complexities of family and the ability to remain the person you are (and will evolve to be) in that familial context. Articulate, seamless storytelling by an extremely talented author.

• The Tortured Poets Department

  the Anthology

  Swift, Taylor, 1989-

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  Taylor Swift keeps riding the creative wave that's seen her release four albums in four years (not counting the four Taylor's Versions). The Tortured Poet's Department is a rich, nuanced album that digs deep into themes Swift had explored…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Butcher & Blackbird

  Weaver, Brynne

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  This romance novel about two serial killers who kill serial kills is unique. This was a weirdly fun read (despite some pretty serious backstory), the gore was more mentioned than described in detail, and it somehow ends in a happily ever…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Love of My Afterlife

  Greenwood, Kirsty, 1982-

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  It was cozy, funny and had some brilliant pop culture references. Some of my favourites included Grease, Greys Anatomy, Emily Henry and Bridgerton. This is not a book about death, it is a book about living life to its fullest.

• Looking for Smoke

  Cobell, K. A.,

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  This book was incredibly engaging, had fantastic characters, and brought attention to the real issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. A must-read for YA mystery/thriller fans!