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Staff Bests of 2024

It's the best kind of problem to have: every year there's more amazing books, TV shows, and movies than anyone could every stay on top of. Strathcona County Library staff are here to help. We've put our heads together and come up with the things we've enjoyed most this past year, from new releases to timeless classics. See what we've been checking out!

Strathcona County Library

21 items

  • 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.
    BookNew York : Tor Publishing Group, [2024] — THOR
  • Wintering

    the Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

    May, Katherine,
    Wintering is a cozy and enchanting book about navigating through challenging periods in our lives.
    BookNew York : Riverhead Books, 2020. — 155.91 MAY 2020
  • 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,…
    BookNew York : Dutton Books, 2023. — KING
  • 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.
    BookNew York, New York : New American Library, [2016]. — STJA
  • Somna :

    a Bedtime Story

    Cloonan, Becky
    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.
    Graphic NovelNew York, NY : DSTLRY, 2024 — CLOO
  • 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.
    Downloadable AudiobookNew York : Harlequin Audio, 2023.
  • Cozy baking inspiration!
    Online Journal or ArticleCleveland : Hoffman Media.
  • 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…
    eBookNew York : Riverhead Books, 2022.
  • 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.
    Graphic NovelEl Segundo, CA : Square Enix Manga, [2023] — GN MRVI
  • 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.
    BookNew York : Tor Publishing Group, [2023] — FANT BALD
  • Never Whistle at Night

    An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

    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…
    Downloadable AudiobookNew York : Vintage Books, 2023.
  • 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…
    BookNew York : Wednesday Books, [2023] — ROSS
  • 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…
    Downloadable AudiobookNew York : Listening Library, 2007.
  • 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.
    eBookNew York : HarperCollins, 2024.
  • 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.
    DVDToronto, Ontario : Elevation Pictures, [2024] — LON
  • 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.
    BookNew York : The Dial Press, [2024] — RIEG
  • 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…
    Downloadable Music[United States] : Taylor Swift, 2024.
  • 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…
    BookNew York : Zando, 2024. — WEAV
  • 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.
    Downloadable AudiobookNew York : Berkley Romance, 2024.
  • 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!
    BookNew York, New York : Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2024] — COBE