If you couldn't already guess, books are a pretty big deal here at Halifax Public Libraries. From timeless classics to fresh new releases, 2024 was filled to the brim with unforgettable stories waiting to be discovered—and we've been dying to share them with you!
Let's look back at some of our staff favourites from the year to inspire your reading journey ahead.
Amy's Picks
Staff Member, Halifax Central Library
I binged this book in about two days. It's a psychological thriller that kept me on my toes and completely captivated until the very end. I've been recommending it to everyone I know! I listened to the audiobook version via Libby, and the sound production for the audiobook was also especially excellent.
This story was gorgeously written. I fell in love with the romantic writing, setting, and plot premise almost instantly then felt like I was bundled in a cozy blanket every time I picked it up again. A romantic fantasy that reads almost like historical fiction from wartime 1940's, this one was super unique and memorable.
A story told from the perspective of a cynical yet charming stray cat as he meets various humans through his life, with one in particular who becomes a dear friend. Their story was beautiful, sweet, and at times hilarious and heartbreaking, but overall just so lovely to read.
Isabel's Picks
Staff Member, Halifax Central Library
Over the past year, my top three books I've read have been I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, and Normal People by Sally Rooney.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou's writing in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings felt so visceral and resonated deeply with me; I don't think I'll ever forget her story because of it.
I fell into the Hainish universe by Ursula K. Le Guin this past year, with The Left Hand of Darkness leaving a lasting imprint on me; I loved the speculations on gender and society within the story, and adore Le Guin's constant emphasis on humanity throughout her storytelling.
Having completed watching the TV series Normal People, I was curious to read the novel—all to be blown away by the quiet and yet powerful words of Sally Rooney. My top reads this year were largely influenced by each author's uniquely spellbinding quality of writing.
Sam's Picks
Staff Member, Floater
Manhunt is an incredible, searing horror story, like biting down on a broken tooth. It hurt to read, but in the best way possible, like a wound I needed to expose and clean, so that it could heal. I will think about this story for a long time, never has something captured the trans experience so vividly, has put into the words the fear, the loathing, the love, the mundane and the monstrous, the all encompassing drone of transphobia, the way Manhunt did.
This queer detective novella was amazing and is on my list to add to my shelf permanently. I love sapphic love stories, and while noir detective fiction isn’t my usual cup of tea, this story has enough fantasy world building with the addition of a war between Heaven and Hell and a protagonist with a hidden soft side, that I was completely enthralled.
This manga series is an absolute stand out of the ones I’ve read this year! I love how well it captures the high emotion of being a teen and the exploration of grief, love and fear, and the way those feelings intersect. Second of all I love the art, it really captures the tense mood and the translation is especially good with evocative sound effects, and a perfect mix of slang and use of accents for the teens.
Anna's Picks
Staff Member, Marketing & Communications
My New Year's Resolution last year was to explore new recipes, and I loved referencing cookbooks to inspire the dishes I would bring to family potlucks, dessert exchanges, and festive celebrations.
I highly recommend Joshua's Sandwich Loaf recipe! It's so simple to throw together on a Sunday afternoon for the week ahead. I always double the batch to make two loaves.
If you've watched him on YouTube, you'll love exploring the nerdy recipes Babish brings to this book!
Claire Saffitz is a cooking icon, and one of my comfort chefs from the COVID-19 lockdown days. Her Confetti Cake recipe is my go-to for special celebrations.
Diane's Picks
Staff Member, Woodlawn Public Library
I'm a little late to the Krueger party. He is a prolific author but I had never read his books before, nor did I know anything about them. I was looking for something different and was pleasantly surprised. This character driven mystery is beautifully written.
The Collected Regrets of Clover
Clover is a death doula in New York City. She helps usher people into the afterlife but struggles with living her own life. It's heartwarming and inspiring and hopeful. I really enjoyed this book.
Shelby's Picks
Staff Member, Halifax Central Library
I loved my colleague Elliott Gish's book, Grey Dog. It was deliciously eerie and unsettling, and in parts delightfully horrifying and disturbing. Highly recommend!
Erin's Picks
Manager, Collection Development
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
This book is so good (I devoured it in a day!). It is a family saga and centres on a family full of complicated people who all believe that their family is cursed. The writing is smart, it is funny (darkly so at some points), and you get to really know the characters and care for them. There is a small reveal in the story that I was not expecting—I always appreciate when an author can catch the reader off guard. This was just a really great book.
A mystery novel, but also a novel about family. Lana's life is turned upside down when she receives her cancer diagnosis and she has to leave her busy life in LA to move in with her daughter and teen-aged granddaughter in their quiet coastal town. But excitement is just around the corner when Lana finds herself investigating a murder in order to clear her granddaughter's name. This cozy mystery was funny, and fun, but it was the relationships between the three women that really won me over.
Alison C's Picks
Staff Member, Regional Programming
Set in the near future, a handful of individuals have been plucked from their own times by a newly established department of the UK government. Each "expat" is assigned a civil servant to help them acclimate to their new time. It's a dystopian spy thriller, a time travel novel, and a historical novel all wrapped up in one.
The story behind Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, a real diary by an anonymous teenager. But was it? A bestseller read by millions, the real author behind Go Ask Alice, and later Jay's Journal, was actually Beatrice Sparks, an aspiring Mormon writer who had a rather precarious relationship with telling the truth.
Elizabeth's Picks
Staff Member, Collection Development
I learned about this book from a Psychological Thrillers Facebook group that I am in. This novel is a mix of genres—psychological thriller, suspense, mystery, and crime fiction with bit of horror thrown in. The book is told from the alternating perspective of a serial killer and a medical examiner trying to stop him. There are so many twists in this book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat to the cliffhanger ending. Luckily the sequel, The Butcher Game has already been published.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
I listened to this book as an audiobook on hoopla. This was a very clever, humorous crime novel. Ernest Cunningham's family (a bunch of killers as the title states) gather together for a mandatory family reunion.
The day after they all arrive, a dead body is found in the snow at the resort where they are staying. The story is told from Ern's point of view. This novel has a clever plot and amusing storyline. It's been described as a "Golden Age" style of mystery. It's a delightful read.
This is the story of two women who make a pact to take revenge against the men who have hurt them. This is an intense story. It falls in the suspense thriller genre and it will keep you guessing from the beginning. This is the first Steve Cavanagh book I have read but it certainly won't be the last.
Mairead's Picks
Director, Strategy
Don't let the title dissuade you from Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died. A memoir that explores love, abuse, disordered eating, and grief—and all the complexities of each of these.
Jocelyn's Picks
Manager, Western District
I can't remember the last book that made me cry as much as this one did. That is not a criticism; that is a ringing endorsement of how lovely this book is and how much I loved it and the characters. A fascinating examination of how the Oxford English Dictionary came to be (the author's note at the end is particularly interesting) and a beautiful examination of the lives and rights of women.
This book was laugh out loud funny but also had the most tender, touching moments. It was a great story of a completely unlikely friendship and how we can save each other in the simplest ways.
Kassondra's Picks
Staff Member, Regional Programming
I'm a little biased because Elliott is a librarian and hosted her book launch at the Library! Grey Dog also happened to win bronze for Best Book in the Coast, so it's not just me that loves Elliott's slow burn horror. When I think about a book that features a rural schoolmarm, I picture something romantic! I don't usually picture the horror that's lurking in the woods.
This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances
LaRocca's anthology leans more towards body horror and it's not for everyone, but it kept me up at night whispering "what the heck" into the pages.
I enjoy Kingfisher's slow march towards a terrifying end. The main character's wit had me laughing out loud even as she found a jar of teeth in the rosebushes.
Sarah's Picks
Staff Member, Collection Development
It was awesome! My favourite part was when Chase said, “I really need to sit down’’ and then a chair popped out of the ground. This book was funny and interesting. - Arthur, age 8. (Mom's note: he read and enjoyed every book in this series. A great option for kids looking for a first chapter book series).
This is an absolute must-read. So beautifully written. I knew as soon as I started reading this that it would be something special.
This might be one of the best things to come out of the lockdown period of 2020. As soon as I read the author's note at the beginning about how she came to write the story, I was hooked.
Following a professional ballet dancer's career in Russia. So interesting and different from what I normally read. I loved immersing myself in this dance world.
Darla's Picks
Manager, Research & Analytics
Izzy Reyes, aspiring new King of the (Miami) 305, unwisely models his career path on Scarface's Tony Montana. Throw in a story of Cuban roots and a Seaquarium orca for a memorable tale - I thought about this one all year!
Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space
Two series of short stories forefront the outer bravado and inner disconnect of the narrator and his friends in Namibia. The Five-O (Rambo, Rinzlo, Cicero, Lindo, and Franco) move through young "toxic maleness" and try to leave the toxic behind, with varying success. I liked the contrast between city hustle and home-life tenderness.
Laurel's Picks
Manager, Integrated Communications & Fund Development
In 2024, I explored the literary world of cozy translations (see the Staff List, opens a new window that covers additional titles). Whether it's books and reading, coffee, food, libraries or cats, these books have something for everyone!
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
Continuing the theme of booksellers, this Korean bestseller shares the story of Yeong-Ju who opens a neighbouhood bookshop and brings her community together. If you love reading, books, libraries and booksellers, you'll most likely agree with one of the characters who says, "to read is to see things from someone else's perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place."
Rosemary's Picks
Staff Member, Alderney Gate Public Library
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
LuLa Dean challenges the school board and arch enemy, Beverley Underwood, to ban books from the school library (even though she has not read them herself). Part of Lula's community improvement strategy is to start a free library outside her house, providing to provide the community with "wholesome" books. Beverley's daughter, without her mother's knowledge, secretly switches the "wholesome" book jackets and places them on the banned books. Read this provocative and hilarious book to find out what happens next.
I fell in love with this author just last year and have devoured all his books. Somewhere beyond the sea is the much-awaited sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea and is Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2024), opens a new window, Nominee for Readers' Favorite Audiobook (2024), opens a new window. Arthur Parnassus is the supervisor of six dangerous and magical children at his strange, isolated orphanage. He and his partner, Linus Baker, hope to adopt these children, but his and the future of the children is challenged when a new child arrives. You'll be rooting for Arthur and his family right to the last page.
This read is currently only available as an audiobook from Libby, and it is an hilarious listen. Written and performed by TikTok star Clare Brown, it is perfect for fans of Dear White People and Such a Fun Age, and is performed with a whole cast. When a white family moves into the black gated community of New Nigeria, Carèn's call to the police causes an "misunderstanding" escalates until the whole town is involved. New Nigeria County is a hilarious, flipping the racism script to expose uncomfortable truths in a wildly entertaining comedy.
Nguyen loosely based the novel on her family's experience running a nail salon in Halifax. Jessica returns to her family business after a messy breakup and firing. She discovers her parents struggling due to her father's gambling and the arrival of a high class nail salon in the neighbourhood. A touching, but funny immigrant tale that show the difference of generations and the results of gentrification.
Colleen's Picks
Staff Member, Marketing & Communications
I am so glad I discovered Dolly Alderton this year. She's quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. This book made me laugh out loud, AND cry, a rare find. I think I read it at the perfect time in my life, and found comfort and levity in all its pages. Dolly, I think we would be great friends.
I loved how this story was woven through descriptions of meals, recipes, and grocery store visits. A beautiful mother-daughter story by none other than Canadian indie pop artist, Japanese Breakfast. Talk about multi-talented! 🤩
It feels strange recommending this, but also perhaps, a necessary sign of the times? Terrifyingly eye-opening and educational. Proceed with caution if you don't want to think about this book every day for the rest of your life.
Briana's Picks
This romantasy had everything I look for in both my fantasy and romance stories: a unique magic system, engaging characters, and filled with tension. Bonus points for a fantastic audiobook narration!
A classic epic fantasy quest with one of my favourite found families ever. The world building is insanely good (the map is to die for) but the characters are what really make this trilogy great. I couldn’t help but love both the heroes and the villains.
Based on Chinese mythology, this high fantasy has some gorgeous writing, a fully immersive world that made me feel like I had been transported into a dream, and characters that will rip your heart out (in the best way).
Alison L's Picks
Manager, Policy, Governance & Risk | Executive Assistant to the Chief Librarian & CEO
I read this and have told everyone to read it because it had a little of everything—spy thriller, love, history, science fiction. It's on the bestseller list for a reason! I usually am not a fan of books into movie adaptations, but I HOPE HOPE HOPE this one gets the silver screen treatment.
She suddenly finds herself with a magic attic that provides an alternate reality each time she sends an 'undesirable' husband into the attic. A new husband comes down, and a new life exists. I tore through this fun read—perfect for a palate cleanser or if you just want a fun read!
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