Some of the most recommended books from 2024 — which of these 18 titles should be your next read?

Don't look now, but 2024's been a knockout of a year for books. If you've been neglectful of your reading (confession: This year saw me slip a little, from "voracious" to merely "avid"), we're here to tell you there's a bounty out there waiting to be scarfed up — fiction, non-, bios, memoirs, graphic novels, even cookbooks. And oh yeah: Here in late September, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that a book is a perfect, timeless holiday gift, one you can grab now, check off and forget till wrapping day comes. 

Is there such a thing as a "carefully curated grab bag"? Cuz that's what you're about to peruse. I sifted through hundreds of titles and heeded the recommendations of some of my fellow editors to compile a rundown of books we've read, books we can't wait to read, books we've earmarked for loved ones on our gift lists — with an eye toward the edifying, the enlightening, the pulse-quickening and, well, the sheerly entertaining. Now, step away from that cell phone and get reading!

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.