The Most Read Books of the 2024 Reading Challenge (So Far)
It's time once again, gentle readers, for our midyear status check on the annual Goodreads Reading Challenge, in which members pledge to read a designated number of books before the calendar year is out. It’s a relatively straightforward process: Click on over to the 2024 Reading Challenge page, enter in the number of books you plan to devour, then get busy with page-turning.
The numbers are pretty astounding: As of this writing, more than 7 million Goodreads members have signed up for the Challenge, worldwide. Total books pledged: more than 295 million.
Below you will find the most popular books being read by Goodreads regulars who have signed up for this year’s Challenge. We’ve sorted the titles by genre, then ranked the titles by overall popularity within the genre. So, for instance, Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry is the most read Historical Fiction book among those taking the 2024 Reading Challenge.
Several of the books making the list are relatively recent releases that have crossed over into the general cultural conversation: James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, say, or Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize winner, Demon Copperhead. You’ll also find a good cross section of Goodreads Choice Award winners, such as Emily Henry’s Happy Place, Nita Prose’s The Maid, and Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Scroll around below to get a sense of it all, and click on the book cover images for more information about each title. You can also click the link below to check in on your own Reading Challenge progress, or to sign up if you haven’t already. It’s never too late, and the six-month Challenge is a perfectly honorable tradition.
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Horror
Romance
Young Adult
General Nonfiction
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Julia
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Jun 03, 2024 12:17AM
read 25 of these, want to read 11 😎
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ooo i love that circe is trending! coupled with hera's story in blood of zeus and medusa's portrayal in the percy jackson tv series, i'm so excited that the woman wronged in greek mythology are finally getting their voices heard!
I've read 11 from this list. Hello Beautiful, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, The Measure and Lessons in Chemistry are up next. I'm surprised The Women by Kristin Hannah isn't on this list. Where's the middle grade, though?
I've read 41 (although I admit a few were DNF's for me). 10 are on my want to read or want it shelves so we'll see what happens -- if I'm actually able to get to these this year. I feel like I'm always the LAST to read the popular titles.
Kristen wrote: "HUGE fan of Before the Coffee Gets Cold series! So happy to see it made the list!"
I have only read the first one so far, but it's one of the few books I gave 5 stars.
If people who read this decide to read the book, it's like multiple small stories in one novel. So some stuff repeats. If you treat it like a book of short stories and don't binge read, one might enjoy it more. (from what I remember, anyway)
I have only read the first one so far, but it's one of the few books I gave 5 stars.
If people who read this decide to read the book, it's like multiple small stories in one novel. So some stuff repeats. If you treat it like a book of short stories and don't binge read, one might enjoy it more. (from what I remember, anyway)
I am very happy to note that I haven't read a single one of the books which are 'trending'.
Up to this point in time I have read 52 books this year. (My target was 50). Some have been outstanding, some have been absolutely diabolical, but not one of them are on this list! I generally find that the books which are 'hyped' up to the levels of 'must read' popularity that 'everyone' is reading them often are the ones which disappoint me the most and I end up wondering what all the fuss is about.
Up to this point in time I have read 52 books this year. (My target was 50). Some have been outstanding, some have been absolutely diabolical, but not one of them are on this list! I generally find that the books which are 'hyped' up to the levels of 'must read' popularity that 'everyone' is reading them often are the ones which disappoint me the most and I end up wondering what all the fuss is about.
This list has the most books I've read of any list I've ever seen on Goodreads. I've read 37 of these. Only one is a "want to read." Maybe I should check some of the others out.
Law wrote: "I've read 11 from this list. Hello Beautiful, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, The Measure and Lessons in Chemistry are up next. I'm surprised The Women by Kristin Hannah isn't on this list. Whe..."
for real!! everyone ignores middle grade - a whole age group
for real!! everyone ignores middle grade - a whole age group
I’ve read 35 of the books listed above. Most were entertaining. Some were over rated, and I wonder how they arrived on the Best Sellers lists.
I've only read 5 of these but I have a few on my physical tbr and a lot on my tbr :)
major bookish fomo whenever I see these lists and I've read, like, none lol
major bookish fomo whenever I see these lists and I've read, like, none lol
Law « I'm surprised The Women by Kristin Hannah isn't on this list. Where's the middle grade, though? »
As they said it’s just statistics about what the readers put in their book lists so, just means those aren’t as popular, this list wasn’t selected by anyone.
As they said it’s just statistics about what the readers put in their book lists so, just means those aren’t as popular, this list wasn’t selected by anyone.
I've read 2 - both were read when I was in high school 45+ years ago. I find it interesting they're even on this list. I'm currently reading 1, and want to read 10.
I've read 29, DNF'd 1, and still have a few on my "to read" list. Pretty good! Historical fiction is my most read genre on this list.
Linda wrote: "Wondering about The Women as well. Is it due to timing of this article?"
Agree! The Women and James, both must read this summer. They are both excellent!
Agree! The Women and James, both must read this summer. They are both excellent!
26 read, but 2 were dnf. Several others are on my tbr and are waiting my turn at the library. The best on the list is I Who Have Never Known a Man.
I have read most of the young-adult and romance books on this. The ones I haven’t read on young-adult and romance are want-to-reads.
Even though I enjoy both series, I am pleasantly surprised not to see ACOTAR or Fourth Wing. I wonder if it's because they didn't do a Romantasy section, but either way, this is a better mix than I usually see on these lists.
Read - 45
Dnfed -2
Want to Read - 10
Of those ten, I should get to at least five before the year is out. Of the newer books, The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is really good!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Goodreads, go back to showing our personal star ratings under each cover on these lists! I read so many books, sometimes I can't remember what I rated them. I don't have time to click on them all. Anyone else with me on this?
Dnfed -2
Want to Read - 10
Of those ten, I should get to at least five before the year is out. Of the newer books, The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is really good!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Goodreads, go back to showing our personal star ratings under each cover on these lists! I read so many books, sometimes I can't remember what I rated them. I don't have time to click on them all. Anyone else with me on this?