The results are in! The 16th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards have unveiled the best books of 2024, with readers worldwide casting a record-breaking 6.2 million votes. Spanning 15 diverse categories, this year’s winners spotlight a captivating mix of returning favorites and exciting newcomers, all celebrated for their unique ability to move, thrill, and inspire.
At the forefront is Alison Espach, who claimed the Readers’ Favorite Fiction award with her breakout novel, The Wedding People. This surprise hit masterfully blends screwball comedy with heartfelt drama, earning its spot as a fan favorite. Romance queen Emily Henry captured her fourth consecutive win with Funny Story, an ingenious tale of heartbreak and resilience. The audiobook version, narrated by Julia Whelan, also triumphed in its category. Meanwhile, Kristin Hannah’s emotional war novel, The Women, dominated the Historical Fiction category, securing one of the year’s most decisive victories.
Goodreads legend Stephen King added another feather to his cap with You Like It Darker, his eleventh career win, this time in the Horror category. On the debut front, Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time thrilled readers with its clever mix of romance, time travel, and espionage, while Yulin Kuang’s romance debut charmed audiences with a deeply emotional reunion story.
From gripping thrillers to heartfelt romances and imaginative adventures, the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards have once again showcased the transformative power of storytelling. Explore this year’s winners below and find your next great read!
Readers’ Favorite Fiction
The Wedding People – Alison Espach
Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction
The Women – Kristin Hannah
Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller
The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
Readers’ Favorite Romance
Funny Story – Emily Henry
Readers’ Favorite Romantasy
House of Flame and Shadow – Sarah J. Maas
Readers’ Favorite Fantasy
Somewhere Beyond the Sea – T.J. Klune
Readers’ Favorite Science Fiction
The Ministry of Time – Kaliane Bradley
Readers’ Favorite Horror
You Like It Darker – Stephen King
Readers’ Favorite Debut Novel
How to End a Love Story – Yulin Kuang
Readers’ Favorite Audiobook
Funny Story – Emily Henry (narrated by Julia Whelan)
Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Ruthless Vows – Rebecca Ross
Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fiction
Heartstopper: Volume Five – Alice Oseman
Readers’ Favorite Nonfiction
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness – Jonathan Haidt
Readers’ Favorite Memoir
The Third Gilmore Girl – Kelly Bishop
Readers’ Favorite History & Biography
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore – Evan Friss
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.