Welcome to Authoring Arrowheads’s last post of 2023!

The Most Anticipated Reads post is one of my favorites of the year, and I’m so excited to be sharing my top picks with y’all. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in to find out which books I’m most excited to read in 2024.

Note: This post does not include any new releases for 2024, only because I try to stick to my existing TBR of books I already own. So, there will be some older books, as well as books that have been released in recent years. These books are listed in no particular order.

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

I read my first Melissa Ferguson book this year–The Cul-de-sac War–and loved it! It’s one of the first romcoms that gave me hope that I could actually find books in that genre that I enjoy. The meet cute in that book was adorable, as the humor was fantastic. Since Meet Me in the Margins is a bookish themed romcom, I can’t wait to try it next.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Though I am by no means a fantasy reader, this author’s Cursebreakers trilogy is one of my favorite series (thanks to Commander Grey), so I have high hopes for the first book in this series!

Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray

I’ve never read a book by this author before, but her contemporary Christian romance books are hyped by many Christian fiction readers, so I am excited to check out her books. Plus, the cover is gorgeous. ❤

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Thanks to The Inheritance Games trilogy and The Naturals (I’ve only read book one, but I loved it!), Jennifer Lynn Barnes has become one of my all-time favorite authors in 2023, and so I’m excited to read both books in her Debutantes duology from her backlist.

Authentically Izzy by Pepper Basham

My favorite read of 2023 was recommended by BookLoverAmanda on BookTube, and she also highly recommends this book to her viewers. Because we have similar reading tastes, I believe this one will be a hit! I’ve never read one of Basham’s books before, but I have been stoked to try them.

It’s All About Him by Denise Jackson

Around the time of my wedding back in 2021, I became a fan of Alan Jackson’s music (not that I wasn’t before, but I gained so much more respect for him and his songwriting) after watching his documentary on Amazon. Since Alan doesn’t have his own memoir available, I am beyond excited to read his wife’s book. For whatever reason, I’m really into reading books by or about my favorite musicians, so I have extremely high expectations for this. XD

My Jesus by Anne Wilson

Speaking of music memoirs!

After watching a YouTube video about all that Anne Wilson has gone through in her life concerning grief, I couldn’t resist reading her memoir. She’s one of my current favorite contemporary Christian artists and I can’t wait to read what she has to say about her spiritual journey.

Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo

Though I have never been involved in IBLP, nor am close to anyone who was involved with it, I have done my own research and watched testimonies of those who have after I first learned how toxic the program’s teachings are. When I heard that Jinger Vuolo (formerly Duggar), who grew up in IBLP, would be unpacking what the program was like and would be countering its teachings with the Truth of God’s word, it was an auto-buy for me.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

I have been on the lookout for more thrillers, and have heard Daisy Darker recommended on several BookTube channels. Many readers say it’s similar to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (which I haven’t read, but want to read), so that is my main reason for wanting to give it a chance.

The Remainder of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was my first read of 2023 and it had me locked in! I’m planning on rereading the first book and then finishing the series this year.

Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book, and the cover’s fall aesthetic sold me on giving it a try! If I remember correctly, this is a clean cozy mystery/romcom. I have read two of Gracie Ruth Mitchell’s books before and enjoyed them, but I’m anticipating that I’ll like this one even more.

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

Several of my friends on Goodreads read this book in 2023 and said that it’s like a cleaner alternative to Where the Crawdads Sing. While I haven’t read Where the Crawdads Sing, I did watch the movie and enjoyed it (besides the blatant disregard of North Carolina’s geography. #AshevilleIsNowhereNeartheCoast), so I’m expecting that I will enjoy this book even more, especially if it accurately represents my home state. 😛

Memory Lane by Becky Wade

Like with Tammy L. Gray, I’ve heard nothing but praise concerning Becky Wade’s books. Memory Lane has been recommended as one of her best works. It’s a contemporary Christian romance that deals with tough topics, so y’all know this is right up my alley.

A Crown of Chains by Erin Phillips

Again, I am not a fantasy reader, but I really want to give this retelling of the book of Esther a try. Erin Phillips is an indie author, and this book has absolutely blown up in the Christian book community, which is inspiring to me. Even though I don’t usually enjoy fantasy books, I want to try this one to support Erin and to see how I like Biblical retellings, because I haven’t read many of those.

Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

And here are two more fantasy books. XD

I read Caraval by Stephanie Garber in 2021 and enjoyed it, but have not continued the series yet; however, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy and have to know what everyone is raving about. The only reason book three isn’t on my most anticipated list is because I do not own it yet.

The Heartbreaker I Adore by Haley Zaragoza

I read the first book in this author’s When in Waverly series of clean romcoms, The Nice Guy Next Door, earlier this month and LOVED IT, so I can’t wait to read book two. I really liked the characters this book will follow when they were introduced as friends of the couple from book one.

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye

I read the kids’ version of the Left Behind books when I was in middle school, and watched the original Left Behind movies when I was a teenager, but have still not read the original books. When I *finally* got to visit a Half Price Books (we, unfortunately, don’t have them in NC) on our anniversary trip to Kentucky back in October, Left Behind was one of the books I bought there.

My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

…yet another fantasy book. Oh well. In my defense, I had the best time reading My Lady Jane by these authors when I read it in 2022, so I have the highest hopes for My Imaginary Mary. This one is a take on the life of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein.

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer

For full transparency, the second book in Meyer’s Timeless series is either my most anticipated read for 2024, or it will be read in the last week of 2023 if I get it for Christmas. I have a strong suspicion that it’s under the tree, so… XD

Book one in this series, When the Day Comes, is now my second favorite book of all time, so I am expecting a lot from this book and know it will deliver all the feels based on the rave reviews I’ve read. I. can’t. wait. So, if I can somehow not read it before 2023 ends, it will definitely be my first read of 2024.

Sadie on the Rocks by Joanne Bischof

I read and adored (and cried like a lunatic) over Bischof’s novella This Quiet Sky earlier this year. It was a historical young adult Christian romance, which is not my go-to genre. I’m more of a contemporary reader. So, when I realized this author has a new contemporary series, I immediately added it to my TBR.

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

If you’ve read any of the titles on this list, which one was your favorite? What are your most anticipated reads of 2024? Let me know in the comments!

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀