When we do our annual Best of posts every year, we limit our choices to books that were published that year – so our Best of 2024 posts included only books that were published in 2024. But we also read books last year that were published before 2024, and this is our opportunity to share our “Best Belated Reads” with you. Maybe one of us has read one of your old favourites – come and join in the squee! – or perhaps there are books here you’ve been meaning to get to and haven’t managed to, and this will prompt you to bump it up your TBR. So do have a look, and drop by to tell us about YOUR Best Belated Reads.
Caz:
Chaos Station by Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen
Originally published in 2015 & 2016, the Chaos Station series was republished in 2024 and I absolutely inhaled all five books as soon as they (re)appeared. This is sci-fi romance done right, with complex plotlines, superbly drawn characters and a fabulous central romance. The authors start strong with Chaos Station and maintain the same high standard throughout – every book is a DIK.
The Darkness Outside Us by Elliot Schrafer, narrated by James Fouhey
Still with sci-fi romance, The Darkness Outside Us is one of those books that’s going to stay with me – it made me smile, made me cry (at least twice!) and gave me a book hangover that lasted for days. It’s compelling, it’s heartbreaking, it’s wryly funny and incredibly moving – and although it seems to have been classified as YA (the leads are seventeen) don’t let that put you off, because this is an epic story of love and hope and survival that goes way beyond an age label. Set in the future, it’s the story of two young men who are sent on a rescue mission to a distant planet – and I’m not going to say anything more because you really need to go into this one without knowing what to expect. The narration by James Fouhey is excellent, so audio is the way to go if you like the sound of this one.
One Giant Leap by Kay Simone, narrated by Greg Tremblay
I LOVED this longest of long-distance romances between an astronaut on the Space Shuttle (Curt) and his CapCom (Capsule Communicator – Patrick) back on Earth. One Giant Leap is a gorgeous, slow-burn romance between two people who fall in love before they’ve met face-to-face – and Curt has no idea what Patrick even looks like. So many romances are full of mental lusting and insta-love, so a story in which the characters fall for each other as people is incredibly refreshing – and the scene where Curt and Patrick finally set eyes on one another for the first time is one of the swooniest ever. Greg Tremblay/Boudreaux is m/m romance narrating royalty and one of my all-time favourite narrators; he has such a great range of character voices and expression that I always know I’m in for a treat when I pick up a book he’s narrated.
The Aftermath by Kay Simone
Having so enjoyed One Giant Leap, I went looking for more by Kay Simone. The Aftermath is a teacher/student romance done right. Daniel and Will know they’re playing with fire, but the pull between them is too strong to resist, no matter how hard they try – and Will does try, really hard. The author develops and explores their relationship so well, and the sex scenes are beautifully written and emotional – they’re steamy but are about so much more than that, illuminating and exploring the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
The ten year age gap is well handled, too – Daniel is intelligent, insightful and mature for his age – sometimes, he’s more mature than Will! – and it’s very clear that their mutual love for literature and language is the basis for the very strong emotional bond that forms between them. I hope to read more books by Kay Simone soon.
Dolly:
Can you re-read your favorite books? I can. I’ve always been able to rewatch movies and books for the cathartic feeling of familiarity and sheer enjoyment of the story. When I’m in between new books, or when I’m overly tired or stressed and just want to turn my brain off, I go for what I know.
I discovered Julie Kriss through Kindle Unlimited a couple years ago and since then I’ve purchased all of her books. She’s pretty much a guaranteed good story for me, and though romantic suspense is my go-to, Kriss’ contemporary romances are my favorite of the subgenre. They’re smart and well written, the main characters are always equally flawed, equally strong, have equitable things at stake. The men are never macho assholes who ‘don’t do long term,’ and in fact pretty much willingly follow their hearts. The women aren’t resentful man haters because everything bad in the world wasn’t caused by an ex. The struggles and tension in the world of Kriss are relatable and mature, and oh, so very sexy. Most of her books are written in dual first person PoVs, a huge pet peeve of mine before reading and enjoying her books, though she typically frames them from the male perspective. I’m a boy mom and my husband is the greatest guy, so while I’m a card carrying feminist, I appreciate romances with strong men who are good people. Here are my favorites:
Make Me Beg by Julie Kriss
Book four in the Riggs Brothers series is my favorite. When I’m re-reading for catharsis I don’t feel the need to start on book one of any series – I just jump into the book that I know will fit my mood. This series, in general, can be read as standalones or out of order, by the way. Dex Riggs is the oldest Riggs brother and the biggest fuckup … or is he? His conflict started out professionally and bled over into his personal life, and his brothers and the world around just assume he’s a dirtbag ex-cop. The woman who jerks a knot in him and brings him back to life is Lauren Parker, a woman he sort of crushed on in high school before life took them in separate directions. They reunite at the wedding of his brother and her twin sister, and their kindred spirits immediately reignite. Lauren is divorced and forging a new path, and wants a baby. Dex is hiding out from traumatic events in his former cop life and on pause, and willing to help Lauren. Their shared journey provides a healing balm for both, provides intimacy and purpose where it wasn’t expected, and gives them something to fight for. I love this story.
Bad Billionaire by Julie Kriss
If I could dream of the perfect character, it would be Devon Wilder. Oh, my god. I like this book so much for its redemptive qualities. Devon and his brother Cavan were teenagers when their mother was murdered by a boyfriend, sling-shotting them into their trajectory as adults. Cavan left town, not to be heard of for nearly a decade (we meet him in book four of the series), leaving Devon to fend for himself on the wild streets of LA. Unsurprisingly he turned to a life of sketchy decisions (not quite a criminal, but for sure a getaway driver) that ultimately get him caught and put in jail for three years. The woman who sees through the grime and pure physical beauty of him is Olivia Maplethorpe, a junior graphic artist who lives across the way from him. Devon may have been raised roughly on the streets and gone to prison, but he proves his gentle, romantic heart time and again. These two lift each other up, support one another through the good times and the bad, and are generally dreamy couple goals. Plus, Devon Wilder.
Laura:
Amid all the new books that came in in 2024 I managed some best belated reads, the books that give me comfort and hope – the hot chocolates of the romance world. My top three re-reads have got something in common – the heroes are all Alpha men who fall for their women and they are not afraid to make that known. It’s the heroines who have work to do – either for their situation, or their emotional state before they can commit. Apparently this is my crack – any recommendations are welcome!
Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood.
Jack and Elsie are both physicists, but he’s at the top of the profession and she’s younger and starting out as a poorly paid and overworked adjunct. Jack falls hard and fast, and then waits for Elsie to catch up with him. It’s sexy and swoony and so delicious! There’s a health rep for Elsie as a diabetic without health insurance and both of them have variously toxic family situations to either navigate or overcome.
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
This final book in Mary Balogh’s Bedwyn Saga is about the cold-as-ice Duke of Bewcastle. Wulfric has dutifully managed his many siblings, and done the Duchy proud, only to find himself alone and lonely. Wulfric falls – hard – for the utterly unsuitable Christine Derrick, a widow with a shadow hanging over her. Wulfric is proud and standoffish, but essentially, also just a man. His pursuit of Christine astonishes the whole family – and himself. So so so good!
Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
Kleypas’ nod to progress and the self-made man. Rhys Winterborne owns a seriously fabulous department store (Harrods, anyone?) and falls hard for Lady Helen Ravenel when she cares for him after a train accident (in Cold-Hearted Rake). He’s a bit of a brute, she’s fragile and demure, but also very game! This book starts with them agreeing to have him ruin her and then it’s all the shenanigans between their betrothal and marriage as Rhys ducks and weaves around all the obstacles. When Rhys says, “Go to France, go anywhere, and see how long it takes for me to reach you. Not five fucking minutes” – what could be better?
Maggie:
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Originally published in 2023, I read this one in 2024, and it is a powerful, insightful look at trust, friendship, racism, culturalization, and reaching the end of your rope.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Published in 2022, this fantastic novel on learning to let go of the past and embrace the future has won all kinds of awards and deserves every last one. Ultimately a tale of hope and happiness, it is one of the best books you’ll ever read.
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
Once upon a time, paranormals were my favorite reads. This gem of a book encapsulates all the reasons they are wonderful and romantic. If I had read it in 2023 it would have made my top ten list easily.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton
A murder mystery set in the colonial years of the U.S., this fabulous story is just . . . everything you could want in a mystery. Strong characters, interesting puzzles, and lots of action. My only complaint was the slightly over-the-top ending and some historical deviations, which didn’t add to the story but did detract from my enjoyment. Still a darn good read.
Maria Rose:
A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy
I hadn’t read any books by Mia Vincy when I discovered that some of the audiobooks were on sale so having seen that they were favorably reviewed at AAR, I picked up the four audiobooks in this series (Longhope Abbey) and listened to this book first. The narration was great (Kate Reading knows her stuff), and I loved this story of childhood frenemies, an engagement of convenience, and the eventual discovery of real, passionate, love so it turned out to be a good choice!
Footprints in the Sand by Pam Lecky
While the first in this historical mystery series (The Lucy Lawrence Mysteries) didn’t wow me, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this second book (which I reviewed at AAR and gave a B). The descriptions of the archeological digs in Egypt and just the whole adventure in general is still one of my favourite reads from last year, even if it didn’t garner an A from me.
Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh
I seem to get to the latest Psy-Changeling paranormal romances about one to two years after they are published. Resonance Surge was published in July of 2023 (and I’ve yet to read Primal Mirror (which came out in 2024, so my delay continues). But I continue to love the characters and setting and overall worldbuilding arc so it’s no surprise that it would keep showing up on my list of best belated faves.If you’re a longtime fan of the series, and the Stonewater Bears are a favourite clan, then seeing twins Pavel and Yakov find their mates is very satisfying.