The results of our reader survey of the best books of the year.
Over 300 Spinoff members responded to our call out to discover what people enjoyed reading locally and internationally this year. The results show a healthy crossover with The Spinoff’s best New Zealand books of 2024, with some welcome additions and a few surprises.
A major finding was the number of readers (more than a third) who didn’t put anything down for international nonfiction. Participants also read less New Zealand nonfiction than they did fiction. Does this mean that more of us are turning to escapism in these troubled times? Do we need emotional journeys and character connections more than ever?
Another note: many, many entries were disqualified due to the chosen book actually being published in 2023 or earlier (the survey asked for books published in 2024 only, except for the very final question, see below).
To make it onto any of the lists below a book had to have three or more votes. All lists are in order of most votes on down, with a minimal approach to commentary for the sake of brevity.
Fiction (New Zealand)
Sorry to all the people who selected The Bone Tree by Airana Ngawera, Bird Life by Anna Smaill, Lioness by Emily Perkins and Pet by Catherine Chidgey, none of which were published in 2024 (if we were in 2023 you’d be grand). Of 304 responses, 51 people did not put an entry in for New Zealand Fiction, which tells me some of you need to make more determined use of the New Zealand Fiction tables in your local bookshop (if they have one).
Amma by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press)
Winner of the The Spinoff’s People’s Choice for New Zealand Fiction 2024 (by a healthy margin) is the debut novel by Saraid de Silva. “AMMA is a tribute to the ways in which women persist, and the way they can help each other,” wrote Brannavan Gnanalingam in The Spinoff.
All that we know by Shilo Kino (Moa Press)
Great year for Moa Press (see above) and for Shilo Kino’s superb second novel, reviewed by Natasha Lampard on The Spinoff.
Ash by Louise Wallace (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Short, powerful, funny-dark. “I realised I had been waiting for this: a revolutionary text in conversation with universal themes that are treated with a poet’s precision and a poet’s slant.” Read the full review here.
The Mires by Tina Makereti (Ultimo Press)
“The Mires is truly magic from beginning to end,” wrote HJ Kilkelly in The Spinoff.
Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Heart-breaking yet warming coming of old age. Read The Spinoff’s conversational review, here.
Kataraina by Becky Manawatu (Mākaro Press)
The sequel to Auē. Read Jenna Todd’s beautiful thoughts on it here.
Return to Blood by Michael Bennett
Welcome, crime genre! Fantastic to have you here, Mr Bennett.
The Grimmelings by Rachael King (Allen & Unwin)
It’s encouraging to see so many participants considered children’s fiction right alongside adult fiction for this survey (we strongly advise turning to children’s fiction when you’re in a reading slump or need have your will to live refreshed). The Grimmelings is “a book to savour,” wrote Courtney Johnston in The Spinoff.
The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone by Louise Ward and Gareth Ward (Penguin NZ)
The perfect cosy crime summer read from superstar booksellers of Wardini Books.
The Raven’s Eye Runaways by Claire Mabey (Allen & Unwin)
Another children’s novel! Read Hera Lindsay Bird’s brilliant review on The Spinoff.
At the Grand Glacier Hotel by Laurence Fearnley (Penguin NZ)
A story of recovery after cancer, and the healing powers of nature and strangers (and sporter of one of the best covers of the year).
Nine Girls by Stacy Gregg (Penguin NZ)
This fantastic novel set in Ngāruawāhia won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at this year’s Children’s Book Awards 2024. Please also read this related and award-winning essay by Gregg.
The Space Between by Lauren Keenan (Penguin NZ)
Huge year for Keenan who published this historical fiction novel as well as the second in her time-travel series for children. Here’s a fascinating look at the objects that inspired The Space Between.
Home Truths by Charity Norman (Allen & Unwin)
Sam Brooks’ review on The Spinoff is an excellent overview of this superb crime novel.
Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin)
Hawkins is a master of her craft. Funny, warm, clever. Also features in The Spinoff’s Best New Zealand Books of 2024.
When I Open the Shop by Romesh Dissanayake (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
“On every level – character, form, language – dissanayake manages to offer something both innovative and complex in when I open the shop. I loved this bold and beautiful book.” Read more from Maddie Ballard’s review in The Spinoff.
Pātea Boys by Airana Ngawera (Moa Press)
A bi-lingual collection of short stories from the author of The Bone Tree (which many participants did vote for but unfortunately missed the note about books having to be published in 2024.)
Fiction (International)
All Fours by Miranda July (Cannongate)
This year of 2024 will go down as the year of menopause novel: what with the roaring, ongoing success of Emily Perkins’ Lioness, and this heady short story by Lauren Groff in the New Yorker; but the menopause/midlife narrative to rule them all is this horny, radical autofiction masterpiece by polymath, July.
James by Percival Everett (Mantle)
Booker-Prize shortlisted retelling of Huckleberry Finn.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Random House)
Olive Kitteridge meets Lucy Barton.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber)
“Sally Rooney is known as the quintessential millennial writer, but many descriptions feel like they’re from a much earlier time. Sex is always described as “going to bed”, or “making love”.” Read more from Rebecca K Reilly’s review, here.
The Women by Kristin Hannah (St Martin’s Press)
Việt Nam war story by stonkingly popular historical fiction writer.
There are rivers in the sky by Elif Shafak (Viking Press)
Three characters, two rivers, one enchanting story.
Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan (Faber)
A fall from grace tale. O’Hagan is also host The Belgrano Diary, one of the best podcasts of the year.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape)
The winner of the 2024 Booker Prize.
Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson
Literary crime with Agatha Christie vibes.
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
The sequel to Brooklyn.
My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes
Queen Marian’s latest.
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Orion)
Crime and romance. Cromance?
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (Harper Collins)
Sister drama.
Earth by John Boyne (Transworld)
Gripping crime/courtroom drama.
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (Pan Macmillan)
“If you knew when you were going to die, what would you do differently?”
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (Penguin)
Retired detectives can’t stop detecting.
Nonfiction (New Zealand)
Sorry to everyone who put The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson, and Ultrawild by Stephen Mushin, both superb books (see more here), but published in 2023. Of 304 entries, 68 people didn’t put an entry in for NZ Nonfiction. Curious.
Bad Archive by Flora Feltham (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Winner of the The Spinoff’s People’s Choice Award for New Zealand Nonfiction 2024. “These are fiercely multivalent pieces, unafraid of uncertainty or complication. Bad Archive touches on everything from tapestry weaving to a bender in Croatia to historical baby photography – but perhaps the question humming beneath every essay is really ‘what does it mean to change your perspective?’” wrote Maddie Ballard.
Otherhood edited by Alie Benge, Lil O’Brien and Kathryn van Beek (Massey University Press)
Fantastic and diverse collection of essays “on being childless, childfree and child-adjacent”. Have a read of Lily Duval’s sensational essay from this collection, here.
The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour with Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin)
Gripping, astonishing spy memoir.
Whaea Blue by Talia Marshall (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
A memoir from one of the most distinctive Aotearoa voices writing today. Read an excerpt, here.
Hine Toa: A Story of Bravery by Ngahuia te Awekotuku (HarperCollins)
A memoir from one of the most extraordinary scholars and activists in Aotearoa today. Read Matariki Williams’ review, here.
The Fight for Fresh Water by Mike Joy (BWB)
A memoir from tireless environmental activist and scientist. See an excerpt, here.
The Unsettled: Small Stories of Colonisation by Richard Shaw (Massey University Press)
How to look into your past to make sense of the present and future. Read an excerpt, here.
Make It Make Sense by Lucy Blakiston and Bel Hawkins (Moa Press)
Life advice, essays and poetry from self-starters / writers / brains behind Shit You Should Care About.
A Life Less Punishing: 13 Ways to Love the Life You’ve Got by Matt Heath (Allen & Unwin)
Life advice from actor, producer, radio host, columnist and musician.
Feijoa by Kate Evans (Moa Press)
The history of Aotearoa’s favourite/most divisive fruit. Read all about how Evan’s fell in love with the tangy green orbs, here.
Becoming Aotearoa by Michael Belgrave (Massey University Press)
Enormous and excellent new history of Aotearoa.
Becoming Tangata Tiriti: Working with Māori, Honouring the Treaty by Avril Bell (Auckland University Press)
Could not be more relevant to political events this year.
The Beautiful Afternoon by Airini Beautrais (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
A collection of essays by award-winning writer. Read an excerpt on The Spinoff, here.
Six-Legged Ghosts: The Insects of Aotearoa by Lily Duval (Canterbury University Press)
A beautiful but alarming book about the insect apocalypse in Aotearoa and why we need to do everything we can to stop it from taking away some of our most fascinating inhabitants.
Swirly World Lost at Sea by Andrew Fagan
Adventures of a solo sailor.
More from a Quiet Kitchen by Nici Wickes (Bateman)
How cooking simply can soothe stress.
This is the F#$%ing News by Paddy Gower (Allen & Unwin)
Gower’s memoir. Read an excerpt, here.
Nonfiction (International)
The answers to this questions were littered with books published in 2023, and a whopping 120 people of 304 left this answer blank. Here’s also where answers were stretched across far more books than any of the above, with many getting one or two votes, and far fewer getting the requisite three or more to make the list.
The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise by Olivia Laing (Pan Macmillan)
This memoir of gardening and history of gardens was ahead by a lot. Those who enjoy Laing’s superb work would do well to try Megan Dunn’s The Mermaid Chronicles which made it onto The Spinoff’s Best Books of 2024 (there are mermaids but really it’s a memoir about making art, motherhood, trying to live a life that is both solvent and creatively satisfying).
Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story by Leslie Jamison (Granta)
Suspect that Jamison’s appearance at Auckland Writers Festival earlier this year (in a brilliant conversation with Noelle McCarthy) had something to do with this. Splinters is magnificent: Jamison is the master of writing intimate, detailed accounts of her life which somehow means it is about all life.
Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh (Ebury Publishing)
Delicious recipes.
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna (HarperCollins)
Memoir from the OG Riot Grrrl, leader of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre.
Notable mentions (two votes each): Heresy: Jesus Christ & the Other Sons of God by Catherine Nixey; Kingmaker by Sonia Purcell; Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; Nexus by Yuval Hurari; Sociopath by Patric Gagne; and What does Israel fear from Palestine? by Raja Shehadeh.
Bonus question: best book of 2024 regardless of where or when published
The top three books in this list mirrored what participants had also chosen as either their top NZ fiction, NZ nonfiction or international fiction. The rest of the list is weighted towards major international titles but with several local books there, too. Notably, there is only one nonfiction book on this list which further consolidates the theory that fiction ruled our reading habits this year.
Amma by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press)
Which makes this debut novel Supreme Winner (New Zealand) of The Spinoff’s People’s Choice Award for Best Book of 2024.
All Fours by Miranda July (Cannongate)
Which makes this novel Supreme Winner (International) of The Spinoff’s People’s Choice Award for Best Book of 2024.
Bad Archive by Flora Feltham (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Which makes this debut novel Supreme Winner (Nonfiction) of The Spinoff’s People’s Choice Award for Best Book of 2024.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Faber)
Kingsolver’s David Copperfield retelling was a huge hit of 2023 and people are still catching up.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Transworld)
Huge hit of 2023 and the people are still catching up.
Kataraina by Becky Manawatu (Mākaro Press)
Manawatu’s powerful sequel to Auē.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber)
Brothers drama.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Penguin)
Sprawling, compelling, Irish novel.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Penguin)
Kitterridge x Barton = magic.
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton (HarperCollins)
Dalton’s survival tale about Lola who is on the run from the life she badly wants to leave behind.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (Oneworld)
Booker Prize winner 2023.
Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro (Allen & Unwin)
Magnificent novel of survival and competitive running from one of Aotearoa’s most promising new novelists.
Ash by Louise Wallace (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Thoroughly deserved spot among the best of the best.
Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Ditto.
And that concludes the trifecta of best-of lists for 2024. Thanks for reading! All the books above can be found at Unity Books.
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