Episode 17: Well Read KB 2024 Reading Recap

Looking back on the 20 books I read this year!

Hey yall! I almost forgot to post this recap because I already have my next post drafted, and I’m plotting on another one, too! More on all of that later ;-)

My original book goal was 25, but once I started back working, I scaled it back to 20. Work wasn’t truly the issue, but I would go weeks without reading because I was too busy watching TV shows. Once I hop off the reading wagon, sometimes it is hard for me to hop back on, as evidenced by this chart from myyearinbooks:

A chart that shows how many books I read each month….August and October was crazy busy, so no shock here!

One way that I’ve been able to get back on the reading wagon this year was by reading for book club(s). I used to be part of a book club when I lived in Cali with a group of friends who also liked to read. Someone would pick a book each month and then host everyone for snacks, wine, and a book discussion. It was a lot of fun but due to everyone’s schedule, it faded out.

My friend

Jasmine Daria

kicked off a book club through her online bookshop, Kindred Bookshop, and I joined the month that they read The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest, my top author of the year! We had a great time discussing the book and it was a very welcoming environment. If you’re interested, they have some other exciting events planned for 2025 with more book club meetings and author events. Find out more here and give them a follow on Instagram.

The second book club I participated in was Let’s Book Brunch, founded by my birthday twin, Kate, who just kicked off their Atlanta chapter with a brunch yesterday! We read The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and that book was truly a wild ride lol. It was great meeting up in person for brunch to meet Black women and talk about reading in general (and we discussed the book of course lol). I look forward to future Atlanta brunch meet ups and if you’re reading this from New Jersey, New York, or Boston, check out the future chapter events here.

My Year in Books

Like last year, I used the myyearinbooks website to get a recap on all the books I read (if you use Goodreads, you should check out the website!). I kept it light this year and mainly read romance/fiction novels. I did kick off the year with The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips, which was a great book to start the year off with. If you haven’t read the book yet, read my recap and/or watch her interview with Oprah. It was REAL GOOD! The only memoir I read was Dear Black Girls by my girl (lol) A’ja “M’VP” Wilson (recap here).

One new feature they added to the myyearinbooks website this year was a reading “aura”. Mine was spot on:

I have a feeling that next years list will have a lot more business/leadership books because I have four I need to read for work. Even though business books aren’t my fave genre, I love that we have a reading culture at work! The books I am currently reading for work are: The First 90 Days, Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating Model, and The Vision Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business. My manager also sent me another book for Christmas, but tbd on that one.

Speaking of non-fiction books, I really enjoyed starting Unmasking AI by Dr. Joy Buolamwini this year, and look forward to wrapping that book up next year.

I think I’ll aim to kick off next year with a memoir. Help me decide which memoir I should read by voting in my poll:

The 20 Books I Read This Year

Below are all of the books I’ve read this year! I’ve put reviews in my previous newsletters under “What I’m Reading” for the following books:

• “The Garden Within” by Dr. Anita Phillips

• “Full Court Seduction” by Synithia Williams

• “Overtime for Love” by Synithia Williams

• “Dear Black Girls” by A’ja Wilson

• “Pardon My Frenchie” by Farrah Rochon

• “The Thing About Home” by Rhonda McKnight

• “The Art of Desire” by Selena Montgomery AKA Stacey Abrams

QTNA

How did reading go for you all this year? Did you reach your goals? Did you read any of the books on my list? What books are you looking forward to reading next year?