The Best of 2024 – Kayne’s List

Here are my top ten picks for 2024, not in any particular order.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

I laughed and smiled my way through this one. It was joyful and funny and full of wonderful characters. Daphne and Miles end up living together after her boyfriend and his girlfriend become a couple and leave them high and dry! I loved when Miles showed Daphne his favorite places in their small town. I recommend it to readers looking for a swoony romance with opposites attract vibes in a small beachfront town.

Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens 

I loved the humor in this story! It had me laughing so hard when Anna ends up going on dates her children chose for her. She writes articles about them while Will (her nemesis) writes articles about dates he finds on apps. There is hilarious banter between them, especially when her kids choose him for her next date! Their dating stories are funny and I thought this book was creative and a breath of fresh air. 

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

There is adventure, a diamond, romance and humor, and it’s a keeper! Emily hires Ryder to be her guide when she goes to Isle Royale National Park to spread her dad’s ashes. Ryder is charming and easy-going and likes to improvise as he goes. They are soon lost and it gets suspenseful when they run into some academics who say they are there to explore an old shipwreck. It is also emotional and tender as Emily and Rider open up to each other about grief that they are each going through. I thought this was a fabulous read, with a mystery, romance and lots of witty banter.

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins

I thought this story was magical! It follows three women as they adjust to changes in their lives. It has heart and humor and I loved it. There is Lark, an Oncology resident who gets switched to ER when she keeps crying around patients (her fiancé died from cancer). She starts fake dating a famous and arrogant surgeon and things get fun when she meets his sweet, firefighter brother. We also have stories with Elle, Lark’s mother and another with Joy, her friend. I loved how they were there for each other, even in dark times. This book made me laugh and cry and the ending was beautifully done. 

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

Not Another Love Song grabbed me from the start and has some of my favorite tropes – grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers and found family. Gwen and Xander are musical prodigies that play for the Manhattan Pops and they become fascinated with each other. When they play together, their chemistry and music are off the charts. I will never think of playing instruments the same after reading this book! It’s Reylo and Ren inspired and so much fun!

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Hazelwood has done it again in this spicy STEM romance! Rue and Eli are so perfect for each other. This is a forbidden romance – Eli is one of the partners trying to take over Kline, the Biotech company Rue works for. Their attraction is intense and as they get to know each other they find they have more in common (with their past) than they knew. This has some serious, heavier topics – both Eli and Rue have childhood trauma and I felt like the author handled their issues with care. There are a few mysteries in the story, one being why Eli wants to take over Kline so badly and along the same lines, there is a villain he wants to uncover. It’s an emotional and wonderful slow-burn romance and her steamiest book yet.

Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I had such a fun time with this one! It has romance, a murder mystery and loads of humor. Opposites attract when Rory, a struggling chocolatier and Brett, a successful sports agent, work together to solve the mystery of who murdered Ashley, Clint’s girlfriend – Clint being Rory’s stepbrother and the quarterback of the Chicago Stars. Brett and Rory are worried Clint will be blamed for her murder and decide to work together to find the real murderer. This is hilarious, heartwarming and hot and I recommend it to those who enjoy fast paced, zany romcoms with a mystery.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Summer Romance warmed my heart and kept me smiling. Ali and Ethan have a hot summer romance with rescue dogs, sweet kids, skateboarding and beach time. There’s an epic first date to a baseball game – by boat! I loved how Ethan brought joy into Ali’s life, just when she needs it. He is a sweetheart and does so much to help others. Ali appreciates and admires him and they jump at the chance for a summer romance that’s so good, they don’t want it to end and neither did I! 

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

This has grumpy/sunshine vibes with loveable characters, romcom movie references and lots of one-line zingers. Emma gets the chance to work with a famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates, to be a ghostwriter for his latest script. The screenplay is a romcom and what Charlie’s written so far is terrible plus he’s not thrilled to have her help (he’s the grump). She sets out to show him that romcoms can be wonderful. (she’s the sunshine). There’s a lot of depth to the story (she has been her dad’s caretaker) and tons of humor and I loved it.

Viscount in Love by Eloisa James

I was captivated by this story. It has passion, humor and spice and I didn’t want it to end. Viscount Dominic Kelbourne suddenly becomes a guardian to his twin niece and nephew after his sister and her husband pass away in a carriage accident. He had a fiancée, Leonora whom he thought would be the perfect wife, but is shocked (and it’s funny) when she elopes with someone else. He then offers for Leonora’s sister, Torie and she’s one of my favorite historical heroines. All of society dismissed her because she couldn’t read but Dominic soon realizes how smart and how joyful she is, no matter how much the world knocks her down. I thought this was great fun!