BBC Culture's Best Books of 2024
Explore the finest literary works of 2024 as curated by BBC Culture, featuring a diverse selection of 24 standout titles. This list highlights the year's most compelling narratives and innovative voices in literature.
Intermezzo
A poignant exploration of grief, love, and family through the lives of two very different brothers navigating loss and complex relationships in contemporary Ireland. more ...
Flint Kill Creek Stories of Mystery and Suspense
Small Rain
A poet's life is transformed by a sudden medical crisis, leading him through the harsh realities of the American healthcare system and into a profound exploration of art, love, and human vulnerability. more ...
Creation Lake
A ruthless American spy infiltrates a French eco-activist commune, navigating deception, provocation, and her own unraveling identity in a philosophical thriller. more ...
All Fours
A semi-famous artist embarks on a spontaneous detour from a cross-country trip, diving into a tender, hilarious, and provocative journey of midlife awakening and sexual freedom. more ...
Bright I Burn
Set in 13th-century Ireland, Bright I Burn follows Alice Kyteler, a fiercely independent woman who rises in wealth and power but faces deadly accusations as the first recorded witch in Ireland. more ...
The Safekeep
Set in 1961 rural Netherlands, The Safekeep is a tense and sensual story of obsession and secrets between two women forced to share a family home laden with wartime history. more ...
The Hypocrite
A sharp, incisive novel exploring a fraught father-daughter relationship through a play that exposes generational conflicts and the shifting sexual mores of their time. more ...
Martyr!
A newly sober Iranian-American poet embarks on a metaphysical quest to uncover family secrets and find meaning in loss, addiction, and art. more ...
Our Evenings
From Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst, this novel follows Dave Win’s journey through class, race, and sexuality in modern England, revealing a deeply observed life shaped by privilege, prejudice… more ...
The Empusium A Health Resort Horror Story
The Proof of My Innocence
A razor-sharp, witty novel by Jonathan Coe that blends political intrigue, literary mystery, and biting satire to explore Britain's turbulent present through the murky corners of its past. more ...
Caledonian Road
A sharp, satirical portrait of British class and politics through the intertwined lives of five families navigating fortune and downfall in modern London. more ...
My Heavenly Favorite
A harrowing, hallucinatory confession of obsession and grief, Lucas Rijneveld’s My Heavenly Favorite explores taboo and trauma through the disturbing story of a veterinarian’s infatuation with a farm… more ...
Green Dot
A darkly hilarious and deeply felt novel about Hera’s messy affair with a married journalist and her chaotic journey into adulthood in the twenty-first century. more ...
The Sleepwalkers
A suspenseful modern gothic thriller set on a Greek island, where a newlywed couple confronts dark secrets, strange guests, and a haunting past during their turbulent honeymoon. more ...
Wild Houses
A gripping debut novel by Colin Barrett about two outsiders caught in a chaotic small-town kidnapping and revenge plot, set against the vivid backdrop of Irish life. more ...
Change
A gripping tale of transformation and resilience, exploring how individuals confront and adapt to life's pivotal moments. more ...
Parasol Against the Axe
Choice
An explosive novel by Neel Mukherjee exploring the profound consequences of our choices through interconnected lives and stories that question the freedom we truly have. more ...
Victim
A sharp satire about Javier Perez, a Bronx hustler who exploits the currency of identity and victimhood to forge a writing career, blurring the lines between truth and lies. more ...
Blessings
A poignant coming-of-age novel set in post-military Nigeria, exploring love, identity, and family through the eyes of Obiefuna and his mother as they navigate societal and personal challenges. more ...
James
A profound and ferociously funny reimagining of the classic Huck Finn story, following Jim, an enslaved man, on a perilous journey for freedom along the Mississippi River during the Civil War era. more ...
Worry
Two sisters, Jules and Poppy, navigate mental health struggles, family tensions, and the absurdities of modern life in 2019 Brooklyn, questioning their futures and their bond. more ...
Flint Kill CreekStories of Mystery and Suspense
The EmpusiumA Health Resort Horror Story
BBC Culture's Best Books of 2024 presents a thoughtfully curated selection of 24 exceptional titles that have defined the literary landscape of the year. Compiled by Rebecca Laurence and Lindsay Baker, this list showcases a rich variety of genres and themes, from poignant novels to gripping mysteries, reflecting the diverse voices and experiences of contemporary authors. Readers can discover works by acclaimed writers such as Alan Hollinghurst, Joyce Carol Oates, and Olga Tokarczuk, alongside emerging talents. Each book offers a unique perspective, inviting readers to engage with new ideas and narratives that resonate with the complexities of modern life. Whether you're seeking a thrilling page-turner or a profound exploration of human emotions, this list serves as an essential guide for book lovers looking to enrich their reading experience in 2024.