that’s a wrap! | my 2024 second half of the year media recap
Hello again, dear friends! I hope you are all well, and if not then I hope brighter days head your way soon! Well, friends, we are well into the first month of the new year, and you know what that means: it’s time for me to wrap up all of my favorites, least favorites, and memorable moments from the second half of the past year!
2024 honestly started out pretty bumpy for me, but the second half of the year turned the year into something really wonderful and memorable for me, meaning the year ended on a high note! And, of course, there was lots of fun (and not-so-fun) entertainment I consumed along the way! So, let’s not dilly-dally any longer, let’s jump right in to this recap!
books
favorite book of the 2nd half of 2024
I read Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang this past December 2024 and I totally was not expecting it to become my favorite book of THE ENTIRETY OF 2024…and yet here we are! Blood Over Bright Haven was outstanding and is definitely a new all-time favorite book of mine. The way M.L. Wang was able to write an entertaining novel which also dealt heavily with the themes of racism, sexism, and classism is just… “amazing” would be an understatement.
Blood Over Bright Haven tells the story of Sciona Freynan, who is the first woman ever to be accepted to her society’s most prestigious university for mages. Unfortunately, as the first female high mage, Sciona finds many enemies within the university, where she is handed a pile of research to do and a janitor as a joke instead of an actual research assistant. But said janitor has a unique perspective on Sciona’s society, and with his help Sciona uncovers a dark secret holding that very society together.
‼️TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexism and misogyny, racism, classism, sexual assault (on page), violence and gore, death of a loved one, mentions of suicide, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide (on page)
most disappointing book of the 2nd half of 2024
Despite having a relatively stunning run of quality reads in the second half of 2024, I did, unfortunately, hit one snag, and that was…*sighs deeply and braces for dissent*… Lore Olympus Vol. 1 by Rachel Smythe. Yes, I know this is a fan favorite, especially with the romantasy girlies (gender inclusive usage), but I just had so many issues with it. First and foremost, I feel like Smythe relied too heavily on stereotypes rather than on original personalities, quirks, and emotional responses in her characterization of the players in the story. Which…felt kinda cheap and unoriginal? In addition, the romance developing between Persephone and Hades in this volume kinda rings alarm bells in my mind for emotional abuse, which is a personal trigger for me. Ultimately, I’ve also found this read to be a tad forgettable in the long run, especially compared to the other absolutely incredible books I read in 2024. So, yeah, Lore Olympus Vol. 1 was just a big disappointment for me. I’m not completely ruling out reading more in the series, but the sequels definitely aren’t, like, top of my TBR.
‼️TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexism and misogyny, sexual assault and rape (on page)
most anticipated book releases of the 1st half of 2025
I honestly wasn’t aware of A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson until late 2024, but once I learned about it, I was totally on board! I mean, a book that mixes fantasy and dragons plus Bletchley Park World War II era codebreaking?? Sign! Me! Up!! I’ve always loved the lore of Bletchley Park’s codebreakers, so the idea of mixing it with magic is super alluring to me! I can’t wait for this one!
I’ve yet to read Fonda Lee’s Jade City trilogy but I’ve heard its praises being sung for an eternity now, so it’s high up on my TBR. Regardless, the new book Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee is also right up there next to Jade City. Apparently, this book is “based on the characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee”? And, as someone who practiced martial arts for six years and loved it, that was enough to hook me! What a cool concept!!
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a bit different from what I usually read, in that it seems to be a cozy magical realism novel. That said, as someone who was a physics major for a good chunk of my college career, I was intrigued by mention of a physicist character. Aside from that piece, though, Water Moon looks pleasantly soft and gentle, like the perfect cozy magical realism fantasy for spring, so I’m in!
When I saw that The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao is blurbed by one of my all-time favorite authors (Shannon Chakraborty), I knew I had to check it out! And, lo and behold, it does indeed sound amazing. This book looks like the perfect mixture of Hindu mythology and romantasy, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out!
A salacious novel all about figure skaters? Sign me up now! Fun fact about ya girl: I actually spent several years of my childhood learning figure skating. Hence why The Favorites by Layne Fargo instantly intrigued me. The synopsis also reminded me of a Taylor Jenkins Reid historical novel but this time with modern day figure skaters. So, again, sign me up immediately!
I’m totally a sucker for stories which utilize the “soulmates in every lifetime” trope, so obviously I’m interested in Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven! And, apparently, this book has also been getting rave reviews from readers who got ARCs? Let’s just say I’m seated and you have my attention, Laura Steven!
Trials, demons, realms of immortals, mysterious protectors, and mother/daughter bonds? The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amelie Wen Zhao has all of these things and sounds all the more promising for it! If this book is as lush and dark as the synopsis promises, it seems a good candidate for my attention and love!
Teen dystopian novels are officially back, baby, and, as someone who was a teen during The Great YA Dystopian Craze of the Mid 2010s, I’m not quite sure how to feel about it. Nevertheless, Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (the new teen dystopian book in question) still has my interest. Why? Because if anyone can do this genre right, it’s probably gonna be Ava Reid.
Lovely Dark And Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin sounds like it has an apt title, if the synopsis is anything to go by. Promising dark academia, magic schools, eerie forests, and found family, this book sounds amazing. I’ve yet to read from Bonnin’s backlist, but if I enjoy Lovely Dark And Deep, I just might have to check it out!
Uh-oh, y’all, it’s time for a confession: I have been waiting for the release of The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton for SO LONG now that I had to review the synopsis to fully remember why I was even excited for it in the first place. But is it really my fault when this book was literally announced five or six years ago and teased every year since??? I’m just hoping now that it officially has sprayed edges that it’ll finally see the light of day!
In all honesty, the Goodreads synopsis for Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell has me just slightly confused. BUT! From what I can glean from it, the book sounds super unique and hella intriguing! After all, it’s got humans, vampires, and the gods who created them all. What could go wrong?
I enjoyed The Atlas Six well enough (even if I know enough of physics and philosophy to understand that The Atlas Six was a total mishmash of misused jargon lol), so I’m definitely looking forward to Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake. Now, a lot of people are saying this upcoming release from Blake sounds like a fantasy version of the TV series Succession, but I can’t comment on that as I’ve never watched it. What did get me interested was the last line of the synopsis, which mentions the “gifted kid to clinically depressed adult” pipeline, which ya girl has definitely fallen prey to. Needless to say, I’m already invested.
One thing I learned in 2024 was that I enjoy fantasies that mix a little mystery into the plot. Which is why I’m really anticipating The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson! This book is another one that seems hella unique and equally as intriguing. I’m also interested by the fact that the synopsis uses the collective perspective (i.e. it’s written using the pronoun “we”), which I’ve never come across before! Altogether, The Raven Scholar has me intrigued!
One fantasy setting I love is floating worlds—hence why The Floating World by Axie Oh caught my interest with its title alone! Now, the Goodreads synopsis is noticeably free of mentions of any floating worlds, but I still hold an ember of hope. Regardless, this book looks really interesting!
According the Goodreads, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig is “a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a prophetess who is forced beyond the safety of her cloister on an impossible quest to defeat the gods with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight.” Need I say more? Because I, for one, am already completely sold!
I feel like in the past year there have been a ton of Celtic-inspired romantasies which have been overwhelmingly reviewed as lackluster, but nevertheless, I’m holding my hopes out for A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride. After all, this one has a fire magic wielding female blacksmith and a dragon rider. So, I don’t see any harm in at least giving it a chance.
Anatomy of a Betrayal by Grace D. Li is definitely shaping up to be one of my most anticipated reads of the year! Billed as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets Past Lives,” this novel is apparently a story about two Chinese American scientists accused of spying. Doesn’t that sound amazing?! I sure think it does! As a woman of color in STEM myself, I am required to stan!
Another book that has my woman in STEM radar tingling is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Of course, it also helps that I’ve loved other historical fiction novels by Reid. But this time around, this work by her is extra special to me, considering its subject. I have high hopes for Atmosphere, but I also have absolutely no doubt that if anyone can meet them, it’s Reid.
All I really know about Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab is that it’s about vampires. That said, I ain’t exactly complaining about getting a new vampire story from a beloved fantasy author. I can’t wait to find out more about this one!
The Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton is another book that’s looking like it might be one of my most anticipated releases of 2025. The Goodreads synopsis mentions heretics, forbidden magic, a protagonist with the ability “to enhance hat it means to be human,” and bringing down corrupt empires—and I cannot think of any story that sounds more me coded! This book sounds incredible and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!!!
my 2025 reading goals
2024 was another great year for my “quality over quantity” reading goal. That said, unfortunately, my life also got in the way of me reading much at all. For the last five to six years, I have been in a MASSIVE reading slump, leading to me reading less and less and less. And I mean, that’s okay, I am still reading after all, but this year, I’d like to read just a bit more. Hence why I am setting a goal for 2025 to read ten to fifteen books!
I know that to many readers in the online bookish community this goal may sound miniscule, but given my recent reading years and the aforementioned multi-year reading slump, I want to start slow and build from there. Reading goals have always led to me feeling boxed in and losing my passion for reading in the process, so I think a small, relatively achievable push to read just a little more is a good fit for me, personally.
My second goal is to take part in some readathons this year, or at least attempt to. I plan on taking part in G’s year-long Orilium-based readathon, Choose Your Own Adventure: Year in Aeldia…and, like, sincerely trying to participate this time, instead of forgetting about it. The way G has redesigned the readathon looks really cool and fun and a bit more flexible, so I can’t wait. I also am considering taking part in Readathin this February, which should help with my last goal of….
Trying to read more of my backlog of audiobooks which I already own by using Austine Decker’s Beat The Backlist challenge prompts! Friends, I have so many—and I mean, like so many—audiobooks that I own and have yet to get to. Like, it’s embarassing. I need to fix the situtation ASAP and, well, there’s no better time than the present, right?
tv series
favorite tv series of the 2nd half of 2024
First up we have My Lady Jane, which was Amazon’s series adaptation of the YA novel of the same name. I’m still so bummed that they cancelled this series!! Even still, if you haven’t yet watched My Lady Jane, then go do so (don’t worry about it being cancelled, as Season 1 wraps everything up pretty neatly)! This whirling, hilarious riot of a series is about a fantastical alternate history, wherein an oppressed subset of people can shapeshift into animals, and also real-life historical figure Lady Jane Grey becomes queen of England and must navigate the treacherous world of the English royal court whilst trying to bring about justice for the aforementioned shapeshifters. My Lady Jane leans hard into the comedy and romance of it all, and lemme tell ya, friends, it really works! This series was so quirky and funny and whimsical in all the best ways possible!! As I said before, I’m devastated that this series wasn’t renewed, but I’m so glad I got to witness at least a bit of the hilarity it had to offer.
There was also the BBC/Netflix adaptation of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which I also loved! Now, lemme first make a quick disclaimer: I’ve never read the book series that this show is based on, so I can’t really speak about it as an adaptation. That said, I still think it was great just as a mystery/thriller TV series in general! The plot and character work were so well done, and I feel like the production also placed a high value on making the series seem relatively realistic, which was great! On the whole, I really loved this series! Its twists and turns kept me hanging on for dear life and always left me curious to find out even more! Even though it wrapped up pretty cleanly, I really hope A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder gets renewed for more seasons, as I love watching Pip solve mysteries!
I’ve been waiting for literal years for the release of the Marvel spinoff series Agatha All Along, so it was nice to finally get to watch it (I was wondering if it would ever release for a while there). I’m happy to say that the wait was worth it and Agatha All Along was a delightful watch that I ended up really enjoying. I loved WandaVision so much and found Agatha to be a great character from that miniseries, so I knew she could carry her own show, and I’m happy to say that I was right in thinking so! Of course, the other characters were all incredible and wildly lovable too! And I love the relationship that developed between Agatha and Teen, it felt very heartfelt and earned. I loved watching both be challenged and change and grow through their adventure. The show left the door open a bit for more adventures in the future, and I hope Marvel hops on the opportunity, cause I know I, for one, would love to see more!
most anticipated tv series releases of the 1st half of 2025
I’m so freaking excited that we’re finally getting XO, Kitty Season 2 in early January 2025!! I feel like I’ve been waiting for it for forever and it’s finally here!!! I absolutely adored season one, and the finale left me wanting even more! I loved seeing all of the adventures of the lovable youngest Song-Covey sister, and I can’t wait to see all of her latest experiences. Plus! The official trailer is teasing an appearance from Peter K.! Although, I will say, I’m a little apprehensive about that aspect of the upcoming season, as it doesn’t look like Lara Jean will also be making a cameo. Regardless, I can’t wait to see what mischief Kitty, Yuri, Dae, Min Ho, and Q all get into this upcoming season!
movies
favorite movies of the 2nd half of 2024
I saw a few really great films in the second half of 2024, but the film that really blew all the others out of the water was Wicked. What a spectacular movie!! Everything about it was just so on point! And I mean, like, the set design, the costume design, the cinematography, the directing, the acting, the singing—all of it was absolutely breathtaking!!! I had previously seen a theater production of Wicked as a teenager, so I went in already knowing the songs and the basics of the story and kept my expectations relatively grounded. But it turns out I didn’t need to worry at all! Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo brought Galinda and Elphaba to life so incredibly well and I loved every second of watching them embody the characters. And beyond the two of them, everyone else also did an outstanding job bringing the citizens of Oz to life. Wicked was an INCREDIBLE watch, and if you’ve yet to see it, I highly recommend watching it ASAP!
most anticipated movie releases of the 1st half of 2025
I’m not a major film buff/movie-goer, so I only have one film that I know of that releases in 2025 which I’m looking forward to, and that is the live action Lilo & Stitch remake. Friends, trust me when I say, I absolutely LOVE the original animated Lilo & Stitch—it is my all-time favorite Disney movie! So, naturally, I’m both excited and cautious when it comes to this live action remake. I haven’t seen too much of the other live action Disney remakes, but I know they’re haven’t been the best received, so I feel a little wary about my favorite Disney property getting the live action treatment. That said, the 3D animation in the teaser looks good enough, and the cast looks stellar—so I’m hoping for the best. BASICALLY, I JUST WANT IT TO BE GOOD, OKAY?! Let’s all just keep our fingers crossed for that.
music
favorite songs of the 2nd half of 2024
Sometimes a song comes along and puts words to an emotion you had but felt you couldn’t explain. For me, that song was “Asli Ana” by Zeyne, which put words to how proud I am to be Arab. Full of references to our beautiful cultures and our resilience, “Asli Ana” spoke to my heart and made it glow with pride. I’ll leave you with these lyrics from the song:
And my heart will never forget its name and origin,
Freedom is my rising sun,
I bow my head to no one,
The eastern winds have blown,
Record that I am an Arab
And I know my origin
favorite newly discovered artist of the 2nd half of 2024
Okay, technically I already knew Doechii from her song “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” (which I’ve always loved and had on repeat for YEARS now), but I also wasn’t very familiar with the rest of her music until December 2024, so I’m counting her for this category! It wasn’t until I heard everyone raving about Doechii’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert that I decided to check that performance out plus check out her latest album and backlog and…wow!! What a talented artist!!! I love the way Doechii mixes the sounds of old-style rap and jazz into her flow and how creative she is with that sound! All in all, Doechii is an outstanding artist and I can’t wait to see how she grows!!
most anticipated album releases of the 1st half of 2025
By the time this post is up, DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS by Bad Bunny will have released, but it deserves at least a brief mention as I love Bad Bunny’s music.
I’m also looking forward to hearing The Breeze Grew A Fire by Mereba upon its release. I’ve loved Mereba’s unique R&B sound for years, so I’m excited to see what this album holds in store!
Last but not least, I’m anticipating So Close To What by Tate McRae. Listen. I don’t usually enjoy Western pop acts, but I can’t deny that Miss McRae is talented AF! I’m interested to see how she …
miscellaneous
favorite webcomic of the 2nd half of 2024
I’ve talked about my love for Purple Hyacinth by Sophism and Ephemerys, and yet here I am, about to yap about it even more! If you’ve yet to read this webcomic (available in entirety for free online on Webtoon), I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a fantasy set in a Victorian-ish world and it’s about a cop who has the power to tell when someone’s lying and an infamous assassin teaming up to take down a terrorist organization whilst fighting their growing attraction. There are a few other intriguing subplots as well, but I don’t want to spoil anything. All in all, Purple Hyacinth is an outstanding webcomic full of beautiful art and an intriguing story!
favorite podcasts of the 2nd half of 2024
What’s this? Another repeat offender?! That’s right, friends, (*cue Bernie Sanders voice*) I am once again asking you to listen to Birds of Empire. It’s an audiodrama podcast set in a post-apocalyptic world where society has severely regressed and now lives in several tribes. It’s kinda like the Grounders’ societies and tribes from the TV series The 100, if you know that reference. Birds of Empire is chock full of political intrigue, action, and adventure, and to top it off, the production and quality is absolutely outstanding!! Trust me when I say, you have to listen to this one!!!
favorite youtubers of the 2nd half of 2024
In the second half of the 2024, I somehow managed to discover a new favorite booktube channel, and that channel was: What Rae Reads! Admittedly, Rachel and I have vastly different tastes in books, but I still love her content so much. Her vlogs are exceedingly aesthetic and stylish, while her recommendation videos are appropriately unhinged. If you’re a fan of literary fiction, especially the variety that focuses on “feral” women, then Rachel’s channel is for you. Hell, even if you’re not a fan of literary fiction, Rachel’s channel could be for you!
miscellaneous favorites from the 2nd half of 2024
I randomly got into the mood to paint my nails in late 2024, and I ended up finding some really beautiful nail polishes that became some of my favorite items. Of the bunch that I bought, my favorites are “Red Ribbons” by Lights Lacquer and “Jewel Beetle” by mooncat. “Red Ribbons” is this gorgeous deep cherry red and “Jewel Beetle” is a shimmery shade that shifts between raspberry pink, sunrise orange, and jewel green.
I also wanted to invest a tiny bit in some cute, trinket-like decor in the second half of 2024, and I managed to find and snag two really cute items in that category from the store Tiny Protectors. Both of the items in question are nightlights for my bedside table. One was the Miasma the Rock nightlight, a nightlight in the shape of a moss-covered rock with a little face. The other was a “gloom spirit” nighlight, a nightlight in the shape of a cute, well, gloomy spirit (see above photo)
favorite blog posts i wrote in the 2nd half of 2024
I really enjoyed writing my post on books for Brat Summer! It was so much fun to think of books that really embodied the aesthetic and themes of Charli XCX’s Brat. I also am really proud of my post recommending books I think should be required reading in high school, and it was nice to see folks react to that post so positively. And, finally, I had a great time pairing books and songs for my 2024 edition of The Spotify Wrapped Tag, especially since both books and music are so central to my life!
favorite memories of the 2nd half of 2024
I’m really happy to say that the second half of 2024 was packed full of wonderful, memorable moments! I feel like the second part of 2024 served to really impress upon me the importance of community and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful community to be a part of. So let’s check out some of my favorite moments from the second half of the year…
lunch date with my friends from my physics course
I’m so glad that the friends I made in my Fall 2023 Physics I course and I have remained good friends and made an effort to meet up regularly! Towards the end of Summer 2024, we all got together to have lunch at Busboys and Poets, which is a local restaurant/poetry club/bookstore which is kinda becoming our hangout spot. I had so much fun catching up with them and the experience reminded me how grateful I am for them!
making charm necklaces with one of my best friends
My best friend from high school has a birthday in July, so to celebrate we went together to a local store where you can make fancy custom charm necklaces to do just that. It was so much fun and we had a great time! Plus—bonus!—I love the charm necklace I made and wear it often, as both a memory of my bestie and as a cute accessory!
going to the national portrait gallery with my good friend and her friend
Another late summer memory is going to The National Portrait Gallery with one of my good friends and a friend of hers. I love meeting my friends’ friends, because who doesn’t love an opportunity to make new friends? It’s, like, the perfect opportunity! Anyhoo, my friend’s friend was really cool and we all had such a fun time together wandering around the gallery, looking at the beautiful art, and gabbing!
going to a turkish festival with my good friend
At the beginning of autumn, that same good friend and I went to a Turkish Festival in D.C. together. We brought lunch with us and had a mini picnic on The National Mall before heading a few streets over to see the festival. The festival had a bazaar set up, as well as Turkish food and performances of traditional Turkish music and dance. We even had real Turkish coffee and Turkish delight! It was an all-around great time and we had a blast exploring the festival!
going to a coffee and chocolate expo with my partner
In mid autumn, my partner took me on a date to a chocolate and coffee festival, and, as a certified chocolate lover, I had a delightful time! There were lots of treats out for tasting and I definitely gobbled up more than a few, haha! My partner loves food and cooking, so it was a lovely bonding experience with him to both enjoy something he enjoys!
performing at the kennedy center as part of the messiah singalong choir
Last, but certainly not least, in December I got to perform Messiah onstage at The Kennedy Center as a member of a choir. I cannot stress how magical and enchanting the experience was!! Ever since I was a wee singer, I’ve always wanted to perform on a prestigious stage, and having that dream come true was…I really have no words! The space was so beautiful and it was such an honor to sing with such incredible musicians for such a prestigious institution. I can’t believe I had this opportunity and I’m crossing my fingers that next year I can do it again!
spill the beans, friends!
How was the second half of your 2024? What are some of your favorites from that period? What are some of your most memorable moments?
