Books, movies, and TV I enjoyed in 2024
In case you're looking for something to read, or watch, or need a last-minute gift idea
The end of the year is ‘nigh, which means everyone is publishing their ‘best of the year’ lists for 2024.
I used to do this every year at LitReactor—even though I hated calling it ‘best of the year’, because so many great books get released every year, and I only have time to read a fraction of them.
Now that LitReactor is gone, I’m just going to give you a list of things I really liked from 2024… that I can remember. I’m probably leaving some stuff off. Oh well. Onward.
BOOKS
My reading time was severly limited this year for a varity of reasons, but…
Things started strong with Missing White Woman by
. It’s a fantastic mix of race issues and the scourge of social media, but also just a proper barnburner of a mystery.Blood in the Cut by Alejandro Nodarse was a knockout of a debut—Everglades noir, with some of the smartest handling of gentrification I’ve seen in a long time.
just hit the USA TODAY bestseller list with Alter Ego. Deservedly so. Another mystery set in the world of comics (and now Hollywood), it’s a fantastic follow-up to Secret Identity.Saint the Terrifying is a punk rock Viking noir by Joshua Mohr that gave me life. Just, stunning from top to bottom.
Exhibit by R.O. Kwon is also worth checking out—a thoughtful meditation on desire with a dash of BDSM.
Books I’m excited to read in 2025:
The Get Off by Christa Faust is the final installment in the Angel Dare series. I already read it. It’s great. You’ll want to keep an eye out for this.
is currently burning a hole in my inbox. Yes, I am bragging.And they were 2024 releases but I’m dying to read The Last One by
and You Know What You Did by . Both of those are sitting on my shelf, at the top of my queue.TELEVISION
The Penguin was incredible. I’m sort of exhausted by Batman in a general sense but it stood strongly as its own thing. A proper crime drama. Cristin Milioti is amazing.
Shōgun was a masterpiece; I’ll watch anything with Hiroyuki Sanada (he’s my dream casting for Kenji in the Assassins Anonymous movie). This’ll scratch the Game of Thrones itch—the political manuevering and machinations were exquisite.
The Acolyte got done dirty. It was my favorite of the new Star Wars shows and won’t get a second season because crybaby fanboys are scared of girls. Big time bummer.
The Gentleman was some proper British gangster shit. Highly recommended.
Interview with the Vampire is wonderful. Sort of like True Blood, but less gonzo (I loved True Blood).
MOVIES
Will & Harper: A beautiful exploration on the trans experience.
Civil War: Alex Garland always brings it; perhaps too relevant at this moment.
Furiosa: Did not get the love it was due.
Dune 2: I only just got into the Dune-iverse, and I am all in.
Rebel Ridge: One of those movies that makes me mad because I wish I did it first.
Inside Out 2: The first movie is a capital-m Masterpiece. The second doesn’t reach the same heights—how could it—but still beautiful.
One movie I did not like: Longlegs. It was three horror movies in a trench coat.
One movie I’m confused about: The Substance. I watched it last week and still cannot tell if I loved it or hated it. It gets honorable What the Fuck mention.
Books make fantastic gifts. You can click on any of the above books to get links to buy them, and you should. Also you can check out some of mine!
Just make sure to get them from a local independent bookstore, or Bookshop.org.
FINAL EVENTS OF 2024!!!
TONIGHT I’ll be at Kew and Willow in Queens to celebrate Alex Segura’s titanic output. More details here.
TOMORROW NIGHT me and Alex will finally celebrate the release of Dark Space at PT Knitwear in Manhattan. We were supposed to do this in October but I got the flu, and then November was nuts. You can get tickets here—if you plan to come, please do that ASAP. They’re keeping an eye on headcount.
Saint the Terrifying is incredible.
Thank you!!