The Best New Books On Kindle You May Have Missed In 2024 So Far, According To Reviews
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
If you love reading on your Kindle, then we have a list of books that's sure to have you itching for a new story. On the other hand, if you're not typically one to sit with your nose in a book (or an e-reader), perhaps one of these will spark a new hobby for you. After all, there are myriad benefits to reading. It can boost your smarts, increase your empathy, and even promote. On this, Maryanne Wolf, a professor-in-residence at UCLA, told Today, "We have more opportunity to deepen our insights, our epiphanies, our sense of our own best thoughts [when reading]," adding, "It gives us more empathy, perspective — taking into other people's viewpoints, thoughts and feelings."
While some people prefer holding a book rather than a tablet in their hands, there are also benefits to reading eBooks, which include skipping a trip to the library or bookstore in person and leaving more space on your shelves for something other than books, such as your favorite home decor items. Now that you know some of the benefits of both eBooks and reading in general, let's take a look at some of the best-rated new books available on Kindle, which we've gathered by examining reader reviews on Amazon (but more on that at the end of the article).
So, whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction, romance, or mystery, there's absolutely something for you on our list. Try a new genre, experience a new author, and maybe even find some inspiration.
Best overall Kindle release of 2024
We picked J.D. Robb's "Random in Death" as our best overall release not only because Robb's a well-known New York Times best-selling author but also because this was one of the few new releases with a full 5 stars on Amazon. "Random in Death" is "An Eve Dallas Novel" and is #58 in the author's "Death" series. After a girl at a club dies from a strange needle injection, lieutenant Eve Dallas is called in to figure out what happened before more people die. J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) has a knack for creating stories that grip readers and leave them trying to figure out who did it.
If you like murder mysteries, "Random in Death" is an excellent choice to add to your Kindle book collection. According to one reviewer on Amazon, "Random in Death ... is a crisper, more focused story than a few of the most recent novels in the series. I got tired of waiting for these sequels to arrive at the library, so I bought this one as soon as it came out," adding, "Robb ... took great care to keep the plot focused on the victims and on Lt. Eve Dallas's pursuit of the murderer. The killer's motive was timely and believable – but elicits no sympathy."
Best book on Kindle Unlimited
If you love a cute, romantic story, "The Exception to the Rule" by Christina Lauren is the romance novel for you. The story dives into how we can make chance meetings online — not just in person — that can lead to more romantic connections than either person involved could have ever imagined. This is the first book in a collection of six called "The Improbable Meet-Cute" collection. To add to the romance, the story starts with a mistake made on Valentine's Day that leads to a path of love. Of course, they have to decide if they want to meet in person or remain virtual chat buddies first.
Anyone who enjoys romance stories set in current times and involving fun meet-cute situations will enjoy this tale. Moreover, with 4.5 stars out of 5, you can rest assured that most readers enjoyed the storyline. "I probably can't even accurately explain how pumped [I] was to see this collaboration when it was announced. And so far, the first novella has lived up to expectations," one reviewer wrote. Meanwhile, another added, "The Exception to the Rule is a cute, sweet, and endearing short story. I adore Callum and Terra's story. There were moments in the story that I found relatable, and I was able to connect with the characters."
Best domestic thriller
If thrillers are more your style, we suggest you check out "Last Night" by Luanne Rice, a New York Times bestselling author. In this book, the author takes readers through a winter storm, a divorce, and a mysterious disappearance. You get a deep dive into the search for a missing little girl and what happened to her now-deceased mother. This book is for murder mystery lovers who enjoy the little details in life (and death) and love a good revenge story. We love the last line in the synopsis in particular: "A storm has just begun." That line alone gives this story an ominous feeling that makes us want to dive right into the story with you.
The book has 4.3 stars, with readers saying, "Love the suspense," "I'm never disappointed when I read a Luanne Rice book! Last Night is a thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through," and "I read this in one sitting over 4-5 hours, to the point I did not go to bed til 5 am because I had to finish the book. Thoroughly enjoyed it!" If you enjoy reading at night, we suggest holding this one off until the weekend so you can get some sleep!
Best romance
If you want some steamy young romance, "Damaged Goods: An Angsty Football Romance" by L.J. Shen is worth a read. Best friends with the potential to be more face a rocky road when one of them starts a downward spiral into drug use and falling off their path in life. This is the fourth book in the "All Saints High Series," but you can find joy in the pages of this inclusion even if you haven't read the rest of them. More specifically, younger romance lovers will enjoy this book sentimentally, and older romance readers will remember what young love was like and bask in nostalgia. Plus, there's a bunch of fun family drama mixed into the storyline that makes matters even more adventurous.
Readers agree, giving this book an average of 4.5 stars. "It's so good to come back to Todos Santos. Also bittersweet, as one of my favorite series comes to an end," one reviewer gushed. Meanwhile, another said, "My head has yet to stop spinning! What I have just read kept me up until the early hours, and I have one of the biggest book hangovers ever." That's a review worth taking advice from — another one not to read too late at night, or it may hit you like a ton of bricks in the morning.
Best Reese's Book Club pick
Did you know that Reese Witherspoon has a book club? Well, she does, and we trust her opinion. "First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston is just one of Reese's Book Club Picks, with Witherspoon herself saying of the book, "This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through."
If you love thrillers and were perhaps a fan of "Le Femme Nikita" — the whole idea of living a completely different life under an assumed name and then nearly falling in love with someone who doesn't know who you really are — you're likely to find yourself glued to this book and intrigued by the story. We also get some "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" vibes from this story. When it comes to conning people, that movie had it all.
"First Lie Wins" has 4.5 stars on Amazon. One fascinated reader wrote, "I went into this one pretty blind ... All I knew was that it was a mystery/thriller of sorts. I ended up reading the summary after I finished it and I feel that it gave too much away. Some of the things that I was shocked by were spelled out in the summary ..." while another said the book is a "a superb con-artist thriller set, primarily, in Louisiana." Evie Porter may not be her real name, but she's definitely a fantastic protagonist, according to reviews.
Best mythical fantasy
"When the Moon Hatched" by Sarah A. Parker is the first book in "The Moonfall Series" — a series of books filled with mysterious creatures and plenty of magic. The old saying goes that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this one screams mythical fantasy, and that's what it's all about. There's some romance in there too for those who like that sort of thing. The book evokes some serious "Game of Thrones" vibes. There are kings, bloodshed, and a crown — what more could you want?
"When The Moon Hatched" has a 4.6-star rating. "I'll be honest the giant glossary (which I used like I was studying for finals) had me wondering what I was getting into with this book. 20% in I wondered when it would all make sense, and by the end of the book I was sobbing and googling when the next book would be released." ... And that's just a portion of what the reader had to say about this tale that another writer described as a must-read, saying, "Sarah A. Parker has become an automatic read author for me. The way she sucks you into a story and into the characters world and feelings is on another level. The writing is so rich and lush; it sometimes feels like poetry."
Best paranormal romance
A bestseller under the guise of paranormal romance on Amazon, "Twilight of Embers" by Tessa Hale is the first book in the "Dragons of Ember Hollow" series. It seems the protagonist in this story has a lot of love to choose from, but some mysteries stand in the way. What those mysteries are will be discovered when you read this Kindle book. If you're a fan of books with dragons and shapeshifters, you'll definitely want to add this one to your reading list. There's a lot of drama and adventure in the pages of this book, and it's one of those stories that will keep you wanting more, especially if you have a love for science fiction.
This book has 4.5 stars overall, with one reviewer writing, "Tessa Hale has done it again and has given us a brand new series that is so amazing that you will devour it and beg for more!!! I love the depth of her characters, and the plot is amazing," before adding, "It has the perfect blend of everything you can ask for, mystery, secrets, lies, and spice, and it even has the enemies to lovers passion that really kick those scenes up a notch."
Best literary fiction
If your favorite genre is literary fiction and you love a novel that feels like it could be a real-life story, we present to you "Mayluna" by Kelley McNeil. The story looks at a '90s rock band of the same name, its lead singer, and a mystery woman. It comes from the point of view of the child of the mystery woman seen in a photo. History is rehashed, and perhaps love will bloom. In fact, it's the children's finding of this photo that sparks their mother to finally tell the story about her romance with a rock star. Lovers of romance and music will surely find something heartwarming in this tale.
A well-earned 4.6-star rating comes with reviews like this one: "Wow, my first 5-star read of the year! (And I am stingy with my stars)." When someone who doesn't give out five stars easily drops one, you know the writing has to be stellar. Another reader said, "I just finished Mayluna and it is perfection. Five great big stars from me! This book is addictive. I didn't want to stop reading, and then I didn't want it to end."
Best mystery
"Holmes, Marple & Poe" touted as "The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century" is a new book from James Patterson and Brian Sitts. Patterson is well known for his dramatic storytelling, and this crime novel is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The main characters — Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe — may even have something to do with some other famous people (or characters) with shared last names, like Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and author Edgar Allen Poe. Intrigued yet?
Want to know why it has 4.5 stars, too? Well, one reviewer said, "When I read the blurb on Amazon, I thought 'oooh, sounds pretty cool.' I'd never read James Patterson before ... I'm really glad I picked this book up." The reviewer added, "I haven't read enough Agatha Christie to tell if Marple is like the character in Christie's books, but Holmes is quite a bit like Sherlock. He even has a few of the same 'weaknesses'. Poe isn't as much like his namesake as Holmes, thank goodness, or the firm might not have lasted long enough to solve any of these cases."
Best nonfiction book
This book isn't necessarily for everyone, but if you enjoy reading non-fiction or love politics, this book will open your eyes and perhaps leave you with some questions. What's more, it was written by Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman, who had access to ample information, from paperwork to phone calls. It's a deep dive into investigative journalism, so plan on some intense reading as you maneuver through secrets, conspiracies, and more.
"Find Me The Votes" has a 4.4 star rating. Lovers of this tome have said, "Courageous and forthright with support of the many illegal acts of the former President and his many less than honest supporters" and "Klaidman and Isikoff are veteran reporters who go after the story the way a hunting hound goes after a wounded animal. They write with integrity and authority..."
As you'd expect, some weren't fans, including this reviewer: "While no one doubts the vast investigative talents ... of Mr. Isikoff, one wonders why and how this book has been published without a chapter on the scandalous developments that came to light when the news emerged that Fanni Willis hired the woefully inexperienced Nathan Wade (her lover!) to prosecute this incredibly important case against Trump." Still, if this sounds like your jam, it may well be worth the read, especially during another election year in which Donald Trump is campaigning.
Best science fiction
If you're looking for some action-packed science fiction, you can always rely on Dean Koontz, who always has something up his sleeve. The New York Times bestselling author released "The Bad Weather Friend" in early 2024, and it tells the story of a normally happy guy who runs into a bunch of bad luck. Things get weird when the protagonist receives a package from a dead uncle that contains something strange that will take him on an adventure like no other. And, by strange, we mean a person. He is bequeathed a person — the bad weather friend, to be specific. This "friend" has a way of dealing with your problems, and not always in a nice way.
Despite being new, people are already intrigued by this novel, with it having 4.1 stars on Amazon so far. While that may be the lowest on our list, readers have some nice things to say. One reviewer said, "Balancing precariously on the divide between the real world and crazy, Benny accepts his 'inheritance' from an uncle he has never met and it changes his life forever," while another wrote, "Loved this story and the characters. The plot was interesting. The philosophy of matter very enlightening. It was not what I was expecting but I got caught up in the telling and could not put it down until I finished it."
How we selected books
There are many popular book genres out there, from adventure to self-help. We'd love to have shared something from every genre, but we were working with what has come out since the start of 2024, as well as the ratings those books have received. In addition to star ratings — we only selected books that have at least 4 full stars, as anything less might not be worth your money — we also looked at reader reviews to see what people are actually saying about the books on this list. Naturally, we went category by category to find the best of each genre and type of book. Finally, we also looked at the popularity of each book: Has it had a lot of readers so far, and did most love the book? If so, then we felt like it might just be good enough for you.