As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to celebrate the stories that defined the year. From thought-provoking novels to breathtaking films, this year has offered a wealth of unforgettable experiences.
Olivia Maidment – Head of Books & Literary Agent
My favourite film this year was La Chimera, a brilliant movie about a group of outlawed Italian tomb raiders in the Tuscan hills. Its blend of whimsical, almost magical realist scenes with a deep sense of longing created a unique cinematic experience, and the cinematography was both classic and beautiful. On the book front, I am currently reading The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, and it is sure to be one of my favourite books of 2024. The atmosphere is chilling, and the characters are wonderfully nuanced. The slow build-up to the darkness at the centre of the novel makes it impossible to put down.
Maddy Belton, SFF Literary Agent
I loved The Lore Olympus graphic novel series year! Such amazing art and such a brilliant story full of twists and turns. I also really loved Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma – a dark and twisty take on the vampire story and dark academia. It’s just so good! Whilst Wicked is my number one movie of 2024! It’s such a fab ode to the musical with the most amazing performances from the lead actresses.
Hannah Ladds, Head of Film & TV
I absolutely loved Alan Hollinghurst’s latest, sublimely crafted novel Our Evenings, which manages to be both an intensely intimate portrayal of one man’s life and a reflective, gay, state-of-the-nation book. The novel follows David Win, a mixed-race child raised by a single mother and joins him at formative points throughout his life, spanning from his early teens to his seventies. David never truly feels like he fits in the circles in which he moves; the novel however, brilliantly shows how he is moulded by the people he meets, his romances and the relationship he has with his mother. It’s a book about race and class, politics and art, prejudice and privilege and the complications of love and human connection. But it’s also just the story of David – his loves, insecurities and aspirations. Beautifully and achingly written, Our Evenings is a full and colourful story of a life well lived.
Prophet, co-authored by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché, surprised me in the best way. On the surface, it’s a spy thriller, but so much more underneath. It shows brilliant shades of sci-fi and horror, one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve encountered for a while, and some big questions about how governments and tech companies take advantage of our most human sentiments. In film, I highly recommend I Saw the TV Glow (written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun). The movie makes use of genre tropes in an original take on a queer coming-of-age story. Two teenagers bond over their shared obsession with a supernatural 90s TV show, which may be more than it seems when one of them disappears. Any further summary would not do justice to the depth of feeling in this film and the sensory experience of watching it – ideally on the big screen.
Elinor Davies, Associate Agent
My recommendation this year has to be The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez. The story follows novelist Alma Cruz, who turns the plot of land she inherits in the Dominican Republic into a cemetery for burying the unfinished manuscripts she has written. This unique cemetery becomes a quirky landmark in the town, but it’s Alma’s characters that truly shine as they come to life and seize the opportunity to share their own stories with the cemetery’s caretaker before they fade into obscurity. Everything about this book captivated me—the title, the cover, the premise, and the lyrical writing. It embodies the traditional Latin American style of magical realism, which has been a lifelong passion of mine. I highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical book; I couldn’t resist purchasing both!
Saskia Arthur, Assistant to Madeleine Milburn
During the long, cold nights in January, I enjoyed Rebecca F. Kuang’s Yellowface and its callous examination of the current publishing landscape, laced with wicked, dry humour. Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield also kept me up during those dark winter evenings: it’s a beautiful and haunting meditation on love and intimacy, blended with elements of horror, surrealism and strange corporeal imagery. I was moved by Alice Winn’s In Memoriam in the Spring, a fresh take on World War One fiction through its intimate retelling of two young soldiers in love. The ferocious wit of Naoise Dolan’s The Happy Couple was a joy to read on a hot summer’s night; I loved its humorous and dry interrogation of marriage as an institution, and how it no longer seems to serve younger generations. Similarly, it was a delight to read Emma Cline’s The Guest, examining gender dynamics and abuses of power through an aimless yet abrasive female protagonist. Ann Neopolitano’s writing in Hello Beautiful was a wonderful read in autumn; her portrayal of the messiness of marriage, family and in-laws was deftly handled, and I was left haunted by Antarctica, Claire Keegan’s short story collection, an intimate, unsettling exploration of the human condition. Lastly, I wrapped up with the immensely popular Butter by Asako Yuzuki this winter: part-thriller and part-feminist commentary, and full of gloriously rich food imagery.
Kelly Chin, Children’s & YA Assistant
My most anticipated book for 2024 is Arx: The City of Broken Minds by Edmund Hurst and it did not disappoint! The standalone epic fantasy debut takes readers on a perilous journey as we follow three young Mindbreakers navigating Arx, a city whose inhabitants struggle with memory loss. With a rich plot and complex characters, Hurst’s writing draws readers into this highly original story, which beautifully encapsulates moments of tension and ambition. Truly an engrossing and compelling read! On the film side, I thoroughly enjoyed How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, directed by Pat Boonnitipat. This must-watch Thai comedy-drama is a masterpiece that follows a university dropout named M, who is short on cash and volunteers to care for his terminally ill grandmother in hopes of inheriting her fortune. Boonnitipat has skilfully captured this heartfelt story, making it one that audiences will cherish in every way. Personally, it resonates with me and leaves a bittersweet warmth, and I can see myself returning to it, as many others will too.
Virginia Ivaldi, Literary Assistant
This year, I finally got around to reading The Vegetarian by Nobel Prize winner Han Kang, and (obviously) I fell in love with this sensual tale of madness. Another 2024 favourite is The Doll’s Alphabet by Camilla Grudova, which filled the winter months with dark and absurd surrealist motifs, story after story. I also delved into Niccolò Ammaniti’s latest book, La Vita Intima (The Intimate Life), which unfortunately has not yet been translated into English. Ammaniti once again impressed me with his dramatic humour and exploration of unconventional characters, creating a visceral and apprehensive suspense with every sentence.
Megan Willis, Intern
One of the most memorable books I read in 2024 was Astraea by Kate Kruimink. This was picked for publication by Ali Smith as part of a novella prize run by indie publisher Weatherglass Books. Set in the early 19th century, it follows a teenage girl on a convict ship bound for a penal colony and explores the relationship between the women on board and the institutional power that has brought them together. It is atmospheric, lyrical and very moving.
