Books. Reading, learning, exploring, sharing and growing. Forever a cycle that enriches our lives and one that only ceases if we stop heeding our curiosity.

Recently, a reader of TSLL asked how I curate my reading list, and to be honest, I’ve never set out with any intention whatsoever when it came to the books I would read in a coming year, but rather followed where my curiosity led me. I guess you could say that my guiding premise is to always have a book at the ready, which usually turns into two, three or five, because to not have a book to read would be akin to not having water to drink or oxygen to breathe.

From France to mindfulness, biographies of all types of people, historical movements and periods of time, relatable or completely divergent storylines, cooking topics, gardening know-how and life skills I both needed and wanted to acquire, the books that found their way into my reading this year in 2024 is varied. It has been curiosity all along that has filled my library check-out list and now the bookshelves of my library, and I only wish for more years in a life because there are endless books to read in this world.

And so, as we begin this special time of year, the Between the Years week just before 2024 and 2025 begins, the tradition continues here on TSLL in celebration of now 15 years of blogging in this special place on the internet that is The Simply Luxurious Life, to share with you the books I most enjoyed reading this past year. And to be fair, this list could always be longer, but then I would be living in the past rather than reflecting, so I have done my best to choose only 15. The list below is in no particular ranking order except when they appeared on the blog or were read during the year, and I also tried to include a range of genres because in truth all of the Brittany mystery series could have easily been included, but that would leave no room for many other great titles that were entirely different and loved for their own unique offerings.

Reading, and what we choose to pick up and while away 20 minutes, an hour, or many hours losing ourselves in the story or becoming so immersed in the information shared we feel the contents were written specifically for us (every year there are books that have kept me up into early hours of the morning paying no mind that I would have to start the day soon and need to catch some Zzz’s before doing so) is personal, and some days it is our mood and what we need to escape into, then on another day, we want to grow, we want to see change, so we pick up another title, and still the motivations for why we pick up what we do, why we continue to read until the end what we do, depends entirely on each individual.

With that in mind, I have selected a few novels, a dear to me décor book, a few non-fiction books about the history as well as modern day of Paris, as well as non-fiction Titles about neurology and psychology, a few biographies, and a handful of cosy mysteries. No doubt you will also notice a theme that many are of interest to Francophiles and Anglophiles, but not all, rest assured. Without surprise, my predilections are not hidden 🇬🇧🇫🇷❤️

So, let’s get to the list! Many of the books were inspiration or the focus of a post or episode, and in these cases, I have linked to that post/episode so you can explore the title further and discover if you might be interested in picking it up for your library.

The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Originally published in 2008, the book came back to my attention with the release of the film adapted from it that was released in the states this year – Widow Clicquot, and in France in 2023. Having the book on my shelves to read for over a decade, I had begun it upon originally receiving it, but never got around to reading it completely. As time sometimes does, the delay deepened my ability to appreciate what I read this past year, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the life of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin.

A Death in Diamonds by S.J. Bennett

The fourth book in S.J. Bennett’s Her Majesty the Queen Investigates, this is the first title that takes readers back to the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, back to 1957, and full of red herrings and curious characters that leave you wondering, Could they have done it? right up until the final reveal. Bennett has shared that she will continue to write the series drawing upon inspiration of the queen’s long reign and the multitude of diverse historical moments and events she oversaw.

Robert Kime by Tessa Traeger (2016)

The moment I first saw British antique collector and interior design Robert Kime’s work, I have been a fan. So when I had the opportunity to visit his flagship atelier in Belgravia last year, I made sure to not pass it by (read the detailed post sharing photos and more information about my visit and his shop here). Passing away in 2022, but his work seen in his fabrics and wallpapers as well as approach to arranging a room continue on with his team. In this book, the only official book displaying his work, it details about 10 homes he decorated, included three of his own – one in Cumbria, one in Provence and his apartment in London. The book is only available through Robert Kime’s website – one y £60. It is worth purchasing if you are drawn to his aesthetic as it provides ample inspiration for how to layer a home with antiques, various fabrics and placement of furniture.

Camille Pissarro: The Audacity of Impressionism by Anka Muhlstein  

My fascination with Impressionist artists and this unique time in French history continues to captivate my interest this year, and after reading Claude Monet’s biography by Jackie Wullschlager last yer (included in the TOP Books list of 2023), I quickly moved on to the new biography about Camille Pissarro. Equally insightful and well-researched, after having read Monet’s and learning bits and pieces about Pissarro, it was a lovely overlap to read about Pissarro’s life and see the moments when he and Monet’s life intersected. But there is so much more, and you learn about his dedication to his craft at great sacrifice in many cases and where he sat to paint some of the many memorably pieces we love today.

episode #377 was inspired by Cal Newport’s book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment without Burnout

Full of ideas to welcome into daily life, I enjoyed this book so much I shared all that spoke to me and thought it might to readers/listeners as well into an entire podcast episode – #377.

Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture by Justine Picardie

Petit Plaisir for episode #378

While I will let my written review found here do the talking, needless to say, if Christian Dior’s life story and the New Look pique your curiosity, especially the life of his sister Catherine who inspired so much of what Christian did in his work, then this is a must-read book. The AppleTV series that debuted last spring is adapted largely from this biography.

On the Fringe: A Life in Decorating by Imogen Taylor

British interior designer Imogen Taylor worked for and alongside names world-renowned in the interior design industry – Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, and was in fact John Fowler, ‘right hand’ for years at Colefax & Fowler. And it was upon seeing her home in Burgundy, France (tour it here), that I wanted to get to know her better. Published in 2016, Taylor, now 98 years old and primarily living in Kent, shares her life of living through WWII as a young girl, how she lost sight in one of her eyes and never regained it, and how she absolutely loved her life and work. A woman who never married, loved her work, her dog, France, having lived there for a time as a nanny in her younger years, she is an inspiration and I am grateful to have been able to come across her life story.

The Queen of Poisons, book 3 of 4 in the Marlow Murder Club Mystery series by Robert Thorogood

Robert Thorogood’s mystery series continues to entertain and engage readers with the trio of women who carry us through each plot, known to us as the Marlow Murder Club. Now adapted into a television series (screenplay also written by Thorogood), seeing this series come to life on the screen this fall on PBS Masterpiece was a treat. The most recent novel, The Queen of Poisons, kept me reading swiftly through until the end, and I have already preordered book #4, set to be released in September 2025.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Another British mystery writer with a knack for writing engaging cosy mysteries is Richard Osman, and with We Solve Murders he has begun a new series with an entirely new main cast of characters. The premiere mystery takes to England and to east coast of the United States as well as to UAE. This book had me racing through until the end as the chapters are short and carrying you on to the next scene with immediate effect as your curiosity is piqued and you don’t want to put the book down just yet.

The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions by Michael Norton

Inspired episode #380: How Rituals Enrich Our Lives IF We Choose and Engage with Intention

Inspiring an entire podcast episode (read/listen here to #380), The Ritual Effect written by social psychologist Michael Norton shares the science behind the effects of rituals and how when we harness all that they can bring into our lives, amazing benefits for not only us and the lives we wish to live, but our communities can materialize.

The Granite Coast Murders: A Brittany Mystery (Brittany Mystery Series, 6) by Jean-Luc Bannelac

As I mentioned at the top of the post, Jean-Luc Bannalec’s Brittany mystery series is a favorite of mine, and I read about four of the books this year getting caught up, and now patiently waiting for book #10 to be released in the new year. What makes this series special for me is that geography shared about the Brittany region of France, and specifically this book in the series introduced me to Le Côte de Granit Rose. Yes, the caper kept my attention, and along the way throughout the entire plot, I began more and more enthralled as to what exactly this coast line full of pink granite looked like as the author’s description held my interest most keenly.

Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century by Simon Kuper

I have yet to find a book that so clearly and engagingly takes those who wish to understand “how Paris works” inside the city, the institutions (political, societal, cultural, etc.) and reveals both the genesis for the ‘norms’ but also how things are changing. Especially during this current tumultuous time in French’s government, Kuper explains, as an expat living in Paris with his family for now 20 years how President Macron rose to power and in so doing both changed and now is causing significant disruption but also division in the government. Leading up to the Olympics in Paris this past summer (this title was released on June 4, 2024), Kuper also helpfully de-romanticizes Paris which I found to be appreciated so as not to be the entirely ignorant visitor on the occasions I have the opportunity to spend time in Paris.

Paris in Ruins: Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism by Sebastian Smee

Written by the Pulitzer Prize winning art critic of The Washington Post, Sebastian Smee (he won for his work for the newspaper, not this book), if you are looking for a deep historical dive into the city of Paris during the “Terrible Year” as coined by Victor Hugo which took place in Paris during the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871, then pick up this book. Pick up this book especially if you want to get behind the inspiration and genesis of the Impressionist art movement because the Terrible Year played a significant role in the success of the movement which began just a few short years later.

I picked this book up because it is primarily about the a select group of Impressionist artists, namely Berthe Morisot and Édouard Manet and how their experience during the Terrible Year fortified or solidified their approach to art. While there are more than few chapters that will horrify the weak stomachs due to what people did during this terrible time in Parisian history in the name of their cause, to know this, is to know Paris and what its people have endured, deepening all the more the appreciation for this unique place in the world.

The inspiration for episode #393 — How to Change Your Mind (literally), So You Can Change Your Life

Written by neuroscientist Nicole Vignola and released just this past June, Rewire shares in approach terms, but in great detail and ample examples how the mind can change no matter what your age if you would like it to. In other words, you can learn new skills, change unwanted habits into desired habits and much more. This book shows you how, and in episode #393 I break down the key points of how you a literally change your mind and your life in amazingly wonderful ways.

You Are Here: A Novel by David Nicholls (May 2024)

episode #394’s Petit Plaisir

Shared last only because this is, as shared in my detailed review here, a wonderfully enjoyable book to read as a new year is about to begin. I will leave it at that, and encourage you to read/listen to my review here ☺️.

Now to begin reading! And what a wonderful time of year to dive in to books we are curious about, the Week Between the Years. Wishing you a wonderful final week of 2024 and may you enjoy many moments to read and lose all track of time discovering what you didn’t know you were looking for, finding after long explorations what you weren’t sure you would ever come across and savoring the nourishment found in books of all genres and topics. 

Be sure to watch each month’s A Cuppa Moments w/Shannon where the first regular inclusion of each conversation is what I am reading, what I am curious to read and what books I am recommending. You can catch up on all of these many book titles in past A Cuppa Moments w/Shannon video chats here. (Explore becoming a TOP Tier Member to view these exclusive posts/video chats.)

Explore last year’s Favorite Books, 2023

My 15 Favorite Books of 2023 + TSLL Turns 14!