For brevity (and sanity), this article focuses on the predominant adult categories featured in the Goodreads Choice Awards. Let’s uncover the stories behind this year’s standout winners.
Winner of Fiction: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Who Is the Author?
Alison Espach grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, and now teaches creative writing at Providence College. She holds a BA from Providence College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis.
Espach has published eight notable works, including her three primary novels: The Adults (2011), Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance (2022), and The Wedding People (2024). She also created the Audible Original series In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People (2020).
What Inspired The Wedding People?
Espach drew inspiration from her own experiences working weddings. As an “invisible” figure during these events, she witnessed intimate, raw moments—a perspective that shaped Phoebe, the protagonist of The Wedding People.
Why It’s So Popular
Selected as the Today show’s August 2024 Read with Jenna pick, the novel gained immense traction. Espach’s feature on Read with Jenna drew widespread attention, garnering over 27,000 more votes than Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo.
Excitingly, The Wedding People is already in development as a film, with Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) adapting the screenplay for TriStar.
Winner of Historical Fiction: The Women by Kristin Hannah
Who Is the Author?
Kristin Hannah is a prolific author with more than 20 acclaimed novels, including Firefly Lane (2008), The Nightingale (2015), and The Four Winds (2021). A retired attorney, she now writes full-time from her home in the Pacific Northwest.
What Inspired The Women?
Hannah’s childhood memories of the Vietnam War—particularly the disappearance of her best friend’s father in 1967—provided the emotional core of The Women. Initially conceptualized in the late 1990s, the story took shape during the pandemic, as Hannah reflected on America’s social divides.
Why It’s So Popular
Hannah’s established reputation undoubtedly contributed to the book’s success. However, its poignant exploration of war during a time of societal turmoil resonated deeply with readers, earning it nearly 200,000 more votes than runner-up Percival Everett’s James.
Winner of Mystery & Thriller: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Who Is the Author?
Liz Moore, a Philadelphia-based writer, is the Director of the MFA Creative Writing program at Temple University. The God of the Woods is her fifth novel, following Long Bright River (2020) and her debut, The Words of Every Song (2007).
What Inspired The God of the Woods?
Moore credits her fascination with the Adirondacks and the chilling story of serial killer Robert Garrow for inspiring the enigmatic character of Slitter. Her mother’s upbringing near the region lent a personal connection to the story.
Why It’s So Popular
Moore’s mastery of suspense and class commentary struck a chord with readers. The novel edged out Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins by fewer than 8,000 votes, cementing its status as a fan favorite.
Winner of Romance: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Who Is the Author?
Emily Henry, affectionately dubbed “EmHen” by her fans, is a romance juggernaut with bestselling titles like Beach Read (2020), People We Meet on Vacation (2021), Book Lovers (2022), and Happy Place (2023).
What Inspired Funny Story?
In an interview with Today, Henry shared that the novel began with a vivid opening scene: a woman surrounded by wedding supplies for a canceled ceremony. “All By Myself” played in the background, setting the tone for this bittersweet, heartwarming tale.
And then hearing — what is the song at the beginning? I can’t remember — oh, “All By Myself.” Hearing somebody listening to “All By Myself,” and then the misdirection of that.
Why It’s So Popular
With a devoted fan base, Henry has dominated the Goodreads Romance category since 2021. Funny Story continued this streak, earning 38,000 more votes than Abby Jimenez’s Just for the Summer.
Winner of Romantasy: House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
Who Is the Author?
Sarah J. Maas, the undisputed queen of romantasy, has sold over 38 million books across her series Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City.
What Inspired House of Flame and Shadow?
Maas conceived Crescent City during a 2014 tour for Heir of Fire, inspired by Steven Price’s haunting composition “Shenzhou” from the Gravity soundtrack.
Also, for fans that are familiar with her work, there were several factors that were a long-time coming (if you know, you know).
Why It’s So Popular
Fueled by a fiercely loyal fandom, House of Flame and Shadow secured an overwhelming lead, earning 66,000 more votes than Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Apprentice to the Villain.
Winner of Fantasy: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
Who Is the Author?
T.J. Klune is a celebrated author known for his heartwarming and inclusive storytelling, with bestselling works like The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) and The Extraordinaries (2020). As a queer author, Klune emphasizes the importance of positive and accurate LGBTQ+ representation in literature.
What Inspired Somewhere Beyond the Sea?
Initially, Klune had not planned a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. However, the characters continued to “speak to him,” compelling him to revisit their stories. In an interview with Library Journal, Klune shared how current events, particularly the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, influenced his decision to write the sequel:
The first book was about being othered, and what it meant to accept yourself as different. The sequel is about what happens when those who have been othered decide they’ve had enough. What does it look like to fight back against bigotry, not just for yourself but for your entire community?
Why It’s So Popular
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the highly anticipated sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, expanding on themes of love, acceptance, and resilience. Last year, Klune also claimed the Goodreads Choice Award in Science Fiction for In the Lives of Puppets. Notably, Somewhere Beyond the Sea narrowly triumphed over Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.
Winner of Science Fiction: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Who Is the Author?
Kaliane Bradley is a British-Cambodian writer and editor based in London. Known for her captivating short fiction in journals like Somesuch Stories and Electric Literature, Bradley made a remarkable debut with The Ministry of Time.
What Inspired The Ministry of Time?
Bradley’s inspiration for the novel began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she watched the TV series The Terror. Struggling to follow the intricate plot, she turned to fan wikis and stumbled upon historical figure Graham Gore.
As I was reading [about him], I just thought, ‘My God, this man sounds so competent and chill and nice.
This spark of curiosity led her down a rabbit hole of research, ultimately forming the foundation for The Ministry of Time.
Why It’s So Popular
This genre-defying novel blends elements of thriller, romance, and historical fiction. The time-traveling narrative is rich with historical references and thrilling twists, appealing to fans of science fiction and beyond. With over 78,000 votes, it outpaced John Marrs’s The Family Experiment.
Winner of Horror: You Like It Darker by Stephen King
Who Is the Author?
Stephen King, the master of horror, has once again demonstrated his mastery, earning his 11th Goodreads Choice Award. Over his illustrious career, King has won in categories ranging from Horror to Science Fiction and Mystery & Thriller.
What Inspired You Like It Darker
In an interview with All Things Considered, King revealed that You Like It Darker was decades in the making—a culmination of unfinished stories that had been tucked away in drawers for years.
About five years ago, [my team] started to collect all the stuff that was finished and unfinished and put it in an archive… My nephew John Leonard found this particular story, written in the U.N. Plaza Hotel back in the ’70s, and said, ‘You really ought to finish this.’ And I said, ‘You know, I think I know how to finish it now.’
Why It’s So Popular
This year’s competition was particularly fierce, with You Like It Darker narrowly beating Marcus Kliewer’s We Used to Live Here by just 13,000 votes. King’s enduring popularity, coupled with his ability to craft chilling and thought-provoking narratives, continues to resonate with readers worldwide.
Resources
- Alison Espach. https://www.alisonespach.com/bio
- “Alison Espach.” Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B003WOQQN6/about
- “Alison Espach.” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4269913.Alison_Espach
- “Author Q & A.” Kristin Hannah. https://kristinhannah.com/books/the-women/author-qa/
- Chadwick, Kristi. “LJ Talks with TJ Klune, Author of ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’.” Library JournalI. 14 Aug 2024. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/LJ-Talks-with-TJ-Klune
- Cruz, Gilbert. “Liz Moore on ‘The God of the Woods’.” The New York Times. 16 Aug 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/books/review/podcast-liz-moore-interview-god-of-the-woods.html
- Ellis, Maddie. “Emily Henry’s latest novel challenges the romantic ‘grand gesture’ .” 25 Apr 2024. https://www.today.com/popculture/books/emily-henry-funny-story-interview-rcna149221
- “Emily Henry.” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13905555.Emily_Henry
- “Kaliane Bradley.” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22032713.Kaliane_Bradley
- Kelly, Mary Louise, Erika Ryan and Courtney Dorning. “Stephen King’s new story took him 45 years to write.” NPR. 22 May 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/05/22/1252772130/stephen-king-new-book-short-stories-you-like-it-darker
- “Kristin Hannah.” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54493.Kristin_Hannah
- “Liz Moore. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5435162.Liz_Moore
- Miller, G. Wayne. “Q & A with New York Times best-selling author Alison Espach.” Ocean State Stories. https://oceanstatestories.org/q-a-with-new-york-times-best-selling-author-alison-espach/
- Perzo, Zoe. “A Q&A with Alison Espach, Author of August Indie Next List Top Pick “The Wedding People”.” American Booksellers Association. 24 Jul 2024. https://www.bookweb.org/news/qa-alison-espach-author-august-indie-next-list-top-pick-%E2%80%9C-wedding-people%E2%80%9D-1630953
- Puckett-Pope, Lauren. “Emily Henry on the Wisdom of Modern Romance Novels: “Love Is Not Just a Silly Story”.” Elle. 24 Apr 2024. https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a60569995/emily-henry-funny-story-interview/
- “Sarah J. Maas.” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3433047.Sarah_J_Maas
- Simon, Scott. “Liz Moore on her novel ‘The God of the Woods’.” NPR. 6 Jul 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/07/06/nx-s1-4699446/liz-moore-on-her-novel-the-god-of-the-woods
- “Spotlight On: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.” The Southern Bookseller Review. https://thesouthernbooksellerreview.org/book-buzz-the-ministry-of-time/
- “T.J. Klune” Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5073330.T_J_Klune
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