Special Edition: Our Top 3 Favourite Reads of 2024
From the hosts of the Rekindle Creativity Women's Writing Retreats
Happy holidays! Here in Northern Ontario, we are already celebrating winter and the “season of retreating.” Despite the mild temperatures, snow is on the ground, the local ice rinks are being readied, and our snow tires have been installed. Even better, a lot of us are hunkering down in the hygge life, getting cozy.
Almost a year ago, in January 2024, we opened the doors to our first ever Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat in Muskoka, and we enjoyed ourselves so much, we ran a second retreat nine months later on beautiful Manitoulin Island. We met incredible women, all of them deeply committed to their writing and to supporting other writers. Best of all, we got to work together creating these experiences.
We will be soon announcing our 2025 retreats, so stay tuned! You can subscribe to our newsletters here for updates — and remember to bookmark our website, www.rekindlecreativity.com.
We are book coaches, and this work brings us much joy. We are readers, too, and today, we want to bring you some of our recommended reads. These ones sparked our attention and kept our love for books aflame in 2024.
Read on, then tell us: Which books rekindled your passion for reading in 2024?
—Dinah & Liisa
PS. If you like what you find here, share it!
PPS. Click below to visit our website and learn more about Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreats.
Our Best Reads of 2024
Liisa’s Top 3 Book Picks for 2024
THE DONOGHUE GIRL, by Kim Fahner – Lizzie Donoghue's aspirations in the constraints of the early twentieth century’s patriarchal society in Northern Ontario and her experiences as the daughter of Irish immigrants demonstrate the strength and resilience of our foremothers.
THE MOTHER ACT, by Heidi Reimer – Reimer's engaging novel The Mother Act will have readers examining the choices women face in their family, work, and creative lives as they follow a mother who abandons her child to pursue a creative life and the daughter who is left shattered by those choices.
YOUR ROOTS CAST A SHADOW, by Caroline Topperman – Topperman expertly examines her family's complicated history through a series of significant historical events as she navigates her own struggle to adapt to a new country, reminding readers of the importance of understanding one's personal history as well as the wider global context.
More about Liisa Kovala
Liisa helps women revitalize their creativity by guiding them through the book writing process.
Specialty: Literary & Historical Fiction, YA, Memoir
Find out more about Liisa Kovala here.
Dinah’s Top 3 Book Picks for 2023
MISS BENSON’S BEETLE, by Rachel Joyce – A woman’s quest to find a rare beetle leads her into adventure of the best sort, where discovery is about self-discovery. This book is delivered with heart and humour and features a love story refreshingly focused on women’s friendship. If you loved Lessons in Chemistry, read this.
WHEN WE LOST OUR HEADS, by Heather O’Neill – The book is zany and extravagant, filled to the brim with Heather O’Neill’s trademark humour and awe-inspiring writing skills (seriously, a sentence can knock you sideways). I reviewed this book earlier this year, and it stayed on top of my 2024 reading chart.
TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, by Gabrielle Zevin – This book includes the story features I love best: character-based storytelling spanning a long period of years, with a nearly nostalgic tone. This is for readers who love to be led through a decades-long story to a satisfying ending. I read this book slowly, savouring it, knowing I was in the hands of a master writer. If you loved The Goldfinch, you will love this one.
More about Dinah Laprairie
Dinah offers storytelling support to passionate people so they can inspire their communities.
Specialties: Big Idea Books, Self-Help, Social Issues, Contemporary Fiction, Memoir
Find out more about Dinah Laprairie at www.dinahlaprairie.com.
Happy Holidays from Rekindle Creativity!
Both of us send out a big thank you to our communities of writers, readers, and coaches — and especially to the women who joined us at our writing retreats in 2024. You inspired us to continue.
Readers, we hope our top book picks ignite your interest and rekindle your own love of reading. Tell us what to read next in the comments.
Happy reading and writing! And Happy New Year!
Poll: Does it help you write when you can escape your daily routines?
How a book coach can help you with your project
A book coach can offer professional support where you need it, with accountability, feedback on your manuscript or guidance through the publishing process, there’s a coach for you. Book coaches specialize in many areas and genres, and it is important you find the right coach for you.
Is coaching for you? Here are 10 reasons why a book coach might help you:
Because you get energized and inspired when you discuss big ideas with someone else.
Because you get clarity when you share your ideas with someone else and they ask you challenging questions about it.
Because you want your book to impress readers — and your family and friends.
Because you are new to writing and publishing and need some guidance.
Because you already have a writers’ group but you need someone outside of your current circle with fresh eyes and perspective.
Because meeting deadlines is easier when someone is waiting for your submission.
Because you take your work more seriously when you are investing in a service like this.
Because you think this is a good book idea but you aren’t sure.
Because you need honest feedback and encouragement.
Because you’re writing a book.
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