the coolest & shiniest of 2024
our favorite books + tv + music + memes of the year
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Happy New Years to you! Welcome to Cool Shiny 2025! Given that we were only born in October, we’re still as bright and shiny as ever and you can expect more of the same cultural news, expert trend analysis, and giddy fangirling into the new year.
This week, we’re pulling a Mulan and getting reflective, sharing the best of the best of all the culture we consumed in 2024.
📚 Books 📚
Kaley: I read 56 books this year, a handful less than last year. Seventy percent of the books I read were in the romance genre, though a few of my faves have only trace elements of romance! Here are the books I most highly recommend:
Dystopian future: Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenya: this book made a lot of best lists last year and I can see why. It’s The Hunger Games meets the documentary 13th, with two Black women gladiators fighting for their freedom in a private prison system. This book made me want to talk about this book. So please read it so we can discuss.
Fantasy: The Scholomance Series by Naomi Novik, starting with A Deadly Education: recommended by my husband because it has what he calls “an interesting system of magic.” 🤓 This series follows a group of young magicians through a school that’s similar to Hogwarts if literally everything in Hogwarts was trying to kill you at all times.
Contemporary Romance: Funny Story by Emily Henry. I’ve read all of Henry’s novels, but her most recent was especially to my taste with an “unlikely roommates to lovers” storyline (versus 2023’s Happy Place which employed one of my least favorite tropes: broken up couple overcoming their issues)
Queer Fiction: The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donahue. Extremely relatable main character finding herself in her twenties in Ireland, living with her gay best friend and wondering when the adult portion of her life will begin.
Fantasy Romance: Bride by Ali Hazelwood. Like Henry, Hazelwood has become a reliable fave. She’s had a crazy prolific last 12 months, pumping out 4 books, with a few notable departures from her usual “Girls in STEM” adult romances (any of which I would highly recommend): she delved into YA to follow chess prodigies in Check & Mate and made a vampire and werewolf fall in love in fantasy romance Bride, which I especially enjoyed.
Megan: I read 24 of my planned 24 books this year! In 2024 I read more non-fiction (21%). This is largely due to my annual summer book club with Sari where we read and discuss books related to art. Next year I want to take the year off of new releases and focus on my loooong TBR list. The books I most highly recommend are:
Five Tuesdays in Winter: One of my favorite authors, Lily King, departed from her usual novel in this book of short stories about the moments that stick with us as we grow up.
Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See: In addition to taking the longest title award, this journalistic deep dive into the fine art world is as informative and insightful as it is funny
Anything by Helen Hoang: This year I was on a quest to get into romance and (thanks to Kaley) discovered Helen Hoang and The Kiss Quotient Series.
Best in 2024 TV According To Kaley Awards™️
Best new comedy: English Teacher on Hulu was hands down the new show I enjoyed most this year. I unapologetically loved it until creator and star Brian Jordan Alvarez came under fire for alleged sexual misconduct, so now I problematically recommend it, especially to those that are able to separate art from the artist or not punish a great ensemble cast for the misdeeds of the lead. 🫤
Best drama: Shogūn just didn’t do it for me, but HBO’s Industry had its best season ever and FX’s Fargo titillated with super compelling turns from Juno Temple and Jon Hamm’s double pierced nipples.
Gone Too Soon Award: My Lady Jane on Prime was a fun ahistorical romp I enjoyed every minute of. Truly bummed it didn’t get picked up for season 2, but it’s still worth your time!
Extremely Underrated Comedic Actor / Celebrity Sibling: Timmy’s sister Pauline Chalamet is not only my favorite character on Prime’s comedy Sex Lives of College Girls, she may be my favorite character on TV period. Her optimistic naivety continues to delight me in the third season, currently airing.
The award for I’ve Heard Good Things But Haven’t Watched goes to: The Penguin (HBO), Agatha All Along (Disney+), Somebody, Somewhere (HBO)
General Entertainment 🎵🍿🎧
Favorite albums: Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Sabrina’s Short & Sweet, Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal, Charli XCX’s Brat
Best Picture(s): My Old Ass, Didi
Best Co-hosts: Hannah Berner & Paige DeSorbo of Giggly Squad
Favorite pop culture moments 🫶🏿🫶🏽🫶🏼🫶🏾🫶🏻
Megan: Las Culturistas getting the scoop on Charli’s Lorde “dis track” pre Brat’s release
Kaley: Chappell Roan at Coachella. I predicted it. I watched the livestream. I lived for every moment of her come up this year.
Best brain rot memes 🧠🪱
Megan: “Send it to me Rachel” For when you need to see the receipts as soon as humanly possible
Kaley: “Mama kudos for saying that, for spilling” For when someone gets a little deeper than you were expecting and your social awkwardness jumps out
To a shiny 2025,
Megan & Kaley