As December rolls in, it ushers in the perfect season to relax and lose yourself in some captivating reads. Whether you’re in the mood for emotional tales of love and loss, gripping psychological thrillers, or inspiring life stories, this curated list of 10 Books to Read in December 2024 has something for every book lover. From Preeti Shenoy’s moving Homecoming to Mohinder Amarnath’s memoir Fearless, this collection promises to keep you hooked through the winter months. Curated by Storizen, these books span a range of genres, offering rich storytelling and unforgettable journeys that are sure to make this December one to remember.
1. Homecoming by Preeti Shenoy
When the past unravels, can love hold the future together? Alka’s seemingly perfect life in a heritage bungalow on her husband Subbu’s coffee estate shatters after his near-fatal accident uncovers buried secrets. As she struggles to care for Subbu and save their failing estate, Alka is torn between salvaging her strained marriage and confronting her long-suppressed feelings for her brother-in-law, Krish. In The Homecoming, Preeti Shenoy masterfully explores the fragile threads of love, betrayal, and the dangerous secrets we hide, in this poignant follow-up to A Place Called Home.
2. The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith
When Caitlin and Olivia’s parents head out to a dinner party, the sisters are thrilled to stay home alone for the first time, unaware of the shadowy figure watching them through the window, who later slips in through an unlocked door. By the time their parents return, Olivia’s bed is empty, and she’s gone—vanished without a trace. Years later, a woman appears, claiming to be Olivia, but questions linger: is she who she says she is, and is Caitlin’s account of that fateful night entirely true? As buried secrets and hidden truths unravel, the family must confront the chilling possibility of trusting the wrong person in this gripping psychological thriller by bestselling author Dandy Smith.
3. The Health and Wealth Paradox by Ankush Datar and Mihir Patki
In The Health and Wealth Paradox, Ankush Datar and Mihir Patki unveil a powerful set of first principles that seamlessly combine health and wealth, showing how the two are deeply interconnected. Drawing from decades of experience in overcoming lifestyle diseases, crafting sustainable eating habits, balancing workouts with occasional indulgences, and building robust investment strategies, they offer a practical toolkit to help you thrive in both areas. By debunking myths and simplifying the process of understanding nutrition labels and financial statements, Datar and Patki bring clarity and actionable insights, helping those who’ve given up on the possibility of achieving both health and wealth to rethink what’s truly possible.
4. Nagrota Under Siege by Bhaavna Arora
On November 29, 2016, a brutal attack took place at the Nagrota Army Base in Jammu and Kashmir. A group of well-trained and heavily armed terrorists infiltrated from across the Line of Control, using the forest behind the camp as cover. Their mission was one of revenge, following the Indian Army’s successful surgical strikes on terrorist camps just two months earlier. As the terrorists unleashed fire upon the base, the Indian Army personnel inside showed extraordinary courage. They worked tirelessly to protect the lives of the families and staff within the camp, with many sacrificing their own lives in the process. Nagrota Under Siege tells the gripping tale of resilience, heroism, and unwavering bravery.
5. The Life Cycle of A CEO by Claudius A Hildebrand and Robert J. Stark
Claudius Hildebrand and Robert Stark, key figures at Spencer Stuart, offer groundbreaking research into the CEO life cycle, revealing how leaders navigate the inevitable challenges and crises of corporate life. By analyzing the performance of every 21st-century CEO in the S&P 500 and conducting over 100 in-depth interviews, they uncover a predictable path of headwinds and tailwinds that leaders face from the day they step in until they leave. Their research dispels media myths around CEOs—such as the confused rookie or the untouchable rock star—and shows how successful CEOs evolve by mastering new skills and strategies to tackle challenges and personal crises. This valuable roadmap provides insights for both rookie and seasoned leaders, offering strategies for handling criticism, avoiding stagnation, managing risk, and unlocking higher personal and corporate performance.
6. The Cloud Chariot by Brijesh Singh
A century after Ashoka’s devastation of Kalinga, the kingdom is slowly rising from the ashes under the rule of the Mahameghavahanas, a capable new dynasty that has liberated the land from foreign control and sparked a cultural revival. Yet, King Mahameghavahana Kharavela’s efforts to restore his kingdom to its former glory are hindered by palace intrigues, internal betrayals, external invaders, and his struggle to reclaim the looted Jina idol from Magadha. Into this turbulent world steps Rudravarman, a brilliant military strategist, polymath, and warrior with a mysterious past. As he becomes an integral part of the court, his true motivations remain unclear—does he seek to serve the king and fulfill his dream of a resurgent Kalinga, or does he have his own hidden agenda? This gripping historical thriller, set in the first century BCE, weaves a tale of political intrigue, personal ambition, and a kingdom on the brink of rebirth.
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7. The Green Book by Amitava Kumar
In this book, many of the drawings and paintings stem from the walks I’ve taken—each step a chance to observe, to notice, and to capture. Never stop walking, and always keep a journal; drawing is a way to document your journey, but writing the words is just as important in recording what you experience. In a world that’s rapidly changing, it’s vital to hold on to hope and protect the creativity needed to envision new futures. Art, like trees, offers shade, and literature quenches our thirst for words that express our deepest emotions. In this collection, Amitava Kumar shows us that great literature often begins in the quiet of a writer’s notebook, drawing inspiration from figures like Virginia Woolf, John Berger, Gandhi, and Shiva Naipaul. His own notebooks feature sketches and reflections from travels across continents—through mountains, rivers, parks, highways, and even prisons—offering profound insights into how paying attention allows us to truly see the world. The Green Book, the third installment in a series that began with The Blue Book and continued with The Yellow Book, gives us a window into the mind of a writer who observes the world intently, capturing in words and images the unfolding changes around us.
8. Spark by Amith Prabhu and Sarika Chavan
Spark: Stories and Insights from India’s Public Relations Pioneers offers a captivating collection of essays from 24 iconic figures who have defined the Indian PR industry, including Sunil Agarwal, Atul Ahluwalia, Madan Bahal, Manisha Chaudhary, and others. Edited by Amith Prabhu and Sarika Chavan, the book explores their personal journeys in the PR world, reflecting on the profession’s evolution, their visions for its future, and the skills and serendipity that led to their success. This insightful compilation is a must-read for PR professionals and anyone passionate about the industry, providing invaluable lessons from those who helped shape it.
9. Wife and the Dancing Girl by Anuja Chandramouli
Love ignited the heavens, only to turn everything to ashes when it faded. He wasn’t a hero — no warrior to fight battles or rescue his love from the ruins of a broken world. But he was gentle, sensitive, and loved deeply, by his wife, Kannagi, and the dancing girl, Madhavi. Both women loved him, both lost him, yet they continued to love him, to the very end. Swept away by overwhelming passion and desire, Kannagi and Madhavi descend into the depths of love and despair, bound by fleeting hope and the painful truth that pleasure comes at the cost of endless suffering. Inspired by the timeless Tamil classic Silapathikaram, Anuja Chandramouli’s bold retelling weaves a tragic and tender tale of love that endures across centuries.
10. Fearless by Mohinder Amarnath and Rajender Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath’s cricketing journey reads like a Hitchcock thriller, full of unexpected twists and triumphs. A key figure in the 1970s and 1980s, he started as a batsman struggling with short-pitched fast bowling but grew into one of the most fearless and resilient players of his time, renowned for facing brutal pace attacks in the bouncy conditions of the Caribbean and Australia, all without a helmet. Known for his grit, determination, and resilience, Amarnath was hailed as the best batsman of his era by both Sunil Gavaskar and Imran Khan. Despite frequent dropings from the Indian team, his relentless comebacks earned him the title of ‘comeback king.’ His memoir, co-written with his brother Rajender, offers a candid look at his life, giving readers an intimate glimpse into his unwavering spirit and a golden era of cricket. Fearless is a must-read for any true lover of the game.
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