The Books I read In 2025
2025 Books Read:
No particular order (I’m adding books as I read them in 2025)
All links are Amazon affiliate links, which means if you purchase a book from any of these links I will receive a small compensation (and it is greatly appreciated!)
Fiction:
How to Read A Book by Monica Wood: I enjoyed this one. It was about a 19-something-year-old woman who had gone to jail for manslaughter and was just getting out after about 2 years in. It all centers around the book club that started in the jail and the community that formed because of it. Some parts are cheesy and predictable but over all very good.
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan: I loved the characters and the character development In this book. It was a compelling story and worth the read.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach: I LOVED this book. The character development was beautiful and there are these places where the main character is committed to not lying to the bride and her honesty is breathtaking making you wish that the whole world would be that brutally honest with each other. I loved it and can’t wait to read more of this authors work.
The Mountain Between Us
Historical Fiction:
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash: This was a book at the start of unions in the South at textile mills
Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon: This book was fabulous with a brilliant heroin in her 50’s. This book is a bit of mystery, and it does cover a rape and a murder. It is worth a read.
Fantasy:
The Voyage of The Damned by Frances White: This book was delightful! I had no idea what to expect when it started and fell more and more in love with it as I listened. The main character is funny and sweetly sarcastic in all of the best possible ways and the audiobook narrator nailed it!
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros: I listened to this one on the drive to OH and was riveted! I listened in graphic audio, which was new to me, and I wasn’t sure I would like, but now I’m hooked. It’s about an early 20-something-year-old originally trained to become a scribe has been told she has to become a “Rider” by her General mother. Riders are supposed to be volunteers. Riders bond to a dragon during their first year of training. They can communicate telepathically. The main character, Violet, is an underdog. It does get a bit steamy with her love interest but this book is the whole package of character development, action, intrigue and love.
Iron Flame (The Empyrean, 2) by Rebecca Yarros: I can say that you don’t want to start listening to a series in Graphic audio and then flip to the regular audio. It’s not wrecking the book for me but if money were no object I would just buy the graphic audio. I’ll keep you posted on what I think when I’m done.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (The Shepard King Book 1)
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig (The Shepard King Book 2)
Horror/Thriller:
The Unwedding by Ally Condie: I started reading this and got halfway in before I realized it was a thriller. Last year, I realized I hate thrillers. I still hate thrillers, not my thing. I need to do a much better job of reading about a book before I start reading. This book was fine if you like thrillers. I hated this but I was at least halfway through and needed to know the ending.
Memoir:
Unprotected by Billy Porter: This was a fantastic memoir!
Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner: I loved this memoir so much! It’s a memoir about mothers and daughters, identity, and grief.
Biography:
Books of Essays or short stories:
In-Depth Market Research Interviews With Dead People: Tempur-Pedic by Alison Espach
Non-Fiction
Personal Development:
Books I did not finish! DNF
The Comfort of Crows: I know this book has been recommended to me on numerous occasions. I straight-up did not like it. I tried it more than once and just couldn’t get into it. I think part of why is that these should each be taken separately as little essays or reflections, and I was trying to listen to it like an audio book and it’s not meant for that.
All links are Amazon affiliate links, which means if you purchase a book from any of these links I will receive a small compensation