2025 top reads
This was a rough year for reading (and everything else, thanks trump). I read about a hundred books fewer than than usual and many were rereads and a whole lot were middle grade. But there were some highlights and some of them are even written for grown ups!
The Bone Thief, by Vanessa Lillie: basically a perfect mystery about Indigenous remains that go missing and an archaeologist who solves the mystery.
The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, by Nicki Pau Preto, and the sequel, The Forbidden Room: SO GOOD. Another MG school series involving misfits, magic, battles against good and evil…..
Death and Dinguguan, by Mia P. Manansala: final book in one of my favorite cozy series, just a delete
Vera, or Faith, by Gary Shteyngart: I recommend going into this book not knowing too much. It was very funny, dystopian, and lovely.
The Skandar series by A.F. Steadman: oh goodness I LOVED these. They are a great harry potter alternative because the author isn’t evil, and there are factions, and death, and friendship, and romance, and UNICORNS. Read them.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna: just a warm cozy hug of a book. I loved sinking into it.
Heartwood, by Amity Gage: maybe my favorite mystery of the year
The Impossible Fortune, by Richard Osman: I mean, it’s a Thursday Murder Club book, I ate it up and would read 100 more.
The Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series, by Vaseem Khan: these are just delightful mysteries set in Indian about a former cop with a baby elephant who….you guessed it….solves crimes
Run for the Hills, by Kevin Wilson: every single one of his books is so good, and so unusual, and so perfect
Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I think this is the only book that made me cry this year
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, by Barbera Demick: just a fabulous nonfiction about twins who were separated under China’s one child policy, and one twin was adopted in the US. Absolutely fascinating.
The Medusa Protocol, by Rob Hart: is it a mystery series about former killer for hires who are in an AA type group? It sure is
Never Flinch, by Stephen King: I don’t like horror so I haven’t read much King but the Holly Gibney books are right up my alley, not too much horror
The Tell, by Amy Griffin: memoir about a woman who recovers memory of being sexually abused. Very compelling. The body keeps the score, etc.
Hang On St Christopher, by Adrian McGinty: I discovered this detective series set during the Troubles last year, and they are so good
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping, by Jesse Q Sutanto: sometimes you need an old lady solving murders
The Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen: and sometimes you need a whole bunch of middle grades about a 12 year old who also solves crimes
Kills Well With Others: and SOMETIMES, you need old ladies who are also retired assassins solving murders
Sir Callie and the Witch’s War, by Esme Symes-Smith: omg. Knights! Nonbinary and queer characters aplenty! Dragons!
This was a rough year for reading (and everything else, thanks trump). I read about a hundred books fewer than than usual and many were rereads and a whole lot were middle grade. But there were some highlights and some of them are even written for grown ups!
The Bone Thief, by Vanessa Lillie: basically a perfect mystery about Indigenous remains that go missing and an archaeologist who solves the mystery.
The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, by Nicki Pau Preto, and the sequel, The Forbidden Room: SO GOOD. Another MG school series involving misfits, magic, battles against good and evil…..
Death and Dinguguan, by Mia P. Manansala: final book in one of my favorite cozy series, just a delete
Vera, or Faith, by Gary Shteyngart: I recommend going into this book not knowing too much. It was very funny, dystopian, and lovely.
The Skandar series by A.F. Steadman: oh goodness I LOVED these. They are a great harry potter alternative because the author isn’t evil, and there are factions, and death, and friendship, and romance, and UNICORNS. Read them.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna: just a warm cozy hug of a book. I loved sinking into it.
Heartwood, by Amity Gage: maybe my favorite mystery of the year
The Impossible Fortune, by Richard Osman: I mean, it’s a Thursday Murder Club book, I ate it up and would read 100 more.
The Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series, by Vaseem Khan: these are just delightful mysteries set in Indian about a former cop with a baby elephant who….you guessed it….solves crimes
Run for the Hills, by Kevin Wilson: every single one of his books is so good, and so unusual, and so perfect
Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I think this is the only book that made me cry this year
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, by Barbera Demick: just a fabulous nonfiction about twins who were separated under China’s one child policy, and one twin was adopted in the US. Absolutely fascinating.
The Medusa Protocol, by Rob Hart: is it a mystery series about former killer for hires who are in an AA type group? It sure is
Never Flinch, by Stephen King: I don’t like horror so I haven’t read much King but the Holly Gibney books are right up my alley, not too much horror
The Tell, by Amy Griffin: memoir about a woman who recovers memory of being sexually abused. Very compelling. The body keeps the score, etc.
Hang On St Christopher, by Adrian McGinty: I discovered this detective series set during the Troubles last year, and they are so good
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping, by Jesse Q Sutanto: sometimes you need an old lady solving murders
The Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen: and sometimes you need a whole bunch of middle grades about a 12 year old who also solves crimes
Kills Well With Others: and SOMETIMES, you need old ladies who are also retired assassins solving murders
Sir Callie and the Witch’s War, by Esme Symes-Smith: omg. Knights! Nonbinary and queer characters aplenty! Dragons!
2024 books
Best Of:
We Solve Murders- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Mystery by the guy did Thursday murder club
Somewhere Beyond The Sea- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Cerulean Chronicles #2 and just as charming and delightful as the first.
Death At The Sign Of The Rook- A PERFECT BOOK. Newest Jackson Brodie which I do think is my all time favorite series.
Shark Heart- I promise you you’ve never read anything like this before.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Just charming and delightful. I might reread it now.
Honorable Mentions:
Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl- super charming YA.
Southern Man- newest Penn Cage. These books are long and dense, but they’re quite good.
Detective Sean Duffy books- really liked this series set in Ireland during the Troubles.
The Return of Ellie Black- terrific mystery
I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz: book written by a woman who was, well, you know, not too long after the war. Might be the most upsetting book I’ve ever read, but an important one.
Think Twice- the return of Myron Boltair, a character I’ve been reading for at least twenty years and am always happy to see.
The Hunter- Tana French is always perfection.
The FunJungle books- this series is for like fifth graders but what can I say, I thought it was awesome.
One Way Back: A Memoir- Christine Blasey Ford and the laughter indelible in the hippocampus is never far from my mind.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven books- delightful
Relinquished: the Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood and The Child Catchers: Reacue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption- these really changed my thinking about adoption
Alex Mack books- they’re for kids. I watched the show as a kid. Whatever, they were worth the eBay buy.
Blessed Water: Sister Holiday #2- these mysteries starring a nun are some of my favorites.
The Mimi Lee books- cozies with a talking cat that I liked a surprising amount
Margo’s Got Money Troubles- a delight from start to finish
Guilt in Ginataan- new installment of what might be my favorite cozy series
The Grey Wolf- newest Gamache. I gobbled it down.
How to be Safe- I am honestly still not sure if I liked this book, but I am still thinking about it
The Message- a must read to see how Israel has laundered their incredible crimes into something palatable
Consent: a Memoir- woman who married her professor. Thoughtful about consent and responsibility and changing language.
Full List:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/252807?shelf=2024&sort=date_added&order=d
We Solve Murders- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Mystery by the guy did Thursday murder club
Somewhere Beyond The Sea- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Cerulean Chronicles #2 and just as charming and delightful as the first.
Death At The Sign Of The Rook- A PERFECT BOOK. Newest Jackson Brodie which I do think is my all time favorite series.
Shark Heart- I promise you you’ve never read anything like this before.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches- BASICALLY A PERFECT BOOK. Just charming and delightful. I might reread it now.
Honorable Mentions:
Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl- super charming YA.
Southern Man- newest Penn Cage. These books are long and dense, but they’re quite good.
Detective Sean Duffy books- really liked this series set in Ireland during the Troubles.
The Return of Ellie Black- terrific mystery
I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz: book written by a woman who was, well, you know, not too long after the war. Might be the most upsetting book I’ve ever read, but an important one.
Think Twice- the return of Myron Boltair, a character I’ve been reading for at least twenty years and am always happy to see.
The Hunter- Tana French is always perfection.
The FunJungle books- this series is for like fifth graders but what can I say, I thought it was awesome.
One Way Back: A Memoir- Christine Blasey Ford and the laughter indelible in the hippocampus is never far from my mind.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven books- delightful
Relinquished: the Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood and The Child Catchers: Reacue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption- these really changed my thinking about adoption
Alex Mack books- they’re for kids. I watched the show as a kid. Whatever, they were worth the eBay buy.
Blessed Water: Sister Holiday #2- these mysteries starring a nun are some of my favorites.
The Mimi Lee books- cozies with a talking cat that I liked a surprising amount
Margo’s Got Money Troubles- a delight from start to finish
Guilt in Ginataan- new installment of what might be my favorite cozy series
The Grey Wolf- newest Gamache. I gobbled it down.
How to be Safe- I am honestly still not sure if I liked this book, but I am still thinking about it
The Message- a must read to see how Israel has laundered their incredible crimes into something palatable
Consent: a Memoir- woman who married her professor. Thoughtful about consent and responsibility and changing language.
Full List:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/252807?shelf=2024&sort=date_added&order=d
