The ten books I've recommended the most in 2025. All links go to my original posts about the books. They are not in any order. It was difficult to choose ten!
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult: this dive into historical fiction is a departure for Picoult, who usually focuses on domestic dramas. The dual timeline works well. I especially loved the historical sections and was moved to tears.
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick: grief is explored in this novel, and although it's usually a heavy theme, the exploration of processing grief took a back seat to the relationships. This would be fantastic for a book group discussion.
All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whittaker: it's a coming-of-age thriller. As enthralled as I was with the story, the audio narration took it to another level. I had a sense of unease through the whole book, which is masterful storytelling!
On A Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass: it's a slow-build thriller that has unlikeable, unreliable narrators. And I was completely drawn in. I was so wound up when I finished this book I am sure I drove my friends nutty!
So Far Gone by Jess Walter: set against the backdrop of current social and political shenanigans, this book is darkly humorous. It's somewhat preposterous, somewhat poignant, and all about family love.
The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie: a family saga where the matriarch is a crime boss. It's a book I recommended to my library book group because it is well written, filled with interesting main and secondary characters, but I was reluctant to recommend it because it's like the Soprano family is from Maine--you find yourself rooting for the anti-hero. We haven't had our discussion about it, but all the members who've read it are raving.
The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner: a compelling story about relationships. There are multiple timelines, but the technique worked well--my favorite parts were Cassie and Zoe's meteoric rise to rock'n roll fame. I'll give props to Dakota Fanning's narration.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: an epistolary novel, I loved that this format worked perfectly! Getting to know Sybil Van Antwerp through her communications allowed me to see the arc of her relationships. I especially liked the parts about books and authors.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman: a brilliant exploration of lifelong friendship and shared experiences. A beautiful, sometimes difficult book. When I finished it, I knew it would be a favorite of the year.
And it goes without saying that Louise Penny's The Black Wolf is the continuation of my favorite series. I don't know how she manages to make each book better than the one before.
No comments:
Post a Comment