Reading Highlights from 2025

Initially, I thought 2025 was a dud year when it came to reading, but I think it was a recency bias issue. I had a DNF in December and overall, didn’t feel super inspired. One popular books was a meh miss for me (Buckeye, FWIW) and that affected my perception. But! I reviewed my book list and there were some wonderful books that I enjoyed so without further ado and in loose order of favorite-hood:

Top four books of the year

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown: The protagonist is a young woman who’s grown up off-the-grid with her father. The first ~20% takes place in their cabin, which was fine but not great. I was a little bored but pushed through. This was a great decision because once she arrives in San Francisco, the book is amazing. While the character development is well-done as she and the reader develop more context and larger world awareness, I fully admit that part of my love for this book is that I lived through this time of the introduction of the internet into everyday life (mid-to-late 90s). I loved reading about that time in the epicenter (SF/Bay Area) where I now live. So, I do think my enjoyment was in part my own personalization of the book, but it’s a huge best seller so I don’t think you need to have that connection to really enjoy this book.

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips: Two sisters are kidnapped while playing near their local beach in Kamchatka, Siberia. This book takes place in the year following the incident and follows several character and the community response to the event. It’s a harsh world in Siberia and there is narrowmindness and judgement. I want to talk about the ending, but don’t even want to hint at it in case you decide to read. Which I think you should!

Heart the Lover by Lily King: I love Lily King and I’ve read all of her books. I wanted to read this book and then my book club picked it for the November read. I didn’t realize this book sandwiches the time period of Writers & Lovers. It’s been awhile since I’ve read W&L and I would like to re-read. Opinions were divided over the main female’s character’s choices in the second time period in the book regarding her family and old friend, but I thought it was excellent. I also thought the hospital scenes and the depiction of the out-of-time, mundane horrible-ness of critical illness and ICUs were particularly well done.

Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven: I loved Search by Michelle Huneven in 2023 and was excited to see she had a new book. In looking up screen images for this post, I realize she’s written four other books and I think she’s going to be my next, I-have-to-read-all-of-their-books author. This book is very character-driven and takes place over decades as the repercussions of a family tragedy play out. There a sad main event, but the book is not a downer- I promise!

Books 5-8, although certainly not second tier!

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: This epistolary novel is excellent. It’s a beautiful unfolding of the inner life and meaningful relationships of the main character/letter writer Sybil Van Antwerp. She initially seems like a crabby old lady, but she is so much more than that. Actually, she is very cool (I kind of love how she handles two suitors- love triangle for the olds!). Some of the relationships meant more to me than others (loved Harry Landy) but all of the secondary characters were important to the plot and themes.

11/22/63 by Stephen King: My first Stephen King book! This had been on my TBR list for awhile, but it is l-o-n-g. Stephen King is such a good writer and this was a great introduction to his excellent work. It was engaging and felt like a quick read due to its ease/readability. It features time-travel, altering history, unintended consequences, and dedication to a cause.

James by Percival Everett: Another real-life book club pick and this retelling of Huckleberry Finn from James (“Jim” in HF) is excellent. Several heavy themes throughout- I thought the theme of code-switching was well-done and not something I’ve seen a lot of in other fiction.

Open Throat by Henry Hoke: This magical realism book about a sentient tiger (but not to human levels of sentience) is so creative that it was a real delight to experience this book as a unique artistic experience. It’s really short, which is a key reason why I liked it so much. I think it were much longer, I would have not enjoyed it but it was a real creative treat!

Memoirs of note

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten: I didn’t really think about Ina Garten a lot, but I decided to read her memoir around the time of my France trip because I knew she had an affinity for the country. I wrote down her 6th Arr local shops and visited them while I was there. I don’t think this is the most literary memoir ever, but it’s engaging and I really admire her professional success and her solid marriage that has a lot of love and independence.

The Perfect Meal by John Baxter This was also a France trip-influenced book and a real delight. A British writer lives in France and decides to go on a quest to find the gastronomic history and recreation of the repas, a formal French dinner. He has a cryptic French mentor, significant culinary world contacts, and an excellent writing style.

And that’s that for my 2025 book highlights. I recommend all of the books on the list and hopefully my little write-ups help you find your next 5 star read or two!