This year I read 79 books/novella’s, down quite a bit from last year. I spent a lot of time during the late summer and fall editing the book I’m writing, so that obliterated a chunk of my reading time… When I decided to do another revision on the book, all those hours spent on editing seemed like a waste, but I learned a lot about my own writing foibles, so not a total squandering of my time. The revising continues…
I keep lists of books I want to read everywhere ~ one on my phone Reminders list, one on the phone Notes, plus an Excel spreadsheet ~ LOL! The Reminders list is titled B&N and comes in handy when Barnes & Noble runs their 25% off pre-order sales, which are almost as exciting to me as the Scholastic book sales at school many moons ago. I love the anticipation of getting a new book in the mail weeks or months later ~ it’s always good to have something to look forward to! 😊 The 25% preorder sale is on now until 1/1/26, for B&N Rewards members.
I ran through the two Barnes & Noble book journals (See the 2024 post) I used to record and review the books I read, so I bought a pretty notebook (below, right). The journal only allowed one page per book, with specific information to fill out and a star rating system ~ not much room to write my thoughts. Since the notebook I’m using now is just simple, lined pages, I can write as much as I want about each book without squishing my writing and sometimes adding sticky notes. Loving the freedom! YAY!
Onto the list.
I would recommend any of these books. I left one or two out of the list that I finished reading but didn’t really like and I won’t mention the books that I didn’t finish reading (DNF). DNF is so subjective – sometimes you’re not in the mood for the subject matter, you find the writing disappointing or the characters or story just don’t spark your interest ~ so why bum a writer out by giving a bad review when maybe it really is just YOU…
I hope your 2025 was filled with books and stories you loved! Please comment your faves!
My Extra Special Favorites are in RED
(EB) = Ebooks
Cozy Mystery (*Historical)
A Death in Diamonds* S. J. Bennett
The Queen Who Came in from the Cold* S. J. Bennett
Flashes of Insight (EB) Lynda Allen
Fondant Fumble Jenn McKinlay
Grilled for Murder (EB) Maddie Day
Death Scene Carol J. Perry
When the Grits Hit the Fan (EB) Maddie Day
Biscuits and Slashed Browns (EB) Maddie Day
Furever After Sofie Kelly
Seven Deadly Sequins (EB) Julie Anne Lindsay
Beating the Wrap (EB) Julie Anne Lindsay
Silent as the Grave* Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles
One Death at a Time Abbi Waxman
Shot Through the Book Eva Gates
The Spirit Moves Carol J. Perry
Paws, Claws, and Curses (EB) DeAnna Drake
Hisses, Hexes and Homocides (EB) DeAnna Drake
Furballs and Felonies (EB) DeAnna Drake
Dead End Date (EB short) DeAnna Drake
Trouble at the Christmas Tea (EB short) DeAnna Drake
Candy, Cauldrons, and a Corpse (EB) DeAnna Drake
The Game is Afoot Elise Bryant
Six Feet Deep Dish Mindy Quigley
Something Whiskered Miranda James
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder Bellamy Rose
Every Crooked Nanny (EB) Mary Kay Andrews
To Live and Die in Dixie (EB) Mary Kay Andrews
The Last Word Gerri Lewis
Grave Words Gerri Lewis
Unbalanced (EB) D. P. Lyle
A Perilous Plot Lorna Barrett
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year (EB) Ally Carter
Don’t Toy with Me (EB short) Diane Kelly
These Crooked Things* (EB) Ellen Byerrum
Police Procedural
Land of Shadows Rachel Howzell Hall
Eve Dallas – Police Procedurals but these books also have romance and friendship, plus they’re slightly sci-fi
Payback in Death J.D. Robb
Suspense
Stillhouse Lake Rachel Caine
Romance (*Young Adult)
Love You a Latke Amanda Elliot
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice* Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
Mint to Be* Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
Make It Official (EB novella) Racquel Henry
Recipes of Christmas Past (EB novella) Racquel Henry
This Christmas Rivalry (EB novella) Beverly Jenkins
Middle Grade (*Historical)
Amari and the Despicable Wonders B.B. Alston
The Secret Library* Kekla Magoon
Literary Fiction
Change of Scene (Novella) (EB) Mary Kay Andrews
The Golden Gals French Adventure (EB) Judy Leigh
Between Friends and Lovers Shirlene Obuobi
The Sign for Home Blair Fell
Big in Sweden (EB) Sally Franson
Bring on the Blessings (EB) Beverly Jenkins
A Second Helping (EB) Beverly Jenkins
The Bookstore Wedding (EB short) Alice Hoffman
Statistically Speaking (EB) Debbie Johnson
I Can’t Even (EB) Jenn McKinlay
Christa Comes Out of Her Shell Abbi Waxman
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill Abbi Waxman
Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon Matthew Norman
LGBTQ+ (*YA) (**Romance)
The In-Between Bookstore Edward Underhill
This Day Changes Everything * Edward Underhill
The Pairing** Casey McQuiston
Humorous Fiction
The Mince Pie Mix-Up (EB) Jennifer Joyce
If Wishes Were Retail Auston Habershaw
Sci-Fi
When the Moon Hits Your Eye John Scalzi
The Kaiju Preservation Society John Scalzi
Starter Villain John Scalzi
3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years (EB short) John Scalzi
Witchy/Magical Fiction
Ghost Talker (EB) Byrd Nash
Delicious Death (EB) Byrd Nash
Spirit Guide (EB) Byrd Nash
Gray Lady (EB) Byrd Nash
Haunted Grave (EB) Byrd Nash
Ghostly Mistake (EB) Byrd Nash
Boy of Chaotic Making (EB) Charlie N. Holmberg
Wizard of Most Wicked Ways (EB) Charlie N. Holmberg
The Improvisors (EB) Nicole Glover
Autobiography
In the Form of a Question Amy Schneider
Fearless and Free Josephine Baker
We Did OK, Kid Anthony Hopkins
I'm Writing As Fast As I Can 