TOP 4 BOOKS I have read in 2025 SO FAR!
- Kristy Clow
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
As the first quarter of the year has wrapped up, I like to reflect what I have read so far this year that I have enjoyed THE MOST. I am on track to read about 90 books this year so would like to pick up the speed in the next quarter and try to read 25 books before June 30th! Hopefully I will be reading poolside for all of May and June and can pick up the pace.
Ok one thing I love is when authors don't ramble on for 500 pages when they can get their story across in less pages. This is a book on the shorter side at around 288 pages and it was very unlike any book I have read before. Jane O. is visiting a therapist for unexplained episodes she is having aka blacking out for days at a time, hallucinating a long dead friend, experiencing reality not as it is. Can the therapists help her figure out why this is happening?
The story goes back in forth between the therapist recounting his experience with Jane and Jane's journal entries. The writing is very cold like a therapist is actually writing his case notes down and Jane's journal feels as if it's an assignment done for her therapist. I thought the writing style was so good for what the author is trying to accomplish and I felt as if I was really reading about a real life case happening! As for the ending, I was very surprised at the resolution that came about. The book is described as a literary puzzle and every chapter felt like a little more was revealed to me but in the end, summed everything up with a little mind-bending reality. I finished the book and had a hard time falling asleep as my brain was running back and forth from what I had just read!
Chelsey Calhoun, a detective, get a call that Ellie Black has returned after being missing for 2 years. Calhoun has been passionate about her job as a detective ever since her sister disappeared 20 years ago. As the story continues, it seems as if Ellie has a little Stockholm Syndrome as she won't give the detectives anything they need as if she is protecting her captors. Will they get to the bottom of who took her?
I love reading thrillers but usually I am left with a desire for more than just twists and turns. I need good character development! This book bounces from many different POVs! You get a little background on the detective, Ellie's family and boyfriend, and Ellie herself. This is not a fast-paced thriller but a slow-burn build that explores serious issues. If you only read thrillers for the fast paced plot this might be a miss for you but I thought it was the best of both worlds with some big twists that I didn't see coming (though I maybe should have seen some of them coming lol).
Ok I loved this so much! Mallory was in love with Monk Adams 13 years ago but something drove them apart. Is it worth reaching out for the health of her son. Hannah is unhappy with her life married for status. Is she hiding a past life from everybody?!
The alternating POV's between Mallory's present day life who is dealing with her son's need for a kidney transplant and Hannah, who is living a double life in Cairo during WW2, really kept my interests. Every time it would switch, I would be upset because I kept wanting to read whichever one I was in!
Though categorized as a historical fiction, it was less of a historical fiction as the historical events happening in the past left little imprint on the story other than the setting that Hannah lives in. I thought it was more of a two character driven novel whose lives intertwine across decades. I think this would be a great choice for a book club!
So funnily enough, I read the first one in this series earlier in the year and liked it enough and then picked this one up not realizing that is the third in a series. Completely skipped the second one which I didn't even realize until about 20% in when one of the characters back stories seemed familiar and it dawned on me lol. It obviously didn't affect my understanding of the story! It's pretty stand alone.
Martha is convinced her husband is a serial killer and using his work trips to kill women. That little blurb is enough to convince me to keep reading ha! She needs help figuring it out though so contacts Lily (character from first novel) to help her figure it out. Will they discover that her husband is who she think he is or is it something else even worse?!
This did not have very good ratings on Goodreads but I really liked it!! I think Lily is one of the more interesting characters I have read about (she's a literal psychopath in my opinion but a good one? Is that possible? Someone who is cold as ice but loyal to people she likes?) Definitely pick it up but maybe read the first one first because like I said Lily is intriguing to read about!!
Ok let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought! Agree or disagree?
Come be my friend on Goodreads! Follow me here!
XOXO
Kristy
Kommentare