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2025 Reads
30
items My goal for the year is to read 25 books, come along on the reading journey! I read a little bit of everything, from fantasy to dystopian to self help.
Sections
4
Fiction
Series
Self Help
Audio
Fiction
Short and long stories from adventurous to light hearted to mysterious & deep
Chilling horror novel set in Jim Crow era Florida in a haunted reformatory school for boys.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
A fascinating tale of love and betrayal following a young thief and her target, a seemingly innocent Lady of an isolated estate.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Every chapter is heart wrenching as we explore the grief of a young widow and scenes of a budding young relationship she grieves.
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Nobel winning scientist uses his knowledge of alternate universes to reunite with his wife, at any cost.
In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim
Reread the classic by John Steinbeck for the first time since high school. Themes are just as poignant today.
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
A saga spanning across 30+ years in medieval Europe, following a small, pious village striving to build a cathedral in a tense political landscape.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Parallel journeys between two women, hundreds of years apart, yet connected through suffering, revenge, and a shop that provides services to aid in both.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Classic murder mystery if you enjoy that format! A small town where everybody knows everybody turns upside down when the resident of an old estate gets “food poisoning” from home-canned goods. The fact that she is notorious about her system to avoid ...
A Pint of Murder (Madoc Rhys #1) by Alisa Craig
Horrifying, disgusting, makes you question what it means to be human in a world where cannibalism is legalized and regulated. Highly recommend.
Books - Tender Is the Flesh: Bazterrica, Agustina
Less than 100 page thriller if you’re looking for a quick read. Personally I didn’t love that there were so many twists but I can definitely say I never knew what was coming next.
Death Row (Alibis Collection) eBook
I thought it was going to be like survivalist Romeo & Juliet but was disappointed it never made that potential. Quick read about a daughter of a “prepper” that gets abandoned in the wilderness amidst PNW wildfires, meets a boy at a neighboring pe...
Instructions for the End of the World - Jamie Kain
Less than 50pages. A short story about grief in a Hindu family
Abscond: A Short Story eBook - Abraham Verghese
Series
Fantasy and dystopian sets I read one or all installments of this year
Did a reread for the newest addition to the series, it’s just as poignant as when I read it 10 years ago!
The Hunger Games Book Series
Loved this installment to The Hunger Games series!
Sunrise on the Reaping
Follows a ruthless mercenary on a mission to get revenge at any cost in this dark otherworldly society of cutthroats.
Best Served Cold: Abercrombie, Joe - Books
A prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Similar style of jumping between different lands in this fantasy world where the balance between ice and fire is broken and leaders have to fight expectations and beliefs in order to kee...
A Day of Fallen Night (Roots of Chaos #0)
Classic fantasy series following a boy’s journey of self discovery and stepping into power in order to defeat dark forces in a final battle for the ages.
The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan
Links to book 1 of the series but just finished the newest third installment. World building of this magical realm with dragons and perfect use of cliffhangers will make this series a very fast read.
The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
On an isolated island where the citizens are the only ones capable of harnessing power derived from jade that is mined there, rival gangs vie for control of the country, its stores of jade, and trade with the world beyond its shores.
The Green Bone Saga (3 book series) Kindle Edition
Book 1 of the Castellane Chronicles follows Kel, somewhat of a brother figure to the prince, and Lin who is a part of the magical citizens that live separately from the kingdom citizens. In a world where magic is near extinct, this book explores clas...
Sword Catcher (Chronicles of Castellane #1)
Self Help
Insightful thought provoking inquiries into human psyche and personal growth
If you’re into Astrology, you know your sun sign isn’t all there is to your story. This is a deep dive into your life’s purpose based on your North Node placement.
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller
Simple insights to help chronic overthinking and the anxiety that comes with it.
Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Matters
Simple insights to help get out of an artistic rut and inspire you to channel your intuition into creativity.
The Art of Creating: Transformative Art
Explores different types of love and the needs from which they derive from.
The Art of Loving: Fromm, Erich - Books
Inspirational guide to jumpstart your journey to self improvement and following your passions.
You Deserve This Sh!t: Find Your Path
Super quick yet inspiring read about motivation and how we adapt to change.
Who Moved My Cheese?: A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change
More of a non fiction than self help, but gives a real view into migrant farm workers and the conditions under which they suffer in order to survive. Addresses stigma we have about immigrants-documented or not, and how assumptions continue to divide ...
Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers US
Audio
Exploration into plagiarism and appropriation and a perfect example of an anti-hero. I hated every choice the main character made and that’s the point! Recommended as audio because the narration just heightens the experience.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
John Green ventures into nonfiction in this deep dive into the roots that TB has throughout all of history, if not as a cause of major suffering then at least a tangential connection. Exposes systematic oppression thru how communities with rampant di...
Everything Is Tuberculosis
Such a unique exploration into Steve Martin’s history. This is only available in audio because it’s mainly done thru interviews. Less than a 5 hour listen. Very inspiring!
So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin