My primary genre is suspense but I tend to venture outside of that box, too. In 2025 I planned to beat my 2024 count of 17 books. And I did it!
Sections
3
Five Stars
Four Stars
Three Stars and Below
Five Stars
My absolute favorites that you need to read right now
Young nanny. Creepy parents. Kid sees monsters. I'm sad that I have no more Jason Rekulak books to read.
Hidden Pictures
Heartwrenching and beautiful. An interesting twist on time travel.
The Unmaking of June Farrow: A Novel
The podcast chapters were a great vehicle for backstory without infodumping. I would read more stories like this.
Listen for the Lie: A Novel
Beyond her amazing romance stories, Abby Jimenez always gets the best narrators. I might be in love with Zachary Webber.
Part of Your World
The story is more about sisterhood and cultural expectations than serial murder. I reccomend the audiobook.
My Sister, the Serial Killer: A Novel
I'm a fan of Eva Bernhard's Canadian cozy mysteries. This one takes place in a B&B during a hurricane.
Stormy Night – Suspenseful Canadian Mystery
A memoir of a metalhead. Heartfelt and informative.
Southeast of Heaven: A Metalhead's Journey
I love a close-quarters cozy mystery. This one didn't disappoint.
Death at Eagle Roost
An interesting look into the life of an Amish woman in the 1970s.
Sarah's Seasons: Amish Diary & Conversation
Four Stars
Technically pretty good but I wouldn't read again
Very spooky and engaging until the end.
Starling House
A cozy mystery with a neurodivergent main character.
The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel
Girls go missing in the woods. The story is intense. The social commentary isn't forced but it persists.
Jackal: A Novel
I have mixed feelings about the story. The premise is amazing but the execution was off.
The Last Murder at the End of the World
A good story, especially if you're reading on a long car ride like I was. But the cluelessness of the characters had me frustrated until the end.
Five Total Strangers
I read this classic novel in middle school and decided to read it again because of the impact it had on me then.
The Good Earth
Probably the most shocking ending of all the books I read this year.
The Last One at the Wedding
A mystery set in a Nebraska park.
Parks and Death: A Tegan Reese Mystery
If you’re looking for zombie apocalypse but you don’t like gore and violence this book is for you. Think of it as Cozy Apocalypse.
Last Mom Standing
A cute city-girl-meets-cowboy romance with really good spice.
Swift and Saddled: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel
Tough love and real talk to get you organized.
Tidy the F*ck Up: American Organizing
This was the inspiration for the Kristen Wiig series Palm Royale.
Mr. and Mrs. American Pie
Three Stars and Below
Probably just don't
It was an okay read with a creepy vibe. Mostly character driven with a lot of backstory. A tale of four friends on vacation with a horror twist at the end. The VERY END.
The Return
Extremely repetitive and slow. But I've heard others rave about it so maybe it's just me.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Like Stephen King's Misery but really really boring.
The Crash
The kitschy setting was the best thing about this story. But it felt like a long therapy session.
