Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Current Book Reads 2025

Purple Star emoji 35 items
Books I’m reading and a brief review of my thoughts. Will be adding more books as I get through them!
Sections
4
 
 
 
 

April 2025

This month there is no theme. Just reading whatever I feel like reading
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Friend handed it to me to read. Will review after finished
Back to the Bedroom

March

Month three of 2025. The TBR keeps growing. This month focus will be on getting through some of my To Be Read list. Books below. Will add more comments as I read through them all
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Book three of a trilogy. The final brother finds love on the final installment. Has epilogues to sew it all up
Scythe & Sparrow (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Ruinous Love Trilogy #3)|BN Exclusive
2
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Enjoyed this story! Attention grabbing and the lead character of Lark is very engaging. Trigger warnings!
Leather & Lark (Ruinous Love Trilogy #2)|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
First book in a trilogy! Loved it. It was a fun read, a little grotesque at times but I really liked the characters and the storyline. It was funny and serious and well written. Several trigger warnings at beginning of book
Butcher & Blackbird (Ruinous Love Trilogy #1)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
My go to comfort read. Current events can stress me out. This calms me.
Pride and Prejudice (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Pre-ordered. Just waiting for its arrival
Sunrise on the Reaping (B&N Exclusive Edition) (A Hunger Games Novel)|BN Exclusive
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Book 1 in a 60 book series. Futuristic female detective series. Always a fun read. Great character development throughout the series. I keep coming back to this series as comfort reads.
Naked in Death (In Death Series #1)|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Change the way you think and deal with other people’s actions and reactions. Highly recommend this book! I was so invested I ended up getting it in audio too, so I could co to it “reading” while I was driving.
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About|Hardcover
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Just got this one. Planning to start this week.
Tell Me What You Did: A Novel|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Put off reading this not expecting to like it, but found I was wrong! It was a good read, not my usual genre, but is obviously building a story. Planning to read the next book in the series
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #1)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Chosen from my TBR and so happy! It was really good and I’m glad I didn’t read it and have to wait for the next installment! Looking forward to the second book!
Fourth Wing|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
The story continues as the plot thickens in book three of the series. Still the same crazy characters, still funny, still solving a mystery, and the romance subplot builds
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan Series #3)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
First one was so good I had to go grab the second! Wow! Halfway through & loving it!
Iron Flame|Hardcover
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Reread or rather a first listen as I listened to it as an audiobook after having read it before. Still very applicable to today’s political situations
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Quick and easy but very entertaining read!
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan Series #5)|Hardcover
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
One of my favorite reads of 2025 so far. Don’t usually read fantasy but this story was engaging, the characters had depth, and the plot was interesting.
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1)

February 2025

Books read in February 2025 Focus on Black History Month Please read diverse authors year round!
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Book 60! in the In Death series. This installment focuses on the history of a major supporting character. The character development in this story is unreal good. Even if you’re not going to read the previous 59 books, it can be read & enjoyed a...
Bonded in Death|Hardcover
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Way better than I thought it would even be. Really enjoyed this. My teen is going to be reading it next
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #1)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
A must read! Very thought provoking. Will be adding a review
The Hate U Give (Printz Honor Winner)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Amazing! Will write more complete review
Becoming|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Her writing style and word choices bring awareness and hope.
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Great book. Great writing. He knows how to put the words together
A Promised Land|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Introducing children to the poetry of Amanda Gorman. Every child I’ve read it to this month loved it. Bright colorful illustrations. Highly recommend
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem|Hardcover
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Great starting point to exploring the roles of black women in history. We’ve used this for years and do more research based on what we read
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History|Hardcover
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Opened my mind to a lot of issues I wasn’t aware of. Highly recommended
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Psychological thriller. Loved the characters and their oddness and depths. Excellent read. Don’t won’t to spoil so won’t talk plot. Twists all over.
None of This Is True: A Novel|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Told with his humor and wit, he tackles hard subjects. Loved it!
It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers)|Paperback
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Great story! Interesting character. Makes me really want to take action to stop this from happening and to prepare for such situations
Parable of the Sower|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
In installment two, Finlay and friends find themselves involved in even more comedic mystery. They learn more about each other and even involve some romance. These books have something for everyone to enjoy!
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead (Finlay Donovan Series #2)|Paperback

January 2025

Started the year with a super long To Be Read list. It grows faster than I can read.
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Domestic Thriller. Great characters. Twists & turns. Really enjoyed this one.
Everyone Here Is Lying: A Novel|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Comedic take on a woman coping post divorce. At times I was frustrated with the main character but the story follows her attempts to cope with the loss of the life she thought she was supposed to lead.
Really Good, Actually: A Novel|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Such a fun read! Really enjoyed the writing and character development in this one. If you want a fun read with some depth, this book is for you.
Funny Story|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
I was handed this book to read after finishing mine and not having another with me. It’s part of a series. Maybe if I read the rest of the series I’d have enjoyed it more. I found it hard to keep track of the people and their roles within the story...
No Fixed Line|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
Cozy little mystery series featuring a female character learning to stand in her own. Nice read. Doesn’t require deep thinking. Just enjoy the ride.
Suede to Rest: A Material Witness Mystery|Paperback
placeholder
 
Brenda Jones profile picture
First installment in a funny & captivating murder mysteries series. Nice balance between the comedy and mystery. Flawed, over the top, relatable characters. Great read!
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan Series #1)|Paperback