Writing up a list of favorites for the year can be challenging as I enjoyed just about all the books I read. Here are a few standouts for me. (Reviews/more info in links. )
I started January with my first book of the year titled Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter. If you have heard his sports broadcasts or his comedic "broadcast" describing his dogs vying for a bone during the lockdown years ago, that's the voice you'll hear while reading this book. #nonfiction
An absolute favorite here is The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke. Fascinating book and so well written. #nonfiction
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
The Correspondent by Virgina Evans - amazing. Buddy read with Susan.
Two John Boyne books - The Elements and All the Broken Places.
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks - powerful and raw emotional writing. #nonfiction
Honorable Mention
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave.
Seascrape by Benjamin Wood - another buddy read with Susan
There are so many more I enjoyed but these deserved a mention.
It's been so nice visiting other blogs and seeing what you loved reading this year. All my buddy reads have been fun 💗📚 Of course there are more books around the house than I haven't managed to get to but...that's a goal for next year.
Please leave a comment to tell me a few of your favorites. Happy new year and may you have good times, good reading, good health and lots of love in your life.
Sharing with:
Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday as I read so many set in the British Isles such as Flesh, Seascraper, Story of the Heart, two John Boyne books and Olive, Mabel and Me.
I thank you so much for recommending The Story of a Heart. This was a fantastic book. I've recommended it to others.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I'm glad you liked it. It was heart wrenching yet so informative. I learned so much about medical developments over the years.
DeleteThank you for sharing your favorites of the year. I think I will add a couple of these that I have not read to my wishlist including Wild Dark Shore and All the Broken Places. I am also interested in Flesh---we shall see.
DeleteDeb, I hope you enjoy them. I find I am adding more book titles I see on other blogs. Great suggestions.
DeleteI always learn of the best books from other bloggers.
DeleteYou read some great books in 2025. I really want to read the Laura Dave book. It looks good. Have a great 2026! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to as well, Yvonne. I liked that laura Dave book best of any of the others I read by her. Hope you have lots of good books for this year.
DeleteHappy New Year, Tina! I enjoyed this "favorites" post, and have added a few to my ever-growing tbr list. The Story of a Heart is definitely one that I plan to read. I should reserve a copy at the library now, so I don't forget about it! Wild Dark Shores is another, but I may listen to the audio. I agree with you about Memorial Days and The Correspondent. The latter may be my #1 read of the year. I'm really looking forward to both of Boyne's books, but first I must read The House of Special Purpose since I bought it ages ago when we were in Nashville (got it at Ann Patchett's store!). A friend is going to loan me her copy of Flesh, so that will be on schedule for early in the year. Seascraper is one I may give to my mom for her birthday in May. Then I get to read it. :) I'll get my annual review up in the next few days. I'm still working on my December post!
ReplyDeleteLes, my list is always growing it seems but there are so many great books I want to read. I honestly am tyrying to read what is on hand but then a library hold comes in...endless cycle.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your updates about 2025.
I have The Correspondent on my TBR thanks to you. It looks fantastic. I have Wild Dark Shore is on my shelf and I've heard so many great things about it. I hope to get to both this year!
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I think you'll love both books! On to a new year of good reading and challenges.
DeleteYou read so many great books this year, Tina! The Correspondent is my #1 book of the year and I'm looking forward to reading/listening to Memorial Days later this month. I also want to read The Elements and Seascraper, and have had Fever on my kindle for a few years now. All I need is more reading time!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, this past year did have some great books and I am pleased with them all. I did have a few DNF but I don't feel those were a waste of time as I just moved on quickly to something else. You also had some great reads!
DeleteWhen you get to The Elements you have to read it in order, even thought it's set up almost like separate stories. They do connect :-)
Thanks for sharing your favourites Tina. I read Fever some years ago and loved it. I hope to find a gap in which to read The Correspondent this year.
ReplyDeleteShelleyrae, there were so many good books, almost hard to narrow down a few favorites, Happy reading to you this year!
DeleteLooks like you had a great reading year! I’m adding Fever to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteOlivia, I think you will like it, so much based on fact in it and it's a bit sad.
DeleteIt looks like you had a great reading year in 2025. Here's to more in 2026! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJoy, happy new year to you as well.
DeleteTotally agreed about The Correspondent being great! I hadn't expected a lot from it as it was a random find for me, but it was so good.
ReplyDeleteNicky, it was better than I'd thought it would be and it was nice to read about a kindred spirit who still writes letters.
DeleteThe Story of a Heart sound excellent.
ReplyDeleteLydia, it was one of my favorites for the year. Great writing.
DeleteGood list! I had to go with 12 fiction books for my favorites, lol. (Flesh, Seascraper and The Correspondent made my list.) I only read 10 nonfiction books in 2025. Hmm. Sometime I'm still planning on getting to the Andrew Cotter book (Labs!). The (5) buddy reads were fun with you this past year. I'm sure you spurred me on through the pages. I might get to The Story of a Heart sometime ... when I'm brave. Memorial Days made my nonfiction fav list.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I think I will be reading more nonficiton this year. And yes, those fictions were favorites of mine as well. Oh, check out Andrew Cotter on Instagram as it's neat to hear him talking to the dogs and seeing the crazy hikes he goes on in deep snow, with Olive and Mabel.
DeleteThe Story of the Heart will go down as an all time favorite for nonfiction. Along with Stir by Jessica Fechtor. I may reread that one.
I really need to read Charlotte McConaghey! I have heard such good things about her books.
ReplyDelete