We’re kicking off this week on PBF by chatting about one in every of my very favourite issues in all the world: Books. Studying books, speaking about books, sharing e book suggestions… all of it lights me up inside. Whereas I’ve by no means stored monitor of all of the books I’ve learn or performed a lot aside from fly by means of novels and share them with you guys on the weblog (normally in a Issues I’m Loving Friday weblog publish), I attempt my finest to drag latest reads collectively once in a while on the weblog so that they’re simpler to search out in a single place. For right now’s weblog publish, we’re specializing in the books I’ve learn for the reason that starting of 2025 however somewhat than simply sharing a recap of the books, I figured I might rank them so as from the books I cherished most to these I didn’t discover as fulfilling to learn.

everything i've read so far in 2025

Selfishly, I additionally take pleasure in sharing these sort of weblog posts right here as a result of I find it irresistible when YOU chime in and share a few of your latest reads with me. I’ve you guys to thank for locating a few of the finest books I’ve learn in my life, so please hold the e book suggestions coming!

Every little thing I’ve Learn So Far This 12 months: Ranked

Style: Fiction / My score: A 

One in every of you really useful Joe Nuthin’s Information to Life to me on Instagram after I discussed how a lot I cherished Eleanor Oliphant and Molly the Maid, two books with uniquely fantastic foremost characters. As anticipated, I completely adored Joe Nathan. He’s a neurodivergent younger man who loves the TV present Mates and is so fantastic in his innocence and his need for routine, predictability and his willpower to do the fitting factor. Joe Nuthin’s Information to Life is such a singular e book and one I completely loved. It has depth, so many candy moments and nice takeaways. It isn’t a light-weight learn however it was additionally one my tender coronary heart may nonetheless deal with. I do know this e book will stick to me and it’s the e book at the moment claiming the highest spot on my checklist of finest books I’ve learn thus far this 12 months.

From Amazon:

Joe-Nathan likes the 2 elements of his title separate, identical to dinner and dessert. Imply Charlie at work generally calls him Joe-Nuthin. However Joe is way from nothing. Joe is an effective buddy, good at his job, good at making issues and at following guidelines, and he’s studying easy methods to do a number of issues by himself.

Joe’s mom is aware of there are one million issues he isn’t but ready for. Whereas she helps to information him every single day, she can also be writing notebooks of recommendation for Joe, of all of the issues she hasn’t but advised him about life and issues he may overlook.

By following her recommendation, Joe’s life is about to be extra of a shock than he expects. As a result of he’s about to be taught that exceptional issues can occur if you depart your consolation zone, and that you are able to do even the toughest issues with a bit assist from your mates.

Style: Coming of age fiction / My score: A

Regardless of so many glowing suggestions, I delay studying Demon Copperhead once I learn the synopsis of the e book on-line as a result of I knew it was going to be a heavy learn. Sure, it was, however it was additionally an intensely transferring and charming coming-of-age story a few boy born to a teenage addict mom in rural Appalachia. The writer’s potential to jot down as Damon, or Demon as he’s far more generally recognized, felt so plausible. She captured his wit, resilience, willpower and intelligence but in addition his flaws, frustrations and struggles in such a human approach. This e book touched me and made me suppose deeply and I do know it is going to be one that may stick to me.

From Amazon:

Set within the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mom in a single-wide trailer, with no property past his useless father’s attractiveness and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce expertise for survival. Relayed in his personal unsparing voice, Demon braves the trendy perils of foster care, youngster labor, derelict faculties, athletic success, dependancy, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. By all of it, he reckons along with his personal invisibility in a preferred tradition the place even the superheroes have deserted rural folks in favor of cities.

Style: Historic fiction / My score: A-

My gosh this e book nearly wrecked me. I used to be so morally conflicted all the time I learn this e book. And was so wired and heartbroken. It was the form of e book I couldn’t cease studying as a result of I simply needed to discover out what occurred ultimately. An necessary warning: This e book has a LOT of set off warnings (miscarriage, stillbirth, loss, grief, child-related trauma — all of the issues) and it actually just isn’t a e book I might’ve learn had I not gone into it blind based mostly on the advice of a buddy.

I downloaded it from my Libby app, began studying and bought hooked. Regardless that it was pretty clear from the start that this one was going to be a tough one to get by means of. This e book is fantastically written. And could be an unimaginable dialogue e book for a e book membership in case your coronary heart can deal with it. Simply be ready to be wrestling with your self all the time, particularly if something involving kids breaks you.

The Mild Between Oceans follows Tom Sherbourne as he returns to Australia after 4 years serving on the Western Entrance. Tom accepts a job as lighthouse keeper on an remoted island known as Janus Rock. And falls in love with a passionate, loving younger lady named Isabel. The 2 marry and Isabel follows Tom to Janus Rock the place they begin a life collectively and pray for a child. After a number of traumatic losses, they start to marvel if a child will ever occur for them when a ship washes ashore, carrying a useless man and a crying child. Isabel is satisfied the newborn is the reply to their prayers. She begs Tom to not report the boat, the person and the newborn. Tom is enormously conflicted however Isabel’s love for the newborn is instant, deep and powerful. And Tom finds himself falling for the kid, too.

After elevating the newborn as their very own for 2 years, Tom and Isabel take her to the mainland to satisfy her grandparents and are available head to head with the fact of their deception after they study a person and a child who went lacking years earlier, forsaking a devastated spouse and mom whose life has by no means been the identical. The Mild Between Oceans is a heart-wrenching story of affection and loss and unimaginable selections.

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Style: Romance / My score: B+ 

Each time I end studying an intense e book I typically wish to comply with it up with one thing a bit fluffier and when Humorous Story turned obtainable by means of my Libby app, the timing was excellent. I’m not the die-hard Emily Henry fan I do know many romance readers on the market appear to be however I do take pleasure in her books and Humorous Story was one in every of my favorites I’ve learn by this writer. The e book had depth, believable character progress, steamy moments and likable characters. And I loved it from begin to end.

I additionally discovered myself considering how this e book could be such a terrific learn for girls within the early phases of courting, as I cherished the best way the primary character within the e book was on a little bit of a journey of self discovery. And targeted extra on what she needed as her personal particular person somewhat than as a part of a “we.”

The e book follows Daphne, a younger lady recent out of a damaged engagement her fiance known as off when he realized he was in love along with his childhood finest buddy, Petra. With no place to stay and barely sufficient cash to pay her payments, Daphne agrees to stay with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of Petra, her now ex-fiance’s new fiance. It’s a large number of a state of affairs made solely messier when Daphne finds herself mendacity to her ex, saying she and Miles at the moment are courting. Daphne and Miles start a fake relationship that quickly has Daphne questioning whether or not or not her emotions actually are faux or if there may be one thing extra to this random man she now calls her “boyfriend” and roommate.

Style: Home fiction/Thriller/Romance / My score: B+

Elin Hilderband has lengthy been a favourite writer of mine to show to once I’m within the temper for a light-weight, beachy learn. She’s the queen of weaving collectively characters from previous novels in an attention-grabbing approach and all the time incorporates lovely Nantucket imagery into her novels. The rationale I hold coming again to Elin’s novels, nonetheless, is the ingredient of thriller she consists of in her books that usually focus on some form of household/buddy/Nantucket native drama. She has an entire solid of characters concerned in her mysteries with a number of plotlines going on the identical time so her books are by no means uninteresting. Swan Track took a sizzling minute to seize my consideration (it felt like nearly too many characters to start with for me to latch onto) however as soon as I used to be in on this e book, I used to be all-in. I felt like I had a first-class ticket to some loopy island drama centering round ridiculously rich Nantucket newcomers, Leslee and Bull Richardson.

From Amazon: 

Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is about to retire. Blond Sharon goes by means of a divorce. However when a 22-million-dollar summer season house is bought by the mysterious Richardsons—how did they make their cash, precisely?—Ed, Sharon, and everybody locally are swept up in excessive drama. The Richardsons throw lavish events, flirt with a number of locals, flaunt their wealth with not one however two yachts, and lift unimaginable hopes of everybody they meet. When their home burns to the bottom and their most important worker goes lacking, all the island is up in arms.

Style: Thriller/Suspense / My score: B+

I appreciated a lot about this e book, from the artistic plot to the twists and turns that stored coming from starting to finish. Nonetheless, my favourite factor about this e book was the format that flip-flopped forwards and backwards between narrator Lucy Chase, a lady accused of murdering her finest buddy Savvy years in the past, and the transcript of a preferred true crime podcast at the moment investigating Savvy’s case. Studying the podcast transcript turned such a charming method to be taught extra in regards to the subsequent piece of bombshell data Lucy was about to take heed to in real-time because the podcast aired. Whereas I used to be capable of guess a lot of the twists on this e book, it was nonetheless an entertaining learn and one I completely flew by means of, because it was a critical web page turner.

The difficult factor about Savvy’s case is that Lucy, the prime suspect, remembers completely nothing from the evening of her finest buddy’s homicide. She is aware of she attended a marriage together with her husband and Savvy. However after that her reminiscence appears to be cleaned. Together with the half the place she’s discovered strolling alongside the facet of the highway lined in Savvy’s blood hours after Savvy is killed. Lucy was by no means charged or convicted of homicide and moved to Los Angeles to flee the small city scrutiny in Plumpton, Texas after that horrible night. Quick ahead a number of years and Lucy is again in Plumpton for her grandmother’s birthday. However now Ben Owens, the host of the podcast at the moment investigating Savvy’s homicide is right here, too. Will Ben resolve Savvy’s case? Will Lucy assist him? Or is Lucy as responsible as everybody appears to suppose?

Style: Romance / My score: B+ 

Christina Lauren novels are a few of my favorites within the romance style, although I’ve come to understand some books by this writer duo are significantly better than others. After they’re good, their novels are breezy, steamy, humorous and artistic (like Soulmate Equation!) and after they’re not, they fall flat in a giant approach (ahem, One thing Wilder). Fortunately The Paradise Drawback was precisely what I’ve come to anticipate once I consider a good Christina Lauren novel! The plot of this e book sucked me in instantly and I actually appeared ahead to studying this tropical escape of a novel earlier than mattress each evening.

From Amazon: 

Anna Inexperienced thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for entry to sponsored household housing whereas at UCLA. She additionally thought she’d signed divorce papers when the commencement caps have been tossed, they usually each went on their merry methods.

Three years later, Anna is a ravenous artist residing paycheck to paycheck whereas West is a Stanford professor. He could also be one in every of 4 heirs to the Weston Meals conglomerate, however he has little curiosity in working for the heartless company his household constructed from the bottom up. He’s , nonetheless, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s only one catch.

Because of an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam gained’t see a penny till he’s been fortunately married for 5 years. Simply when Liam thinks he’s within the dwelling stretch, strain mounts from his household to see this mysterious partner, and he has no alternative however to show to the one particular person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter mother and father—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

However within the presence of his household, Liam’s fears rapidly shift from whether or not the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the half as to if the poisonous world of wealth will corrupt somebody as pure of coronary heart as his surprisingly grounded and constant spouse. Liam must ask himself if the worth tag on his flimsy cowl story is value dropping real love that sprouted from a lie.

Style: Romance / My score: B

There may be a lot I appreciated about this e book: A peek into the screenwriting trade. (<– My favourite side of the e book!) A weak, uncooked and intriguing foremost character. Chuckle-out-loud dialog. Lovely and memorable writing. However there one foremost factor that held me again from completely loving this (steamy!) e book: It was irritating. I’m all for will-they-won’t-they plotlines between characters and whereas this one was very emotionally fraught and complicated in a approach I haven’t learn in different novels earlier than, it felt very drawn out (particularly within the second half of the e book) and went on a bit too lengthy for me to take pleasure in.

The e book wasn’t loopy lengthy however it felt just like the writer actually tried to squeeze each final morsel out of the primary character’s wrestle to embrace love. I understand that is very doubtless life like within the “actual world” however it detracted from my total enjoyment of the novel and the best way I felt about the primary character total.

From Amazon:

Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard as soon as within the 13 years since the tragic accident that certain their lives collectively without end.

Now a bestselling writer, Helen pours every part into her profession. She’s even scored a coveted spot within the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her in style younger grownup novels, and if she will cover her imposter syndrome and overcome her author’s block, certainly the remainder of her life will fall into place too. LA is the recent begin she wants. In any case, nobody is aware of her there. Besides…

Grant has performed every part in his energy to maneuver on from the previous, together with constructing a life throughout the nation. And whereas the panic assaults have by no means fairly gone away, he’s effectively appreciated round city as a screenwriter. He is aware of he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s present, however it would open doorways to growing his personal tasks that he simply can’t go up.

Grant’s precisely as Helen remembers him—charming, humorous, in style, and lovable in ways in which she’s by no means been. And Helen’s precisely as Grant remembers too—sensible, lovely, closed off. However working collectively is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s mother and father, who’ve by no means forgiven Grant, do not know he’s within the image in any respect.

When secrets and techniques come to gentle, they need to reckon with the truth that theirs was by no means meant to be any form of love story. And but… the key to creating peace with their previous—and themselves—may simply lie in holding on to one another within the current.

Style: Thriller/Suspense / My score: B

Lucy Foley is a mastermind within the thriller/thriller area and after having fun with The Paris Condo condo a lot, I used to be excited dive into The Midnight Feast subsequent. This e book was a disturbing and twisty however completely entertaining. There have been a handful of surprising reveals which I appreciated (I all the time cherished it when a e book can shock me!) however there have been additionally a handful of predictable moments. The tempo of the e book is stable because it stored me invested from starting to finish and I feel anybody who sometimes flies by means of an excellent thriller will fly by means of this one, too.

From Amazon: 

It’s the opening evening of The Manor, the latest and hottest luxurious resort, and no expense, small or massive, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; the “Manor Mule” cocktail is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone seems to be sporting linen.

However beneath the burning midsummer solar, darkness stirs. Outdated associates and enemies flow into among the many company. Simply outdoors the Manor’s immaculately stored grounds, an historical forest bristles with secrets and techniques. And it’s not too lengthy earlier than the native police are known as. Seems the previous has crashed the social gathering, with lethal outcomes.

Style: Psychological thriller/Thriller / My score: B

I’ve blended ideas on Freida McFadden’s books as an entire. Her novels all the time start with such fervor and intrigue however the dialog between her characters typically makes me roll my eyes and generally it looks like she spends too many pages rehashing the identical points/drama somewhat than including depth to her tales. That being mentioned, I’ve come to understand her books are higher as audiobooks for me personally. Once I’m listening, I’m much less choosy in regards to the high quality of a narrative and extra more likely to respect a e book as a supply of leisure whereas multitasking. That being mentioned, I feel this e book would’ve annoyed me had I learn it however as an audiobook, it was entertaining sufficient and was one I appeared ahead to listening to on walks, whereas folding laundry, and so forth.

The e book begins when Tess wakes as much as a life she doesn’t acknowledge. Her final recollections have been of the evening of her engagement to her beloved Harry, however the man she is now advised is her husband, Graham, is definitely not him. Graham calmly explains to Tess that she was in an accident and suffered a mind harm that affected her reminiscence. A be aware she wrote to herself encourages her to belief her husband, overlook about Harry and do her finest to just accept and revel in her day and her “new” life. Regardless of apparent challenges, Tess does her finest to just do this till so many issues don’t line up and so many new questions, and previous recollections, start to come up. Can she belief her husband? Why did she finish issues with Harry? Is her “new” life actually pretty much as good as everybody round her assures her it’s?

Style: Thriller/Suspense / My score: B-

Ruth Ware has a expertise for writing books that instantly rope me in. The premise of One Good Couple is immediately charming: Lyla, a scientist, and her actor boyfriend, Nico, are chosen to be a part of a actuality TV present the place {couples} compete towards one another on a personal and really distant island. Lyla solely agrees to do the present to assist Nico’s profession. And assumes she’ll self-sabotage early on and return to her work. Solely issues don’t go as deliberate. After the primary couple’s problem, tempers flare and a storm hits the island, reducing everybody off from the actual world… and presumably their likelihood at survival.

Discuss a artistic plot, proper!? I used to be all-in on this e book however my curiosity slowly started to mood off because the pages went on and on… and on. One Good Couple felt unnecessarily lengthy. And didn’t actually have plenty of thriller parts that left me questioning how issues would prove. There was actually just one a part of the e book I didn’t work out alone. But it surely all felt pretty predictable. And I missed the necessity to use my super-sleuth skills to determine this one out. I’d go for different Ruth Ware novels over this one when you’re new to this writer’s work. (For those who’re in search of a spot to start out, I actually loved One by One and The Dying of Mrs. Westaway.)

Style: Thriller/Thriller/Suspense / My score: B-

I’ll without end bear in mind The Silent Affected person by Alex Michaelides as one of many few books on the market that genuinely left me fully shocked. As I’m positive most avid readers on the market can attest, particularly those that have learn their justifiable share of thrillers, it’s arduous to really feel genuinely shocked by a novel… and I’m not speaking just a bit shocked however somewhat completely floored. The Silent Affected person did that for me so my hopes for The Fury by the identical writer have been sky-high. Alex Michaelides has a present for roping a reader in instantly and creating charming plotlines that hold you guessing and flying by means of the pages. Sadly with The Fury, the “twists” weren’t as surprising however nearly extra annoying and I’d like to elaborate extra however I do know I’d give away an excessive amount of if I dive an excessive amount of deeper. Suffice it to say, The Fury was a quick and entertaining page-turner however removed from a favourite for me.

From Amazon: 

This can be a story of homicide. Or perhaps that’s not fairly true. At its coronary heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–film star and probably the most well-known girls on the planet. Yearly, she invitations her closest associates to flee the English climate and spend Easter on her idyllic personal Greek island. I let you know this as a result of it’s possible you’ll suppose you realize this story. You in all probability examine it on the time ― it precipitated an actual stir within the tabloids, when you bear in mind. It had all the mandatory substances for a press sensation: a celeb; a personal island reduce off by the wind…and a homicide. We discovered ourselves trapped there in a single day. Our previous friendships hid hatred and a need for revenge. What adopted was a recreation of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, filled with twists and turns, constructing to an unforgettable climax. The evening led to violence and dying, as one in every of us was discovered murdered. However who am I? My title is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to let you know a narrative in contrast to any you’ve ever heard.

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Query of the Day

Do you’ve got any latest e book suggestions to share?

Have you ever learn any of the books I discussed above? Do you agree/disagree with my ideas?