2025 Book Review

  This is my annual book review for 2025. I read 77 books in 2025: 72 fiction and 5 non-fiction.

 I have read SO many good books this year it is most difficult to choose my favorites.  It has been a very good reading year.  I rated 15 fiction books with 5 stars, and 2 non-fiction books with 5 stars.  I read a lot about books, therefore am now better at choosing what books to read- hence a big increase in 5 star reads.

The fifteen fiction books that I rated 5 stars:

Three books by Rosamunde Pilcher:  The Shell Seekers, September, and Winter Solstice

A Painted House by John Grisham

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The two non-fiction books I rated 5stars:

You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich

The Book of Mormon

Each year I try to choose a favorite book in each category.  It is SO hard this year.  I read the Book of Mormon every year and it's always a favorite.  Otherwise my favorite non-fiction book was You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich.  This author is an amazing storyteller and this book was hilarious, but also very tender.  I highly recommend reading or listening to this one.

Now the harder category- fiction.  I loved every one of the books that were rated with 5-stars.  Every one. I'm analyzing which one most moved me- made me want to be a better person, I think it is a tie between three:  

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi  This book will make you want to be better and do better.  I loved it.  I bought copies to give to my daughters, and other famly members and a dear friend.  I will say it is my favorite of the year, but these other two a close second.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.  I hated it, but it made me look at life in a whole new way.  It is so good.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  I loved this book because of the example of the main character.  In a situation that could cause him to become bitter and to give up, he gave up everything to do what was best for his child.  He didn't become bitter against those who were causing him the pain, but just kept fighting for what was right.  That's integrity.  

So there you have it.  My review of books read in 2025!