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Original poster

26ish books 2025

615 replies

Tinkhasflown · 31/12/2024 17:33

A shiny new thread for 2025.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 2 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Decafflatteplease · 06/02/2025 18:58

I need to get my reading head back on. Since the new year I've read one book and dnf'd another. Far too easy to just watch TV when I'm tired instead of reading 🙄

drspouse · 06/02/2025 23:15

Book 4 "This Book May Save Your Life" by Dr Karan Rajan. Quick and interesting read, he's an engaging writer, though a few too many puns but that's what you get from a medical communicator like him.

Titsywoo · 07/02/2025 00:24

On book 4 now and about halfway through. So glad I have managed to get back into reading. It has been so much better than the endless social media scrolling!

DiggoryVenn · 07/02/2025 17:53

3: The Last Chairlift by John Irving
I’m a massive Irving fan but this was way too long at 889 pages. It’s a shame because I would have really enjoyed it had it been shorter.

4: Lundy - Official Guide
I’m counting this because it was more than a pamphlet. Interesting guide to a place I really love.

Yuja · 07/02/2025 18:14

4 - The Rachel Incident - Caroline O'Donaghue - I enjoyed this, easy read with some laugh out loud moments

ExtraDisorganised · 07/02/2025 23:29

2: They Don't Teach This by Eniola Aluko. Eni is a former England footballer with over 100 caps, and now a sports executive and broadcaster, this is the story of her upbringing, how she became a professional footballer whilst qualifying as a lawyer and her battles against sexism and racism, it is inspirational reading.

MayfairRose · 07/02/2025 23:54

@Decafflatteplease @Lua

I know what you mean.

I like how It's easy to read, and structured -- also it's interesting to read and compare it to the series.

I DNF because I felt things got repetitive, and I just needed a little bit more levity (and hope I suppose)

Goodbyeimgoinghome · 09/02/2025 00:22

Whew - finally finished The Bee Sting which I started the year off with. I did enjoy it ( but like RaininSummer I didn’t like the lack of punctuation in Imelda’s chapters). But it was so long so I’m looking for a much shorter read next.

  1. Wuthering Heights- Emily Brontë
  2. The Bee Sting - Paul Murray
Original poster
Tinkhasflown · 09/02/2025 12:22

Book 5 We Begin at the End - Chris Whitaker

Thank you to whoever it was here that recommended this book. I loved it.

4.5* I listened to an audio version but was so captivated by the story. Very sad in parts and I definitely shed a few tears. Now I'm sad it's finished. It did take me a while to get into the audio version. I didn't really like the narrator, who seemed to run paragraphs into each other without even a pause. I persevered and did get used to it, but found i had to listen closely at all times!

OP posts:
Flowers90 · 09/02/2025 12:39

I'm about half way through my second book. Reading mean streak by Sandra brown. Very hooked and cannot wait to be able to read some more tonight!

MonkeyTennis34 · 09/02/2025 13:07

@Tinkhasflown
I too loved We Begin at the End.

I recently finished his latest book, All the Colours of the Dark which was also excellent.
Such a talented author and British!

cromwell44 · 09/02/2025 13:57

So far

  1. The Safekeep by Yale van der Wouden
  2. Fire by John Boyne.
  3. Birnham Wood by Eleanor Catton
  4. Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson. An audio book and either the writing has gone off or I prefer this author when reading her in actual book. A very neat ending with the best bits for me being about the aging process of Jackson Brodie. Also memories of Jason Isaacs.
  5. The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. I enjoyed this immensely having recently seen the film. The nature writing, descriptions of a chaotic 20s life and the slow journey of recovery made this a delight.

DNF Doppleganger by Naomi Klein. Whilst I sympathised with point being made, I think I got the gist and it didn’t hold my interest sufficiently. A BorrowBox audiobook, so sent back early.
Have finally started Intermezzo and am enjoying it so far.

Totorosfluffytummy · 09/02/2025 15:00

Hi all, I'm joining late. I love this thread for book recommendations!
Had a very difficult last few months & didn't manage to read any books during the last 3 months of 2024.
Started 2025 with Double Indemnity - James M Cain. This is the 3rd James M Cain book I've read and I've loved all of them.

  1. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng - I found this book thanks to this thread and really enjoyed it, didn't want it to end.
  2. “The Machine Stops” and “The Celestial Omnibus” - E M Forster. Two short stories in one book, I loved both & highly recommend them.
  3. A History of Loneliness - John Boyne - just starting this.
cromwell44 · 09/02/2025 17:43

@Totorosfluffytummy A History of Loneliness is one of my all time favourites.It’s about time I reread it.

Snozzlemaid · 09/02/2025 20:11

I read a grand total of 16 books all year in 2024. I've just finished book 9 in 2025! I've really found my reading mojo again.
The last ones have been:
6 Five Little Pigs - the January Agatha Christie 2025 read along book. I really enjoyed the different structure of this with Poirot interviewing all suspects and then their written statements.
7 Honeybee by Dawn O'Porter An easy, and funny at times, enjoyable read.
8 Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent This went a complete different way to what I imagined at the beginning. I was disappointed with the ending though.
9 The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre A brilliantly clever book. I was intrigued by the two ver different 'detective' characters and how they would come and work together and thoroughly enjoyed it.

mum2jakie · 09/02/2025 22:12

mathanxiety · 01/02/2025 19:22

The run up to Christmas is always a disaster for my reading habits and it's sometimes hard to get back into the swing of it afterwards when I try to make time for exercise and getting out into whatever natural light is available.

So far I've only managed one book - So Many Ways to Die, an unusual Agatha Christie.

I'm working on Capote's Women, by Laurence Leamer.

Can I ask about So Many Ways to Die?? It isn't an Agatha Christie novel? Is it a biography?

drspouse · 09/02/2025 22:33

5 Maid by Stephanie Land. I watched the TV series which is a bit loosely adapted - this is different, but you'd probably like it if you liked the show. In the show she comes across as more straight laced and her mum as more whacky but in the book it's kind of the opposite (but her mum still basically ignores her in favour of finding true love).

Titsywoo · 10/02/2025 22:59

4 - The Women - Kristen Hannah

Really enjoyed this (even the more gory parts in the Vietnam hospitals!).

Moving onto The Thursday Murder Club now.

APurpleSquirrel · 11/02/2025 20:24

Finished book no 3 - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Found it very slow going at the start & confused that the Abbey doesn't feature until half way through but it got better towards the end.

Started book no 4 today - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Loving it so far - already up to page 144 & ordered the sequel.

1.	Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
2.	Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch 
3.	Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
4.	Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
TinyMouseTheatre · 12/02/2025 21:15

Just finished The Suspect by Rob Rinder. It was ok but just ok. Adam the protagonist is likeable but the boom is very similar to his first novel and clunky in places. Don't think I'll bother to read any more of his books.

1. A Maigret Christmas by Georges Simeon

2. The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase

3. The Suspect by Rob Rinder

Totorosfluffytummy · 13/02/2025 11:42

@cromwell44
I finished it yesterday, it was hard to put down! It’s only the 3rd I’ve read by Boyne so I will definitely be reading more; The Heart's Invisible Furies is one of my favourite books.

ThimbleT · 13/02/2025 15:00

What a lovely thread. I’d love to join in please!

I’d actually already set myself a target of 25 books in 2025 (and also 25 films and max 6 items of brand new clothing in 2025). The books and films are part of a wider effort to reduce the time I spend doom scrolling on my phone. I’ve deleted most social media accounts and am really enjoying a slower and less toxic form of leisure time.

Since the new year I’ve read The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu, The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris and Closer to Where the Heart Gives Out by Malcolm Alexander. I’m now reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

TinyMouseTheatre · 13/02/2025 20:00

Sounds like a lovely plan @ThimbleT Wink

Breathmiller · 14/02/2025 16:07

4 A Doula's Journey - Hazel Tree

I don't usully add in books I read for work/studying but this is a really good read as a novel rather than an academic type.

Its in a journal style of the author's journey to becoming a doula and her life around it. An interesting read.

APurpleSquirrel · 14/02/2025 22:48

Finished book 4 yesterday evening - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Really enjoyed this - so much I bought the sequel & started it straight away. Fantasy is very much my wheelhouse since I was a child. Started Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros last night & enjoying it too.

1.	Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
2.	Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch 
3.	Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
4.	Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
5.	Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros