Book Review: Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman (Mrs. Blossom #1)

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars. Muriel Blossom is a retired widow who just won the lottery, and is embarking on a 2-week vacation. She is spending the first week alone in Paris and then her best friend is meeting her for a one week cruise along the Seine River. She encounters a series of suspicious individuals and unusual circumstances during her week in Paris. Once on the cruise, her friend is busy looking for husband number four while Mrs. Blossom is trying to figure out what is going on. Everything comes to a head and all is revealed by the end of their cruise.

I was in the midst of reading two very heavy non-fiction books when I realized that I needed an escapist mystery. This book was exactly what I needed at that time. It's a light mystery and a quick read, plus the sights of Paris, the trip along the Seine, and the wonderful descriptions of food are a bonus. There's the murder and the mysteries, but the real draw for me was the character of Mrs. Blossom. Readers of Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan series will enjoy her appearance in a couple of scenes in this book. This is the first in a new series, and I'm looking forward to more of Mrs. Blossom's adventures in the future.

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Book Review: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (Hannah Hall #2)

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, picking up right where the previous book left off.  Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey have been living (cautiously with the help of Bailey's grandfather) in California.  Fast forward five years and things change.  They are suddenly on the run again after Hannah's husband Owen meets her briefly enough to pass her a thumb drive and warn her to run.  

This is another page-turner and I finished this book in just two days.  Since I read the first in the series a couple of years ago, I was a little hazy on the details.  However, I was able to catch up fairly quickly, and this book fills in some of the plot points and gaps from the first book.  It's certainly a wild ride and I would recommend it for anyone who has read the first installment.

Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

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Book Review: Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson; Translated by Quentin Bates (Dark Iceland #1)

Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ari Thor Arason is living in Reykjavik, Iceland and finishing up his university studies to become a police officer.  He lives with his girlfriend, Kristin, who is in medical school.  He receives a job offer in Siglufjordur, the northern most point in Iceland, and accepts without discussing it with her.  He moves north in November, a season of short daylight and incredible amounts of snow and cold.  While trying to adjust to a new job and a new town, two seemingly unrelated injuries and deaths occur.  Ari Thor works with his two co-workers to uncover what really happened.

This story immerses the reader in a very cold, snowy and lonely town in the middle of winter.  I kept reaching for a blanket to keep me warm as I read the book.  It's a police procedural set in a small town where everyone knows the business of everyone else.  Ari Thor has to step lightly when investigating.  It's relatively slow-paced as thrillers go, but I found myself racing through the pages to find out what happened.  Bonus points for the two maps -- Iceland and Siglufjordur.  It should be a very interesting discussion at my book club next week.  

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Book Review: The Address by Fiona Davis

The Address by Fiona Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 Stars - This historical fiction book is set in two different time frames (1884 and 1985) and revolves around two different characters (Sara Smythe, the first 'managerette' of The Dakota, and Bailey Camden, an interior designer hired to renovate her cousin's apartment in The Dakota).  We see how The Dakota was initially envisioned and built so far from the rest of the Gilded Age mansion of New York City.  

This book was definitely well researched by the author, and it gives the reader a definite sense of place in 1884.  However, I don't think that the 1985 storyline is nearly as strong or evocative of that time period.  There's a mystery from the 1884 timeline which encompasses most of the second half of the book.  There are some very unsavory scenes resulting from this mystery which I didn't like at all.  In addition, I wasn't fond of either of the main characters.  I think they both made some very bad life decisions which had very serious outcomes for each of them.  

If you are interested in a very fictionalized version of The Dakota history, this book is for you.

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Book Review: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta #1)

Postmortem by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A serial killer is stalking the women of Richmond, Virginia, brutally killing them while they sleep. Kay Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner and has personally autopsied all of the victims. She teams up with Benton Wesley, an FBI profiler, and Pete Marino, a Richmond detective to find the killer.

I initially read this book back in the 1990s when it was first published, and subsequently read more than twenty of the novels in this series. The current Prime streaming series "Scarpetta"starring Nicole Kidman renewed my interest and I wanted to re-read this book to see if it as compelling as it was 30+ years ago. The answer is YES - it's quite a page-turner and I stayed up way too late several nights in order to finish it. Highly recommended, but I also suggest that you read these books in order (no surprise there because this is almost always my suggestion!).

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Review: The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #3)

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Thursday Murder Club (Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim) are at it again, meeting every Thursday to discuss and hopefully solve cold cases.  First of all there is a money laundering scheme where several people have died -- killed or suicide??  Next, Elizabeth and her husband Stephen are kidnapped by "The Viking" who threatens to kill Joyce if Elizabeth doesn't kill "The Russian."  The four retirees work together and separately to solve these mysteries, but not before a fair number of red herrings, bumbles, and cups of tea!  It's a fast paced cozy and you'll fall in love with camaraderie and friendship shared by these four.  

This is the third book in the series, and I think it's important to read them in order.  In addition, it's helpful to read them in close succession.  There are quite a few characters that appear in each of the books, and it was more almost two years since I read the second in the series and I lost track of some of the peripheral characters.

I'm looking forward to #4 in the series -- The Last Devil to Die -- and also viewing the movie on Netflix!

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Book Review - Update (Re-reading): Funny Story by Emily Henry

Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure -- I love Emily Henry's books. She always manages to come up with very interesting and unique situations, to write believable characters, to have them encounter plausible obstacles, and most of all write incredible dialog! I just immerse myself into the world in each of her books, wanting to be friends with her characters.

Funny Story has everything in my personal reading wheelhouse: a children's librarian, set in Traverse City, Michigan, wine, books, and reading! Daphne is the children's librarian who moved to northern Michigan with her fiance, whose family lives there. At his bachelor party he realizes that he is in love with his childhood platonic friend and breaks up with Daphne. In a twist of fate, she moves in with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of said childhood friend who needs a new roommate. Daphne is an introvert trying to make her way in a relatively new town where all of her friends were actually her fiance's friends. Miles serves as an unofficial area tour guide, and you can predict what happens next.

I just need Emily Henry to write faster! It's difficult to wait for her next book. However, it's gratifying to know that three of her books are in the process of being made into movies! I can't wait!
https://www.today.com/popculture/book...

March 2026 Update -- I just re-read this book for one of my book clubs, and it's just as good the second time around!! The good news is that Netflix has picked this up for their streaming service (film or series...unknown at this time). Emily is writing the screenplay and casting has not yet begun. I can't wait...again!!
https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/m... 

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Book Review: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harriet M. Welsch is an 11-year old girl in the 6th grade, living on the upper east side in New York City.  She is an aspiring writer and spy, and spends her days carrying around her notebook, making entries about the people she encounters.  Harriet is a unique individual who doesn't worry what other people think of her until one day.  She accidentally drops her notebook while playing with her classmates and they read the snarky and embarrassing entries she has written about them.  What happens next and how Harriet resolves the situation is genius.  

I absolutely love the sketches in the book of the various individuals that are in Harriet's life.  And I really love the sketch on the cover the classic edition (not the subsequent covers).

I was shocked when I recently read that this book has been banned at various times since it was published in the 1960s for promoting bad behavior, back talk and swearing.  In spite of that, it remains a children's classic.  

I originally read this book in 7th grade and absolutely loved it.  My best friend and I formed a spy club, went around spying on neighbors and writing in our notebooks.  That didn't last too long, but my love for Harriet has endured and it's no surprise that my favorite genre of books is mysteries.  I wanted to read this book as an adult to see if it still captured the charm and uniqueness that is Harriet.  And it does!  On to the second entry in this series - The Long Secret.

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Book Review: Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum; translated by Shanna Tan

Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a charming book, written originally by Hwang Bo-Reum in Korean and translated to English by Shanna Tan.  There are 53 chapters, each about three pages long.  She covers a lot of bookish and reading subjects in these 215 pages -- how to start reading again, how to select books (read small books, read big books, read bestsellers), how to track books (keep a reading list, organize your bookcase), and much much more!

It's very easy to read just one essay at a time, then pick it up again later to read another essay.  In fact, the author and publisher originally bundled a weekly planner with each book, intending the reader to read one essay a week over the course of a year.  

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves books and reading!  This is the first book that she has written, but has subsequently Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.  This book is about a young very stressed woman who quits her job, divorces her husband, moves to a small neighborhood and opens a bookstore.  It's definitely on the short list of books that I would like to read this year!  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/133938826-welcome-to-the-hyunam-dong-bookshop 

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Book Review: The Keeper by Tana French (Cal Hooper #3) (Advanced Reader Copy)

The Keeper by Tana French
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4 1/2 stars, upgraded to 5 stars - because it's Tana French!  

This is the third and final book in the Cal Hooper series, set in a small farming village in western Ireland - Ardenkelty.  Rachel Holohan is a young girl who has been dating the son of the town "big shot" for several years and goes missing one night.  She is later found dead in the local river under suspicious circumstances, but it's not determined whether it's a murder or suicide.  Trying to get to the truth, Cal, the men and their dogs take up the investigation.  There are rumors, lies, confrontations, innuendo, threats, subterfuge, bar fights, and more as they try to arrive at the truth of the matter.  

Cal is joined once again by his found family - fiancee Lena and 16-year old Trey.  It is the scenes of the three of them together in Cal's cottage preparing dinner that I really love about this book.  This book series is definitely one that should be read in order, so I recommend reading both The Searcher and The Hunter prior to reading this one.  

Once again, Tana French is at the top of her form in creating an atmosphere and mood while weaving the story, involving us in the mystery, and immersing us in her wonderful language.  I literally could feel the Irish November cold, rain and wind even while I was sitting in the comfort of my reading chair sipping a cuppa tea.

I am anxiously awaiting what to see what Tana French has up her sleeve for her next book.  Don't let me wait too long!! 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for an advanced reader copy of this book!

Read my review of book #1 in this series - The Searcher.
Ready my review of book #2 in this series - The Hunter.

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Book Review: Homecoming by Kate Morton

Homecoming by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in various parts of Australian, we learn of a mother and her children being murdered on Christmas Eve in 1959.  In present day (2018), a London journalist is summoned back to Sydney (her hometown) when her grandmother is hospitalized after a terrible fall.  She becomes involved in finding out more about the family tragedy using her journalistic research skills.

This 500 plus page epic novel packs a punch with many genres (mystery, historical fiction, family drama) and touches on a lot of subjects (privilege, infidelity, revenge, secrets and lies, motherhood, investigative journalism, and more).  It also contains a 'book within a book' which is a true crime book written about the murders.  The dual story lines are easy to keep track of; the location and date is given at the beginning of each chapter.  As a reader, you will be drawn into the story and will want to spend the time required to fully appreciate this multi-faceted novel.  This is the first book I've read by Kate Morton, but it certainly won't be the last.  

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Book Review: Stitch It, Don't Ditch It: Simple Hand-sewn Repairs to Help You Love Your Clothes For Longer by Mary Morton

Stitch It, Don't Ditch It: Simple Hand-sewn Repairs to Help You Love Your Clothes For Longer by Mary Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very well-researched and comprehensive book about repairing your clothes using hand sewing techniques.  It includes information about the supplies you will need, gives background on basic skills you will use, and has examples of various repairs that you can make with your clothing.  

I have been sewing, both by hand and with a sewing machine, since I was in elementary school (many years ago), so the majority of this book was just a review for me.  However, I would highly recommend it for those individuals just starting out sewing because it is so comprehensive and extensive.  My only complaint is that all of the examples are sketches rather than photographs.  I think it would be more helpful if detailed photographs were included instead.

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Book Review: The Violin Maker's Secret by Evie Woods (Advance Reader Copy)

The Violin Maker's Secret by Evie Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three strangers come together surrounding a violin; they are trying to find out who initially made this violin (the luthier) and its provenance.  Devlin is a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, Walter is a retired history teacher, and Gabrielle works in the family business of violin appraisal.  Their travels take them from London to Bath, Italy and finally to Dublin to track down the history of this important violin.  

This book has many of the things that I look for in a great book:  found friends, classical music,  musical instruments, and self discovery.  Throw in some magical realism, a little romance, and an encounter with some gangsters and you've got a wonderful, fast-paced story.  Through flashbacks the reader discovers all the individuals that have owned this violin throughout its history ...including Niccolo Paganini!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advance reader copy of this book.

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Book Review: The Art of the English Murder: From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock

The Art of the English Murder: From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock by Lucy Worsley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very comprehensive book about the true crimes in England.  I was expecting more about the authors of mysteries and detective, but unfortunately that information was contained in the last 10-15% of the book.  The subtitle of the book is definitely a little misleading!

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Book Review: The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #11)

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache have settled into retirement at Three Pines, but the former Chief Inspector is called into service when there is a suspicious death and an unsettling discovery in the woods.  Isabelle Lacoste (now the Chief Inspector) and Jean-Guy Beauvoir are on the scene setting up the command center (again!) in the abandoned train station and starting to interview and collect clues.  All of the villagers that we've grown to know and love are there, including a couple of new ones.

This is definitely a series which must be read in order to fully appreciate the characters and the character development.  The actual storyline was not one of my favorites, but any time spent in the village of Three Pines at the bistro among these unique individuals is always time well spent!  I'm looking forward to reading #12 in this series.

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Book Review: Wreck by Catherine Newman (Rocky #2)

Wreck by Catherine Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars upgraded to 4 stars.  This is the second book by Catherine Newman focusing on Rocky (Rachel) and her family.  Once again we are immersed in her family drama -- her father and daughter are both living with she and her husband, and her son and his wife visit often.  She is still full of anxiety, inner dialogues which often get spoken out loud, medical issues, and her obsession about people and events that are just tangentially connected to her.  

For some reason, this one just didn't resonate with me as much as her first book, Sandwich, which I gave 5 stars.  I didn't really like the focus on the two aspects of the titular 'wreck.'  To be honest, the part I enjoyed the most was one of the final chapters when Rocky was in the kitchen with the extended family making Thanksgiving dinner.  Everyone is there, there's witty conversation, cooking, humor, and just a family enjoying a holiday.  This chapter alone reminded me of what I loved about her first book.  

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Book Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A charming, "meet-cute" story about two best friends (female/male) who take an annual vacation together. The book follows them over 12 years and 12 vacations. I'm usually not a fan of non-linear novels but I can see how it works in this case, interspersing the back story vacations with present day. Incredibly smart, witty dialogue. It should be made into a movie. Where is Nora Ephron when we need her?!? 

Re-read 2/2026 - I upgraded the rating to 5 stars this time!

This was the first book by Emily Henry that I read -- five years ago. I was absolutely charmed by her writing, the characters, the story, and her dialog. After reading all of her other books, I wanted to revisit it to see if it held up. It certainly did...and much more! I really appreciated it the second time through, especially the structure of the book with the non-linear timeline.

Because I read the hardcover book the first time, I wasn't aware of the Reader's Guide / Behind the Book, where Emily compares her book to a flipped version of the movie When Harry Met Sally... (which incidentally is one of my all-time favorite movies). And of course, I'm now looking forward to viewing the Netflix movie based on this book. Overall, a really wonderful reading experience!

In case anyone is interested, here's the list of vacations:

12 summers ago - University of Chicago orientation where Poppy meets Alex
11 - The drive together from U Chicago to Linfield, Ohio
10 - Victoria, Canada
9 - Nashville
8 - San Francisco
7 - New Orleans
6 - Vail, Colorado
5 - Sanibel Island, Florida
4 - Sweden / Norway
3 - Tuscany
2 - Croatia
1 - No Summer Trip
This summer - Palm Springs, California

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Book Review: Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin

Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book by one of my favorite authors, talking about one of my favorite topics - decluttering and organizing.  Lots of great ideas and suggestions, all presented in a very short snippets.  It's an easy book to read a little at a time and get inspired, like I did.  And Gretchen Rubin is right (at least for me) -- outer order DOES lead to inner calm.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to bring some order to their life.

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Book Review: Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars, upgraded to 4 stars.  This novel is told from two points of view as well as dual timelines -- Helaine is a young Jewish woman living in Paris and Louise is a young British woman living in London.  The time frame is 1943-44 during World War II and ten years later.  Helaine was captured and housed at the Parisian department store, Levitan, that was turned into a prison-of-war work camp for Jewish women living in Paris from 'noteworthy' families.  Louise volunteered for the Red Cross during the war, delivering care packages throughout France and Germany.  Both experienced extreme struggles and hardships from the war that extended much further than we realize.

The book was very well researched by the author and provided glimpses into the reality in Western Europe at that time.  However, I felt that the story line was contrived and that there were too many coincidences.  The pacing was rather slow, and the characters a little too saccharine and sentimental.  However, after reading many of the Goodreads reviews, I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author.  

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Book Review: The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tiffin Academy is a boarding school in rural Massachusetts, and the novel follows one year in the students' and faculty members' lives.

With all the teenage drama, hook-ups, break-ups, slang, and cultural references, I felt that this book is targeting the YA audience rather than Elin Hilderbrand's typical readers.  There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the majority of them (faculty included!) are making bad decisions.  Unfortunately, there are too many characters and not enough plot and character development for me.

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Book Review: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The basis for this book is a fable, written by Antonius Diogenes in the 2nd century.  It is woven within stories of five different individuals from various points in time and place.  Anna and her sister Maria live in Constantinople in the 14th century.  Omeir is a young boy born with a cleft palate, living with his farming family also in Constantinople.  Zeno lives in Idaho in the 20th century, but also spent time in a POW camp during the Korean War.  Seymour is a young boy on the autism spectrum and lives with his single mother, also in Idaho.  Finally, Konstance is a 12-year old living with her mother and father aboard the Argus starship heading for a distant planet.  

Wow - what a wild ride I went on while reading this book!!  The book jumps back and forth between each of the five main characters, with a portion of the Diogenes fable interspersed at the beginning of each section.  

I really struggled with the first 40% of the book, trying to figure out how the characters all fit together and what was happening.  It finally started to make sense and then I literally flew through the remainder of the book.  I typically don't like non-linear books with diverse storylines, but this one worked.  I would like to read it again with the knowledge I now have about the structure of the book.  

I thoroughly enjoyed discussing it with my book club and came away with a much greater appreciation and knowledge of this book.  

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Book Review: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra (Advance Reader Copy)

Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zach and Bonnie (ages 12 and 9) have been trained by their mother on snow/skiing and outdoor safety techniques since they were very young.  Zach's father has arranged a father/son extreme sport skiing weekend with his big investors in hopes of salvaging his ailing business.  The adults in the group are extreme risk takers - ignoring avalanche warnings, overriding their guide's cautions, ignoring threatening weather, and drinking and taking drugs.  Zach is put into multiple situations where his knowledge and experience help him make the right decisions, but not before his life is put into danger.  

This is the second book I've read by Tracy Sierra.  I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, Nightwatching, and this book is just as page-turning!  I was having problems slogging through a 600+ page book for my book club and wanted a fast-paced book to serve as a palate cleanser -- this was exactly what I needed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book.  It will be published on February 10, 2026.  Place your order now at your local bookseller, or hurry and put your hold on this book at your local library -- you won't regret it!

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Book Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fast-paced suspense novel set in and around the Boston Public Library. Four strangers are in the library researching and writing when a scream is heard. The usually silent reading room buzzes with conversation about the scream, and these four quickly form a friendship. The story-within-a-story in epistolary format gives an additional, unique perspective. This is quite a page-turner and I finished the book in about 36-hours, anxious to find out who-dunit! It had everything I look for in a book - mystery, books, libraries, writers, readers, red herrings. Many thanks for NetGalley for the ARC! Highly recommended!

January 2026 Update: I re-read this book for a buddy read book club, and I liked it just as much the second time around! Of course I didn't remember the actual culprit, so the ending was a surprise to me once again. The story-within-a-story works well to add suspense and to keep the reader guessing.

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My Year in Books - 2025!

Goodreads – My Year in Books - 2025 

According to Goodreads, I read a total of 107 books in 2025.  My goal was cautiously 52 books (one per week).  Here are the details --  

107 books read / 33,676 pages read

Shortest book – The High Line – 32 pages

Longest book – The Poet by Michael Connelly – 597 pages

Average book length – 323 pages

Most shelved – Lessons in chemistry – 3,327,395 people shelved it

Least shelved – Lessons from a one-room schoolteacher – 1 person shelved it (me!!)

My average book rating – 4.2

My first review of the year – What I ate in one year by Stanley Tucci

My last review of the year – The curious charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

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MY 2025 BOOKS