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

                                                                   

                                 

 

Book Review: The Look by Michelle Obama

The Look by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Michelle Obama, along with her fabulous stylist Meredith Koop, have compiled this wonderful coffee table book with photographs of many of the key outfits and gowns from her time as First Lady in the White House.  However, it's not just a beautiful picture book; there is extensive content written by Michelle, Meredith, her hair stylists and make-up artists.  She focuses on the evolution of her style, ranging from cautious professional outfits at the beginning of the first term to a more expressive wardrobe towards the end of the second term.  

She weaves two themes throughout the book regarding her wardrobe.  First of all she needs to feel comfortable in the outfit and it needs to reflect the activities that she is involved in.  Secondly, she wanted to spotlight up-and-coming designers.

I have been a long-standing fan of Michelle Obama, admiring her grace, style, charm and ease from the first time I saw her on the DNC stage. I absolutely loved this book with all the incredible photographs.  But what surprised me was the amount of written content to correspond to the photos.  I really got a feel for her look and what was important to her.  Very highly recommended and a fantastic visual experience! 

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Book Review: The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars.  Giuseppina Capodimonte Baratta (Jess) lives with her Italian American family in Lake Como, New Jersey.  All of her relatives live within a two-block area, and the family is incredibly close.  She currently works for her favorite uncle in the family business – Italian marble.  Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, she is a 30-something adult who has not achieved her goals or dreams, which prompts her to seek therapy through the online Thera-Me. 

All of this changes when she makes a life-changing decision to move to Cararra, Italy to pursue her dream of learning more about the marble business.  Jess learns the marble business from Italian artisans, travels to Milan and the Italian Lake Como, makes new friends, finds a family, encounters love and loss, and most of all discovers herself.

It’s fun to follow Jess on her adventures in self-discovery, and her Italian American family provides quite a bit humor.  The part of the book set in Italy is incredibly descriptive, and made me want to jump on a plane immediately!  As with all the Adriana Trigiani books that I have read, I absolutely loved it and fell in love immediately with the main character.  

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Book Review: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 1/2 Stars.  Arthur Pepper is a widower whose wife, Miriam, died a year ago.  His world has gotten smaller and more self-centered - he stays at home except for infrequent trips to the grocery, thrives on routine, avoids his do-good neighbor Bernadette who brings him food, and occasionally talks to his adult daughter and son.  Everything changes when he discovers a hidden charm bracelet belonging to his wife that he didn't know she owned.  The charms reflect various aspects of her life - before she met Arthur.  He embarks on a quest to find out more about Miriam and her life  -- he journeys to London and Paris, talks to individuals in India and the local college to piece things together.

Throughout the book we follow Arthur trying to discover what Miriam was like before she met him, and not all of it was positive.  This is a book of love, loss, grief, discovery, hope, and ultimately personal growth.  Arthur is thrown into various uncomfortable situations as he is tracking down the background of each of the charms.  Yet he embraces each of them for what they tell him about his wife.  Overall, it's a feel-good book with a happy ending.  A perfect book to read at the end of 2025, and I'm looking forward to a discussion with my book club.  

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Book Review: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maggie and Ethan are both mystery / thriller authors working for the same publisher.  They have to accept an invitation from an elderly reclusive fan to join the family for Christmas.  

This book has a little bit of everything -- a Christmas house party at a remote English manor, a locked room mystery, a romance between co-workers, secret passageways, a huge snowstorm, a series of related clues, and more!  It was just the book that I needed to read this time of year, and I have been recommending it to all my bookish friends!  I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her books.

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Book Review: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sayuri Komachi is a librarian working in Tokyo at a small community center library. She has the innate ability to translate what library customers are asking for and discover what information they really need in their lives. "What are you looking for?"

This novella is divided into five sections, each describing an individual who seeks out information at the library, meets Sayuri, and ends up with a life-changing book (plus a bonus gift of a small felted figure with each book list recommendation!). There are characters in each of the sections which then appear in other individual's narratives.

This is a charming, feel-good book was just the thing that I needed to read after a couple of tough reads. And being a librarian, I love the fact that a librarian is the hero of this book! Highly recommended, especially for those who love books about book and librarians!

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Book Review: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The British naval ship, The Wager, was part of a group of five ships that set sail in 1740 from England on a mission around Cape Horn to capture some Spanish ships and retrieve their gold and silver.  The sailors encountered storms, sickness, starvation and more throughout their multi-year voyage.  

This is definitely the best narrative nonfiction book that I have ever read.  It's an understatement to say that it was a page-turner.  David Grann has extensively researched the ships, the individuals aboard the ships, the locations near Patagonia in South America, and makes the story come alive.  Bonus points for the fantastic maps included in the book; it was very easy to follow the ships' routes over the course of their journeys. 

I'm very anxious to talk about it with our book club this week.  And I will definitely be seeking out more books by this fantastic author.   

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Book Review: Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The entire world  is totally covered with giant smog blocking all sunlight which started in the central portion of the United States.  No food can be grown and the main character, a chef, moves from California to Europe in hopes of finding jobs and sources of food.  She applies for a job on the top of a mountain in Italy, lies on the application about her experience as a French chef, and is offered the job.  She is expected to create lavish multi-course meals for incredibly rich and pretentious individuals. 

I read this for one of my book clubs.  I really enjoyed the story lines about the main character's work as a chef and all the food preparation.  However, dystopic novels are definitely  not my cup of tea.  It took me almost three weeks to finish the book; I kept picking it up and then putting it down again, finding it challenging reading especially in the Thanksgiving season.

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Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aidan Bishop is attending a masquerade ball in the early 20th century at the Hardcastle Family's Blackheath Estate, which is a crumbling mansion on a large plot of land including a graveyard.  What he doesn't realize is that Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed and he is responsible for determining the murderer.  Over the course of the next eight days, he takes on the persona of each of the eight guests, trying to figure out their motives and movements over the course of one day. It is a ground-hog like scenario in which he inhabits a different 'host' each day.

This is exactly the type of book that I typically love.  However, I found it very difficult to follow.  Initially it is not apparent that Aidan Bishop is inhabiting each of the mansion's guests, changing them at the beginning of each new day.  Also, there is a large cast of characters; it is difficult to follow and keep all the characters straight.  It would probably benefit me to read the book again, knowing now what I know about the plot. However, it took me several weeks to plow through the book the first time.

Bonus points, however, for the map of the estate inside the front cover and even more bonus points for the Masquerade Ball invitation, which lists the Hardcastle hosts, the guests, and the household staff.  This was invaluable to me in keeping all the characters straight!  I referred to it constantly while reading the book.

To be honest, I think that it would be excellent as an original movie or multi-part streaming service show.  It has great similarities to the Knives Out movies and other streaming mysteries with large casts of characters.  I'm giving it four stars because of the unique premise and the fact that I'm a sucker for lavish British house party mysteries.  But just be aware of the length and complexities of the book before you embark on this 'masquerade mystery.'

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Book Review: The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt (Andy Carpenter #15)

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars.  Andy Carpenter is a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey.  His client is Martha Boyer, also known as "Pups" because of all the dogs she has fostered over the years.  The 12 dogs she is currently taking care of vastly exceeds the local zoning law for number of pets, and Andy is representing her in court.  There is a drastic turn of events when the complainant ends up dead, and Andy has to defend Pups of murder.

The story takes place around Christmas, and there are twelve dogs as the title indicates.  However, the core of the novel is the mystery, the cast of characters, and the courtroom drama.  I would refer to this book as a cozy which is what we want for a good Christmas mystery.  This is the first book in the Andy Carpenter series that I have read.  Typically I don't start reading in the middle of a series, but this was a book club selection.  I loved Andy's first person narration of the story, along with his wit and humor, and will probably read more by this author.  

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Book Review: Boat Baby: A Memoir by Vicky Nguyen

Boat Baby: A Memoir by Vicky Nguyen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vicky Nguyen is an NBC correspondent who I watch frequently on the Today Show.  I wasn't familiar with her backstory - she and her parents left Vietnam when she was just 8 months ago, taking a boat to China and waiting months at a refugee camp before they could make it to the United States with someone sponsoring them.  She tells the story of her childhood, teenage years, college and first jobs with humor and insight.  Her parents are remarkably hard working individuals, starting many different businesses.  She is the typical immigrant daughter - helping her parents navigate the language, customs and expectations presented by their new life in a new country.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and she brings humor and honesty to her story.  Highly recommended.

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Book Review: The Likeness by Tana French (Dublin Murder Squad #2)

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

Cassie Maddox is former undercover detective with the Dublin Murder Squad, currently working with the Domestic Violence Squad. She is called back to help investigate the murder of a young woman who apparently has assumed Cassie’s undercover name and identify (Lexie Madison), and who also is an identical twin for Cassie. Cassie goes undercover once again, pretending to be Lexie. Over the course of three weeks, she lives at the house and spends all her time with her fellow housemates, trying to figure out who murdered Lexie.

Set in Dublin and the surrounding area, we meet Lexie’s four roommates – Daniel, Justin, Rafe and Abby – who are all students at Trinity University and are very close with similar interests. They live in a huge mansion which Daniel inherited from an uncle, located about an hour outside of Dublin. The house itself almost seems like another character; they spend all their time outside of college in the house – listening to music, cooking, fixing up the house, etc.

Tana French’s writing is a fantastic fusion of literary fiction and mystery / police procedurals. Her character development and descriptions are simply superb. The book gives us an in-depth understanding of what it means to be an undercover detective. I originally read this book in 2019 and just re-read it for a mystery book club discussion. I enjoyed it even more with the second reading. I have read the entire Dublin Murder Squad series and was sad to see it come to an end. However, I have enjoyed French’s other novels as well and am looking forward to the third book in the Cal Hooper trilogy, The Keeper, which is scheduled to be published in March 2026.

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Book Review: The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer #8)

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mickey Haller is back in court, but now he's in civil court rather than criminal court, with a lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company.  A teenage boy was convinced to kill his girlfriend by interacting with a chat bot developed by Tidalwaiv.  Mickey was hired by the girl's mother to sue the company.  The book initially focuses on the investigation and preparation for court, then the latter half of the book is the riveting courtroom drama.  

I appreciate the fact that Connelly presented the AI background and knowledge in an approachable way and didn't overwhelm the reader with too many trivial and in-depth details.  Jack McEvoy, a character from three earlier Connelly books, has an important role in this novel.  I just read the first McEvoy book earlier this year, so it was nice to see him make an appearance.  

I am a huge fan of all Michael Connelly books and characters, and anxiously await a new one each year.  Even with Mickey Haller's left turn away from criminal court, this was an extremely compelling legal thriller.  Looking forward to more of his cases in the future.  

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Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who writes letters every day.  To the casual observer she has had a very fulfilling life -- a career in law working for a judge, two successful adult children, grandchildren, a wonderful home on the water in Maryland, her expansive garden, and friends and pen pals.  However through the letters she writes and receives, we discover more about her -- missed opportunities, loneliness, medical issues, grief, regretted decisions, and much more.  

This epistolary debut novel is told entirely through letters from 2012-2022, revealing Sybil's life to the reader little by little.  It was a delight to read, one of the best fiction books I've read this year, plus one of the most unique in structure.  I am anxiously looking forward to another book by this ingenious author!

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Review: What I Ate in One Year

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful food memoir and the title tells you everything you need to know. It's basically Stanley Tucci's journal throughout 2023, chronicling what he cooked, what restaurant he went to, where he traveled, who he was with, and what he ate. A fascinating individual and an enviable life!

Full disclosure, I love Stanley Tucci - both his writing and his films. He has such an interesting life and a very dry wit which really comes through in his writing. I read the print book, but I also have the audiobook on hold at the library and have been waiting very patiently for several months.

Stanley, I keep waiting for my invitation to your London house for Thanksgiving dinner with your wonderful family and in-laws (Emily Blunt and John Krasinski). I would love for you to make me one of your wonderful martinis!

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UPDATE - October 2025
I read this book again for one of my book clubs, and I think I enjoyed it even more with the second reading! Stanley Tucci is a true Renaissance man -- actor, chef, writer, artist, designer of cookware, family man, and documentary creator! I just heard that he is going to be joining NBC's coverage of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, to highlight the region's food, culture, and history! I will read / view anything this talented individual is involved with!

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Review: London Rules

London Rules by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jackson Lamb's group of Slow Horses once again team together to save London from catastrophe, something the folks at MI5 / Regent's Park seem to have failed at (continuously). The Slow Horses' IT brain, Roddy Ho, has been tricked by his "girlfriend" into divulging MI5 secrets and there have been two attempts to kill him.

Lots of plot twists and turns, plus many characters to keep track of. I love Mick Herron's atmospheric descriptions setting the scenes at Slough House. He also writes incredible dialog incorporating wonderful dark humor. It's best to read these books in order to fully appreciate them and the character development.

I'm really looking forward to viewing Season 5 of Slow Horses, plus reading the next book in the series.

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Book Review: What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful food memoir and the title tells you everything you need to know. It's basically Stanley Tucci's journal throughout 2023, chronicling what he cooked, what restaurant he went to, where he traveled, who he was with, and what he ate. A fascinating individual and an enviable life!

Full disclosure, I love Stanley Tucci - both his writing and his films. He has such an interesting life and a very dry wit which really comes through in his writing. I read the print book, but I also have the audiobook on hold at the library and have been waiting very patiently for several months.

Stanley, I keep waiting for my invitation to your London house for Thanksgiving dinner with your wonderful family and in-laws (Emily Blunt and John Krasinski). I would love for you to make me one of your wonderful martinis!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/. 

UPDATE - October 2025 
I read this book again for one of my book clubs, and I think I enjoyed it even more with the second reading!  Stanley Tucci is a true Renaissance man -- actor, chef, writer, artist, designer of cookware, family man, and documentary creator!  

I love the fact that he once again includes several recipes in this book.  And also that he writes about his cooking success as well as his failures -- forgetting ingredients and overcooking!  Just like those of us who are cooking at our houses!

I just heard that he is going to be joining NBC's coverage of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, to highlight the region's food, culture, and history!  I will read / view anything this talented individual is involved with!

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Book Review: London Rules by Mick Herron (Slow Horses #5)

London Rules by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jackson Lamb's group of Slow Horses once again team together to save London from catastrophe, something the folks at MI5 / Regent's Park seem to have failed at (continuously).  The Slow Horses' IT brain, Roddy Ho, has been tricked by his "girlfriend" into divulging MI5 secrets and there have been two attempts to kill him.  

Lots of plot twists and turns, plus many characters to keep track of.  I love Mick Herron's atmospheric descriptions setting the scenes at Slough House.  He also writes incredible dialog incorporating wonderful dark humor.  It's best to read these books in order to fully appreciate them and the character development.  

I'm really looking forward to viewing Season 5 of Slow Horses, plus reading the next book in the series.  

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Book Review: The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a very interesting combination of mystery, legal drama, true crime, and historical fiction. It’s the story of Elma Sands, a young girl who was killed in New York City in 1799. She lived in a boardinghouse with her cousin and her cousin’s family who were Quakers, so we also get a deep dive into the Quaker religion.

Rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr team up to investigate and conduct the trial together – the first murder trial in the United States. In addition to the mystery and the courtroom drama, we get a real feel for NYC at the turn of the 19th century along with the history of Hamilton and Burr.

Lauren Willig is an excellent author who conducted exhaustive research for this book, which is based on actual events. A 20-page Historical Note is included at the end of the novel which gives a lot more history and background information. The book started out a little slow, but picked up considerably when it came to the trial.

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Book Review: Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #1)

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We meet Miss Jane Marple in the first of Agatha Christie's books in this cozy murder mystery series. The story is told from the point of view of Len Clement, the vicar who lives next door to Miss Marple in the small village of St. Mary Mead. We meet quite a few of the villagers, all of whom could have killed Colonel Protheroe, the boisterous, overbearing individual who is always butting into other people's business.

This is a charming mystery, combining village life with the murder of an individual who seemed to be hated by all. The local police are stymied, but Miss Marple is ever-vigilant of the village happenings from both her front window and back garden. It was written in 1930 and transports the reader to what life in an English small town was like 100 years ago. The book includes the layout of the room where the murder took place, along with the map of St. Mary Mead -- always helpful when trying to solve the murder!

I read many of the Agatha Christie novels years ago, but wanted to read them again by starting with the first book in each of the three major series. Next up, Hercule Poirot in the The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)!

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Book Review: South of Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver (Colter Shaw #5)

South of Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colter Shaw is summoned by his sister Dorion to assist her disaster response company in a small town in northern California.  A levee has collapsed, people are missing, and the flooding threat is tremendous.  Once he arrives and they assess the situation, terrorism becomes a distinct possibility.

There are a lot of different characters in this book and many sub-plots, but it's still quite an action-packed page-turner.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all the previous Colter Shaw (Tracker) books by Jeffery Deaver and am glad to see he has started writing them again after a three year hiatus.  I would love to see this story turned into one of the Sunday night episodes.  And the book includes a map of the area; who doesn't like a map in a book?

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Book Review: The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (Tommy and Tuppence #1)

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tommy Beresford and Tuppence  Cowley are childhood friends who reunite in London as young adults five years after the end of World War I.  Both have been unsuccessfully looking for a job when they decide to form a joint venture called Young Adventurers, Ltd. with the motto of "Willing to do anything, go anywhere..."  Soon they are hired to find important missing documents, track down a missing young woman, and get involved with even more mysteries and government intrigue.  

This is Agatha Christie's second published book (1922), after Hercule Poirot's Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920. It gives the reader a nice snapshot of London life in the 20's after the war - fashion, culture, restaurants, language/slang and much more.  The story itself is typical Christie - lots of  characters, twists and turns, red herrings, mistaken identities - which kept me guessing until the end.    

I started reading Agatha Christie novels when I was a teenager, with no thought to reading each series in order.  Many decades later I am embarking on reading each of the three series (Tommy and Tuppence, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple) in order to fully appreciate them.  There are only five books in this series, published between 1922 and 1973, so it will be fun to read how the two of them age together.  

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Book Review: Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life―with 100 Recipes by Kristen Hong

Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life―with 100 Recipes by Kristen Hong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was initially attracted to this book because of its claim to help me organize my refrigerator.  There are beautiful glossy color photos of the author's fridge with everything in matching glass containers and arranged by the colors of the rainbow.  However, I needed to look past my disdain of books like that in order to find the very helpful information about how to make my fridge work for me.

The book is organized by what type of cooking / eating goals you have:  fresh fridge, chopped fridge, no-cook fridge, and prepped frig.  She gives extensive information about produce -- seasonality, shopping, prepping, storage, and length of freshness for each type of fruit and vegetable.  However, there is not much information about meats and dairy products, or about the freezer.  There's also some brief information about the best way to clean your fridge.  There is a very extensive section of the book about the history of the refrigerator, which was extraneous in my opinion.  

The author is a nutritarian who doesn't eat dairy and very rarely includes oils in her recipes and cooking.  Therefore, many of the recipes in the back of the book didn't work for me and my family. I would recommend this book for anyone who is committed to having a better organized refrigerator.  However, my suggestion is to check it out from your local library.   

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Book Review: The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life by Arthur C. Brooks (Advance Reader Copy)

The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life by Arthur C. Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a compilation of some of the weekly columns that Arthur C. Brooks writes on happiness in the Atlantic.  It is divided into five sections -- On Managing Yourself; On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career; On Communicating and Connecting with Others; On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships; and On How You Define Success.  Each column is relatively short - 5-7 pages - and contains actionable items for change.

I have been reading his columns for a couple of years, but I gained a lot of ideas when re-reading some of them in this book.  Many of the columns are written for those individuals currently in the workplace, but there are still takeaways for retirees such as myself.  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in introspection and self-improvement.  

Thanks to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.

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Book Review: The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens (Joe Talbert #1)

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joe Talbert meets Carl Iverson for the fulfillment of a college writing assignment - interview a person and write their biography.  He didn't realize what he was getting into when he walked into the nursing home and discovered that Carl had been imprisoned for the rape and murder of a 14-year old girl living next door to him many years ago. 

I initially read this book five years ago for another book club.  I enjoyed it even more with the second reading.  In spite of content warnings and unsavory topics, the author has created sympathetic, interesting and resourceful characters and situations.  It's a fast-paced book which covers a lot of ground - college, family conflicts, legal aspects, Vietnam and more.   I'm anxious to read the second book int he Joe Talbert series, The Shadows We Hide.  Recommended, especially for book clubs due to the excellent discussion points.  

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Book Review: The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book: 70 Simple Projects to Take Your Home from Chaos to Composed by Ashley Murphy

The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book: 70 Simple Projects to Take Your Home from Chaos to Composed by Ashley Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once again I was lured into a glossy book of photographs which promise to organize and keep order in my home.  However, this book differs from many of the others that I have already reviewed.  First of all is the complete absence of color in many of the photographs.  Virtually every single photo in the book is comprised of white, beige, tan and gray.  (Personally I can't imagine living in a house so devoid of color.)  It is a nice break, though, from those forced rainbow organized refrigerators, pantries and closets!  Another feature is a description of their NEAT method, which has good suggestions of how to approach the editing.  

The book is divided by rooms in a house, including the garage.  Each of the chapters includes various sections (cookware, refrigerator, spices, etc.) and is presented like a recipe - including the approximate time to organize plus the essential equipment and accessories needed along with step-by-step instructions.  Finally they have included a 7-day reset, a way to spend 30 minutes each day for 7 days in order to maintain the order that you have created.  

If you are looking at just specific rooms or sections, it's a great way to approach your organizing.  However, if you are reading the book page by page, you soon realize how much repetition there is between the sections.  And I don't necessarily agree with their suggestion that you need to put everything in matching bins, and I definitely think that decanting all of your kitchen ingredients into other containers doesn't work for me.  That being said, I came away with some ideas to implement.  My recommendation is to check the book out from your local library  and save your money (I did).

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Book Review: Mastering the Art of French Eating: From Paris Bistros to Farmhouse Kitchens, Lessons in Food and Love.

Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris by Ann Mah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author and her diplomat husband are stationed in their ideal city -  Paris.  Almost immediately, Calvin is summoned to Baghdad for one year and Ann must stay in Paris due to the potential danger.  Alone in a city that was meant to be shared with her French-speaking husband, she vows to make friends, find a job, and explore the country seeking out the classic food that it is known for - steak frites, crepes, cassoulet, bourguignon, and more! 

This is an incredible memoir, full of food, recipes, travel and French history!  I loved reading her descriptions of the food, restaurants, chefs, scenery and much more!  Highly recommended for anyone loving Paris, France, French food, and travel writing.

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Book Review: Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Due to an inadvertent gym bag mix-up in the locker room, Sam and Nisha no longer have their own belongings.  The sensible black pumps that Sam needs for her morning business meeting are not in her bag; instead she has a pair of 6-inch Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes.  Hilarity...and heartbreak ensue for both of them.

The book alternates chapters between Sam and Nisha's worlds and both are experiencing a lot of drama -- loss of a job, depression, a sick best friend, impending divorce, frozen bank accounts and credit cards, and much more.  

JoJo Moyes has written two incredible characters, and we are rooting for their best outcomes.  The character I loved the most was hard-working, funny and generous Jasmine who gets Nisha a job, a place to stay and the friendship and support she needs at this time.  It's a page turner with a lot of action, and we are racing for the finish and hoping for the best.  There's both laugh-out-loud humor and tear-jerking drama contained in this book.  I'm definitely going to seek out more of her books in the near future.  

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Book Review: The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fascinating true story of Stephane Breitwieser who stole hundreds of pieces of art over a period of years in France, Germany and Austria.  He started the thefts when he was 23, along with the help of his girlfriend Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus.  They stole paintings, sculpture, tapestry, musical instruments, and much more.  They displayed their treasures in their sitting room and bedroom, located on the second floor of his mother's house.  

This is narrative non-fiction at its finest -- actually more of a mystery novel or thriller.  It's quite a page-turner and will definitely be showing up in my top ten books of 2025!  Just wait until you find out what happens after he gets arrested!

Michael Finkel thoroughly researched the book, spending dozens of hours interviewing Breitwieser and even visiting art museums with him.  I can't recommend it enough; run, don't walk, to your local bookstore or library to get a copy.  You won't be disappointed!

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Book Review: The Henry Ford Official Guidebook by Donna R. Braden and the Curatorial Staff of The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK by Beckon Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is fascinating overview of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, all located in Dearborn, Michigan.  There are 1-2 pages devoted to many of the highlights at each of the three locations, combining text with lots of photographs.  

I live in Dearborn and have been going to the Museum and Greenfield Village for most of my life.  I was amazed to discover how much I didn't know about them!  This guidebook is an excellent printed 'tour guide' for those who are visiting for the first time, as well as a nice keepsake to take home, re-live your visit, and plan your next visit.  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes by Piet Oudolf

Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes by Piet Oudolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely beautiful book which spotlights the gardens of the High Line -- the 1.45 mile long elevated garden walkway on the west side of Manhattan.  It was developed using the New York Central abandoned elevated railway line running from the Whitney Museum to 36th Street.  Each of the 13 sections of the garden is given a separate chapter in the book, spotlighting the plantings throughout the seasons.   

Piet Oudolf is the landscape architect responsible for these gardens.  He is from the Netherlands but has been involved in designing gardens throughout the world.  The other two that I've visited are the Oudolf Garden Detroit at Belle Isle Park and the Lurie Garden in Millenium Park in Chicago (near the Bean sculpture).   

The accompanying text is helpful in giving us the history and backstory of how the project got started, its development, roadblocks, and ultimate successes.  However, what really makes this book special is the stunning photography of the variety of flowers, shrubs, trees and landscape.  Oudolf relies on native plants and seeks out those that will be self-sustaining especially in a challenging environment.  

This book is highly recommended to those planning on visiting the High Line in New York.  And for  garden lovers unable to visit in person, this is an excellent way to appreciate it through the beautiful photography!

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Book Review: Nightshade: A Novel by Michael Connelly (Catalina Island #1)

Nightshade: A Novel by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new series by Michael Connelly, focusing on an LA sheriff detective Stilwell (no first name) who works on Catalina Island off the coast of California.  Typically, individuals are demoted to Catalina because they have done something that has offended the LA powers-that-be.  Detective Stillwell is no exception. 

A dead body turns up in the harbor, weighted down by an anchor.  Stilwell has to work with his previous colleagues in order to solve this mystery.  It's a delicate balance of jurisdiction and motivation on his part, while trying to maintain a working relationship with the mainland detectives.  Michael Connelly once again does a great job of writing police procedurals.  

I enjoyed this new character -- he's somewhat of a loner, trying to make the best of a bad situation after being transferred to Catalina.  However, my major complaint is the huge number of characters involved in the story; I had to start keeping a list after it reached more than two dozen in the first several chapters!  However, this won't prevent me from looking forward to another Catalina Island book in this series.  

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Book Review: Book Nooks: Inspired Ideas for Cozy Reading Corners and Stylish Book Displays by Vanessa Dina

Book Nooks: Inspired Ideas for Cozy Reading Corners and Stylish Book Displays by Vanessa Dina
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a coffee table book loaded with photos of 'book nooks', areas to create in your home dedicated to books and reading. I was expecting something similar to all the lovely books and bookcase reading areas pictured in my Instagram feed. I was VERY disappointed!

I should know better by now than to be pulled into these glitzy, self-purported designer books. Typically they are sterile and organized by color. The book is arranged by room (bedside, bathroom, small space) or type of book (cookbooks, kids, gardener). And there is an extreme fondness for just stacking the books on their sides on the floor...or on the stairs...or on the toilet. Why?!? The absolute worst idea was to turn your books so that you cannot see the spines and store them in a fireplace! There was really nothing in this book to inspire me to create interesting shelves of books, combining my book collection with other items of interest.

I read this book in e-book form on Hoopla. I'm not sure why, but there were several different sized fonts throughout the book, from extremely small to very large. Also, the photo captions were all on a different page from the photograph they described. This is obviously a problem caused by the formatting from print book to e-book, but it can be very disconcerting to the reader. My recommendation is - don't waste your time!

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