The Must-Read Books of 2025 (So Far) | Penguin Random House
From captivating novels to insightful nonfiction, these are the books that are making the biggest splash in 2025!
— Read on www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/the-best-books-of-2025
An e book bargain-Book People by Jackie Ashenden
#BookPeople #NetGalley
Imagine a small village. It has a very traditional bookshop that has been in one family for generations. It prides itself on being serious and is run by a Darcy like owner.
Imagine that a new bookshop opens and that it is right across the street. It is run by an Elizabeth Bennett like young woman. She stocks all of the genre books that a reader might dream about. She also offers many types of meetings and activities.
Imagine also that there is going to be a book event that these two may need to both embrace. And…imagine sparks flying in what is justifiably described as a “spicy” romance title.
Add to all of this, a collection of love notes from the traditionalist’s great grandfather and a mystery woman. They refer to each other as H and C-Wuthering Heights anyone? They add some intrigue to the plot.
Mix all of thesetogether to find an enjoyable read that will appeal to its intended audience. There may not be suspense but there most definitely is fun in these pages.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 28 January2925
Kid’s Corner: How to Teach Your Monster to Read by Christianne Jones
#HowtoTeachYourMonstertoRead #NetGalley
This short book is amusingly illustrated and has rhyming text. In it, a little girl tries to help her monster who is nervous about reading. Along the way, the concept of word families is introduced with several examples. This may be helpful to beginning readers and reflects a phonics approach.
This title offers one way of approaching reading. I think that some children will enjoy it.
Note: there is some information for adults at the end of this book. This will help them in helping kids.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Capstone for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 01 August 2025
32 pages
Quiz
An e book bargain: The Framed Women of Ardemore House
Four stars ****
The cover of this book, its title and the book’s description all drew me in and made me very eager to read this one. It did not disappoint. I think that The Women of Ardemore House will be adored by those who enjoy a twisty plot and an interesting protagonist.
As in The Maid (Nita Prose),, the main character, inheritor of Ardemore House, sleuth, and keen observer is neurodiverse. This leads to Jo being hyperlexic as just one of her talents. But, readers will enjoy spending time with Jo for many reasons, not just her autism. (It has been noted that the author also is neurodiverse, leading her to be well able to describe Jo’s world.)
Jo is coming out of a difficult period when the story opens. She is recently divorced and has been badly used by her publisher ex. Jo has also experienced the death of her mother. So, when she learns that she has an inheritance in England, Jo is ready to try out the ex-pat life. She arrives to find the requisite decaying country pile and its small cottage, a rather strange caretaker and a portrait…but it disappears.
When caretaker Sid is murdered, the story moves toward solving the case. This gives readers the opportunity to know all those working the case as well as the people in the village.
Who killed Sid? Why? Will Jo find happiness in Britain? Readers will turn the pages as they wait to find out.
I recommend this title. Mystery fans could not do better as they start reading in 2024.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
An e book bargain: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Patti Callahan Henry is one of my absolute favorite authors. Ever since reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis I have been a fan. The Secret Book of Flora Lea was one of the most enjoyable books that I read last year. And now, there is The Story She Left Behind. It is another triumph of emotional storytelling.
The novel opens in the U.S. in the 1950s and takes place between there and England. Readers meet Clara Harrington and her daughter Wynnie. They are very close as was Clara to her own mother before she disappeared. What happened to her is a central theme in the novel.
Clara’s mother (based on a real person), Bronwyn, was a writer with a vivid imagination. In fact, she created not only her own fictional world but a language. Her famous novel was published when she was very young. The dictionary that will decode the language has been missing ever since Bronwyn went away.
The author makes clear that Bronwyn had struggles. However, there was no indication that she would vanish. The loss has been pivotal in Clara’s life.
Out of nowhere, Clara hears from Charlie (in London) who has found some belongings of Bronwyn among his father’s papers. The story is set when Clara and Wynnie travel to meet Charlie and are immediately enveloped in the devastating fog of 1952.
No spoilers so no more plot. I will just say that this novel has everything I want in a book. The characters, the vividly described settings and the story all kept me both wanting to turn the pages and not wanting to as I did not want to finish the book. I recommend this title most highly. I am already wishing for Henry’s next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Brilliant, riveting, so beautifully written, impossible to put down. I wanted to know, needed to know, about the strange manuscript left to a daughter, and the odyssey it sent her on.” –Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels
Let’s move here: Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr-an e book bargain
Robyn Carr is a prolific writer of women’s fiction; to name just a few there she has written the Virgin River, Grace Valley and Thunder Point series. Her many fans will pretty much always read what she writes.
This title is a standalone. It tells the story of Justine (in her fifties) and Addie (in her thirties), sisters who, due to their age difference, were not especially close. Addie, for reasons that the book makes clear, left her degree program to care for her parents while married mother Justine went from success to success with the support of her house parent husband.
However, as we all know, novels often have an arc. Characters have experiences, struggle, grow, learn and, if they are lucky, find themselves in a better place. As Justine’s marriage implodes and Addie tries to figure out what to do with her life, what will happen? At the end of the novel, will the sisters be closer and happier? (Readers will hope so).
In following the Justine and Addie’s stories, Ms. Carr explores social issues including women who return to the workforce insecure after years away and men who face partner abuse. The author clearly wants her readers to know that there is help for those who suffer. She also wants toshare what makes for a good relationship in her estimation.
This book is an easy read that fans of the author will welcome. The small town setting is very appealing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
#SunriseonHalfMoonBay #NetGalley
Pub date: April 14, 2020
An e book bargain: Before we say goodbye
#BeforeWeSayGoodbye #NetGalley
Here is another title in the series that began with Before the coffee gets cold. Those familiar with the books know what to expect.
For those who are new to the author, it is important to know that a unique cafe is featured. This spot helps select patrons to return to the past so long as they are ready to return within the proscribed time frame. It is critical that the rules are followed.
Four customers want to go back in time. For example, one is a daughter who pushed her father away.
Will these returns bring peace or resolution? Read this short collection to find out.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
This book was published in 2023.
An e book bargain-Intrigue in the City of Lights: The Kennedy Girl
A Novel
by Julia Bryan Thomas
I was first drawn to this title by its cover. Key elements of the story are here including the city of Paris, a young woman and some diamonds. I was curious as to how everything would unfold.
This book establishes its espionage theme from the beginning. There is a literal bang early on when Mia shoots someone. How did she get to this moment? The novel goes back and shows readers in this Cold War set story.
Mia was working in a bakery in New York and coping with the loss of her father. Her life was pretty quiet. One day, a man named Theo, engaged her in conversation. Theo invited Mia to come to Paris where she would train to be a model at the House of Rousseau. Mia who idolized Jackie Kennedy, and knew of her time in Paris, was intrigued. She did not hesitate for long before finding herself flying to France.
Mia interacts with many people in the pages that follow. She has two roommates, a woman in her building who is “of a certain age,” the woman who tutored and mentored her when she arrived and, a CIA agent, among others.
How did Mia’s life get so out of control? Why has she been recruited? Will she survive? Will Mia find happiness? Read this one to find out.
Recommended to those who like historical fiction from the not so distant past, those who are intrigued by the Cold War, and those who love Paris and fashion. I enjoyed this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 14 January 2024
From the Publisher
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 