These are books I read in the first half of 2025, during a stretch where I wasn’t back to blogging yet. I was still reading (a lot) and jotting down thoughts on Goodreads, and I didn’t want those to just live there. I started posting reviews here again later in the year, so this is me catching up on what I read before that.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Nonfiction ◦ 2014 ◦ ★★★★☆
A powerful look at the justice system and wrongful convictions from an attorney, this is an eye-opening narrative about incarceration. It goes in depth about the death sentence, wrongful convictions, and the impoverished. Extremely well written. The work that Stevenson does is quite incredible.
Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
Romance ◦ 2024 ◦ ★★★☆☆
Interesting premise for a romance novel. Two twenty-somethings wind up as roommates while becoming guardians of their younger siblings. Sweet story with a little more depth than your typical romance. I enjoyed it and would read more from this author.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Fiction ◦ 2022 ◦ ★★★★★
A speculative story where people receive a box revealing how long they have left to live. This one captivated me with such a unique and fascinating premise. Though this is a largely character-driven novel, it manages to be super engaging all the way through. Very thought-provoking as well as beautifully written. I really enjoyed this one.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2022 ◦ ★★★★★
A fast-paced thriller about a housemaid working in a home with more going on than it seems. I love Freida McFadden, and this is one of her best. I flew through this in just over 24 hours and couldn’t wait to get home from work to keep reading. I even stayed up late to finish it. As usual, you’ll be thrown for a loop more than once, which makes for a really fun, fast reading experience.
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2023 ◦ ★★★★☆
A continuation of the story from The Housemaid, this was a good sequel, but it wasn’t quite as strong as the first.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
Nonfiction ◦ 2016 ◦ ★★★☆☆
A memoir about growing up in Appalachian culture, this was interesting enough but nothing particularly special. It veered into politics a bit more than I would have liked, though I did enjoy the insight into Appalachian culture. Overall, a little dull at times, but it offered some interesting tidbits.
The Gift by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2022 ◦ ★★★☆☆
A short thriller centered around one of McFadden’s signature twists, this was a fun quick read. I enjoyed it, but of course wish it had been longer. She still managed to fit in one of her trademark twists, so I can’t complain too much. Worth the quick read if you’re a Freida fan.
Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young
Romance ◦ 2024 ◦ ★★★★☆
Another cute romance from this author. Two friends team up to renovate an old bus into a tiny home while slowly falling for each other and trying to resist. This is the second in a series, and I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the first. Nice, diverse cast, though Matt felt a little too perfect. If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, you’ll really enjoy this one. It was fun.
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett
Horror ◦ 2022 ◦ ★★★★☆
This is a slower-moving, character-driven horror story, with the haunted house acting as a character of its own. It follows a group of friends who entered the secluded and “cursed” Octagon House as teens, and what happens both before and after that visit. The house has had a number of inhabitants and visitors over the years, and something in the basement always seems to haunt them and draw them back. The story shifts between narrators and timelines, building a full history of the house and its people, which made it feel really robust. It’s definitely creepy and gave off some strong Stephen King vibes. I enjoyed it quite a bit, though some things felt a little unclear and it started off just a bit slow. I’d recommend it to horror fans.
I didn’t stop reading during that stretch — I just stopped writing about it. Now it feels a little more complete having these here too.
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