My Favourite Books of 2025
Last year was a fantastic reading year for me. I discovered a lot of new favourite authors, and fell even more in love with authors I had already found. It is also the year I officially fell in love with audiobooks. Not only are they fantastic for helping me to get through my ever growing tbr list while still being able to do other things, but I love being able to indulge in immersive reading when I get the chance. If you have never experienced this before, it's reading the physical book or ebook while also listening to the audiobook. In so many cases, the narrators really add to the awesomeness of the story, making it even better. Depending on the book, it really adds to the drama, fear, excitement, or fun of the written word.
Below are my favourite books of the month. In some months it was difficult to pick between them as I had so many favourites, but in other months it was a lot easier as there was one or to stand out books.
January 2025
Death and the Harlot, Written By Georgina Clarke
This is the first book of the Lizzie Hardwicke Mysteries series of books, and I fell in love with this character and the world she lives in. She is a young woman living in a brothel, working as a harlot in London in 1759. One of her customers is murdered, and she becomes a suspect, being questioned by the local magistrates assistant, William Davenport. Determined to clear her own name, she starts to investigate the murder herself.
Not only is this a murder mystery, but it also detailed Lizzies life as a harlot during the 1700s, both of which contribute to making her life even more difficult. You go through all the emotions when reading this book, especially in regard to Lizzie. You are fearful for her life, proud of her for standing up for herself, especially at a time when women were expected to stay quiet, and impressed with how she handles herself in these dangerous situations.
This is now a finished series of four books, three of which I finished in 2025, and the fourth in January 2026.
If you are a fan of beautifully written historical fiction with a murder mystery to solve, then I think you will love this book series. I dare you not to fall in love with Lizzie Hardwicke.
We Solve Murders, Written By Richard Osman
Richard Osman has done it again. I have loved his writing since I first read The Thursday Murder Club in 2021, and this new series of books is another welcome addition to the library of Richard Osman books, and thankfully the second book in the series is going to be released later in 2026.
In this first book of the series we meet one of my favourite Richard Osman characters, Steve Wheeler, who is a retired gentleman living a quiet life. His daughter in law Amy is another matter altogether. She is a private security officer, and lives her life filled with adrenaline. She is working for an author whose life has been threatened. When things take a very dangerous turn she and the author must quickly leave and hide. When she contacts Steve for help he quickly leaps at the opportunity, and he and Amy work together to find out what is happening, running around the world in an attempt to investigate and keep some bad guys at bay.
Amy and Steve make a fantastic, very formidable team, and the author, Rosie, is a real character. In classic Richard Osman style, they travel around the world, stumbling into trouble at every point, but with humour and fun mixed in.
If you love mysteries, thrillers and some giggles, then I can't recommend this book enough. And roll on September for the next book in the series.
The Honeymoon, Written By Gemma Rogers
This was such a fun, thrilling ride. I flew through this book in 24 hours, I just couldn't put it down it was so good! This is the first book I read from this author, and won't be the last. She has a way of building the tension throughout the book, which explains why I read it in a day, and don't regret a second of it.
In this book we meet Kelly who, at her wedding, discovers that the man she just married has been cheating on her with her best friend.As the book progresses she finds out that he has been lying to her about so many things.
The pace is quick, and at 290 pages it doesn't take long to get through. I recommend making sure you have no plans for a day to two, as you won't want to stop when you get started.
The Mystery Guest, Written By Nita Prose
This is the wonderful second book in the series known as Molly the Maid. Molly is one of my favourite literary characters. She's truly unique in the way she reacts to these murders, and to life in general. It's an absolute pleasure to read about her. I love the close relatioship she has with the people around her, especially her beloved grandmother.
In this book a man is dies at the hotel Molly works at. With suspicion falling on many people who work and stay at the hotel, Molly puts her investigator cap on and gets to work. This case is very personal to her as the deceased man had a connection to herself and her grandmother.
I love the flashbacks in this book, going back to a time when Molly was young and working with her grandmother, who taught her the importance of making sure that everything is clean and pristine.
If you like your murder mysteries a little more beautiful and special, then I think you will love this book. If you haven't already, I highly suggest reading the first book first - Molly the Maid.
February 2025
The Corpse Played Dead, Written By Georgina Clarke
My love for Lizzie Hardwicke grew even more with this wonderful return to the world of London in 1700s. In this book Lizzie goes undercover at a local theatre after a series of strange events. They are happening too often to be a coincidence, and so the magistrate asks Lizzie to pose as a seamstress and keep an eye on everyone who works at the theatre.
We learn more about Lizzie's background, and what led to her becoming a harlot in London at such a young age. She also starts to become closer to the magistrate's assistant, William Davenport during her investigation. It also highlights the dangers for people, women in particular, living in London at this time.
March 2025
The House with Nine Locks, Written By Philip Gray
This is one of those books that has stayed with me since I finished it. I went through all the emotions with this story - from happiness, tears, concern to delight. The story is told from two points of view - the main one is that of Adelais de Wolf, a young girl living with her family in Flanders. Her mother turns to religion, her father turns to alcohol, and so the one shining light in her life is her uncle.
When her uncle dies, she finds that he has left her something: a remote house. This house is her opportunity to turn her life around, but there is one big catch.
The second point of view is that of Major de Smet, who is a detective with the Federal Gendarmerie. who is investigating a string of bank notes. What links these two characters?
This book has two very complex characters. Adelais faces difficult choices with aplomb, while de Smet is relentless in investigating his case and doesn't know when to stop. It's also about found families and how important friends are in our lives.
Do yourself a huge favour and grab a copy of this book. I loved every page of this book.
The Woman in the Wallpaper, Written By Lora Jones
March was definitely the month of reading books that have stayed with me, as this one is truly unforgettable. It made me smile, and broke my heart.
This book has it all - strong women, politics, love, mystery, sadness, devastation and determination, all set during the days of the French Revolution.
The story revolves around the lives of two women, Lara and Sofi, who go to live and work at a wallpaper factory. Lara attracts the attention of the factory owner's son Josef.
Lara becomes very curious about the illustrations on the wallpaper of the bedroom. She has a strange similarity to the eoamn featured on the wallpaper. Is Lara imagining things, or is something sinister happening?
When Josef brings his new wife Hortense to his home she instantly takes a dislike to everything. She also finds the wallpaper illustrations fascinating, wanting to know the truth behind them.
Lara, Sofi and Hortense are heading down unknown paths that will eventually join, but will it be a happy ending, or a devastating one? And what is the truth of the woman in the wallpaper?
I can't recommend this book enough. It was beautifully written and paced, and I quickly fell in love with Lara and Sofi. It is a real rollercoaster of a book that makes you go through all the emotions, but it is worth every captivating page.
The Night Shift, Written By Gemma Rogers
Gemma Rogers really knows how to pace a story to devastating effect. After finishing The Honeymoon in record time, I was excited to start this one, and I was not disappointed. The best word to describe this book is rollercoaster.
This book is set in a storage warehouse, where Nina is just starting a twelve hour shift. Things start off quietly enough, but when a man walks in, trailing a large suitcase. That's when things take a dark and dangerous turn.
Nina realises that she might not make it through the night. She doesn't know who she can trust, and her life is in real danger. Will she make it to the end of her shigt? Grab a copy of this fantastic book to find out.
April 2025
Bitter Greens, Written By Kate Forsyth
I don't even know where to start with this book. It was a very easy 6 🩵 for me. It is truly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It was the second fairy tale retelling I had read, but this was the book that made me fell in love with the concept. It was so fantastically done that I loved every second of my time with this book.
This book is told through the points of view of three different women: Charlotte Rose, Selena, and Margherita. Each of these women live challenging and very complex lives, travelling through different parts of Europe in different times. They each find themselves in difficult and often harrowing places and are forced to do things that they do not want to do, including taking lives of others.
This book made me cheer, cry, rest my chiun on the floor, shake my fist and most of all fall in love with these characters, and this author. I can't recommend it enough.
Viper in the Nest, Written By Georgina Clarke
My third and last Lizzie Hardwicke book of the year, and my favourite. I gave this 6 🩵 as I found it to be one of the most compelling and intricately written of the series so far. Lizzie investigates when a civil servant takes his own life. Lizzie doesn't believe that it was suicide. Her investigation brings her to seedy gambling houses where politicians mix with the wealthy and aristocratic men of London, each man with his own mission, not always making more money. Sometimes it's secrets, which are dangerous for all concerned.
Lizzie is also dealing with problems at home, when Ma, the proprieter and owner of the brothel allows her estranged husband to live at the house with them. Mr Farley is a brute of a man who only does things that bring in money, even illegal things. Lizzie is somewhat relieved to have this case to investigate so she can escape the house as often as she can.
There were so many thrills and heart-stopping moments that this book is impossible to put down.
Death and Other Occupational Hazards, Written By Veronika Dapunt
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. There are laugh out loud moments, heartbreak, tears, and a murder mystery to solve.
The premise is amazing - what if death were to take a holiday in London? I love that death is female in this book, and has so many wins and losses while learning to be human. Her holiday takes a turn when she realises that there are a lot of unauthorised deaths happening, and she needs to get to the bottom of it.
This is the first book I have read from this author, and it won't be the last.
May 2025
Sunrise on the Reaping, Written By Suzanne Collins
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was stoked when it became available in my library. I ended up putting it off for a while as I was worried it wouldn't live up to the expectations that I had in my head. But I finally bit the bullet and started.
Happy to say I was not disappointed, and became an easy 5 💜 read for me.
Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel that tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy. In this book, he's a teenager who is sent to compete in the Hunger Games. This year's games are slightly different as there are four participants sent from each district rather than the usual two. There are also many rumours going around about a possible revolt against the games to put a permanent stop to them.
Suzanne has a wonderful way of making you fall in love with characters, only to torture and often kill them in front of your eyes, making her books devastating to read, but they are also uplifting and cheer inducing when things turn for the characters you are rooting for, although that turn for the good is sometimes short lived. Prepare to have your heart ripped out.
Haymitch was one of my favourite characters from the books, and even more so from the movies, when he was played with aplomb by Woody Harrelson. It's lovely to read about his earlier life and what contributed to him becoming the man he was in the Hunger Games books and movies.
The Cornish Witch, Written By Elena Collins
I have become a huge fan of historical fiction in the past year or two, and this is one that has stayed with me since reading it. Judy Leigh, using the pseudonym Elena Collins, was a new author for me, and this will not be the last book I read by her.
This book is told in two pov's, and in two different time periods. Megan is living in the present day, and when her father gets a mysterious letter from the Cornish village of St Mawgen Cove, he asks his daughter to visit the village and find out the truth behind the letter. She stays at a local hotel, falling in love with the local beauty and being able to surf every day. The hotel is believed to be haunted by the Drenched Man and the Weeping Woman, which intrigues Megan.
In 1625 Susanna is living in St Mawgen Cove with her daughter Katel. Susanna is the local healer, and tends to the locals like they were family, healing their wounds and delivering their babies. But at this tuime the fear of witchcraft is prevalent, and when strange things start to happen in the village many people start to suspect the two women of being witches.
Are these two tales linked? Grab a copy of this book to find out.
The Lying Guest, Written By Mahi Cheshire
This is a wonderful 5 💜 read for me. I was all over the place with the main character, Anika. Is there something going on with her mind, or is there someone, or something messing with her? I was along for the ride, and the resolution to the book had my chin on the floor.
We meet Anika when she is at the end of her tether. She is a surgeon working at a hospital in London. She has barely slept recently, which is bad for anyone, especially for a doctor who has a condition that causes sleepwalking. When one of her patients dies under her care suspicioins start to come up about her, and then when colleagues and the media start to vocalise their concerns she decides to escape for a while and take up the offer of housesitting for a gentleman in Sri Lanka. Anika had spent a lot of time on the island as a child with a family, however that all stopped when something devastating happened.
The house she is staying in is believed to be haunted by a young girl named Lenore, and when strange things start to happen in the house, Anika starts to fear that they may be right.
Is the house haunted? Or is the stress of her recent time in London coming back to her?
This book is a real thrill ride. If you like the supernatural, thrills, and plenty of spine tingling moments then this is the book for you.
Unruly, Written By David Mitchell, Audiobook Read By David Mitchell
I was looking for something light and funny after a few heart-pounding books, and so took the opportunity to take this off my tbr list. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the author, David Mitchell. I love listening to books like this that are about actual history or living people, especially if they are read by the subject themselves, or the author.
David does a fantastic job of reading his book. I was laughing out loud at his words as he wove his way hysterically through the kings and queens of England. He also has a fantastic way of relating the modern world to the history of these people. HIs rant about James Bond is one of the many highlights.
If you are looking for a fun and yet informative book about England's royalty through the years then I can't recommend this book enough.
June 2025
Welcome to Glorious Tuga, Written By Francesca Segal
This was a beautifully written 6🩵 book for me. From the front cover to the back cover, I loved reading every page. It's light, funny, and a pleasure from start to finish.
Charlotte Walker is a zoologist who is looking to escape her life in London, and so gets a job on the island of Tuga. While on the boat trip over to the island she meets the new doctor, Dan. He is a Tuga native who went away to study and is now returning to practice medicine.
When she reaches the island she quicklymeets some of the locals, such as Taxi, who is the local taxi driver and dj and knows everything about everyone on the island.
As she gets to know the local residents she becomes immersed in their lives, with the good and the bad.
This book is like a little escape from everything. I have the second book in this trilogy, Island Calling,on my physical tbr list and I really need to dive back into this glorious world. If you would like to immerse yourself in island life, and the people who inhabit the island of Tuga then grab yourself a copy of this gorgeous book.
The House of Lost Whispers, Written By Jenni Keer
This was another 6🩵 read for me in June.
I first fell in love with Jenni Keer's books when I read The Ravenswood Witch in 2024. When I found this book ARC available on NetGalley, I had to request it and was lucky enough to be granted access. I'm so glad I got it, because it's a gorgeous book, and very worthy of a place in my favourites of 2025 list.
It's 1912, and Olivia is orphaned when the Titanic sinks, taking her parents with it. She is sent to live with her guardians, the Fairchilds and their four sons.
Olivia is feeling very alone when she hears a voice coming through the wall in her bedroom. She and her new friend Seth are soon chatting away as often as they can, especially when she discovers that Weth lives in a world where the Titanic did not sink, and her parents are alive and well.
Olivia becomes desperate to find a way to go through the wall into Seth's world, wanting to see not only her parents, but also to meet Seth in person. But who is this strange young man who she chats to through the wall? And will she ever find a way through into his world?
This book charts Olivia's life over the next few years, including how her world changes during the First World War and how the lives of the family who call her their own are drastically changed.
If you love historical fiction with a hint of the supernatural, you will love this book.
Death at the Highland Loch, Written By Lydia Travers, Audiobook Read By Sarah Barron
This was such a fun audiobook to listen to, and a wonderful cosy murder mystery. The narrator, Sarah Barron, does a wonderful job of inhabiting the different characters.
We are in Scotland in 1924, and Lady Poppy Proudfoot is in the Highlands for a summer party. Everyone is having a lovely time until a body washes up on the loch shore. The police believe that it is an accident, and Poppy is convinced that murder. When the police continually dismiss her evidence, Poppy decides to investigate the case herself.
She soon has two cases to solve when her host reports that a diamond and emerald bracelet has gone missing. Could the two cases be linked?
Poppy is a wonderful character. She's strong and very inquisitive, and determined to prove the people who have doubts about her abilities wrong. Her banter with Inspector McKenzie, the police officer in charge of the case, is a joy to read.
If you enjoy cosy murder mysteries set in a different time period, then I think you'll enjoy this book. It's an easy and fun audiobook to listen to.
How to Slay on Holiday, Written By Sarah Bonner
This is the second book in the How to Slay series of books from Sarah Bonner, and this is the first one I read this year - How to Slay at Work is the first book in the series. In this book, we are heading away on holiday.
Chloe and her husband Scott are heading to Mykonos for a holiday with their families. But Chloe has an agenda - she is going to murder her husband. But first, she has to create the perfect alibi to make sure she gets away with it.
But then things start to go wrong. Their family members are having their own issues, with rivalries coming to the forefront. To make things more complicated, their dedicated villa concierge is watching their every move, making Chloe's endeavours a little more challenging.
This was such a fun murder-mystery book, though the mystery changes as the book goes along.
If you enjoy mystery books that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing, then I think you will love this book. In fact, I think you will love every book in the How to Slay series.
July 2025
The Small Museum, Written By Jody Cooksley
I got the second book in this series, The Surgeon's House, as an ARC, but as I hadn't read this book before I wanted to read it before starting the ARC. You don't necessarily need to read this before starting The Surgeons' House but I hate not reading all the books of a series in order if I can help it.
I am so glad I read this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat with every page. So much so, I flew through it in three days.
It is 1873 in London and Madeline has just married a man she does not love, or even know. He is a doctor named Lucius and he studies the strange and unusual. When she moves into his home with him she is told to stay away from his home museum of bones. After his father ruined the family reputation he and his sister Grace hope that his museum will help to restore the family name in society.
When Madeline is accused of a horrible crime her friend Caroline is determined to get to the truth, as well as find out what Lucius and Grace have been up to.
This book is very dark and at times disturbing, but it is so beautifully written and paced that it was impossible to put down.
Actually, I'm a Murderer, Written By Terry Deary
This book is a fun read with lots of twists and turns.
This book is written in two different time periods - 1973 and 2023, and is told from the POVs of three different characters. Aline is a police constable trying to move up the ranks. Tony is an actor who speaks before he thinks, often getting himself into trouble. Mr Brown is a man who is easy to overlook, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
In 2023, they are telling the story of how the three of them met, through their own eyes. Tony and Mr Brown met for the first time on a train with two other passengers. The four of them start chatting amongst themselves, and the conversation turns to what they do for a living. When it gets to Mr Brown he annouces that 'actually, I'm a murderer'.
The lives of the people on the train take a drastic change after the trip. One of the people on the train will become Mr Brown's next victim. But why? Aline's life changes as well as shwe comes into contact with the train passengers.
This book has as many twists as a rollercoaster. Just when you think you know where the story is going to go, it takes a turn you never expected.
Highly recommend if you like to be kept on your toes when reading a book.
Pearly Gates, Written By Bonnie Solomon, Audiobook Read by Bonnie Solomon
This was one of my favourite new discoveries of 2025, and it introduced me to a new favourite author. The audiobook is read by the author, Bonnie Solomon, and she does such a wonderful job that I couldn't stop listening. One of my many reasons for loving to listen to audiobooks is that it allows me to do other things while reading a book. With this one, I just wanted to sit and listen.
In this wonderful book, we meet Pearly Gates, a dead drag queen who is working in waste management in the afterlife. She hates it, and wants more from her afterlife. She convinces a spirit guide to take a holiday, allowing her the opportunity to take over his role. She has three charges to care for - Hannah is a widow having a hard time moving on, Sam is battling cancer and not coping well with it, and Danielle is a trans woman struggling with accepting her true self.
Jumping in headfirst, Pearly tries her best to improve the lives of her three charges, but finds it a lot tougher than she imagined.
This is such a beautifully written book with wonderful cahracters that I dare you not to fall in love with. I went through all the emotions with this book, from joy and happiness to sorrow and sadness. It truly is a masterpiece and a pleasure from start to finish.
Bonnie was lovely enough to allow me to read the advanced copy of the next book in the series, The Midnight Croissant, and I can't wait to read it. It is due out on the 5th May 2026.
Julie Tudor is Not A Psychopath, Written By Jennifer Holdich
This was such a funny, wacky and thoroughly enjoyable book.
Julie Tudor is a woman of a certain age who works in an office. Her job is very important to her, and she loves her job, especially given her relationship with her younger co-worker, Sean. The only problem with this is that her relationship with Sean is all in her head. He is friendly to Julie, but there is nothing more to their relationship than that of fellow employees.
Unfortunately for Sean, Julie is determined to make her dream a reality. She wants Sean to want her as much as she does him, and she is prepared to go to any lengths to make it happen. Including murder. And since this isn't her first time, she knows what she's doing.
Jennifer Holdich does a fabulous job of creating laugh out loud moments in between the darker events, all of which create a wonderful page turner of a book.
Knitting Cowlettes, Written By Safiyyah Talley
Other than reading boks I also adore knitting and crocheting, and so I was excited to get an ARC for this lovely book. The photos are beautiful, and the stitches and patterns are beautifully detailed and explained, and will be perfect for all skill levels. If you are a knitter looking to create cowlettes, then I can't recommend this book. It will make a welcome addition to the library of any knitter.
Breathe In, Bleed Out, Written By Brian McAuley
This is a great, scary horror book. I read it in a few days as I couldn't put it down.
Hannah is a young woman trying to come to terms with the death of her boyfriend Ben. Her friends are worried about her and decide to take her to a wellness retreat in the desert. But it's not as it seems. The guru who runs the retreat has some secrets, and the woman who helps him run it is a little weird.
With Hannah and her friends so far from home, or from civilisation, it has all the makings of a horror movie, and when strange things start to happen, everyone begins to fear the worst. Is there someone hunting them? And if so, what do they want? The answers might just be the death of them all.
If you love slasher movies, you will love this book.
August 2025
A Sorceress Comes to Call, Written By T Kingfisher
August was the month I discovered the wonderfulness of T. Kingfisher's books. A Sorceress Comes to Call was the first book of hers I read, and a love was born. Her books are fantastical, wonderful, and feature some of the most amazing characters that you can't help loving.
In this book, we meet Cordelia, who is the teenage daughter of a sorceress named Evangeline. Evangeline is prepared to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, and she wants to get her and her daughter out of the poverty she and Cordelia are currently living in. To do that, she manages to manipulate a wealthy squire to take the two of them in. His sister Hester is very suspicious of Evangeline and starts to look into her, wanting to know more about her, and why she seems to have total control over her daughter.
To free her brother from Evangeline's apparent bewitchment and to free Cordelia, she will have to go up against the sorceress.
Swordheart, Written By T Kingfisher
This book is pure adorableness from the first page to the last. It was a 6 🩵 read for me, as I loved every page. So happy that there will be two more books in this wonderful trilogy series.
In this book, we meet Halla, who is very surprised to inherit her uncle's estate. Her money hungry relatives are very upset and start scheming to take the estate from her. They lock her in her bedroom, planning to keep her there until she agrees to part with her estate. When locked away she finds an old sword left to gather dust in the room. She unsheaths it, and a man appears in front of her. The man is named Sarkis, and he's an immortal warrior trapped inside the sword.
He swears to help her escape from her dangerous family members, and joins her on a quest to find a solution to her conundrum. Along the way they encounter amongst others, bandits and religious zealots.
Halla is a strong woman who is determined to improve her situation, and Sarkis is intent on keeping her safe, as much as she protests. One of my favourite characters is Brindle the Gnole.
This is such a fun, heartwarming and massively endearing book, and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters.
September 2025
This was such an easy 6 🩵 book for me this month. This is one of those books that you either love or hate, and I absolutely adored it. It's a huge mammoth of a book at over 500 pages, but each one was sensational.
I listened to the audiobook for this, and the three different narrators do a wonderful job with the characters.
This book is told through the eyes of three women living in vastly different eras and places.
In 1532 Maria is living in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. She is a young woman who is determined to escape the path many see for that as a wife and mother. Things take a real change when someone offers her something she can't refuse.
In London, in 1827 Charlotte is living a very protected life with her family. When she does something her family do not approve of she is sent to London, where she encounters a widow with many dangerous secrets. But Charlotte can't stay away, and it could cost her.
In Boston in 2019 Alice has moved half way around the world in an attempt to leave her old life, and tragedy behind. When she has a one night stand it leaves her with many unanswered questions, and she is determined to find the answers at any cost.
The book is very dark, gothic and spooky, with found famly - with a twist, the supernatural, especially vampires, and strong women who must do what they deem necessary in the light of extreme situations.
This book would be a great one for immersive reading, and I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrators really help to bring this big and powerful book to life.
The Ghosts of Merry Hall, Written By Heather Davey
This is a fantastic, spooky story that will pull at your heartstrings and give you plenty of jump scares.
It's written in the points of view of two different women, living very different lives in two different time periods, with one house connecting them.
Nell in living in the present day. Her and her daughter Fern have just moved into Merry Hall after the end of Nell's marriage. She is housesitting for a man who is temporarily overseas. She's very relieved when this opportunity comes up, but soon starts to fear she has made a huge mistake ehen she starts to hear strange noises in the home, as well as strange things happening that she can't figure out.
Dolly Done is living in Merry Hall in the 1800s with her boss, Abel Wenham and two other 'freaks' inbetween shows where she is presented to the general public for her usual looks. When she starts to have feelings for Abel everything takes a turn for the worst. Abel starts to show her just what she means to him, and it's not what she was hoping for. But nothing will prepare her for what is to come.
This is a beautifully intricate story surrounding these two fractured women who are both trying to deal with situations that are not entirely of their making, with plenty of supernatural elements mixed in for good measure. This is a fantastic haunted house story, and if that is your thing, you'll love this book.
The Pastor's Wife, Written By Lyndee Walker, Audiobook Read By Stephanie Cannon and Pat Rodriguez
This book had be guessing the whole way through. Just when I thought I knew where it was going it would take a hard right. The audiobook is read by Stephanie Cannon and Pat Rodriguez who both are fantastic at bringing you into the story and making sure you stay there.
Martha is a young woman who is down on her luck and looking for a better future for herself. She has just moved to a new area and is working in a local store. When she has an accident in front of the local pastor's home, his wife rushes out to to help her. They quickly become very close and when Mary finds out that Martha is living in a horrible hotel Mary invites her to move in with her and her husband, Tim. But Mary and Tim are not as they seem from the outside. They are hiding something, and Martha is determined to find out what these apparent god fearing couple are really up to.
This book has so many twists and turns that it's nearly impossible to put down. If you like books that are like a rollercoaster, I highly recommend this audiobook.
October 2025
The Ordeals, Written By Rachel Greenlaw
One of the easiest 6 🩵 reads if the year for me. I was totally along for the ride that this book took me on, and read it in a little over a week. This is a dark academic book written perfectly.
Sophia DeWinter is a young woman who is forced to live and work for The Collector. In her desperation to escape her nightmare she determines to enrol in Killmarth Academy, a place where she can grow her magicial skills. But getting a place is not easy, and she must overcome several challenges to secure her spot. On her way along the path she makes some fantastic friends, including Alden Locke who she may just have stronger feelings for. but these new relationships are under threat, not just from the challenges they all must take part in, but also from forces inside and outside the Academy who are determined to bring it all down.
Sophia is a wonderful, strong FMC. She knows what she wants and is determined to obtain it.
Can't wait to read the second book in this series later this year.
The Poison Puzzle, Written By Emily Organ, Audiobook Narrated By Eilidh Beaton
I listened to the audiobook for this, which was beautifully narrated by Eilidh Beaton. She does a wonderful job of bringing this world to life, especially the two characters of Emma Langley and Penny Green.
This is the second book in the Emma Langley Victorian Mystery series of books, but you don't necessarily need to have read the first book to follow this one. I didn't, and I could follow the story easily as there are enough references to the earlier book to make this easy to follow along.
It''s 1889 and we're in London. Emma Langley discovers a strange symbol in her deceased husbands diary. Determined to find the meaning, she enlists the help of her friend Penny Green. Their investigation takes a turn when Lord Charles Harpole is found dead in his hotel room.
It is rules a suicide, but neither Emma nor Penny believe this, so they start their own investigation. Along the way they find themselves amongst the highest of society, who are filled with secrets they don't want to be brought to light.
I love Emma and Penny. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and bring out the best in each other. This was the first book I have read in this series, and it won't be the last.
They Never Learn, Written By Layne Fargo
This book was a thrill ride of a book, with one of the biggest twists I have read in recent times.
The book is told from the point of view of two women. Scarlett is a university professor who is well-loved by her students. She is also a serial killer. She ends the lives of abusive men from around campus, believing that the world will be better without them around. She is prepping for her biggest kill yet.
Carly just arrived at the university, and quickly became very close with her roommate Alison, and his friend Wes. When Alison is assaulted at a party, Carly wants revenge for her friend, and is willing to do whatever is necessary.
These are two strong women who are doing what they believe is necessary to protect the innocent around them, and are prepared to do whatever it takes. This leads to a page turning book that was hard to put down.
If you like well paced thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, then this is the book for you.
November 2025
November wasn't a great reading month for me, but I did read this amazing book thanks to my book club. I had never heard of this book or author before, and this book totally blew me away.
The book club that had this down as the book for the month was a chapter a day group, and so I got to indulge in this book every day for a month - for the most part. When I got to the final few chapters, I couldn't put it down and finished it a few days from the end of the month, but when you get to that stage yourself you'll see why I had to keep reading.
In this book we are in 1968, and we meet Ellie, who is trying to get through her teenage years as beest as she can. The challenge is that her two older sispters were kidnapped eleven yrars before, and her parents have become very protective of her, so much so that she is craving independence and to find her own identity.
When one of her missing sisters turns up at the local police station, her life is turned on its head. Martha is acting very strangely. At first, she is trying to be understanding, given the trauma her sister has been going through the past eleven years, but Ellie knows that something elese is at work ehre. Ellie and her best friend Tilly decide to do some investigating to see if they can find out what is really happening to Martha, also hoping to find out what has happened to her other sister Susan. The truth is not what she expected, and puts her life, and the lives of her loved ones in great danger.
December 2025
No 5💜 or 6🩵 in December, unfortunately, but my favourite book of the month was:
How to Slay at Christmas, Written By Sarah Bonner
This is the third book in a series titled "How to Slay." This is a darkly comedic book about a serial killer looking for her next victims. Jessica moves to a small town and gets herself a job at the local market as Mrs Christmas. Soon, she has a list of people who deserve her particular brand of justice.
The book is told from the perspectives of Jessica and Fearne, who is the market manager's wife. Between helping her husband run the market, maintaining things at home for her and her husband, and their daughter, she is also a novelist who is itching to get going with a new book idea. But when the murders at the market become more frequent, a rival from her past comes back intoher life, throwing eveything into turmoil.
This is such a fun book to read, with plenty of twists and turns. If you haven't read the first two books in the series i highly recommend them. They aren't linked in anyway, and so you don't need to read them to enjoy this one.
If you like Christmas murder mysteries with a tinge of dark humour, then I think you will love this book.