Okay, I must concede. My 2025 reading is really NOT THAT BAD. π―
In July, I had two 5-stars, four 4.5-stars, and five 4-star books.
FINISHED
π§ The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence (2024) β β
4
Lovely second installment, but missing some of the charm and emotional core of the first.
π± Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne (US Release Aug 19, 2025) β β
4.5
Unique balance of quirky and dark, cozy and slightly twisted.
π§ The Town House by Norah Lofts (1959) βΒ β
4.5
With steady character development from Lofts, I was pleasantly surprised by this deep backlist title.
π The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (2023) βΒ β
4.5
A delightful tale with top-notch humor and well-developed characters.
π The Undertaking by Audrey Magee (2014) β β
4.5
Magee avoids any glossing over her story with a challenging narrative focusing on complicity.
π Water by John Boyne (2023) βΒ β
4
Decent story and character development, but not a lot of freshness.
π§ Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (2024) βΒ β
4
Steady narrative, a hint of spec-fic.
π± Dusk by Robbie Arnott (US release August 5, 2025) βΒ β
4
Lovely Australian Western β not quite as enthralling as The Rain Heron but damn close.
π§ The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi (2023) βΒ β
4
Really odd but really well done slightly sci-fi.
π Earth by John Boyne (2024) βΒ β
3
Predictable, lacked character development and nuance. Trauma as spectacle, doled out with the precision of someone sticking pins in a doll.
π Misbehaving at the Crossroads by HonorΓ©e Fanonne Jeffers (2025) β β
5
Powerful, thoughtful, and fantastic collection of essays and writings.
π§ Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (2023) βΒ β
5
Gorgeously quiet novel where the power of what is not said reverberates through the entire work.
DNFs
π§ The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025)
π§ The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien (2025)
π§ Gogmagog by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard (2024)
π§ The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman (2024)
CARRYING OVER TO NEXT MONTH
π Giant Love by Julie Gilbert (2024)
π The Country Under Heaven by Frederic S. Durbin (2025)
π§ The Night Ends with Fire by K. X. Song (2024)
Happy reading!
βC.




Such a great month. Must be very satisfying. Coincidentally I have The Undertaking lined up on audio. Very pleased to hear you loved this.
Just wait until you get to Fire π€£π€£