2025 Reading Challenge discussion

No. 1 of 45: The Ice Beneath Her

No. 2 of 45: The Summer Before the War

Reviews of this book have been all over the map, but I loved it. It's not much like her first book, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, which I also enjoyed. I think this will appeal to fans of the early seasons of Downton Abbey and also to readers of Jane Austen.

No. 3 of 45: Orphan Train

No. 4 of 45: Snowblind

No. 5 of 45: The Missing

No. 6 of 45: Small Admissions

No. 7 of 45: They May Not Mean To, But They Do

No. 8 of 45: Homegoing

My review of Nos. 1 and 4 on my list, The Ice Beneath Her and Snowblind

No. 9 of 45: Every Dead Thing

My review

No. 10 of 45: The Shadow Land

Here's my Goodreads review of The Shadow Land, which was No. 10 on my list.

Here's my Dallas Morning News review of Small Admissions, which was No. 6 on my list.

No. 11 of 45: Killers of the Flower Moon

My review

No. 12 of 45: Startup

No. 13 of 45: Maestra

BookBub had this listed as a Patricia Highsmith sort of tale involving the art world, on sale for $1.99. They forgot to mention the "meets Fifty Shades of Grey" part. I liked the crime-and-suspense bit – at least the first two-thirds of the story. The rest? Not so much.

No. 14 of 45: Void Moon

I wanted something set in Las Vegas for a trip, and I usually like Michael Connelly. This one was OK, not one of my favorites.

No. 15 of 45: The Quiet Game

Greg Iles is coming to the Dallas Book Festival on April 29 specifically to talk about unsolved racial killings in the South from the Civil Rights era. I wanted to read one of his Penn Cage novels, which are inspired by those cases.

good luck

No. 16 of 45: Testing the Current

I chose this book because the author died recently. He wrote an essay a few years ago about falling into poverty that went viral.

My review of Startup, which was No. 12 on my list.

No. 17 of 45: The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Saw the author, Jeff Guinn, at the Dallas Book Festival. If you get a chance to hear him speak, go. Terrific book.

No. 18 of 45: City of Secrets

No. 19 of 45: The Perfect Stranger

No. 20 of 45: Persons Unknown

I got an early review copy of Susie Steiner's second in the Manon Bradshaw series from NetGalley. I'm a big fan. If you're not familiar, check out the first one, Missing, Presumed, so that you'll be ready when Persons Unknown drops later this summer.

No. 21 of 45: The Dime

Hi Shawna, any favorites so far
Good luck with your goal!

Lisa wrote: "Hi Shawna, any favorites so far
Good luck with your goal!"

I highly recommend Killers of the Flower Moon if you like nonfiction.

Among the novels I've read so far, The Summer Before the War may still be my favorite.

No. 22 of 45: What the Dead Know

Shawna wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Hi Shawna, any favorites so far
Good luck with your goal!"

I highly recommend Killers of the Flower Moon if you like nonfiction.

Among the novels I've read so far, [..."

I really enjoy non-fiction, specially true crime so I will move it up my list :) And that particular book had been on my radar for a while, just hadn't made the list yet. Thanks for the recommendations!

Lisa wrote: "Shawna wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Hi Shawna, any favorites so far
Good luck with your goal!"

I highly recommend Killers of the Flower Moon if you like nonfiction.

Among the novels I've..."

This radio interview with the author is really interesting.

No. 23 of 45: She Rides Shotgun

No. 24 of 45: The Dhow House

No. 25 of 45: This Must Be the Place

No. 26 of 45: The Day I Died

No. 27 of 45: Birdsong

No. 28 of 45: Maisie Dobbs

No. 29 of 45: The Girls

Listened to this one on Audible. Drive to Kansas finished it off.

No. 30 of 45: The Daughters of Mars

I've been on a World War I reading binge. I think I'll take a break.

No. 31 of 45: I Found You

No. 32 of 45: The Marsh King's Daughter

Gave up on a book I wasn't enjoying and started this one instead. I finished it in a day! Excellent summer read.

No. 33 of 45: The Late Show

My Dallas Morning News review of She Rides Shotgun, which was No. 23 on my list.

No. 34 of 45: Testimony

I hadn't read Scott Turow in forever. Really enjoyed this one.

No. 35 of 45: Since We Fell

Interesting twists in this one.

No. 36 of 45: Into the Water

Started and finished this on a long car drive. I enjoyed it, but I recommend reading it rather than listening. I find books with multiple points of view difficult on audio. So much harder to keep everything straight. And you can't backtrack!

No. 37 of 45: There Your Heart Lies

No. 38 of 45: A Legacy of Spies

No. 39 of 45: I See You

Nos. 40 and 41 (updating after a long trip)

Picasso's War

and

North Haven