2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I am going to be trying for 80 books this year.

31/80

Good luck, Ashley! :)

1. Jane Eyre. This was a great story of a girl growing up and finding what she wants in life. Jane Eyre grows up an orphan making her own way in life when she becomes a governess working for Mr. Rochester. She makes her own way in life and this is the story of her life. This book has many themes as it follows Jane Eyre's life. The book is very well written and had a great flow. You experience many emotions through this book, as you connect with the characters and feel for them. Even with the time of when this was written, it is easy to understand and it is still relatable, which makes this even more enjoyable. This was a great book and I recommend this if you like coming of age books or classics. I am actually surprised that it took me so long to finally read this as I had it for years, and really enjoyed this story.

2. The 5th Horseman. This was another enjoyable, fast-paced book in the Women's Murder series. There are multiple investigations happening at the same time in this book, which keeps it interesting. There are a few twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout the book. Lindsey Boxer is working on an investigation into a hospital while there is also a trial taking place in which the hospital is being sued. The others are also included in the trial and interested in the hospital. This book is well-written and flows well, making it fast-paced and easy to read. There are also personal things that happen, that really add to the story. I recommend reading this book and the series if you like crime and action. These books are fun to read and you become invested in what is happening. This really grabbed my attention at the very beginning and kept me reading until the very end of the book.

3. All Eyes on Me. This was an interesting investigation book. Miranda and Parker have an investigative agency and are called to Las Vegas to assist on a murder investigation of a pop singer. There are some things going on besides the investigation, which are a good addition as they may continue through the series. The book jumped right into the murder, which quickly got my attention. This book was well-written and had an easy to read vibe, with a good flow throughout the entire book. The writing keeps you invested in the book, and adds more to the story, especially involving some of the characters. I recommend reading this if you enjoy murder investigation and thrillers are this was an enjoyable book. This is the first book in a series and I would like to continue reading this series.

4. How Lucky. This was a very enjoyable book, with a great story. It was great as a disable character actually lives as normal as possible, which does make this even more enjoyable. Daniel believes that he witnessed a kidnapping, but did he really see something and who could have done it? The book is this period of Daniel's life, but also includes his day to day life and even stories about his past, so you really feel like you get to know him. Besides a few small sections, the book was well-written and the story was easy to follow. This puts you into the mind a disabled character, and is what I image would be how they feel, which really added to the story for me. This was a really good and interesting read. It was not filled with action or crime, which I read a lot, but this was a very good book that I would recommend reading.

5. Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous. I received this in a Giveaway. This was a fun and enjoyable investigation book. This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone book. I enjoyed it and will go read the others in the series. Millie is Amish and Lois is not, yet they are best friends. When an accident occurs, Lois becomes a suspect and these two try to figure out what happened. They try to assist the police and run their own investigation, but could this be more than they bargained for? This is a full, sillier take on an investigation as these characters could not be more different and they have fun personalities. This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery book and I want to read more with these characters. There are also a few other aspects, especially with Millie that make this even more interesting. If you are looking for a lighter, investigative book with some interesting characters, I recommend this book. It was a fun read.

6. The House of Hunger. This was an alright book, but I didn't think it was great. At times it was a little hard to follow and jumped around a little. There were also times that names seemed to be thrown into the story, but you have no idea who these people are, and it is distracting and takes away from the story. This book takes place in current day Zimbabwe. The story is about the main character's mental process until violence becomes the way of life in the area he lives. You can tell with the story how he ages and changes. The writing was unorganized and hard to follow at time. It too away from the story to try to figure out what was going on and it didn't have a good flow. I don't recommend this book.

7. Beartown This was a fantastic story involving many characters and how they all deal with different things. This book has success, teamwork, trauma, friendships, work and work relationships, and others that play a part in the story, making you a part of this town and a part of the lives of the characters. Beartown in a hockey town, where only one thing matters. The best team is made up of teenage boys. Then at a party, a decision is made creating trauma and what happens after that. How the town, friendships, relationships, and futures change because of one night and one decision. The writing is incredible and puts you in the place of each character until you feel their emotions and experience this story with them. This was a fantastic and emotions story, but it is also realistic. This was an amazing book that I highly recommend reading.
TRIGGER WARNING - (view spoiler)[ this does involve rape. While it doesn't get overly graphic is does mentioned trying to scream and being held down. Also mentioned bruises. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

8. The Hunting Wives.This book was okay, but it was not great. All of the characters were terrible and annoying and there was a lot of cheating (view spoiler)[ adult women with teenage boys (hide spoiler)]. This was unnecessary and took away from the story for me. The book was fast-paced, but the ending just came suddenly and then it just ended. The writing was easy to read and follow, but it was hard to really get into this book as it was a bunch of adults acting like spoiled, entitled, teenagers. There was not really anything great about this book, but it was a fast and easy read at least. I don't recommend going out of your way to read this, but don't say skip it if you want or have it on a list for a challenge or something.

9. One of Us Is Next.This was a great, fast-paced, and interesting book. I like how it related to the first book in the series, yet it was its own events. Someone is trying to carry on Simon's legacy in a different way, this time with truth or dare at Bayview. The characters all make a return in different ways. What is the game trying to accomplish and who is behind it? There is the drama, friendship, and relationships that make these books so gripping. There were some new characters, but nothing was missed in this continuation. The writing really pulls you into the book and keeps you reading to find out what is going on. There are some twists and turns that happen. I became invested in what was going on and the lives of the characters. I recommend readings this book and series. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

10. Razorblade Tears. This was good, but intense book on multiple levels. There are some good themes in this book, which really added to the story. Derek and Isiah were killed and their criminal fathers are determined to figure out what had happened. However, who was involved and how dangerous is this going to get? This was a good read and had a good amount of action. The writing was good and put you into the action of the fathers. I enjoyed how this was readable as some books make black characters seem uneducated and the way they talk is difficult to read. This book did not do that, which was great. This was a good book that I recommend reading.

11. A Most Private Bank: Five days of greed, lies and murder in the Swiss world of hidden money. I received this in a Giveaway. The book was good and interesting, but needed some minor editing and was a little drawn out at time. Other than that, this was a very good book about the financial scene in Zurich. Jim Dixon was looking for a new start in Zurich in Swiss finance when he was approached to help purchase a bank. But what is really going on and what did he get involved in? Besides needing a little bit of editing, the book was well-written and easy to follow, even with all the moving events and pieces taking place. The book is told from Jim, so it really follows him over these crazy days. This was a good book that I recommend reading.

12. People We Meet on Vacation. I was a little surprised how much I actually enjoyed this book. There were a few things taking place, and the story was really entertaining. You become invested in the lives of the characters and feel like you experience the trips with them. The writing pulls you into the story and really holds your attention. Poppy and Alex are friends that took a trip every year, until the fateful trip. Realizing that was the last time she was happy, Poppy decides to try one more trip with Alex, which he agrees to. This is the story of the current trip, with a backstory of the previous trips they took together. This was a primarily fun read, but you also experience other emotions as you read this book. This was an enjoyable book that I would recommend reading.

13. Nondisclosure. This was a great, fast-paced, short book. It jumped into the set-up of the story very quickly and was easy to read. It really held my attention throughout the entire book and drew me into the story. The writing was good and easy to follow and read. When one of Brad's students is killed, he teams up with Karen Richmond to try to find out what happened. The investigation takes them into unexpected places, and who could possibly be involved in the scheme? There are a few twist in the book and it is not solely the investigation, but also the lives of the characters. I have already started the second book in the series, as this was very good. You also do not need a science background to follow and understand this book. I recommend reading this book.

14. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. This was a very good story about the lives of two people as they grow up. It follows from when they are kids to adults. Saddie and Sam meet and bond over video games. They run into each other years later and decide to build a game. This book follows their stories about growing up and where they end up. This has love and friendship and many other themes throughout the book. The story was well-written and very easy to follow. I enjoyed how it is realistic of people growing up together and differences they may have during times. This is not what I typically read, but this was a very enjoyable story. I recommend reading this book.

15. Forever. This was a very good science/medical thriller. The story grabbed my attention at the beginning and keeps you reading until the end. This is a good continuation from the first book. Brad is working at a lab doing research and Karen is now working with the FBI. He gets involved in a good research opportunity, but is everything what it seems? What is he really working on and what is he doing? This was a short, gripping book that kept me reading to find out what was going to happen. The writing was good and put you into the story and the action. The suspense in this was great. I recommend reading this book.

16. Bad Medicine: A Medical Thriller (Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, #3. This was another good book in the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond series. The story of the characters continued in this book. There is an issue at MTRI involving tenure of two professors and something is going on. Brad ends up going to figure out what is happening and make the tenure decision. But something is going on. What is really happening and who is behind it? Also, how far will this person go and what are they trying to hide? The book was well-written and keeps you readings from the beginning to end. There are a range of characters, some are likeable and some are not, which makes the story. This was an enjoyable book that I recommend reading.

17. The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. This was a very interesting and entertaining story. This has Agatha Christie as a writer and a character and uses her book in a creative fashion to tell this story. The story really grabs your attention at the beginning and keeps you reading until the very end. Agatha Christie goes missing and her husband was left instructions to follow. What really happened to her and where could she be? Is everything really as it seems? The writing is really good and really keeps you reading to find out what is happening and what is going to happen. This type of book is usually hit or miss, but this was a great book and used Agatha Christie as a character very well. I recommend reading this book if you enjoy a good mystery.

18. The 6th Target. This was another good, fast-paced book in the Women's Murder Series. This had a lot going on, which made it very enjoyable and kept me reading from the beginning to the end. Lindsey Boxer is working multiple cases, a homicide and kidnapping, plus has stuff going on in her personal life. There is a trial going on at the same time as the investigations. The book is very easy to read, which keeps up the pace and flow of the book. As usual, the book is well-written putting you right into everything that is taking place. These books have so much going on, which keeps it interesting, but also more realistic. This was a great book that I recommend reading.

19. Ill Intent. I received this in a Giveaway. This was another great book in this series. The characters are great and the story continued from the last book. Brad and Karen have some decisions to make about their future and end up working on another murder case. This time, they are trying to link two murders with something that happened forty years ago. Who could be behind the murders and what are they trying to hide? How far will they go to hide something? This book was well-written and put you in the story. There was a lot going on, which made the book interesting and drew me in at the beginning and kept me reading until the end. This was an enjoyable book and series that I recommend reading.

20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This was a good story, but there was a lot of sexual stuff and misogynistic attitudes throughout the book. This took away from the story a little bit for me. There were a lot of characters in the book, and sometimes it was hard to keep track of everyone. The book was broken up into multiple sections, some of which dragged out and didn't add a lot to the story. Mikael Blomkvist, was a journalist in a tough spot, who was hired by Henrik Banger to investigate the disappearance of his niece. He enlists the help of Lisbeth Salander. What will they uncover during their investigation and will they discover any answers? The actual investigation part of the story was good, but some of the parts could have been shortened. This book is hit or miss depending on what you enjoy.

21. No Home for Killers. This was a great read that involved family drama, with thriller mystery of killings. There were a few things happening, which keeps this interesting and moving throughout the book. Melinda and Emily has estranged sisters, that come together when their brother is killed. They both have their own secrets,which might come into play. Who killed the brother and what could he have been involved in? This tells of the family drama between the siblings and what is happening now. The writing was good and really told the story about what was happening. I recommend reading this if you like thrillers.

22. Sign Here. This was a strange, but good book. There were a few stories happening throughout the book. Peyote Trip works in Hell and he wants to sign one more Harrison. The Harrison family go to the lake house and have their own story. While the Harrison's secrests are coming to light, Peyote is working with Cal in Hell, and trying to get the deal. What is really going on and what is hidden in the past? This was a little strange, but it was interesting to read. I was interested in the story, but it could have been more gripping to really keep me reading. While this was good, it wasn't very great. This is one book you could read or skip.

23. The Backstreets. This book was boring and didn't have much of a story or focus. Also, the author had the main character as the narrator, and he repeated himself a lot throughout the book. The story just follows a Uyghur Man in the city of Xinjiang and tells of his days. However, not much really happens and he always says the same things. The writing is repetitive and boring. I didn't care about the main character or what happened to him. I do not recommend reading this book.

24. The Maid.
This was 2.5 but rounded up. This book was good even though it made me a little angry, until the end ruined it for me. The end made no sense. Molly was a maid at a hotel, (view spoiler)[ and was very childish and social awkward. You could see as a reader what was happening, but she did not see it. (hide spoiler)] This was annoying, but it was just part of the story. Molly finds a dead body in a hotel room, and becomes a suspect. This takes place in the following days. (view spoiler)[ This ends with a trial, but it makes no sense. Molly had an attorney when she was accused of murder, but she was not on trial and would not have an attorney. She would not be questioned by the person who was her attorney as a Prosecutor would have brought the case. Even in Charlotte switched sides, she would not have tried the case against Rodney as it would be a < Read this if you don't mind inaccuracies, but if you if you don't like them, don't read this book as the end will ruin it for you. (hide spoiler)]

25At Wits' End. This was a good book, but I thought it could have been a little better. There were a few aspects of the book, which did make it more interesting as it was told from the point of view of the main character. Sue inherited a B&B from her grandmother, which was UFO themed. A murder took place in one of the rooms and she decided to try to figure out what happened and why. But someone didn't want her to investigate. What is going on and who is behind it? This was good, but it was a more laid back mystery and didn't have the gripping story like a thriller.

26. The Guest Cat. This was an okay book, but it was a little slow and boring. The characters were annoying. This was about a couple renting a cottage and the neighbor has a cat that goes to their cottage. This is the story about them and the cat that visits. The story was short and it still felt like it dragged on. I didn't like the characters and found them annoying. I do not recommend reading this book.

27. The Lincoln Highway. This was a very good book, but it could have been a little shorter. The book takes place over a short period of time, but follows many people through this period. Emmett arrives home from a work farm when his plans are derailed by two friends. He follows his friends to New York and this is the story of this period of time from many points of view. The book was good and well-written, but it definitely could be shorter. Some of the points of view during the journey could have been cut out or combined to make it a little less repetitive. The characters were likeable, for the most part. I recommend reading this book if you like an adventure story with multiple points of view.

28. One Small Sacrifice. This was a really good book that has a few different things taking place. They fit together and really make the book interesting. Emily, Alex's fiancee, goes missing and Alex is the main suspect because of a past incident. The detectives are trying to find Emily, and Alex is also trying to figure out what happened and remember the past. What happened to Emily and who could be behind the disappearance? The book was well-written and really kept me reading to find out what happened. I recommend reading this book.

29. What Lies in the Woods. This was a very good book. There were a few typing mistakes, but they didn't take away from the book. Naomi returned home and begins to questions what happened when she was attached as a kid. One of her friends wants to come clean and she turns up dead. What really happened that day and what is going on now? As Naomi tries to figure out what happened, who can she trust? This was a really good mystery/thriller. The story was great and the writing really pulled me into the book and kept me reading. I recommend reading this book.

30. The Only Survivors. This was a fantastic book. This keeps you reading from the beginning to the end and was an amazing thriller/mystery. In high school, nine students survive an accident on a trip. After one survivor kills herself on the anniversary of the accident, the other make a pact and sped the anniversary together. Cassidy is drawn back to the other survivors and they are at their meeting place, but something is off. What is going on this year and is someone behind what is happening? Is this tied to what happened the night of the accident, and what really happened on that trip? This is a dual timeline, telling what is happening now, along with the day of the accident. The book is very well-written and just keeps you reading. I recommend reading this book.

31. Black Violet. This was good, but it wasn't great. There were parts with action, but slow in other parts and I felt the beginning was slow. It also didn't draw me in. Michael is a thief and tries to track down his brother's killer. Is he over his head with trying to find these people and what happened, or can he do it? This is a series, but I don't think I will continue with it.

Ashley, you are well on your way toward your goal. Hope you have great reads for the rest of the year!

I'm in the buddy read for The 6th Target for July. We'll continue with the 7th book in August, should you wish to join us.

Happy reading! 😊