It is January, 1945 and the Red Army is quickly advancing into German territories. Millions of refugees are fleeing across Prussia, hoping to get on a ship that will sail them to safety. Among them are a Lithuanian nurse, a Prussian soldier with an important mission, and a Polish pregnant girl. Soon their paths cross and they find themselves relying on one another to survive.
Two years ago I picked up my first Ruta Sepetys novel, I Must Betray You, and it was one of my favorite books of the year. So to start off my 2026 reading year I decided to pick up another one of hers that focused on the millions of people who attempt to escape Prussia as World War Two drew to a close. Adding a layer of interest was the fact that the Wilhelm Gustloff tragedy would be tied into the story as well. For those not familiar with the Wilhelm Gustloff its infamy comes from the fact that it is the worst maritime disaster in history with roughly nine thousand people losing their lives (for comparison, the Titanic disaster resulted in the deaths of 1,500). Based on this, I was extremely interested in what Ms. Sepetys would do with this story.
Overall, I really like the setup to this story and mostly enjoyed the back and forth perspectives of Joana, Florian, and Emilia. The one perspective that I didn’t like was that of a German sailor aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff. I found his story really added nothing to the overall story and I mostly skimmed through his sections so I could get back to the main three characters. The pacing of the book is fairly good except for the last 15% which I felt moved much quicker than the rest of the story, which was slightly frustrating since that is what the story has been building up to. Despite this, I plan on continuing with Ms. Sepetys’ books in the future and would recommend this book to any historical fiction fans.
4 out of 5 stars
Hello fellow readers! Well, we have finally made it. 2026 is just around the corner and 2025 is coming to a close. We have also reached the end of our countdown. What book is number one? Have you guessed it correctly?
My best book of 2025 goes to…Home Before Dark by Riley Sager.
What is it about? Ewan and Jess have bought what they believe is their perfect home. But after three weeks, the couple, along with their daughter Maggie, escape the home in the middle of the night and never return. Ewan writes a book and for the next twenty-five years, Maggie is constantly asked, what was it like to live in a haunted house? Maggie never knows how to answer because she doesn’t believe the house was ever haunted, just an easy cash grab for her father. But now, Ewan has passed away and to Maggie’s surprise he has left the home in her name. Maggie travels there to prove once and for all that the house isn’t haunted. But when things begin to happen that Maggie can’t explain and memories of her childhood come trickling back, she is forced to ask a question of her own, is the home actually haunted?
Why did I love it? This book was perfect from start to finish. The story was flushed out, the twists were thrilling, and the ending tied everything up into a perfect bow. It felt as if I was reading a true story with the tale feeling very Amityville. The dual timelines added a lot to the story and there wasn’t one timeline I preferred over the other, which is a pretty good feat for any author to accomplish. It is a book that I flew through, finishing it in less than forty-eight hours even though it is a bit of a hefty book. Mr. Sager managed to take a story that has been done before and breathe new life into it, which is probably why it has been so hyped up over the years. And, having now added it to my favorite shelf, I can fully understand why.
The silver spot for the best books of 2025 goes to a book in one of my favorite genres, dark academia. It goes to For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing.
What is it about? Teddy is an English teacher at a prestigious school where the standards are high but Teddy’s are impossible to meet. He doesn’t like many of his students but in particular he can’t stand Zach. But Teddy can’t deal with him right now. After a student’s mother dies during a school function it’s all hands on deck in trying to catch the killer. But Teddy isn’t the type to sit idly by. He has his own plan. Unfortunately for him, so does Zach in this game of cat and mouse.
Why did I love it? I love a good game of cat and mouse and For Your Own Good is a highly elaborate take on it. The narrative perspectives switches back not just between Teddy and Zach but with some other supporting characters as well, creating a tangled mess that the reader tries to unravel before the next body appears. I loved that there was endless possibilities to who could be responsible for what crime and the messiness of everyone involved is nothing but a good time. If you love the dark academia genre or just want a good mystery to sink your teeth into, this would be the book for you.
Hello fellow readers! We’ve officially reached the top three best books of 2025. Have you guessed my top three? Here’s a clue, two of the books have similar storylines but are uniquely different.
The bronze medal goes to a story where a couple thinks they have found their dream house, but have only just stepped into a ghost infested horror story. It is The September House by Carissa Orlando.
What is it about? Hal and Margaret have saved their whole lives to buy a dream family home and they might have just found it. It’s an old Victorian home that is being sold for a killer price, mainly because there might have been a few killers who once called the place home. Despite its creepy history, Hal and Margaret soldier on and purchase the home. There is just one tiny problem…ghosts also like to call this place home. While most can be handled, a darker spirit lurks in the basement but as long as Hal and Margaret keep him there they’ll be fine. But when Hal goes missing and the couple’s daughter makes it her mission to find him, Margaret will have to keep up the facade by herself.
Why did I love it? Despite its somewhat scary premise, The September House manages to blend horror with comedy. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh and Margaret as a character was fantastic. She is trying to keep everything together but isn’t having much luck. There are some dark elements to the story (check trigger warnings) but I do love the complicated relationship between Margaret and her daughter and how it is handled at the end, making it a good read to read with your mom or daughter. The book is also a good starting point for anyone fairly new to horror like myself. Finally, it is one of those books that after you finish it you’ll already be making plans to read it again next September.
Spot four goes to a horror novel involving an isolated Alaskan town, several murders, and neighboring vampires. It is The Gathering by C. J. Tudor.
What is it about? In a world where humans and vampyrs live side by side detective Barbara Atkins is called to a small, isolated Alaskan town after a boy is found dead with his throat ripped out. But this isn’t your standard murder investigation. Barbara is part of a special unit that deals exclusively with vampyrs and potential crimes they might commit. In a town like Deadhart, Alaska, the locals immediately believe the vampyrs are involved but Barbara isn’t as convinced. As she begins to investigate the town’s dark past, she discovers that some monsters are humans.
Why did I love it? The idea of humans and vampyrs living side by side in the modern world is cool topic to explore and the amount of thought C.J. Tudor put into creating this world was extremely interesting and detailed. Of course, reading between the lines one can reason that Tudor borrowed heavily from the experiences of underrepresented minorities but the author still does this in a clear and fascinating way. The entire story is flushed out well and I couldn’t find a weak point in any of it. I felt connected to Barbara as a character and while there was plenty of horror to go around it wasn’t disturbing horror, which I appreciated. Like Dead of Winter, The Gathering is a fantastic read to grab during the snowy months.
We’ve now reached the top five best books of the year, at least according to me. Kicking off this portion of the countdown is a romantic comedy that has all the summer vibes. It is The Wedding People by Alison Espach.
What is it about? Things can’t get much worse for English lit professor Phoebe Stone. After years of being married to the man Phoebe assumed was the love of her life, it is over. Her husband has divorced her and is now living with another, younger professor who teaches at the same school as Phoebe. Than her cat dies and Phoebe has decided she’s had enough. Spontaneously she books a room at an expensive but luxurious hotel in Newport, Rhode Island. But, to her surprise, Phoebe discovers she is the only guest at the hotel who is not part of a large wedding. Before she knows it, Phoebe finds herself swept up in the wedding, playing mediator between the bride-to-be and her eccentric family.
Why did I love it? Is there really anything better than reading a good romcom in the summertime? I didn’t think so. The Wedding People was almost a nonstop fun ride of crazy antics, obnoxious in-laws, and ridiculous wedding shenanigans. I say almost as the book is a bit heavy in its first few chapters (I do suggest checking out trigger warnings) but after that is a strong comedy that will make you fall in love with all the characters. I can’t remember the last time I really felt connected to a group of characters in a romance book and it left me thinking about them for a while. Ridiculously funny and not afraid to poke fun at stereotypes, The Wedding People is an absolute must read.
Book number six goes to a wintry thriller with a message of never going hiking in the snow. This is Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates.
What is it about? When her boyfriend suggests a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains, Christa is less than thrilled. More specifically, she is anxious about confronting the demons that forced her to give up hiking altogether. Despite this, Christa agrees and the couple joins a small group that travels up to the mountains. But when a storm unexpectedly hits, Christa’s boyfriend goes missing and she, along with the rest of the group, takes shelter in an abandoned camp. Things couldn’t get worse, right? Wrong. When the tour guide also goes missing and is found brutally murdered, the group is left with a terrifying question, who is the murderer?
Why did I love it? Dead of Winter‘s greatest strength is the fast paced, tension filled atmosphere that is felt almost from page one. For someone who has lived in an area where snow storms are fairly common, I can’t imagine anything more terrifying than being stranded in one. And that terror is only made worse by members of the hiking group being picked off one by one. While I was able to pretty much guess who the killer was, there was still plenty of twists and turns that kept me very invested. This book would have scored higher on my list if the ending had been a bit more clean in its storytelling but still, this book is too much of a wild ride not to make it onto my best books of the year.
Hello fellow readers and merry Christmas to all who celebrate! The seventh best book of 2025 goes to a family story, one filled with love, marriage, and murder. It is The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak.
What is it about? Middle class father Frank is ecstatic when his estranged daughter, Maggie, calls him unexpectantly. She not only wants to forget the pains of the past but she is also calling Frank to tell him she is getting married. Frank is surprised but happy for his daughter and dutifully heads to the wedding with his sister, Tammy, and Tammy’s foster daughter in tow. As it turns out, Maggie isn’t just marrying anybody. She is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of an insanely wealthy tech giant. The Gardners put on a happy facade but it doesn’t take long for Frank to notice some of the cracks in the perfect image as well as one or two buried bodies.
Why did I love it? While there is definitely a mystery/thriller aspect to this story, as I noted in my full review, The Last One at the Wedding is more of a family drama and that’s why I loved it so much. The relationship Frank has with Maggie and the exploration of how far a father’s love will go was a fascinating theme to uncover in this story and I couldn’t get enough of it. I also enjoyed the relationship Frank has with his siter and how he grows to care for the foster child Tammy is taking care of, providing a stark contrast to his relationship with Maggie. Despite its heavy themes, this was a welcome surprise to me this year and I could not recommend this book enough.
The eighth spot goes to a domestic thriller where having a birthday twin can be the worst gift anyone can ever receive. This is None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell.
What is it about? Josie and Alix have a chance encounter. While they are both out celebrating their forty-fifth birthday, their lives could not be more different. Josie has an older husband who she seems to have no connectiong with, a grown daughter who barely leaves her room, and an unfulfilling career. Alix is a popular host of a podcast focusing on successful women, is married to a wonderful husband, and has two amazing children. Despite their differences, the “birthday twins” hit it off. As they grew closer, Josie asks Alix to share her story on Alix’s podcast. What starts off as a simple favor snowballs into a dizzying tale of lies, deceit, and one person’s word against another.
Why did I love it? In ways, None of This Is True seems like your typical suburban housewife thriller. But that’s what makes the story so brilliant. The reader may go into the story with tempered expectations but when the story takes off everything they were expecting is blown up and discarded. Just when I thought I was catching on to what was happening another twist occurs and I’m left back at square one. Even until the last page you are left questioning what is and isn’t true. As a result, None of This Is True was one of my standout books of the year.
The ninth spot for best books of 2025 goes to a new author for me. This psychological thriller is a debut and really begs the question, what is and is not reality? Give a round of applause for We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer.
What is it about? Charlie and Eve are a young queer couple who recently bought a fixer up in a picturesque neighborhood. Along with their dog, Charlie and Eve have big plans of flipping the old home and reselling it for a big profit. All seems to be going well until Eve, while home alone, hears someone knocking at the door. On the other side is a family; dad, mom, and three children. The father grew up in this house and they would like to tour the home, if that’s okay? Eve, a people pleaser to a tremendous fault, agrees but once she lets them in she’ll learn it will soon be impossible to get them out.
Why did I love it? This book has a fairly simplistic plot but once the story gets going it spirals into a nightmarish game. The story is interspersed with scientific reports, odd newspaper articles, and police interviews that don’t seem to make any sense until the twist is revealed towards the end. The book leaves you with some unsettling questions but it is truly the last two pages that hit you the hardest. While I would have preferred a more clear cut ending, it still ended strongly and it left me and my fellow book club members wanting more.
