2025 Book Reviews

536

January Reads

Favorite all around: I KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. Gave me a LOT to think about in terms of time management, something I feel like I thrive at, and work-life balance, something I am dedicated to. Im still thinking about and practicing some of what she talks about in the book and have been pleasantly surprised by the results. Highly recommend to working moms!

Most thought-provoking: HUM. I read this for a book club assignment and did not enjoy myself while reading it. Yet, it’s something I haven’t stopped thinking about. The night of the book club, we got to talk with the author over Zoom; she was so candid and thoughtful in her responses, it influenced retroactively my reading of her novel. The book was still mostly a bummer, but craft-wise, it’s a masterclass in sustaining tension and creating a visceral sense of dread.

I read THE EMPLOYEES in one sitting — I NEVER do this anymore. My attention span just doesnt let me do it. But this book held my attention for a few hours in on go! This slim volume provides a unique look at the effects work and mortality have on humanity, and asks big questions about what it means to be ALIVE.

Out of the two travel memoirs I read, I preferred HOW TO BE MARRIED; ALONE TIME was perhaps a bit too sleepy and languidly paced for me.

February Reads

I didn’t read as much in February. I was struggling with my mood and attention span, and just more interested in turning my brain off with TV or Rollercoaster Tycoon 3. But I still managed to finish 4 non-fiction books.

I liked them all! But PATHFINDERS is the standout. One of the most inspiring and practical books I’ve read. I will be revisiting this and exploring the concepts in this book a lot more. I had not previously read the author’s original landmark book, but felt like this one did a great job of summarizing all of the key points and advice. The thing I really liked about this one was the inclusion of hundreds of personal stories from REAL people who have followed his philosophy and advice, so while the reader gets the original information too, we also get to see how people from all walks of life all over the world have embraced these concepts and made them work for their individual scenarios!! SO INSPIRING!!!!!

THE ENCHANTED HOUR is a close second simply for how it made me think about *reading aloud* from an entirely new perspective. It’s convinced me to take more seriously the time I read with my kid, and to make reading aloud as a family much more of a priority.

THE PUZZLER was another fun romp through a very specific niche with AJ Jacobs. This book will not be for everyone, but it was for me. I listened to it, which was maybe not the best format for a book about puzzles since he includes a section after every section with puzzles that just dont work in audio form, so he and the producers tried to create some alternative audio options, some of which worked and some of which didnt. Other than that annoying part of the experience, this was just the light, cozy, fun and educational read that I needed.

As a cat owner, I felt like I learned a lot from reading THE CAT’S MEOW and enjoyed seeing my own cats’ behavior reflected in the research. Im not sure that non-cat people would really gain anything from reading this.

March Reads

AJ Jacobs continues to be one of my favorite nonfiction authors. Through his humorous journalistic approach, he weaves stories that are both educational and funny, and because he immerses himself in his research, his books are always a bit memoirish too. In THE YEAR OF LIVING CONSTITUTIONALLY, he is at the top of his game; he writes about this urgently important topic with an unexpected relaxed vibe given the current state of things and how crucial it is that Americans understand our founding documents. I learned a TON by reading this and didnt want it to end! (Also, I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Jacobs and makes it feel like you’re just hanging out with him while he tells you this fascinating story.)

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL? is exactly the travel writing we need in our country. It both celebrates American beauty (natural and human) while interrogating our past. This gave me a deep appreciation for our country and the stolen land we live on. I enjoyed the author’s conversational and humorous writing style, and the personal approach to writing (which really seemed to annoy some readers… but its a travelogue. Of course she injects her personal thoughts and feelings. That’s…. that’s the very nature of travel writing. LE SIGH.) I found the overall vibe uplifting and inspiring; I needed this little dose of optimism!! I also listened to this and thought the deliver of the writing was great!!

YOU DESERVE GOOD GELATO was fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected!! Super cute. Light but not insignificant. I laughed, i smiled, I reflected on my own culture shock experiences. Her story also made me think about how the tiny differences add up over time and can become heavy. as we prepare to host an exchange student this fall, I will keep this in mind so we can help him acclimate faster.

April Reads

Yeah, April was a bad month for reading. I was having a really hard time focusing my attention and was often too tired at night to read. But I did manage to finish these two fab reads!

PLAYING WITH FIRE
If anyone wants to nerd out about the FI philosophy and the various FI sub-communities, let me know. I’m down this rabbit hole and loving the education Im getting. I feel so inspired, financially speaking. This book worked for me: lots of stories from folks who have done it their way to show that it can be done! I thought it was neat how the author was both making a documentary at the same time as writing the book; kind of a fun behind-the-scenes feel at times.

I wouldnt recommend this as your first FI book but I def enjoyed it as a supplemental motivator!!!

SAPIENS by @yuval_noah_harari — Wow. This book is really divisive isnt it? Ha. Look, I hear what all of the negative reviews are saying, but none of that bothered me. The author presents an idea, and tries to argue his case. It seems that most people are mad at the idea he’s pitching and the fact that he doesnt cite enough sources. Doesn’t mean it’s not an idea worth thinking about. But I get why some would be reticent to do so.

I really enjoyed this skim of human history but do agree that because its organized more thematically than chronologically, it can be a bit confusing time-wise. The scope of the premise of the book is far too big to be done within 500 pages, so its suuuuper high level. Too high level for history nerds but for the rest of us, it could lead to lots of google rabbit holes on historic topics!

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic! I felt soothed and informed at the same time haha.

May Reads

Back on track this month with my May read!! What have YOU been reading??#

EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS.
Read this book. I cant believe I knew so little about the world’s deadliest and most impactful disease. Holy moly. Written with compassion and Green’s signature storytelling style, this book will have you thinking deeply about something you’ve likely given very little thought to. I will definitely be revisiting this. (I listened to the audiobook bc I love listening to Green read his own words.)

I’LL HAVE WHAT SHE’S HAVING
Her best, most insightful, self-reflective work. I loved this. I want to relisten to it. I already miss her. She is one of my biggest role models and I highly respect the deep introspective work she’s done to become a better person. I love that she doesnt shy away from sharing her foibles and flaws, her mistakes and her failures. She openly shares her journey of growth through her trademark humor and candor. I’ll def revisit this one.

CRUSH
I dont get it. This felt like a memoir but was billed as fiction… but the plot was too stupid to be fiction. There was so much TELL and not a lot of SHOW. And what was with the excessive use of quotes from other authors and works??? IDK This book was a huge swing and a miss for me.

LIKE, LITERALLY, DUDE
Another fun romp through linguistic history. I’ve read a lot of these sorts of books so some of the info wasn’t entirely new to me, but it’s always fun to be reminded of things you’ve forgotten. I enjoyed how it was structured, around specific traits of so-called “bad” English. I enjoyed the playful writing — the audiobook narrator was fantastic in this regard as well — and laughed out loud many times. While I don’t agree with all of her conclusions, I do advocate for a healthy appreciation of the malleability of English; the inherent flexibility of our language makes it strong and agile enough to be a lingua franca and keep pace with each new generation’s creativity. Just makes me deeply appreciative to be a native English speaker. Really fun read for language nerds out there!!

June Reads

THE NEW TOURIST was well reported through thousands of interviews, a bit of history and lots of cultural explorations, easy listening/reading (I listened to the audio version), thought-provoking, inspiring. This definitely will make you think about your environmental and ethical impact as a tourist, and make you reconsider how and why you travel.

QUIT LIKE A MILLIONAIRE was one of the best of the year for me. I LOVED that it was also part memoir, it was so personal and authentic and honest. She’s a great writer and is able to present a lot of finance stuff in simple language for non-finance bros. No nonsense, straight forward, relatable, at times funny, always interesting. I couldn’t stop reading this!!

THE PLEASURE IS ALL YOURS — a fascinating and motivating book full of gentle, practical ways to enjoy more pleasure (in all its forms) in our busy modern lives. It takes us through the history of why we tend to shut down pleasurable activities and the many types of pleasure we can experience. Then the author introduces us to bodyfulness, similar to mindfulness, which made me reflect on just how disconnected I usually feel from my physical body. A thought provoking, well-researched and science-backed book with lots of takeaways I’ll be pondering for a long time.

BUCKET LIST FAMILY TRAVEL provides a great starting point for families who want to travel. It’s an easy, fun, relatable read and Jessica Gee writes conversationally, warmly, with an open mind and heart. If you dont follow the Gee family on IG I highly recommend adding them to your feed for daily doses of adventure and travel inspo.

July Reads

I was stuck in a fiction rut this summer so I reread two of my favorites. I actually listened to them both and damn, they are both just so good. PROJECT HAIL MARY outshines THE MARTIAN in many ways, especially as an audio read, but I was so glad to return to both of these stories and I know I’ll go back in the future. I don’t know why but they both feel cozy to me, and I love the practical pragmatic approach to the science and the story telling.

WONDER YEAR was a great primer for anyone interested in world schooling or taking a gap year or doing long form family travel. It wasn’t a lot of new info for me, but I think it was well organized and I loved that three authors were able to contribute their unique perspectives. A fab resource!!!

August Reads

OUTLAND!!! Ray Porter reading Dennis Taylor is sci fi gold!!!! I need more!!!!! This was soooo fun and felt very plausible because of the realistic, practical approach to the logistics and science of the story. It doesn’t delve into the emotional lives of the characters a lot which tbh worked really well for me in this case. It ends on a cliffhanger… I need the sequel!!!

Abby Jimenez delivered a thoughtful, emotional romance in JUST FOR THE SUMMER. Not quite as fluffy and light as I was hoping for but really well done. Very G-rated in terms of the spicyness, and a beautiful love story. The last few chapters had me cryyyyyyying, so reader beware lol.

THE BOOKSHOP was a fun romp through the history of the American bookshop, with a well-rounded historical analysis that I wasnt totally expecting. It delves into the history of some marginalized groups including Black Americans and LGBTQ+ and how bookstores played into the cultural experiences of those groups. Really interesting! And of course I’m partial to the last chapter about Nashville’s greatest bookshop, Parnassus. Recommended for book lovers, booksellers, and history buffs.

THE ART OF SMALL TALK…. Oooooof. This was bad. While it contains a lot of valid and valuable information, the authors/narrators will turn off their target audience with their annoying exuberance (its not charming in this case), their crude/vulgar humor (totally unnecessary 95% of the time). The format felt more like a dressed up podcast with all of the interview snippets, and that would’ve worked if the narrators hadn’t been so annoying. I want to find another book on this topic because I agree with their premise — that small talk is undervalued and does a lot of heavy lifting in building and nurturing relationships — but they did not sell that message well here at all and the people who need to hear this message will tune out.

September Reads

September was another slow month for reading. We’ve been busy and I’ve been tired. But I did manage to finish two books.

I will be revisiting MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS at some point in the future. I loved this book. I loved listening to one segment each night (it’s broken up into 28 short chapters that are perfect bite sized chunks to reflect upon). Lots of great ideas and reminders and fresh perspectives. I haven’t read his other book on the subject but I imagine this is a distilled version of his thesis, and I am now very interested in reading his other work. I plan to revisit this again in the future since it was such a delightful way to make time for self reflection and introspection each day.

GUMPTION was thoroughly enjoyable! Certainly not a life changing book or one I’d even Rec to most folks, but I had a good time. Fun set of essays going thru a list of Americans that Offerman personally views as having “gumption”. A lot of folks I’ve never heard of, plus many I didn’t know much about. Love his big vocab and syntax, it’s unlike a lot of contemporary writers, so it feels more Twain-esque but is also littered with pop culture references and curse words haha. Intellectual and relatable. (Fwiw, so many of the negative reviews criticize his personal opinions expressed in the essays or even his selection of historical figures…… I think readers forget what ESSAYS are? Like, it’s supposed to be his opinion, man. That’s the whole point. You don’t have to agree or like it, and it doesn’t need to be more academic or neutral in tone because it’s not a history book lol.)

Wow. I thought THE POWER OF TREES would be a boring book to fall asleep to and it actually turned out to be a fascinating and eye opening book. This book felt urgent. We need to take better care of this planet. We are so doomed. Everything is connected and we are not doing our part. BUT Nature can show us the way. We can learn from the trees.

October Reads

LAST GIRL BREATHING was a fast, suspenseful read by one of my favorite YA writers. Tense! Pacey! Twisty! While I suspected the final reveal, I wasn’t clear on motivations so still enjoyed the unveiling. Good character development. But oof I need a lighter mystery after this one. Reading about dead children is a major bummer. (And TBH I dont understand the title…)

FOR WE ARE MANY is my favorite of the October bunch. Loved this one even more than the first one!!! So many more Bobs! Higher stakes! More alien species! Fewer annoying earth characters! Much logic and logistics that make sense! A female character! Lol (probably my only complaint about these books so far is that none of the Bobs are female? I get it but still.) And Ray Porter, my man, I will never tire of your performance skills!!! Give this man a award!!!

THE MARRIAGE SABBATICAL was very cute! I wanted something spicier, this was sooo tame but it was still sweet and romantic. I got a little bored in the middle when I realized this was less sexy romance and more personal development for each person, but then I really enjoyed the final third quite a bit! I must also admit I skimmed all of the flashbacks bc I didn’t really care about how the couple had gotten to where they are at the start of the book, I only cared about what they were doing in the present. Well-written and thoughtful!

THE WILD AND FREE FAMILY was a good but skippable read. I kept nodding and saying YES to many of the ideas in this book — namely that modern childhood is out of whack and that we could all benefit from more intentionality, present tense living, and outside time. I loved the author’s beautiful writing style and the empowering call to shift our kids’ reality toward one that is “barefoot, brave, and outside.” It’s great motivation to slow down and de-schedule — something I’ve been working to do over the last couple years thanks to inspiring reads like this one. That said, a few cons that kept this from being one of my faves in this category of reads. 1) the tone can get preachy, super idealistic, and tbh pretty privileged. Lots of demands for maternal sacrifice (which annoy me in any context). The structure/organization also felt a bit disorganized and all over the place, which made me wish I was physically reading it so I could skim/page around but I was listening to it at night. TLDR: A bit scattered, at times preachy or over-idealisitic, but the core philosophical reminders about intentional, wilder parenting are absolutely worth the read!

I stand by my review of MATILDA from almost 10 years ago when I reread it in 2016: “This was one of my favorites as kid, but rereading it I found it a little uneven. It felt more like two books, the second half being a lot faster paced and quick to wrap up than maybe it deserved. I love the commentary on the school system. And I love Matilda as a heroine: fearless, endlessly curious, kind hearted.”

This time, it did feel more special because I was reading it with my kid who LOVED it. He begged for more chapters each night and didnt seem to notice the uneven pacing (or the anti-queer imagery). He DID notice some similarities to his favorite book series, Harry Potter, without me pointing them out (namely comparing the Wormwoods to the Dursleys and deciding which set of guardians were worse, and in how both Matilda’s and Harry’s supernatural abilities were triggered by rage or self-protection). But yeah, I cant imagine this book would be published today in its current state; far too rambly and tangenty, with uneven pacing (so slow in the beginning, MUCH faster and a bit rushed near the end).

November Reads

RETIRE OFTEN will be a book I come back to in the next couple years. This book is my new personality.

I love a microhistory and A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 6 GLASSES gave me six of them. I learned a lot and was reminded of some things I’d previously known and forgotten. It should def be called “The History of the WESTERN World in 6 Glasses” — yeah the tea chapter starts in China and Japan, and the Rum chapter spends some time in the Caribbean, but what about South America? ALL OF AFRICA?? Australia? The rest of Asia? Certainly they also had beverages???

I didnt want ALL THESE WORLDS to end. I love the Bobs. I love how Taylor wrapped up this ending. Also He remedied the lack of female character (tho I still think it would have been cool to add some gender queer or female bobs. The clones are all so distinct in their personalities, it would have worked.)

GATE CRASHERS was super fun, light-hearted, funny, adventurous. Would be a fun action sci fi comedy movie. Lots of aliens, lots of fictional science, lots of Star Trek references and homages. Caught a bit of Douglas Adams and John Scalzi influence in there too. Loving all of it. Here for more!

All parents should read HOW TO RAISE AN ADULT. I think, too often, parents forget that the end goal of childhood is for our kids to be prepared for adulthood, and TOO MANY parents dont empower their children to leave the nest. I didnt really need the first half, which sells the reader on the problem and why we need the 2nd half of the book (the solution). I was already on board, and spent most of the first half with my jaw dropped open, appalled, by the stats and stories shared. The second half offers research-based tactics as well as personal anecdotes from the author’s own experience.

December Reads

OVER MY DEAD BODY was a fun spooky jaunt through history. Well researched, full of fun facts and new stories you’ve never heard before. It also offers a fresh perspective on major historical events and reminders about the often whitewashed versions we usually hear.

WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR was so fun! I’m not sure that I listened to the same book as many of the reviewers. Or they just had wildly different expectations going in. It’s a celeb memoir about what he ate in one year, so the diary format works for me. He’s not celeb name dropping but talking about the people in his life, who happen to be famous. People also complained about the diary format and how sometimes it felt like a laundry list of Things, but honestly listening to Stanley Tucci read it was delightful and cozy. I imagine it does come off differently on the page. Anyway, it makes me hungry and it makes me want to watch his travel show.

I loved THE MERGE. I read this is one day, which is not something I do often. Rarely. I couldn’t put it down. I started it on a plane on a work trip, read the entire flight, read while waiting to deboard and while riding the train into town, while waiting in the long hotel line, while sitting at the bar having dinner by myself, and finally in bed where I stayed up too late to finish it. I wad riveted. The premise is absurd but plausible enough in that black mirror way that you could totally see this playing out in some version of our universe. (tbh compared to the shit you actually see in the news, this doesn’t feel that implausible.) It’s very light on science so just go with it, accept it and keep reading. It all makes sense in the end. And the journey is a thought provoking and nightmare inducing. It reminded of another book I started the year with, Hum, in a near future dystopian tech run capitalistic badly polluted world that feels a bit too close to home but different enough that it still feels like fiction. Similar to the show Severance. Same vibes and low key mystery elements. Loved the alternating POVs, especially the character with dimentia. I think the author did a great job of giving the reader a disorienting experience in that character’s mind. The ending was abrupt for my taste, like the most recent season of White Lotus, where I as a reader didn’t get enough closure on a few things, enough comeuppance for certain characters or entities. But alas the reading experience was great and I’ll be thinking about the themes of this book for a while. I give it five stars because the book worked (for me) on both an intellectual level and an emotional level, and the reading experience was so great — it kept me turning the pages urgently! I usually need books to hit the intellectual level first, with a fascinating plot, realistic world building, logical physics or rules of the world that it follows, and solid execution of craft. If its not doing what it needs to do in terms of storytelling, it’s not gonna hit me at the deeper level. This is not a book I want to read again but it is one I will think about for a very long time.