Better late than never, right?
I don’t know how a weeklong flu back in January threw me so off kilter for the entire first half of the year, but here we are. I’ve been struggling to keep up with writing my reviews as I finish a book, meaning I typically have to marathon it when I see that my queue is running out. This hasn’t left me time for other posts. I’ll never be completely caught up unless I pause reading, but thankfully, I don’t have as many hanging over my head now as I did the first few months of the year.
Perhaps it’s a bit silly to be posting this now as I typically post my mid-year top fives in July, but how can I resist revisiting last year’s favorites?
#5 – If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
This book was my dream cozy autumn read and I would do anything to be able to relive my reading experience (aside from the life stuff going on for me at the time that had the audacity to ruin the vibe…). If I don’t reread it come September or October, I’ll be shocked.
Set in the 90s, this reverse grumpy sunshine romcom feels more like home than a full-blown romance. Best of all for me, it also touches upon found family. I don’t necessarily consider myself a trope chaser, but when I want a trope, it’s difficult for me to find it as perfectly as this. I would have preferred it to be no spice, but it was easily skippable. If anyone can recommend similar books, I will be forever grateful!
#4 – The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
I have a love/hate relationship with Herman Wouk’s writing. It is so slow to build, often losing track of the plot with a bunch of side quests that sometimes are significant but typically aren’t, but my gosh, when the story reaches the action, it is so good. Captain Queeg is one of the most fascinating characters in literature I’ve encountered so far. In his case, a slow pace perfects his build-up.
That said, I understand why stage and screen adaptations focus on only his section of the book. Mainly, the story follows Willie Keith, whose life, frankly, isn’t very interesting and he’s a bit insufferable. However, it’s worth it just to read about Captain Queeg.
#3 – A Fig for All the Devils by C.S. Fritz
I didn’t think I was one for horror until I picked up this book. After listening to Ian Gubeli discuss the book in a video, I had to read it immediately. The story itself is average, but some of the quotes are incredible and have stuck with me. It presented death in a surprisingly spiritual, sometimes Biblical way, which I thought was fascinating.
Honestly, I wouldn’t consider this full-blown horror outside of the prologue. There are some gruesome and unsettling moments, but it’s more psychological than anything else. I don’t see myself liking horror that’s mostly gore, but this book made me much more open to the genre. I struggled with my review because it struck such a personal chord that I still can’t articulate.
#2 – The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
The next two books haven’t changed since my mid-year top five. I’m still surprised anything managed to top this one. Then again, it’s difficult to compare historical fiction and contemporary fiction side to side sometimes.
Set in Ukraine during World War II, this book follows the Martel family as they flee their homeland to safety. Malia is still one of my favorite fictional characters ever. The story has a spiritual undertone, which drew me in immediately. Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is another all-time favorite of mine and hits on many of the same chords.
#1 – My Friends by Fredrik Backman
I have not stopped thinking about this book since I read it about a year ago now. It still blows my mind how precisely Fredrik Backman was able to capture an essence in his writing. I still struggle to put it into words… just that summer feeling of youth, even when things weren’t good, and how friendships at that time felt indestructible.
What more can I say about this book that I haven’t already said across the internet? I do see how this can be a ‘love it or hate it’ read for people, but it was a total win for me personally. I loved how witty the banter was at times, and I loved the loyalty these characters had for one another.
Hopefully I’ll never fall so behind on my annual Top 5 posts again, because I look forward to writing them up every year. I still plan on posting my mid-year lists next month!
Here are some of my other top reads of 2025!*
** I earn a small commission on any books purchased through this link. Thank you for supporting my blog!
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