What Have Been My Favorite Books To Date This Year?
Memorable Books at Midyear 2025
It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the Midyear point of 2025. How did the rest of the year slip by so quickly? I’ve been busy writing, reading, posting and living, as I’m sure you all have. I’ve read 17 books to date and I’m in the middle of 3 right now, although I don’t like to read more than one at a time. I’m reading a craft book, Jane Friedman’s The Business of Writing Second Edition. (I’m taking notes and trying to absorb it through my skin.) I have a paperback, Fiona Davis’ The Lions of Fifth Avenue (So Very good!) and an ebook from NetGalley, The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor. (Just started, but pulling me in.) You can see I’m a lunatic where books are concerned. But back to some of my favorite books I’ve read so far…
January: The Women by Kristin Hannah
February: Too Hard to Pick Just One!
Solitary Walker: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft by N.J. Mastro
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure by Teri M. Brown
March: Again So Hard!
Washed Up at Sea Oats Beach: A Cozy Mystery Beach Read by Karen C. Whalen
Lenswoman in Love: A Novel of the 1960s and ‘70s by Kim R. Gottlieb-Walker
April: I Give up on Picking One!
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
May: The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin
June: Here We Go Again!
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Lark Ascending by Silas House
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
You can see I love books and have a hard time picking just one when a book really touches me. And, of course, I need more books on my TBR List! I’ve included a book review on Lark Ascending by Silas House, a really good and timely book for our world. What have you read this year that made a lasting impression? Give me your suggestions in the comments!
BOOK REVIEW: Lark Ascending by Silas House
Lark Ascending by Silas House was my book club read for June. (Thank you, Kathy!) When I opened to the first page I only had time to read a few chapters, but I couldn’t put it down. It’s set in the near future as our world battles the effects of climate disasters and the breakdown of law and order. But the story is so much more. It’s about family, found family, how Lark and those around him were affected by what happened, plus what changed them and what did not. And it’s wrapped up in poetic language that paints the images as you read.
Joy and sorrow are the things of life, the two tangled together. Anybody who’s ever lost anyone knows that.
We first meet Lark at the end of his journey living in an amazing place called Glendalough, Ireland. (Glendalough is a holy, real location which I was lucky enough to visit in 2019, thus the pictures above). Lark grows into a young man learning about himself and the world all while he’s becoming aware of how everything he knows is a turbulent, chaotic mess. Through the story, he’s looking for the place which his mother described as the one safe spot left in the world - Glendalough. But really Lark is looking for love, acceptance and hope. His journey will be hard, even with the help of Seamus, a dog he encounters and Helen, another soul fighting to survive.
His story is one of suffering, but more than that, it’s one of humanity and the will to survive. The will to fight for yourself, your freedoms, and the right to choose your own future. And above all, he’s looking for a world of love. A Hopeful 5 Stars! Have you read Lark Ascending or any other novels by Silas House? Let me know!
Remember Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women is available in paperback and ebook. We celebrated its One Year Anniversary on June 8th. Don’t miss your chance to read these 23 stories of everyday women making decisions which changed their lives. We authors have donated over $1100.00 to the scholarship fund of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association to help writers better their craft. You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, BookBub, Kobo, and Barnes&Nobles.
And I’ll have news on a new short story in future newsletters!
