2025 in Books So Far...

    I LOVE READING!! I use Goodreads to track my books throughout the year and leave ratings. While I don't consistently post reviews for them, if I have a very strong opinion (good or bad) I make sure to leave a review. In my reading journey I've only ever left one book unfinished. It was Dune, but in my defense, I don't read sci-fi or fantasy very often. It honestly just wasn't doing anything for me. Every year I try to read at least 80 books, but this year I decided to bump my goal to 85. While that doesn't seem like a huge difference, by the end of the year there's a chance it will feel like a stretch. I tried to get a head start on my reading for 2025, so here's my readings thus far and their reviews.

    Also, a quick disclaimer that while this makes it seem like all I read is romance, I promise I read other genres. I am a sucker for a good romance book, but I'm also down for a solid murder mystery or historical fiction novel as well. Right now, I’ve just haven’t been able to leave my romance books for another genre. 

The Comeback    By: Ranee S. Clark ☆☆☆☆☆

You just know when a romance novel combines a Jane Austen premise with pro sports it's going to be an amazing read. She broke his heart to save his career, but she's never moved on. He's heartbroken, but he wants to move on. This story had everything you could want in a feel-good book from jealousy, love triangles, tension, sports, meddling friends, and everything in between. I could read this book again and again. Who would've guessed my first read of the year would be my first five-star rating of the year as well?

Get Him Back    By: Coralee June ☆☆☆

I picked up this book because I thought the plot sounded a bit different from the typical romance novel. From the moment the story starts we learn all about Sadie's tumultuous past with a certain Jack Thompson. A couple pages later we see their paths cross at work, but Jack doesn't seem to remember Sadie. She immediately becomes set on revenge, but little does she know Jack is all too aware of the game she's playing. I liked the premise of this book, but it just wasn't one that I would really want to read again.  

Play Along    By: Liz Tomforde ☆☆☆☆

So, if you know the Windy City series by Liz Tomforde, then you probably noticed I've read these books out of order. I'm in the mood for specific tropes at certain times, sue me. Now regardless of the unique first meeting location, I found this couple so charming. Isaiah was the definition of a green flag in everything he did. If you want a lighthearted read with a little "he fell first, she fell harder" and black cat FMC with a golden retriever MMC then this is the read for you. 

Against The Odds    By: Brittany Kelley ☆☆☆

A short and quick story is the best way I would describe this book. There were some plot gaps and jumps that left me questioning what I missed. I loved the concept of a girl getting into an accident during a snowstorm and her ex is the one that pulls over to help, but I just found myself disappointed. If you just want a cute and quick story, but you aren't concerned about the plot, this is exactly that just don't expect anything else. 

Mile High    By: Liz Tomforde ☆☆☆☆

Guess what? We're back in the Windy City series to read the very first book. Yes, I'm aware I did that quite backwards. This book had tension, unpredictable moments, and sweet ones as well. The conflict and resolution at the end took me by surprise. It was a great redemption moment for the characters. This book didn't earn five stars simply because I have others in the series, I like better, but it was a great read!

First Down    By: Grace Reilly ☆☆☆

In case you haven’t noticed the trend, I'm a sucker for a cute romance novel. First Down has the makings of an epic romance with the pro athlete, jealous ex, fake dating, and opposites attract tropes. In the end this book simply fell short of the tales I've read before. This book felt predictable, but not in a good way. I was anticipating how it could go, and things that were coming up were obvious. In the end I can't give a cliché romance book less than three stars, but one read was enough for me. 

Before The Coffee Gets Cold    By: Toshikazu Kawaguchi ☆☆☆

This was such a popular book on "Book Tok" that it was constantly in my feed. While it was outside of my typical genre preferences, I decided to give it a try. Let's just say it was not my cup of tea, or coffee. Set in Tokyo, we watch four different visitors travel through time by way of a coffee shop. I found the pacing to be quite slow and the perspective choices made it difficult to understand. I appreciated the concept of the story, but in the end, it just wasn't a book I would read again. It's safe to say this will not be a series I continue.

    Now those are just the books I’ve read so far, but there are many more to go. If any of you are readers, what are your book recommendations for me? I’m up for just about anything, so give me some of your favorites!