I’ve never done this publicly before, but since joining Booktok, I felt like I wanted to. This year I read over 100 books and every month I picked a favorite in my reading journal. These are the top 12, one for each month, that I chose. They were all 5 stars and amazing books. They were all pretty eclectic, too. An autobiography, a few suspense books, some women’s fiction and some romance. All were by authors I love – and a few new ones that have turned into one-click authors for me.
So, starting with January 2025, here we go:
Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
Death of a Spouse
Alcoholism
One-Night Stand
Reverse Age-gap
Gender Sexuality
The emotional price of fame and celebrity
All of these topics are dealt with humorously and tenderly in the newest book by one of my one-click authors, Elissa Sussman, TOTALLY AND COMPLETE FINE.
The title is a misnomer because none of the main characters in this book are fine. Either totally, completely, or any other way.
The Parker family has known tragedy in spades. Lauren and Gabe lost their father at a young age; Lauren lost her husband Spencer, who was Gabe’s best friend, and now she is dealing with a confused, frightened, and moody teenager as a single mom. She lives in a small town and we all know how vicious and gossipy those can be.
Gabe is a mega movie star and invites them both to a movie shoot where Lauren meets his much younger bisexual costar, Ben Walsh. Sparks fly and the two (Lauren and Ben) enjoy a very hot interlude. Just once.
That’s enough for Lauren. Or so she thinks.
I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but this book was an emotional rollercoaster after that one-night stand that was so filled with drama balanced with humor that I had to finish it in one sitting.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Random House for a sneak peek at this wonderful book. 5 stars from me. I highly recommend this author’s works and this book.
February:
DEEP END by Ali Hazelwood
It is really a relationship if it’s based just on sex?
Or kinky sex, really?
That’s about at much of the plot as I a will to give away. Suffice it to say this was quintessential Hazelwood. Strong Stem character, this one a college diver. Quiet, reserved hero.
Lots of sex.
Kinky sex.
Oh, my.
March
What in the World?A by Leanne Morgan
Bless her heart, this woman in everything!
If you haven’t heard any of her Netflix specials, then read this book.
If you HAVE watched any of her Netflix specials, then read this book!
Just read this book.
I listened to it via audio and Leanne narrates it, which is a blessing in itself. Her voice is her trademark and her life story is a woman’s anthem!
5 stars – which I could give it more!
April
Built to Last by Lexi Blake
Book three in this delightful series did not disappoint. There are many secrets woven into this story – for the main characters, the secondary characters, even the house they are all rehabbing. The ending, where everything is displayed, is perfection.
Harper and Reid’s love story is a rocky one. Physical attraction is one this and they have it in spades. But for a relationship to foster they need to trust one another and for a large percent of the book they do not. But when they do, when they both finally let go of the fear, it’s a perfect union.
5 stars for this end of the series. Thankyou to Netgally and Lexi Blake for a sneak peek. The entire series was fab but this one was the best.
May
A Problematic Summer by Ali Hazelwood
It’s no secret I am a huge Ali Hazelwood fan. I would probably read her version of the phone book if she wrote it.
This latest work, PROBLEMATIC SUMMER ROMANCE is one of the reasons I adore her writing.
Let’s be honest: it’s not just her writing. Hazelwood has the ability to make me forget I have work to do, dinner to cook, the dog to walk. Her stories are simply put: unputdownable. I inhaled this book. Read it in one sitting. And would do it again.
Maya and Conor’s love story is so filled with angest, even I got nervous reading some parts that they would never find their hea.
not to worry, though.
A contemporary age gap romance that is not ick or cringe-y is rare, but this book is that rarity!
I hate spoilers, so none here about the story, just a few highlights;
Sicily
Erupting Volcano
Kickass/STEM heroine/witty and fun
A doomed wedding that really isn’t…doomed
Dogs
Friends
Lots of wine!
5 stars – wish I could give it more! Brava. Ms. Hazelwood.
June
FRAMED IN DEATH by JD Robb
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for an advanced peek at JDRobb’s next In Death series book, FRAMED IN DEATH.
The saying ‘art imitating life’ is turned on its ear in September of 2061. Someone is killing LCs ( Licensed Companions), dressing them up as famous paintings and depositing them on gallery-adjacent properties. The reader learns pretty fast the killer artist is a trust fund baby with ego and narcissism issues who thinks he’s the next best thing ever.
Eve Dallas and her team are called in to investigate the first death, which rapidly accelerates to three victims in three days. Through non-stop investigative work and with everyone on the team from ME Morris down to New Detective Truheart, with ADA Reo and even Nadine Furst thrown in, the story quickly unfolds until a name is assigned to the killer.
For the first time that I can remember in an IN DEATH book, the story doesn’t end with the typical “get themin the box and get a confession” scene. For the first time, we are taken into the arraignment hearing. I admit, I liked this. I liked Eve not getting a slam dunk out of the box.
IYKYK that she will eventually, but the trip toward it is perfection.
As always, these books just keep getting better and better and everytime a new one is released I am thrilled to revisit old friends. The shared house of Mavis/Leonardo and Peabody./McNab is finally finished and getting to visit with Bella is just perfection. Since Summerset was such a big facto in the previous book, Bonded in Death, he is only featured in one scene in this book and that was fine. The full story surrounded the police team and I’m glad we got to spend so much time with them.
Another 5 star story from the Queen of Fiction.
July
HE FALLS FIRST by Jill SHalvis
What happens when two people who don’t think they’re worthy of love actually find it? With each other? HE FALLS FIRST, the newest fabulous book from Jill Shalvis, answers that question!
Both Penny Rose and Ryder Colburn are the “responsible” people in their family’s lives. Penny helps support her grandmother and her little brother, while Ryder runs a family business. Neither have time for romantic love, and in fact, neither is looking for anything in that realm. Penny’s just come out of a physically and emotionally abusive relationship and Ryder has too many other responsibilities to add a woman to the mix.
Now, if you believe in legends, the 3 shooting star legend of Star Falls, the town they live in, states that if you see 3 falling stars in a row, you’ll get your HEA.
And guess what? One of them sees the stars. I hate spoilers so I’m not going to tell you who sees them, but when it happens, a lot of things fall into place in the story.
Told with the wit and great banter that is common to a Shalvis story, the heavy themes of spousal death, grief, and domestic violence are interwoven into a very often laugh-out-loud narrative. Penny is awkward and feels she has a black cloud following her around, which may be true. An errant Cheeto tells a tale of this awkwardness ( IYKYK!)
Thanks to Netgalley, Ms. Shalvis, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a sneak peek at this soon to be released romance, the first in a new series – I can’t wait for the rest of the Colburn kids to get their HEAs!!!
5 stars for an emotional and fun read!
August
SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS by Charlie Donlea
Brilliant. Simply…brilliant.
Brilliant characters.
Brilliant plot.
Brilliant writing.
There’s nothing I can say that comes close to describing how fabulous this book was. I simply adore Rory Moore and this story – her story is one of the best books i’ve read in quite a long time.
Bravo, Mr. Donlea. Bravo.
September
STOLEN IN DEATH by JD Robb
Another 5 star story from the Queen of the futuristic police procedural!
The death of a tech company nepo baby leads to the discovery of a vault filled with stolen priceless art pieces and jewelry decades in the hording.
Eve Dallas is cited to solve the murder, but the discovery of the vault and what it houses poses problems in a very personal way. Her beloved Roarke was the thief of many of the items in the vault during his misspent youth. Keeping his name out of the investigation proves one of her biggest work challenges to date.
When the current thief is identified by Eve, and proves to be an old nemesis of both she and her husband, the story takes a decided turn. Protect Roarke, recover the stolen items, solve the murder AND make sure the person responsible is sent away forever. No easy feat.
One part of this story that I especially liked is the way Robb is softening up the relationship between Summerset and Eve. They will never be friends, but their animosity is definitely cooling and he respects the hell out of her, something he didn’t always feel.
Twists, turns, suspects, and an international inquiry finally allow Eve to get her person – or in this case, persons – responsible for the murder and theft. I hate spoilers so you wont get any from me, but suffice it to say, the ending is pure Robb gold.
5 stars-wish_i-could-give-it-more from me.
October
FREE FALLING by Jill SHalvis
The Colburn Bros. Book 2 , FREE FALLING is as wonderful a read as book 1 was. Maybe…even better.
There’s Caleb, the middle brother in the trio. Former college hockey star. Charming, Witty. Sexy as all you know what. And for me the best part…he wears glasses! Swoon. But he has to wear them to ward off the migraines that cripple him from a devastating career-ending fall during a hockey game. Caleb works with his brothers in their rehabbing/construction business and has been put in charge of a new project. The lead architect of that project? Emma Sumner, a girl he knew in college and who was immune to his wit, charm, and celebrity status.
Or so he thought…
Emma is at a crossroads in her difficult life. She has no real job – she is just subbing for an architect out on maternity leave right now – her apartment building recently burned down so she has nowhere to live but her car, and she has no touchstone family like Caleb does. In college, she was the smartest girl int he room, the one that did 99 percent of the work and took no credit while Caleb got 100% of the adoration. To say she’s not his biggest fan is to downplay her feelings.
But…the more these two work together, the more they each realize they were wrong about the other.
Caleb comes to see her as someone so worthy of the love she’s never gotten from anyone, and Emma learns that the man she thought was shallow and narcissist is anything but. He’s adopted two boxers he found abandoned; his once abusive father now lives with him. He cares for his niece and nephew and his siblings as if his life depends on. Is it any wonder Emma falls for him, hard?
Is it any wonder I did, too? LOL
Thank you to Jill Shalvis for an advanced reader copy of what is sure to be one of my top 5 books of 2026! 5 stars- why can’t I give it more??
November
DOLLY ALL THE TIME by Annabel Monaghan
Any story by Annabel Monaghan is a must read for me. DOLLY ALL THE TIME has everything I love about her writing. Witty dialogue, a strong female character, a quiet love story that develops naturally and without and ridiculous plot clichés.
This is a fake dating, later in life romance between two people who are absolutely perfect together.
Dolly Brick, single mom, never married, comes back to her hometown for the summer to help her father with his business after a fire at her childhood home. If Dolly were a man she’d be called a factotum – someone who can do everything from plastering to changing a tire, to installing drywall, to managing a business. She is wired for leadership.
Stewert Whitfield, scion to the Whitfield family real estate business, is her polar opposite. He does business stuff. That’s all. He can’t even change a blown tire, which is how these two meet on one of the worst days of his life. His fiancée has been seen canoodling with another man and now Stewert feels his family will not be able to trust his judgement with running the family business and will choose his horrible cousin Grant to run it instead. Grant is everything Stewert is not, most of all, married.
Fiance-less he offers Dolly a proposition: Pretend to be his girlfriend and he’ll make it worth her while, financially.
This deal can’t come at a more opportune time for Dolly because the roof on her family home needs to be replaced. A bargain is struck, and the two begin a fake dating relationship.
Of course, this turns out to be more than either of them expected, and through the lovely telling of their fall into love, Monaghan gives us insight into how two opposites can make a whole.
I adored this book and just know it’s going to be another bestseller for this talented author.
5 stars – wish I could rate it more!
December
THE SHIPPERS by Katherine Center
There’s nothing I love more to read than a heroine I can get behind one million percent, and in Katherine Center’s new romcom, THE SHIPPERS, I found that person in Josephine “JoJo Burton.
Wicked smart – hey, she’s a STEM math gal, ridiculously funny and quick witted, she is also gloriously flawed in the love and relationship department. She’s dumped every guy she’s ever dated, and now she’s leaving her fiancé at the altar. The reason she can’t commit to one guy? Well, she thinks it’s because none of them have ever given her the heart-stopping kiss she received when she was 10 years old ( yeah, you read that right!) from her heartthrob, neighborhood boy Finn.
But now she’s going to be on a wedding cruise with him for 8 days while her sister gets married, so JoJo’s determined to make Finn fall in love with her because she really thinks he’s the one.
JoJo’s best friend-for-life, Cooper Watts, doesn’t agree. But he’ll do anything to make his bestie happy, including buying into her plan to make a guy who’s so wrong for her fall in love with her.
What ensues is a tale of miscommunication, missed timed, and everlasting love.
Before the story begins, the author tells us that she loves a romance story because you always get the happily ever after, and that’s what we’re all searching for. It’s the journey to that HEA that matters, the growth, the longing, the commitment.
In THE SHIPPERS, Ms. Center has given us an HEA that was decades in the making and so satisfying, I re-read the last two chapters three times because I was so happy.
Brava for an amazing story of love, longing, forgiveness, and humor.
5 stars-wish-I-could-give-it-more
And my absolute favorite book of the year was… THE SHIPPERS. Everything I want in a book and a FMC was in this story!! Everything.
Can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store for me!!!
Hppy New Year, kids
Peggy Jaeger, Author 