So Far in 2025 Books that Lived Up to the Hype or No

Hard to believe today marks the end of the first quarter of 2025. In my old CPA life, it meant the beginning of another very busy time. In this new chapter, I can look back on the books I have read so far and reflect on those that lived up to the hype and those that fell a little short.

First, let's start with the positive, the top 5 that absolutely lived up to the hype, in no particular order.

1. Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio - This is a new book and I received an advance copy. This book is about two flight attendants who form a life-long friendship during their Pan Am training. The book takes place in the 1960s and I really loved reading about the golden age of flying. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.

2. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller - I heard about this book on social media. As the title suggests, the book is about one person's attempt to ban certain books in a small town in Georgia. This book is timely, thought provoking and very funny.

3. The Briar Club by Kate Quinn - This is also a historical fiction book. It has been on my TBR pile for a long time. The book takes place in a boarding house in Washington DC in the 1950s at the height of the McCarthy era. Great characters! One of the best books I have read in a while.

4. Identity by Nora Roberts - This was my first book by Nora Roberts and what a great one. This book is about a woman, Morgan, who lives in Baltimore. She is a bartender and meets who she believes is the man of her dreams. It turns into a nightmare. This book is filled with plenty of mystery and suspense. I could not put it down.

5. Homeseeking by Karissa Chen - This book is a love story through the decades starting in 1940s China and continuing to present day California.

Now for those that fell short, at least for me.

1. The Reformatory byTananarive Due - While I appreciated the historical aspects of this book, the supernatural elements were too much for me.

2. Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley - as a music lover, I wanted to like this book. This book was so slow I almost called it quits.

3. This Is a Love Story - There is no way I read the same book as everyone else. This one received so many positive reviews. I plowed through but would not recommend to anyone else.

4. Missing in Flight by Audrey Cole - This book started out with such promise but by the ending, it became completely unbelievable.

5. The Crash by Freida McFadden - This book had a strong start but another book that lost me at the unbelievable ending. Not her best book. This book is also on Kindle Unlimited so it didn't cost me anything but my time.

   
   

Until next time, keep turning those pages.....