Hive & Seek

I had a goal to read 50 books in 2025. The year is all but over, and I fell a bit short of my goal. With all of the other hobbies that I started this year, I was only able to complete 40 books.

Here’s what I’ve read, and my thoughts. Each book is scored on a scale of 1 Star (I could barely finish this book) to 5 Stars (This book was so good that I would read it again!). Each book is rated on its genre as well. If it was good for a simple romance novel, I ranked it accordingly. It may not have been suspenseful, or riveting, but sometimes you just need a quick, simple read that doesn’t make you think too much.

1. The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker (5 Stars) – This is a romance with some spicy spots, so if you enjoy that sort of book, it’s a good choice for you. If you do not, keep going down my list. There will be other non-romancy choices for you later. This book is free if you have Kindle Unlimited.
2. The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan (3 Stars) – Meh. This book was alright. It could have been better.
3. None of this is True by Lisa Jewell (5 Stars) – I listened to this one on Audible. It was suspenseful and unpredictable. It was great!
4. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (3 Stars) – Meh. I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. I didn’t hate it, but some of the characters were unbearable which made it difficult for me to get through.
5. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (4 Stars) – I enjoyed this book. I like the theme of the book, which is starting over, living for yourself, and finding joy.
6. Broken (Broken trilogy Book 1) by J.L. Drake (5 Stars) – SPICY romance alert! This is the first book of the trilogy, and I couldn’t put it down!
7. Shattered (Broken Trilogy Book 2) by J.L. Drake (4 Stars) – This second book of the series was good….but….Nothing irritates me more than a dumb female character.
8. Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham (5 Stars) – I do enjoy a historical non-fiction book! This book delves deeply into the Chernobyl disaster, its causes, and the people closest to the disaster.
9. All it Takes is a Goal: The 3-Step Plan to Ditch Regret and Tap into your Massive Potential by Jon Acuff (4 Stars) – I admit it. In 2024 I read MANY books of very little substance. As a result, I set a goal (haha) for myself to read books that made me think more. This is a good book for people who struggle with following through on goal achievement. People who have no problem setting goals, but just seem to lose interest before they reach their target.
10. Nicoli by Bella J (3 Stars) – Meh. Spicy romance with little to no substance. It’s book #4, and I didn’t read any of the other books in the series. I have no desire to read any of the other books in the series.
11. Mended by J.L. Drake (3 Stars) – Meh. This series started out with great potential.
12. Corrupt Shadows by Rebecca L. Garcia (5 Stars) – SPICY supernatural romance. If you like that sort of book, this book is a good choice. If not, keep moving nothing to see/read here.
13. The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward by Melinda French Gates (5 Stars) – Admittedly, I picked up this book because I was curious about Melinda and Bill’s divorce. Although she spent a chapter discussing her divorce transition, the book was much more. Grief, goal setting, anxiety, and coping mechanisms were among the few additional topics addressed. This is not a long book, and can be read in one day. Enjoy! Free Kindle Unlimited book.
14. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover (5 Stars) – I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down.
15. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (5 Stars) – This is a very short book. I finished it in one day. It isn’t a happy book, but it is extremely thought-provoking.
16. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (5 Stars) – A true story about resilience.
17. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff (5 Stars) – This is a book for everyone alive during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and those who were not. Other reviews of this book recommend listening to the Audiobook format. I did not. There are a lot of characters, and I’m not sure I would have been able to keep track of everyone. However, I am willing to listen to it now that I have read it.
18. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (5 Stars) – Historical fiction. This book had a Fried Green Tomatoes feel to it. Strong female characters. Truth woven into it. It is an enjoyable book.
19. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (4 Stars) – Free Kindle Unlimited book. This book was good, but the storyline did get a bit unbelievable.
20. The Little Liar by Mitch Albom (4 Stars) – Free Kindle Unlimited book. Historical fiction. I liked this book. Other than Tuesdays with Morrie, I have not loved Mitch Albom’s writing style.
21. Broken Shadows by Rebecca L. Garcia (5 Stars) – SPICY Paranormal Romance. Book #2. If you don’t like witches and demons, move on. This book isn’t for you. Free Kindle Unlimited book.
22. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (5 Stars) – Suspensful. Free on Kindle Unlimited. This book keeps you on your toes.
23. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict (3 Stars) – I listened to this book on Audible, and I did not like the narrator’s voice. Maybe I would have enjoyed this historical fiction book more if I had read it, versus listening to it.
24. The Girl in Seat 2A by Diana Wilkinson (4 Stars) – This is a Freida McFadden-style suspense novel. It was good. I just wish the main character was a bit smarter. Free Kindle Unlimited book.
25. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver (4 Stars) – Free Kindle Unlimited book. I enjoyed the strong female characters in this book but found it a tad unbelievable at times.
26. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (4 Stars) – Free Kindle Unlimited book – Suspenseful book that keeps you guessing until the end.
27. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (5 Stars) – I listened to this book on Audible, and it was AMAZING!
28. Rememberings by Sinead O’Connor (4 Stars) – So many things to learn about Sinead O’Connor in this book! I understand the SNL incident now, and I have discovered some favorite new (to me) Sinead songs (check out take me to Church).
29. The Price of Paradise by Susana Lopez Rubio (5 Stars) – This book had you up, down and twisted all up by the end. It kept you guessing and rooting for the underdog.
30. The Midnight Feast By Lucy Foley (4 Stars) – This book was good. I prefer a tidier ending, but the author keeps you interested throughout with some twists and turns.
31. Heartwood by Amity Gaige (5 Stars) – This book has me thinking about a Hive & Seek trip to hike the Appalachian trail……maybe just a small portion of it lol. I do love Maine.
32. Sing Me Home by Callie Mae Shaw (3 Stars) – Meh. This book didn’t interest me enough to want to continue with the series. It is a free Kindle Unlimited book.
33. The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein (2 Stars) – Judy Blume was my favorite author when I was growing up. I devoured her books! Her topics were controversial, so I expected this book to have some political vibes. However, I did not expect the political rhetoric to take over this book. Tell me about Judy, her life, her motivation, her inspiration, her struggles. You can even add in some of the political aggrevations, but don’t let it take over the book. I could barely get through this book because of the politics, because, frankly, I just wanted to learn about Judy. I didn’t want to be lectured to.
34. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (5 Stars) – Full disclosure, I have never read a Hemingway book before. This book is more or less memories jotted down. It’s disjointed, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. 2026 Travel Bucket List: Sit in a Parisian cafe, eat a baguette, drink some wine, and write something. 2026 Book Bucket List: To read another Hemingway book. Any recommendations?
35. The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score (5 Stars) – Hallmark-vibey romance with a little spice mixed in. It’s a perfect read when things get heavy around the holidays. Free Kindle Unlimited book.
36. Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown (4 Stars) – I really enjoyed this book, but I also enjoy a nice tidy, no loose ends, ending. This book did not have a tidy ending, hence the 4-Star rating.
37. Before and After by Judy Christie & Lisa Wingate (4 stars) – This is a non-fiction follow-up to the historical fiction book, Before We Were Yours. It was good, but I was hoping for better. I don’t know, something more…..
38. Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz (3 stars) – I am a HUGE Lenny Kravitz fan, so I was super excited to read this autobiography. I am disappointed to report that this book was meh. Lenny came across as self-centered and egotistical at times, which ruined my image of him. He is beautiful. He is an amazing singer and songwriter. He is not a great book writer, unfortunately. Enjoy this Let Love Rule video as a consolation prize.
39. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware – (4 stars) The book is so much better than the Netflix movie! I hated the movie. Don’t bother watching it. I listened to this book on Audible, and I think it added some flare.
40. Slinging Bullets By Nancy Abram – (4 Stars) Full disclosure: this book was written by my cousin. If you like sports (check), romance (check), and suspense (check), you will enjoy this book! It’s got it all! It is Nancy’s debut novel, and it does not disappoint.

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