Mini-Reviews of Recent Reads – April 2025
New reviews of 2025 books, including many five-star reads you don’t want to miss.
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After taking a bit of a hiatus last fall and into the winter, it has been long time since I’ve posted any true reviews here.
Because I’m catching up, I thought I’d use this first review post to highlight a number of notable books I’ve been reading over the past few months–and there are a lot of 4- and 5-star books to read! You’ll also find a few new buzzy books that didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
Most of these are newly published in 2025, but because I also didn’t post a “best of 2024” this year, I couldn’t leave out my favorite book of last year.
There are always worthy books to read on the backlist, whether that means one, ten, or 100 years old, so I’ll continue to highlight older favorites here as well.
Here’s (some of) what I’ve been reading over the past few months–more catch-up reviews to come next month!
Wild Dark Shore
Author: Charlotte McConaghy
Publish Date: March 4, 2025
Source: Flatiron
Genres: Literary Fiction
On a remote island near Antarctica, Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of the seed bank designed to safeguard the food supply and flora diversity in the event of disaster. But as the climate crisis reaches its peak, even the safeguard isn’t safe, and they are tasked with packing up the seeds for relocation. In the midst of this, a woman washes ashore. Even as Dom and Rowan keep secrets, they are drawn to one another, and as Rowan gets closer to him and the kids, she needs to decide if she can trust them enough to grow something new.
Charlotte McConaghy writes incredible eco-fiction, and her last novel, Once There Were Wolves is one of my favorites. I loved this one just as much. The fictional Shearwater Island lends its voice between the lines, through the ghosts of deceased characters and devastated animal inhabitants (based on the history of the real Macquarie Island, where seals and penguins were hunted to near-extinction), adding a mystical tone to the themes of isolation, grief, and ecological destruction.
Reading Guide & Book Club Kit
Reading Wild Dark Shore?
This printable kit is your all-in-one guide to exploring Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.
Whether you’re leading a discussion or journaling solo, this beautifully designed guide helps you connect deeply with the story and with your own life.
All the Colors of the Dark
Author: Chris Whitaker
Publish Date: June 25, 2024
Source: Book of the Month Club
Genres: Literary Fiction, Mysteries & Thrillers
Thirteen-year-old Patch Macauley’s life takes a turn when he intervenes to save a girl from an attacker, resulting in his own abduction. Patch’s best friend, Saint Brown, is devastated by his disappearance and dedicates her life to uncovering the truth. Told over decades, the story examines the impacts of that fateful day, delving into themes of trauma, obsession, memory, friendship, and love.
Easily my favorite book of 2024, this novel is part literary mystery, part thriller, and part epic love story. It’s dark, and sensitive readers should mind their triggers, but despite its length and darkness, I didn’t want this book to end—a testament to how compelling the characters and their relationships were, because there’s a riveting mystery here as well. Whitaker was masterful in his previous We Begin at the End, but he takes it to a new level here. I can’t recommend this one highly enough (a new book club kit is coming soon!).
Existed Prior to Service
Author: Maria Auer Salmon
Publish Date: November 21, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
Growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, Amanda Ashe is tough. So she can handle the things that the Army throws at her—until she can’t, and she snaps in the Kuwaiti desert, firing on a Special Forces captain. What follows is a maddening time locked in the Army’s psych ward and Amanda’s desperate attempts to prove the captain and his men brutally raped her. But the Army takes care of its own and is determined to keep her quiet.
Maria Auer Salmon is a friend from high school, and while I’m so proud of her for writing this incredible book, I also hate knowing that it’s personal. She takes us behind the scenes of the Army’s insular and protective world, which offers no protection for the many women who are victimized while trying to serve their country. Brutal, honest, and eye-opening, this is an important read for anyone who cares about the well-being of all of the members of our military.
The Dream Hotel
Author: Laila Lalami
Publish Date: March 3, 2025
Source: Pantheon
Genres: Literary Fiction, Dystopia, Sci-Fi and Fantasy
While flying home to LA, Sara Hussein is detained at the airport. Her crime? Hasn’t happened yet. But the data from her dreams—collected from an implant she got to help her sleep—says that she’s likely to harm her husband, something she’s never consciously considered. For 21 days, she must be under observation. But small infractions extend her retention by months, with no end in sight and murky legal options in this new environment where potential crimes are a reason for incarceration.
While I found this a little slow-going in the middle, this provided a lot of food for thought–and it feels all too plausible. This terrifying speculative fiction novel will have you examining your own privacy (or lack thereof) and beliefs about surveillance and freedom.
Broken Country
Author: Clare Leslie Hall
Publish Date: March 4, 2025
Source: Simon & Schuster
Genres: Historical Fiction
Years after leaving her first love, Gabriel, behind, Beth is happily married to Frank, working on their farm and an integral part of the English village where they grew up. But when Gabriel returns with his young son in tow, old feelings resurface and tensions rise. Told in multiple timelines, the story is pieced together with glimpses of Beth and Gabriel’s origins, his return to the village, and a present when they are all faced with the consequences of their decisions.
Told with nuance and gorgeous prose, this manages to be a sweeping epic, an atmospheric love story, and a fast-paced mystery that will keep you turning the pages. I cared deeply about what happened to all of the characters, even as I wrestled with who to root for. Many readers are calling this their best book of 2025, and it’s certainly on my list–don’t miss it.
All the Water in the World
Author: Eiren Caffall
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Source: St. Martin’s Press
Genres: Literary Fiction, Dystopia, Sci Fi
In a near-empty New York City after the glaciers melted, Nonie and her family have taken refuge on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History. Most of the inhabitants include former employees, devoted to the preservation of the collections and history. When a storm breaches the flood walls, Nonie and her family escape by boat, hoping to reach a rumored family home to the north. The journey is dangerous, and they encounter differing ideas of what survival and community mean, forcing them to decide how their future looks.
In describing this book to friends, I found myself saying, “It’s like The Road, but on water.” And it very much is; the journey and the future feel similar, without quite the level of bleakness. From the characters determined to preserve history and legacy (inspired here by real curators in Iraq and Leningrad who did the same during times of war) to the ways that people form communities, however imperfect, this may not be a feel-good climate read, but it is a hopeful one.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Author: Kate Fagan
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Source: Atria Books
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
Famed author Cate Cay is an enigma to her fans. She has never revealed her true identity, and as her dystopian series reached new heights, speculation about the author behind the pseudonym increased. The Three Lives of Cate Cay is framed as a tell-all book, finally revealing the author’s identity and why she kept it a secret for so long. She tells her own story, but also offers the perspective of others who shaped it.
From her early years with her best friend Amanda that ended in tragedy, to a controlling relationship with a woman who both helped her hide and launch her career, to a collision with Hollywood that finally forces her to confront her past and her identity, Cate Kay’s story has aptly been compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I found this to be a fast-paced and compelling read, with short chapters, strong voices, and complex characters and relationships.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Author: Elle Cosimano
Publish Date: March 4, 2025
Source: Minotaur Books
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers
When a dead body is found in the backyard of Finlay’s nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay finds herself the unwitting host of the elderly woman. And getting her back home means that Finlay and Vero need to solve the murder–and clear the name of Finlay’s ex-husband.
I’m a sucker for a Finlay Donovan book, but I have to admit that I got a little lost in the chaotic crime-world storylines of books 2 and 3. This is book 5, and it’s one of my favorites. It still helps to read the rest of the series–there are many callbacks to previous storylines. But this one has less of the criminal underground focus and more of the quirky characters that I loved in the first Finlay Donovan. I hope the series continues in this way.
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Audiobooks
Say You’ll Remember Me
Author: Abby Jimenez
Publish Date: April 1, 2025
Source: Piatkus
Genres: Romance
Samantha and Xavier have one incredible, perfect date. But Samantha’s family is in crisis, and she realizes that a relationship right now is impossible. She and Xavier need to remember it for what it was: one perfect moment in time, relegated to a memory. But that perfect moment may just be too much for either of them to forget, and the two need to figure out if a long-distance relationship that lasts is actually possible.
Abby Jimenez is my favorite auto-read romance author, filled with real-life complications and great chemistry. While I always enjoy her writing and actually appreciated the long-distance aspect here, it did take away from seeing Xavier and Samantha really connect and not just long for each other. Some strange decisions by the family around Samantha’s mother’s dementia also took me a little out of the story. I enjoyed this, but my favorite Jimenez books remain the Part of Your World series.
Killer Potential
Author: Hannah Deitch
Narrators: Kristen Sieh & Daru Oda
Publish Date: March 18, 2025
Source: William Morrow via Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers
After graduating from an elite university, Evie Gordon has started tutoring for wealthy families to make ends meet. When she arrives at the Victor’s one afternoon, she finds the father and mother of her student dead in the backyard–and a woman tied up under the stairs, crying for help. She reacts in fear when she’s spotted, and suddenly the two women are on the run together, the objects of a nationwide manhunt. But Evie didn’t do anything, and the woman with her isn’t saying a word. The two make their way around the country, slowly gaining trust in one another as Evie tries to piece together what happened to the Victors, and how the woman ended up under the stairs. Getting answers is the only way she can clear her name.
This was a wild ride from start to finish, with a number of outrageous scenarios that require some suspension of disbelief. If you can do that, you’re in for an entertaining cross-country trip that will have you wondering who to root for–sometimes moment-to-moment. A fun, fast-paced listen.
Great Big Beautiful Life
Author: Emily Henry
Publish Date: April 22, 2025
Source: Berkley
Genres: Romance
Alice and Hayden are both writers vying for the privilege of writing the biography of enigmatic heiress Margaret Ives. She gives them one month with her on her island to make their cases, after which she’ll choose the author of her story. The problem is, sparks are flying–and Margaret isn’t telling either of them the whole truth. Can they find a way to be together, even while competing for the story of their lives?
While this is a romance and does include some of Henry’s signature banter, it’s a departure from the style of her previous books. Henry jumps back and forth between the present day and Margaret Ives’ life story. Unfortunately, neither of the storylines was very compelling, and the many names of Margaret’s family members (most of whom never gelled into real characters) just ended up being confusing. This seemed like an experiment—possibly a move toward more Taylor Jenkins Reid-type storytelling—and unfortunately, I think it’s Henry’s weakest novel.
Such Quiet Girls
Author: Noelle W. Ihli
Narrators: Jennifer Jill Araya, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Caitlin Kelly & Helen Laser
Publish Date: April 29, 2025
Source: Simon Maverick via Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers
One day after school, a bus transporting young students to an aftercare program disappears. The parents and the school are frantic. The students and bus driver are terrified, as two masked men drive them to a quarry and force them to enter a shipping container buried underground. The men have a plan to collect ransom, but as the situation escalates, the children, abductors, and parents become more and more desperate—and uncertain if they will survive.
Told from multiple perspectives, this is a fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked. There’s no mystery here, and the perpetrators aren’t particularly clever. But as in real life, they don’t need to be to put others in real peril–if you’re sensitive to stories about children being in danger, you may want to skip this one. This is based on a real event that happened in the 70s and that makes the premise even more terrifying.
On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters
Author & Narrator: Bonnie Tsui
Publish Date: April 29, 2025
Source: Algonquin Books via Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Nonfiction
On Muscle is an examination of muscle, how we build it, how it builds us (physically, emotionally, and mentally), and its relevance to how we live and age. From weight lifters to sprinters to disabled yogis to double-Dutch jump ropers, Tsui covers a lot of ground, and it’s all riveting science, well-told with fascinating story and memoir.
As a lifelong weight lifter and former swimmer and rower, I felt a kinship with Tsui, who is also all of those things (her previous book, Why We Swim, is on my TBR)—and much of my listening to this book actually happened while lifting weights. Like Tsui, I’ve always found lifting to be about more than the muscle; it is also about the focus and the meditative quality that makes it mentally healing. I love author R.O. Kwan’s reflections on powerlifting and writing, and find it an apt companion to this book. If you have any interest in the body, I highly recommend this book.
The Wandering Season
Author: Aimie K. Runyan
Narrator: Caroline Hewitt
Publish Date: April 1, 2025
Source: Harper Muse via Libro.fm ALC
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Following a big breakup and an explosive holiday with her family, where it’s revealed that she was adopted, Veronica leaves Colorado and embarks on a trip through Ireland, France, Denmark, and Italy. Her intention is to learn more about her family of origin—and she does, in the most unexpected way. She also connects with Niall, an Irish castle keeper who shares her love of food. While learning about her past, Veronica may just find the path to her future, if she’s brave enough to follow it.
Sometimes we pick up books because we have a personal connection to them. This was the case for me, as Estes Park, Colorado, (where the book begins) and Ireland are two places in the world that are meaningful to me. And while I loved visiting them both in this book, as well as the travel, food, and light romance, unfortunately, the magical realism element just didn’t quite gel.
Read Next
New Nonfiction Books to Read in 2025
New Literary Fiction to Read in 2025
New Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in 2025
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