2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I'm hoping to read at least 20 books this year, but I'm actually feeling pretty confident that I might exceed that number! I don't have any specific books to read, just trying to go through my bookshelf at home, as well as get to some long time TBR's.
Here's my member's corner, where I'm tracking my stats and challenges.

FINISHED
1) The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend / 1.10.20
2) The Crossroads / 1.29.20
3) Lost in the Sun / 2.3.20
4) The Lie Tree / 2.21.20
5) The Hearts We Sold / 3.1.20
6) Red, White & Royal Blue / 3.7.20
7) One of Us Is Lying / 3.10.20
8) Island of the Blue Dolphins / 3.14.20
9) The Sun Is Also a Star / 3.23.20
10) The Tales of Beedle the Bard / 4.3.20
11) Mary Poppins / 4.7.20
12) Wicked: The Grimmerie / 4.15.20
13) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / 4.21.20
14) To Kill a Kingdom / 4.27.20
15) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass / 4.29.20
16) The Tell-Tale Heart / 4.30.20
17) Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index / 5.10.20
18) Pride and Prejudice / 6.28.20
19) The Raven Boys / 7.9.20
20) The Dream Thieves / 7.12.20
21) The Umbrella Academy Library Edition Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite / 8.1.20
22) Wilder Girls / 8.11.20
23) Daisy Jones & The Six / 8.20.20
24) Good Omens / 8.27.20
25) Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy) / 9.1.20
26) The Lottery / 9.5.20
27) The Henna Wars / 9.16.20
28) Where the Sidewalk Ends / 10.3.20

READING
1) The Shining by Stephen King

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Finished: January 10
Rating: ⭐️⭐️ (2 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I bought this book a looooong time ago, and I only got halfway through the first time. This book was okay, but I didn't connect with the characters and the plot was kinda predictable.

Best of luck this year, Isabella!

Ilona wrote: "Best of luck this year, Isabella!"

Thank you!

The Crossroads (Haunted Mystery #1) by Chris Grabenstein

Finished: January 29
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

Another book from a couple of years ago. I read a good amount of Grabenstein's books in elementary school, so his work definitely makes me feel a bit nostalgic. This book was a good mystery and suspenseful enough to keep me reading.

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

Finished: February 3
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

This was another reread from elementary school, and Graff is another author I used to read a lot when younger, but I definitely still enjoyed this book now. The book deals with some difficult topics in such a beautiful way, and you really understand Trent (the main character) and his struggles.

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

Finished: February 21
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

This was yet another reread, but I definitely didn't remember the twist in this one. I enjoyed how the book blended science and fantasy, and there were so many powerful moments. The main character, Faith, was beautifully developed and I loved seeing how she navigated her family and learned more of their secrets. The story was pretty slow in some parts, however, and Hardinge's writing style wasn't my favorite.

The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Finished: March 1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I honestly loved this book so much. The plot, the characters, the writing, everything was just so good. Definitely a good pick for any fans of magic realism, or those looking for a book with likable, emotional characters with a bit more subtle action plot.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Finished: March 7
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I really, really liked this book, and while my rating was originally 4 stars, I bumped it up to 5 because I just couldn't stop thinking about it after I finished reading. It literally warmed my heart. It's such an adorable romance story, and all the characters are so good!

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Finished: March 10
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

This book is such a good high school murder mystery, and the twists are really well done; I really enjoyed how it took cliche high school stereotypes and kind of subverted them. All the characters were actually relatable and well-developed, and I adored the relationships.

I am all about magic this year. I hope that your reading goal is your little touch of magic.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Finished: March 14
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I first read this book in elementary school, and this is my second time re-reading it. I've always found the story to be fun and sweet, but it is definitely more sorrowful than I probably realized as a kid. The main character, Karana, has such interesting adventures while on the island, but the moments when her loneliness seeps back into the story are so sad. Speaking of Karana, she is such a strong and resourceful character, and her tale of survival is really impressive.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Finished: March 23
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I always heard great things about this book, but I never got around to reading it until now. It was really cute and romantic, and though I know it's highly unrealistic, I still liked it. It was just so charming and sweet. This was also the first audiobook I've ever listened to, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Finished: April 3
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

This was another re-read, and the first book I read for the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon. I thought the short stories were pretty good, and they felt like real fairytales similar to those of Cinderella and such. I also enjoyed the notes from Dumbledore, especially for "The Tale of the Three Brothers", what with the knowledge we have from the series.

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Finished: April 7
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I know this book is a classic, and maybe I would have liked it better if I read it as a child, but this book was only ok for me. The stories were interesting, but I wasn't really expecting the style of a different story in every chapter; I also really did not like the character of Mary Poppins. I love the Mary Poppins movie, and I have to say I prefer that version over the book.

Hi Isabella, very well done with your reading challenge thus far.

I was just studying your list of completed books and I too also read Island of the Blue Dolphins in primary school! I completely forgot about that book and I am quite sure I kept my cop - will have a look for it, as you have inspired me to reread it :)

Jessica wrote: "Hi Isabella, very well done with your reading challenge thus far.

I was just studying your list of completed books and I too also read Island of the Blue Dolphins in primary school! I completely ..."

Thanks! I'm glad you've been inspired to re-read Island of the Blue Dolphins. It's such a good story, and I've always loved re-reading it. Hope you enjoy it!

Wicked: The Grimmerie by David Cote

Finished: April 15
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I love the musical Wicked, so it was definitely fun to read about how it was made. I enjoyed the commentary from the creators of the show, as well as several notable actors and the author of the original novel. Plus, this book was so pretty! The photos were so cool, and the design was amazing! I'd recommend for any Wicked fan.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Finished: April 21
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

Still as good as the first time around! This will always be one of my favorite books from the series, mostly because of the introduction of the amazing Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. This time I read the illustrated version, which was so beautiful!

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Finished: April 27
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

This was a really solid, enjoyable standalone fantasy book. I really liked the concept of a darker retelling of The Little Mermaid, and the enemies-to-lovers trope between a siren and a siren-killing pirate was exactly my cup of tea. The world-building was really intriguing but still understandable and not too complex.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass: An Illustrated Classic by Lewis Carroll

Finished: April 29
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

One of my favorite books! This was probably my second or third re-read, but my first read of this particular copy. John Tenniel's colored illustrations were beautiful, and the book is very pretty.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Finished: April 30
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

I first read this in 2018, and I really liked it. It's such a fascinatingly creepy short story, and I really enjoy Poe's writing. I hope to read more of his work eventually.

Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index by Julie Israel

Finished: May 9
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I thought this book handled grief and the loss of a loved one very well, and I really enjoyed all of the characters; the friendships and relationships in the book were well developed and full of witty and fun moments. I also enjoyed the use of notes, letters, and lists in the story. One thing I didn't like was the ending, however, as it was kind of unsatisfying after spending the whole book wondering about the main mystery.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Finished: June 27
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I actually really loved this book, more than I thought I would! Some language and sentences were a little hard to understand, but I read it as an e-book so I could look stuff up, and eventually, it became easier. I can see why Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are one of the most iconic literary couples now! The book was also pretty funny in some parts, which I wasn't expecting., but I enjoyed it.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Finished: July 9
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

I first read this series in 2017, but I decided to reread it for a buddy read. This series is probably one of my favorites, and rereading it is even better because there's so much foreshadowing and there are so many things that make sense once you know the ending!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Finished: July 12
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
Review: here

Honestly, I barely remembered some of the stuff that happened in this book, so I guess it's good that I'm clearing up the story and timeline in my head. I love that Ronan gets more focus in this book, cause his story is just so interesting, and he's probably one of my favorites.

The Umbrella Academy Library Edition Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way

Finished: August 1
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

Umbrella Academy is one of my favorite shows, so I decided to pick up the comic it's based on in preparation for season 2; I like My Chemical Romance as well, so learning Gerard Way is the author was a plus. I thought it was good, but I have to say I greatly prefer the show. I still plan to continue the series with Dallas and Hotel Oblivion, though.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Finished: August 11
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

I'd heard a lot about this book, so I decided to pick it up for the NEWTS Magical Readathon. I thought the story was super creative and interesting, but the characters and main romance felt a bit underdeveloped. The ending was also pretty frustrating. The writing was super poetic, though, which was nice to read.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Finished: August 20
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)

Yet another book I'd heard so much about, but this time the book really lived up to the hype. I loved the format of this book, and the audiobook was amazing. The news of a tv show has me so excited!

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Finished: August 27
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

I'd heard a lot about the miniseries adaptation, and it looked super good, so I decided to read the book first. It was really funny and interesting in some parts, but I did find myself a little confused or bored in other parts. I didn't expect it to have so little focus on Crowley and Aziraphale, to be honest, so that was a bit of a bummer, but other than that a pretty great book!

Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy) by J.M. Barrie

Finished: September 1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

I think it's a good thing I don't remember much about the 1953 Disney adaptation of this book because otherwise I probably would've had certain expectations going into this. This book was a little hard to get into at first, but once I did I found it to be pretty enjoyable; I thought the writing style was rather poetic and the story had a good balance of darkness and adventure with whimsical and heart-warming.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Finished: September 5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

I mainly read this to fulfill a N.E.W.T.s Magical Readathon prompt, and to be honest I don't have much to say about it. I thought it was good, but I think the fact that I already kind of knew the twist dampened my enjoyment.