I'm an avid reader, a book hoarder, a proofreader... and a linguistic magpie (I borrowed that term from the queen of words Susie Dent). Here are all the books I loved in 2025.
🌱 Earth by John Boyne is another masterfully crafted novella that captivated me from the first page. Boyne dives deep into the complex life of Evan Keogh – a talented footballer trapped in a life that isn’t truly his own. The writing is vivid and haunting, with Boyne’s signature attention to detail and emotional depth. Earth is the second in his Elemental series, following Water, and is a beautifully layered story that stays with you long after turning the last page.
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☕️ The Café With No Name by Robert Seethaler is a tender, moving story set in post-war Vienna. It follows Robert Simon, a quiet man who opens a small café as the city begins to rebuild. Seethaler shows how everyday life can be full of subtle beauty, struggles and unexpected connections. His writing is simple and heartfelt. A lovely, gentle read.
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🧸 In The Names, Florence Knapp begins with a single moment – a mother in a London registry office in 1987, forced to choose between three possible names for her newborn son – and spins it into three parallel lives. Clever, emotional and elegantly structured in a Sliding Doors-style narrative, it shows how seemingly small decisions can shape an entire life. You really feel the weight of every choice. An amazing debut. Knapp is an exceptional writer. I loved it so much, I read it twice.
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🤍 The Little Liar by Mitch Albom is a moving story about Nico, an 11-year-old boy whose one heartbreaking mistake in WWII Greece changes lives forever. The Little Liar follows Nico, his brother, and a childhood friend as they grow up in the shadow of that betrayal. A powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you.