Memoirs are my jam. Some years, I read a ton. This year was not one of those years. I love me some Ina Garten, and her memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, was a great peek into her world. I wasn't expecting to relate to some of her childhood struggles, so I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely was expecting her drive and ambition, as well as her love for big ideas. Unfortunately for me, I don't have a Jeffrey to make those things happen. Reality tv is a guilty pleasure that I refuse to apologize for. Reality tv is a great study of human behavior. One of my favorite reality tv shows is Sister Wives, IYKYK. When I heard Christine was writing a tell-all, I knew it was going to be on my TBR. Most of what she wrote about we already knew, but there were a few nuggets of new info. My two takeaways are that Kody is a narcissistic asshole, and Christine has lived a sheltered life.
I absolutely love historical fiction. Especially if it leads me down rabbit holes researching people, places, and times in history. I blame Phillipa Gregory for my ability to name all of Henry VIII's wives in order. I didn't read a lot of historical fiction this year, but I did fall in love with Martha Ballard and her story in The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn. I hadn't read a lot of fiction set in the Revolutionary War era, so this was an exciting change of pace. Even though it's set over 200 years ago, some of the topics are still so timely and modern. Absolutely loved this book.I read quite a few modern fiction books, but Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was the best overall. I also dived back into thrillers this year. With the movie coming out, I needed to read The Housemaid. It had been sitting on my TBR way too long. Why didn't I read this sooner? It was so good with so many twists. I also loved Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose. This was my first book by this author, and I can't wait to read everything else she has written.
Overall, 2025 was a great year for reading. I can't wait to see what 2026 has in store.
