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hermetic

(9,135 posts)
Tue Jan 21, 2025, 01:19 PM Jan 2025

What are the BEST BOOKS you've read in 2025?

This discussion thread is pinned.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the new, current year post, for books you've read this year, 2025. Look for last year's books (2024) further down the page.

This is a traditional pinned post for you to use to list the most outstanding books you read during the year of 2025. They don't have to be books that were published in 2025, just whatever books you've read in 2025 that you think are particularly noteworthy.
This post is to provide a handy place for people to find suggestions without having to search through hundreds of threads. The post for Best Books of 2024 has now been moved down thread.
Happy reading!

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What are the BEST BOOKS you've read in 2025? (Original Post) hermetic Jan 2025 OP
James: A Novel--Percival Everett randr Jan 2025 #1
Horse by Geraldine Brooks hermetic Jun 2025 #2
So many to choose from LogDog75 Thursday #3
Sounds good hermetic Sunday #4

hermetic

(9,135 posts)
2. Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Tue Jun 3, 2025, 12:11 PM
Jun 2025

Amazing book. As a life-long lover of horses, it's not surprising I loved this story so much.

I did not realize at first this was historical fiction. Almost all of the events actually happened and all the characters, (except for Jarrett) including the horses, were real.

Published in 2022, the author had incredible foresight into what life was going to be like now, in 2025. Jaw-dropping.

LogDog75

(1,100 posts)
3. So many to choose from
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 10:25 PM
Thursday

I read 68 books this year, down from my average of 72. I think I'll choose the last book I read in 2025.

Nash Falls by David Baldacci.

Walter Nash is 40 years old and married to his wife, Judith, and they have a 19 year old daughter, Maggie, who is taking a gap year before college. Walter is head of acquisitions for a company called Sybaritic, founded by Barton Temple whose son, Rhett, runs the company. Walter is the reason the company does so well through is thoroughness and logical analytical skills. Trouble begins when the FBI contacts him to help them with their investigation of Sybaritic for money laundering. He learns his company does business with a Chinese crime syndicate and that three previous FBI informants from companies Sybaritic acquired have died mysteriously. The FBI has put him in an position where whatever decision he makes the Temples and the Chinese crime syndicate are going to blame him and probably kill him and his family.

His daughter is kidnapped by the Chinese syndicate and forced to make a video saying Walter sexually abused her. Judith believes the video is real and calls the police on Walter who flees the house. Walter calls upon his late father's Vietnam War friend for help to save his daughter. About a year later, Maggie's body is found and Walter is the prime suspect. From there Walter undergoes a transformation from a wimpy desk worker to man capable of killing anyone who gets in his way. His mission to to bring down Sybaritic and the Chinese syndicate.

Definitely a good read with characters willing to do anything to get what they want.

hermetic

(9,135 posts)
4. Sounds good
Sun Jan 4, 2026, 11:04 AM
Sunday

David Baldacci can always be counted on for a winner, IMO. Thanks for the description.

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