book recs – The Tragic Queen

It’s that time of year again, where I review all of the books that I read during the second half of the year and tell you whether or not you should read this book or that book.

I gave myself the lofty goal to read 80 books this year. Unfortunately, instead of reading 80 books, I read 58. If reading my master’s thesis counted towards my reading goal then I would have read 300 books this year.

I’m reminding myself that I still read more books this year than your average American has read since graduating high school and that I still read more books than there are weeks in the year.

The books I read this year ranged from the light, feely-goody to the denser, more intense novels.

Here are all of the books that I read during the second half of 2025.

Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think in the comment section.

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus– I’m a little late to the game when it comes to Lessons in Chemistry. After experiencing every setback imaginable as a result of her sex, Elizabeth Zott goes from brilliant chemist working in a lab to daytime cooking show personality. Never one to back down without a fight, Zott takes the opportunity to educate the housewives of America on the basics of chemistry, manifestly changing society. I did not plow straight through this book like I did with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s modern historical fiction novels, but I found it inspirational and enraging with a satisfying ending. The plot was more complex than I had expected, weaving together numerous storylines seamlessly.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin– I read this American classic as my first Baldwin novel. It is one of the first mainstream American novels that explicitly incorporated a same-sex relationship at the heart of the story. I loved the Parisian atmosphere utterly and completely and wish that I read it before venturing to Paris myself earlier that year. This felt like a nice foray into Baldwin and I can’t wait to dive into his other works. I could tell that I was in the presence of a great author from the jump.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover– If you enjoyed Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a novel that takes place in Africa and focuses on an abusive, hyperreligious patriarch, told from the perspective of a young girl, then this is the book for you. It oscillates between perspectives, assuming the voices of children, as they follow their pastor father to the Congo where he hopes to save souls. Kingsolver is excellent at writing in different voices, letting you know which characters are young and which ones are stupid without coming right out and saying it.

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte– This book hurts. Rejection is a collection of short stories and is a national book award winner. Each story is told via escalation as the character’s lives get progressively worse. Each short story contains a chronically lonely character that digs themself into a deeper hole, unable to escape the modern hellscape in which we are all collectively living. Tulathimutte’s writing is smart and confident as he makes sharp observations about the trials of modern-day dating and superficial friendships. He points out the ways in which we muzzle out all intimacy and meaningful relationships through the ubiquity of porn and the intersection of internet culture into our daily lives. Despite how tried and true this expression is, Tulathimutte “holds a mirror up to society.” Upon reading this collection you will never want to touch porn, social media, and dating apps ever again in an attempt to get your life back. He uses many conventions of modern writing: the obligatory short story that is told in second person, playing fast and loose with the quotation marks, and, of course, being meta.

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson– I have been left physically unwell by this book. It is a horror novel and it is indeed horrifying so it is successful in its aim. I proceeded to watch Golden Girls as a chaser once I was done reading it. The protagonist ignores a series of red flags in pursuit of a beautiful, alluring stranger. I spent the entire time reading it, saying the Whoopi Goldberg quote from Ghost over and over again in my head: “you in danger girl.” I am not sure why I decided to read a horror novel. I do not like horror novels and yet I read it, so I should probably not leave a review of something that I am biased against. It is a slim novel and if horror novels are your thing, you can knock this out in a matter of days or hours.

The Maid by Nita Prose– Everyone shits on the protagonist for the duration of the novel, making it brutal to read at times. This novel has much to do with grief. If you enjoyed Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata you will like this one as well, with its chronically misunderstood protagonist that is heavily implied to be autistic, and the way in which no one around her can comprehend how she finds her menial job fulfilling. The novel turns into a whodunnit in the end and I did not like who did it, but other than that, the novel is an enjoyable read.

My Dead Book by Nate Lippens– After losing his friends to drug addiction, suicide, and AIDs, the narrator reflects on his relationships. This novel serves, not just as an elegiac story about his deceased friends, but also as a reminder of what life was like in the 80s and 90s, offering no nostalgia for an era marred by the AIDS epidemic. For the narrator, it was a lawless, thankless time as a teenage sex worker. The prose is neat and pretty. I felt like the book could have been longer, so that I could sink my teeth deeper into the topic of lost friends and grief, but I enjoyed what I did read.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan– Monaghan does a great job of depicting people as stodgy without coming right out and saying it. This book is for lovers of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune and Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, but who want to read a version with less trauma and less sex.

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan– In order to bring her dream project to fruition, Jane must work with her annoying coworker who also happens to be smoking hot (eyebrows raised). Monaghan keeps her sex scenes as broad strokes, never getting too graphic. If you like endless discussions of The Notebook– the film, not the book– then this book is for you. If you enjoy depictions of child stardom, ala I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy, then this book is also for you.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune– Like Carley Fortune’s other books, this book is sweet and hopeful. There is hot sex, sexual tension, and more sex. It is repetitive at times, as the narrator feels something every time she looks at the novel’s brooding male love interest. The main character is a woman who is on the wrong path in life and, through the events of the story, learns how to prioritize herself.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune– Carley Fortune is a master of female-centric beach reads. The men are hot. The women are relatable. It is escapist fiction. This novel is a sequel to Every Summer After, which was heavily inspired by Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, but the book is good fun.

Post Traumatic by Chantal V Johnson– Despite being about a lawyer who represents children in psychiatric care, the novel focuses more heavily on the day-to-day life of a woman as she diets and dates, all in the shadow of her past traumas, hence the novel’s title. This novel leans too heavily into the mundane: dating, possibly having an eating disorder, snooping on someone’s instagram page, getting high with your best friend, having sociopolitical, echo-chamber-clad conversations with said best friend, and feeling self-conscious about your partner’s ex. It is, unfortunately, not interesting. Her past traumas are never fully explained, leaving a gap in the narrative. This novel contains so much commentary on social issues throughout, being conveyed mainly through dialogue, but in a manner that feels clunky and sanctimonious.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman– Sandwiched between her parents’ generation and her adult childrens’ generation, Rocky reflects on her life before and after having kids and the choices that she has made while on a family vacation to Cape Cod. She is expected to act as a caregiver to her children, parents, and to a lesser extent, her husband, stretched thin across them. The story is very frank about abortion and miscarriage, making for a strong commentary on motherhood and womanhood.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl– In this acclaimed memoir, Frankl describes what life in the concentration camps was like and his search for meaning afterwards as a Holocaust survivor. As a neurologist and psychologist, Frankl is able to break down purpose in human life, which he yokes into three categories. This is obviously, not a light, rompy read, but a serious examination of life as we know it, told from a narrator who has faced suffering that most of us, hopefully, will never be able to fathom. Pick this book up and see if it enriches your human experience. Fingers crossed that it will.

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz– Long live Cara Romero. This novel takes place in the shadow of the 2008 recession as the protagonist, Cara Romero, tries to find work. She is likable and interesting even as she confesses to some unsavory things, while rattling on about her day. It was a bit of a nail biter for me as she tried to get a job and keep her apartment in a terrible job and housing market.

Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookstore, edited by Otto Penzler– Is a short story collection of 12 mysteries, each written by various authors. Every story is centered around the holidays and the mysterious bookstore, the oldest mystery bookstore in the world. Like most short story collections written by multiple people, the stories are pretty hit-or-miss, but what’s clear is that every author is very talented. This is a fun, cozy read before the holidays about a bookstore that I have personally been to and enjoyed. If you like mysteries and the holidays, I would pick up this collection.

Favorite Short Story: Here We Come A-Wassailing by Thomas Perry

Atonement by Ian McEwan– Atonement is a stylish novel set against the backdrop of World War II and is all about how one lie can ruin countless lives. The novel deals openly with children being in danger, false accusations, and warfare. It’ll make you question what truly counts as atonement. Those familiar with the Kiera Knightly and James McAvoy film will know all about the iconic green dress, but there is also serious betrayal and heartbreak.

My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby– This self-published debut is the start of my reading of Cosby’s work. For those who don’t know, he’s a thriller writer who sets his novels in the south. The novel is gory and violent, filled with vigilante justice. I felt that this novel was a strong debut, even if it was lacking in a few places. I look forward to reading more of Cosby’s work in the future.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld– This novel sums up the pains and awkwardness of adolescence: the crushes, the insecurities, and the bad decisions that only present themselves as bad decisions years after the fact. For all of her faults, the protagonist, Lee, feels honest and believable, as she gets in her own way at every turn. The novel investigates class, race, and first romances (if they can even be called that) in a way that feels organic. Sittenfeld captures the gut-punches of growing up, set against the backdrop of an elite prep school, a world that I don’t know and, based on this book, do not want to know.

I read so many great books this year that I found it hard to narrow it down to a top three.