With 2025 coming to a close soon we asked around for our staff member’s favorite books they read this year. Here’s a few of their picks, what’s yours?
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Tabor’s Pick:
Monsters : A fan’s dilemma by Claire Dederer
Why Tabor picked it:
“In the recent boom of cancel culture, finding out an artist you admire has said or done horrible things can feel like a personal attack as we connect with art, movies, and music in a way that sometimes defines us individually and culturally. Dederer seeks to discover if it is possible to disentangle the artist from the art, if we can still love and admire the work when the artist disappoints us. This book includes literary, cinematic, musical, and artistic interpretations and discussions but is also a philosophical look at the way we connect with the content we consume and the people who make that content.”
Katie’s Pick:
The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi
Why Katie picked it:
“The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandson Sanderson was my favorite book this year because it was anything but boring! The book is funny, and the “boring” parts were actually hilarious, full of surprises and silly moments. Sanderson typically writes high fantasy and science fiction for adults. It was very interesting to read his children’s book. It’s perfect to read aloud with kids. What makes it so great to share with children is that it turns ordinary things into little adventures full of imagination. The book taught me that quiet everyday moments can be special and not boring at all!”
Samantha’s Pick:
Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
Why Samantha picked it:
“I had to pick one of my top three books so far of the year! Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods finds the two classic fairy tales of “The Little Mermaid” and “Cinderella” reimagined together and set against the backdrop of 18th century France. Sisterly dynamics and the familial expectations of high society play huge parts in the story as well as a slow-building romance for Lucinde Léon, all of which is complicated by the ongoing Seven Years’ War causing increased animosity between Great Britain and France. The story opens with Luce saving an unknown man from drowning off the coast of Saint-Malo. His identity and motivations collide with that of Luce’s dearest friend, Samuel, who happens to be an English smuggler, and Luce is caught between the struggle of two worlds.”
Randi’s Pick:
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
Why Randi picked it:
“I loved everything about this book! It is dark and dangerous with sprinkles of humor. Alice Feeney does a fantastic job of dangling clues while keeping you guessing.
Daisy Darker is a gothic style suspense thriller with a present-day nod to And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. It is full of twists and turns that hook you from the very first page. An estranged family gathers at the secluded island home of Nana, the matriarch, to celebrate her 80th birthday. As the tide comes in, cutting the family off from civilization, secrets come out. Not everyone will survive the night, and the bigger question isn’t who done it…but why?”
Bonita’s Pick:
Framed in Death by J.D. Robb
Why Bonita picked it:
“Framed in Death by J.D. Robb stands out for its strong, character-driven storytelling. Robb masterfully balances the continuing growth and depth of Eve, Roarke, and their circle of friends while introducing fresh, compelling new characters. The futuristic New York setting adds excitement without overshadowing the human drama, and the plot feels original and dynamic, never a repeat. It’s a perfect blend of mystery, emotion, and imagination that keeps the series vibrant and engaging.”
Carrie’s Pick:
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
Why Carrie picked it:
“I loved this book because the post-apocalyptic setting helped me consider questions of race and freedom from a new perspective. Cebo Campbell writes from a place of love to explore ideas about family, trauma, and healing through characters that feel real, flawed, and alive with hope.”
Ashley’s Pick:
The Mushroom Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
Why Ashley picked it:
“I love this whole series (this is book #6) but this book specifically taught me so much about WWII. Su Lin is sent away from her home in occupied Singapore to Japan. Germany just surrendered but everyone around her says that Japan will never stop fighting. What does that mean for all the citizens in occupied countries? Battling to know what’s real and what’s propaganda, Su Lin is doing her best to stay alive and help those around her live to see another day. If you have only ever read historical fiction of WWII from a Western perspective, I highly recommend giving this Eastern perspective, a chance.”
Stephanie’s Pick:
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie by Freida McFadden
Why Stephanie picked it:
“The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie by Frieda McFadden is a satirical novel that pokes fun at psychological trends, written by a best-selling author in that genre. Only 140 pages long (2.5-hour audiobook), this title had me laughing out loud the whole way.”
Isabel’s Pick:
Katrina: A History, 1915-2015 by Andy Horowitz
Why Isabel picked it:
“A rich and textured work, Katrina pulls back to hover like a storm over the long arc of political, economic, and social histories of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the United States, so that readers may consider Katrina not as an emblem of disaster, but as a history of choices made by individuals, institutions, and societies that foreshadowed and have followed the storm.”
Shelf Analysis 