I asked the staff to share the best book they read in 2025. The books did not need to be released in 2025. What was your favorite book you read this year?

Syrena
My Favorite book this year was Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus.
He is the reason I play the bass guitar. His story is so interesting and inspiring. I cried at the end which does not happen often. I will warn you he is a punk rock musician so there is quite a bit of language. I highly recommend listening to the audio book because he is the reader and it feels like you are sitting with him telling his stories.

Sherrel
The Prisoner in His Palace by B. Bardenwerper

Denise
For me, Battle Mountain by CJ Box. It’s a great series (Joe Picket ) and he tied up some loose ends from the last book that left us hanging.
Rage by Linda Castillo. I really enjoyed it.
Baby Teeth, by Stage – can’t remember her first name. If you like scary psychopath children, this book is for you.
Non Fiction, My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner. And, The House Of My Mother by Sheri Franke. I also watched a documentary about the Franke family.

Kim
Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee.

Jamie
Conform by Ariel Sullivan: first time author. I love her back story. This is a fantasy book but not so heavy on world building as to me sometimes those books get so confusing and hard to get through. I loved the concept of this one and the characters and I breezed through it.

Todd
Departure 37 by Scott Carson

Linda
Bad Seed by Sharon Sala.

Mallory
I read so many fantastic books this year it was hard to choose. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera won out by just a hair. I read it for The Detective Agency Book Club and our group had a juicy discussion. It starts with a woman who does not know if she is responsible for the death of her best friend, but I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to read it for yourself.

Jen G.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Lisa
One of my favorite books of 2025 was Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson. I really appreciated that it had a unique storyline and quirky likable characters!

Steven
Oh wow where to begin. I guess my favorite of 2025 was Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. It was a fast, funny, and timely read with some entertaining characters. I also recommend Swamp Story by Dave Barry.

Ellen
My favorite was The Clinic by Cate Quinn

Arlene
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

Ellie
My favorite read of 2025 was She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena! I could not put it down, it was so good!

Jim
Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put, by Annie B. Jones
This book helped me appreciate the simple things of everyday life–the “precious ordinary,” as writer Lee Martin calls it. The grass is not always greener… and author Annie B. Jones shows this in her book: “She awakened to the gifts of a quiet life spent staying put.”

Lacey
The Passengers and The Family Experiment by John Marrs
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Kimberly
My favorite from this year was The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden.

Liz
Mine is probably The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

Maria
Harry Styles by Alex Blimes was my favorite book of 2025.

Jen M.
Black Wolf by Louise Penny.
