I'm not a book blogger. I don't go online after I read a book and post a review on Good Reads. Nor do I read a massive amount of books each year. I'm just a 43-year old mom with two kids who reads at night and falls asleep after five pages. But I like this community and wanted to share it with you all!
In 2025 I read 16 books. My favorite book genre is horror/thriller and what I call interactive non-fiction. I used r/horrorlit and goodreads to pick out books. Yesterday I ordered 10 more books for 2026 off Thriftbooks which is what I use if my library doesn't have them available (listed at the end). Most of the below were from the library. I highly recommend Thriftbooks if you haven't used it before!
In The Lives of Puppets – TJ Klune
As soon as I read The House in the Cerulean Sea, I became hooked on TJ Klune. It was one of the best books I had read in awhile. It was uplifting and cute and I just loved it! So I started on my TJ Klune journey. In the Lives of Puppets details a family living in the woods and is loosely based on the story of Pinnochio except that the main character is the real human and he lives among robots. They have to embark on journey together to rescue the boys "inventor" father. Klune is a queer writer and there is always an aspect of this in the relationships with the characters. His writing is funny and quirky and easy to read. I haven't fallen in love with all his books but this one is at the top of the list.
The Feather Thief – Kirk W. Johnson
This book was absolutely fascinating! A nonfiction account of a young man who becomes obsessed with fly-tying and breaks into a British Museum to steal hundreds of rare bird skins for their feathers, some of which were collected by Darwin himself, which he then starts selling on the black market. My favorite type of nonfiction is where the writer immerses himself in the research traveling to speak to experts and those involved with the subject matter. (Other examples are anything Mary Roach and Breath by James Nestor). Johnson really goes deep into this world trying to track down the stolen feathers and learns about the underground world of fly-tying and feather trafficking. Bonus points because I love nature, especially birds.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea – TJ Klune
This is the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea so you know I was excited to read it! This picks up after a happy ending where the antagonists come back for their revenge. If you read the first one, you might as well read the second one. Same characters, new adventures.
The Silent Patient – Alex Micahaelides
The Woman in the Window – A.J. Finn
The Housemaid – Freida McFadden
I'm putting these three books into the same review. These are "Psychological Thrillers" that all have some kind of twist at the end. For me, these are kind of filler books when I can't land the next book I really want to read. They are entertaining and easy to read. The last two were made into movies, you know the type. I wouldn't not recommend them. I just feel like they are a dime a dozen and what a lot of authors are going for these days. Don't get me wrong, I liked reading them, but I don't seek these kind of books out unless I can't find another book that will fuck with my brain like I really wanted.
The Bones Beneath My Skin – TJ Klune
Another Klune. Another escapade. A man escapes to his rustic cabin in the middle of the woods and finds a 10-year old girl hiding out with a man. He says he's there to protect her. But from who? Is he nefarious or actually there to help? And because it's Klune, you know you'll get a man-on-man kiss at some point.
Pretty Girls – Karin Slaughter
I'd also categorize this one in the group psychological thriller groups above but had it stand apart because it's way more dark. Two estranged sisters attempting to solve the mystery of a dead husband which is similar to the disappearance of their sister 20 years ago. I liked it.
Chaos Theory – Leah McSweeney
This one seems completely different for my typical reading genre but you see it on here because I actually went to high school with Leah. We used to party so a lot of what she writes about, I was there for. It's a self-reflection about the lessons she has learned which reads like a reckoning with herself with lessons she offers to the reader. She did some serious drugs and got into some serious trouble and is now sober which is awesome. It's a short read and I would only recommend it if you are interested in Leah's journey or are a real housewife person, (I am not).
Hidden Pictures – Jason Rekulak
I really wanted to love this book but I just liked it. And the only reason was because I felt like the last part of the book kind of went off the rails. I found that after I read it, other people online said the same. Up until then, I was totally entranced by the way the author integrated artwork from the featured child and how those progressed throughout the story. I would surely recommend it to anyone who likes supernatural thrillers.
The Humans – Matt Haig
I absolutely loved the Midnight Library which got me intrigued with Haig. I read How to Stop Time before this one and really enjoyed it. I have high hopes for the Humans because of the premise but honestly, it was a little boring. An alien takes over the body of a guy with the intention of wiping out human kind. He takes on the man's family and job. I was entertained when he was expected to say and do things that are ingrained in the human culture but he didn't understand why. It makes you question why we do the things we do too.
Nothing to See Here – Kevin Wilson
A woman with nothing really happening in her life and with nothing to lose, moves in with her extremely rich, longtime friend to become the caretaker for the woman's daughter who sporadically bursts into flames when she's upset. (By the way, one of my favorite books of all time, which basically made me obsessed with Joe Hill, was The Fireman. More on him soon.) So maybe this intrigued me to read it. It's a cute and quirky book and was easy to read.
The Drift – C.J. Tudor
I was searching for something fucked up and I found it. I love anything post-apocolyptic. This is one of those interconnected story books where everything comes together at the end. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite books, but it's fun to read if you like watching characters avoid (and succumb) to ghastly deaths along the way.
King Sorrow – Joe Hill
A long anticipated book for me to read as Joe Hill is hands down my favorite author. I've read everything he's done (except Horns for some reason!) but I have that on my list. Sometimes after I see a movie, I'm like, eh I don't want to read the book because I know what will happen. In the case with Horns, I'd just imagine Daniel Radcliffe as the protagonist the whole time. But I'll read it eventually!
Anyway, this is his first novel in 9 years! Since then he's put out compilations of short stories that I've devoured. King Sorrow is a whopping 900 pages so it's the biggest book I've ever read but I was okay with that because if all I could read was Hill, I'd be happy. For those who don't know this, Hill is the son of Stephen King. Similar to IT, King Sorrow is an epic that follows a group of people over decades in their journey. Some of the conflicts I felt were a little fantastical, like what you'd see in a Tom Cruise movie, but I let it slide. I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a modern fantasy story.
Oh and also, I have the best husband in the world who got me this book for my birthday personally signed by Joe Hill. He contacted a book store in New Hampshire where Hill would be doing a reading and asked them to get him to sign a copy and then ship it to him. He's done this for me for a Mary Roach book as well. (My favorite non-fiction author). Ladies (or dudes), get a man like this!
Malorie – Josh Malerman
This is the sequel to Bird Box which was legitimately the first book to ever scare me where I had trouble falling asleep and gave me nightmares. YES!!! I want more of that!!! Malorie did not do this to me but was necessary reading after Bird Box. And I got it for $4 on Thriftbooks. I went ahead and ordered Bird Box at the same time just so I could own it and will read it again. :::crosses fingers for nightmares:::
I haven't watched Bird Box the movie on Netflix because the book was just too good but maybe I should? Like mentioned earlier. The problem with the movies is that it defines for me the main character. So when I was reading Malorie, I just imagined Sandra Bullock. Which is fine I guess. I'm pretty sure everyone knows the premise of Bird Box so I won't detail that. What I like about the series is that you really have to use your imagination to think about what the creatures are. It's also the most frustrating part haha!
The Bone Collector – Jeffery Deaver
Another book to movie. I understand now this is the beginning of a series from the featured detective but I don't think I'll be reading anymore of them. However having said that, I really like reading detective stories where you get to be inside the head of the detective and how they use clues to solve a crime because I'm like, oh I would have never thought of that! That makes sense! Essentially, there is a criminal who is kidnapping people and intentionally leaving clues for the authorities to rescue them before it's too late. I liked the characters and I enjoyed reading it. I just don't need to read anymore of them. There are other fish to fry!
Here is what I have on my list for 2026:
Swan Song – a favorite in r/horrorlit
I am Legend – yup another book to movie, of which I've seen, but apparently a great read! I'll be imagining Will Smith the whole time.
The Indifferent Stars Above – The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party – Say no more.
Brother
The Reformatory
Horror Movie
Flowers in the Attic – supposed to be grossly fucked up
My Abandonment – Based on the true story of a man and his daughter living in the woods for four years. Happens to have taken place in Forest Park in Portland, Oregon where I live. From what I've read online, those who live in Portland really enjoyed it, in contrast with others who don't.
Hope: A Guide for PMDD Partners & Caregivers – I have PMDD (look it up if you like) and my husband is reading this and it's become invaluable for him. Ladies, if you have crazy mood swings attuned to your cycle, depression, or feel like you are living a Jekyll/Hyde life, you may just have PMDD. I didn't know until 5 years ago despite having it my whole life. It's not a very well-known condition hence me being vulnerable and sharing it because it may just save your marriage and sometimes, your life.
Or you can just read more horror.
by linzphun