If you’ve been following along, you might remember that I shared a list of all the books I read in December 2024. I want to keep this idea rolling as a way to reflect on my reading each month. Most of these books have been featured on my Threads or Instagram, and if I’ve done any video reviews or longer write-ups, I’ll link them for you. My biggest goal is to highlight books that may not have gotten as much attention and to use this as a sort of reading journal.
I’ll be listing the books in the order I read them, so the last book here is the most recent.
The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens
Ever since I read The Life We Bury, Allen Eskens has been one of my favorite authors, so I try to keep up with all his releases. When I picked up The Stolen Hours, I thought it was a book I had missed—until about 30 pages in when I realized I had read it before but completely forgot the ending. Since it wasn’t in my Goodreads list, I decided to re-read it.
This story follows Lila Nash, a character from The Life We Bury, as she works toward her dream career as a lawyer while confronting the demons of her past. I really enjoyed how much more depth this book gave Lila. She’s been more of a side character in previous books, so it was great to see her in the spotlight, and the bad guy in this story gives off total Mr. Mercedes vibes making giving yourself nail-biting tension throughout the story.
Check out my short review on IG here is a link.
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
This book gets a lot of mixed reviews, but when I saw it on sale for $1.99 in the Kobo store at the end of the year, I grabbed a copy. I’m so glad I did—this is currently my front-runner for book of the year.
The narrative jumps between the past, present, and in-between, incorporating the script of the horror movie at the center of the story. The eerie, unsettling atmosphere hooked me, and the unreliable narrator adds another layer of mystery. The script itself is unreliable too, making it difficult to know what actually happened versus what might just be part of the film’s lore.
If you love horror movies or horror fiction in general, this is a must-read. It’s not overly scary, but it lingers with you long after you finish. I am still dreaming and wanting to see the Thin Kid on the big screen.
For another quick review, check out my IG video on it here.
A Mortuary for Songs by Elizabeth Guilt
One of my 2025 reading goals is to explore more indie titles. I’ve been following Graveside Press on Threads for a while, and after winning one of their giveaways, I wanted to support them by checking out their books. I’m so glad I did.
This is an eerie, thought-provoking read that sticks with you long after you finish. If you love music and horror, this is a great pick.
I could got into more details about this, but I already wrote a review about this earlier, feel free to check it out.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
This was my first graphic novel of the year, and it came highly recommended by my comic-loving friends. It did not disappoint.
Imagine a small town filled with cute woodland creatures—except the town has a Dexter-like twist. There are plenty of surprises along the way, and after finishing the first issue, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the mix of cute furry woodland creatures mixed with a serial killer narrative and it makes the experience of reading this interesting.
The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win by Gene Kim, George Spafford, and Kevin Behr
This was a pick for my technical book club, and while I enjoyed it, I’d only recommend it if you work in IT or senior leadership.
It’s a business fable that follows an IT manager who is thrust into a high-stakes role where he must transform his company or risk everyone losing their jobs. The characters are a bit stereotypical, but the book does a good job of presenting its lessons in a novel-like format. If you’ve read The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, this is a modern take on that concept for the modern era.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
I’ve seen mixed reviews of this book across Threads, Fable, and Goodreads, but I was intrigued.
The story follows a mother, father, and their 8-year-old daughter as her imaginary friend starts to take on a more sinister presence. From the start, this book is unsettling, and the way the “monster” is referred to as “Other Mommy” makes it even creepier. While I wasn’t a fan of the ending, the journey had some unexpected turns that made it worthwhile.
Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens
My second Eskens book of the year follows detective Max Rupert, and I loved seeing his redemption arc unfold.
I wouldn’t recommend jumping into this one without reading Eskens’ other books first—especially those featuring Rupert—since you’d miss out on major plot points. But if you’ve been following his journey, this is a solid continuation.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
One of my 2025 goals is to read more indie books and more classics. I posted a poll on Threads (see image below) asking whether I should read this or Catcher in the Rye, and As I Lay Dying won.
This is one of Faulkner’s heavier books, dealing with mortality and told in his signature stream-of-consciousness style. It was a bit of a struggle for me, but I understand why so many people love it. My biggest issue was not connecting with the characters enough to fully enjoy the experience.
The Best & Worst of the Month
My favorite read of January: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay. It checked a lot of boxes for me, and while I get why some people don’t love it, it really worked for me.
My least favorite: As I Lay Dying. While I appreciate its literary value, the writing style just wasn’t for me.
What Did You Read in January?
I’d love to hear about your favorite (or least favorite) reads of the month! Also, if you have any indie or classic recommendations for me to check out in 2025, drop them in the comments!
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