Last week, I shared my favorite and least favorite books from the first half of the year (January-May). This week, I'm sharing my favorite and least favorite books from the second half (June-October). This was so much harder, probably because the books are fresher in my mind and the details haven't quite faded to a hazy overall impression yet. I ruthlessly culled, though, and chose just one for each category!
June
Favorite: The Fourth Consort, by Edward Ashton
Rating: 4.5 stars
Release Year: 2025
I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I loved this book! I can't wait for Ashton's next book, which is set to come out early next year.
Least Favorite: Under the Same Stars, by Libba Bray
Rating: 3.5 stars
Release Year: 2025
I really had to force myself through Jenny's chapters.
July
Favorite: Miracle Creek, by Angie Kim
Rating: 4 stars
Release Year: 2019
I was not okay after reading this book.
Least Favorite: Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, by Haben Girma
Rating: 4 stars
Release Year: 2019
Looking back, my star rating was too high. I think I ranked it on merit, but on craft it definitely takes the prize for least favorite. The writing style felt very dumbed down, especially considering she's a lawyer, and I expected that more of the book would take place at Harvard (since it's in the subtitle). However, I did enjoy learning about the technologies and strategies she uses as a person who is deafblind.
August
Favorite: Aftertaste, by Daria Lavelle
Rating: 5 stars
Release Year: 2025
Hands down, no contest. This was one of my favorite books of the entire year so far.
Least Favorite: The Hemlock Queen, by Hannah F. Whitten
Rating: 3 stars
Release Year: 2024
I really liked the first book, but this one just left me feeling icky for some reason. I don't even have the desire to read the third one.
September
Favorite: The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom
Rating: 5 stars
Release Year: 1971
This was almost a tie between The Hiding Place and Catching Fire, but I know The Hiding Place will have a much deeper, lasting impact on me than Catching Fire will.
Least Favorite: Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh (Audiobook)
Rating: 2 stars
Release Year: 1945
Possibly my least favorite read of the year so far. My sister wasn't kidding; it was horrible.
October
Favorite: The Names, by Florence Knapp
Rating: 5 stars
Release Year: 2025
Honorable mention goes to Starling House, but The Names was just so good.
Least Favorite: Hangsaman, by Shirley Jackson
Rating: 2.5 stars
Release Year: 1951
The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover deserves a mention here, but Hangsaman was honestly dreadful. It made no sense. (I used the Penguin Classics paperback cover here because the edition I read was part of a collection of Shirley Jackson's novels.)
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