Recent Book Purchases I'm Excited to Read
Of course I’ve added a few books to my (already overflowing) TBR. I’m a reader, that’s what we do — we! buy! all! the! books! haha. All jokes aside, I’ve become so much more intentional about the books I buy over the last couple years. I used to grab a copy of every book recommended to me (which resulted in me reading 20-30+ severely “meh” books that current Jen probably wouldn’t have picked up if she’d been smarter), but now that I know my specific reading taste, I’ve really dialed that part back. So, when I buy a book in 2025, it means I’m all about reading it. Here are a handful of books I’ve purchased over the last few weeks that I’m super excited to read.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
“The List of Suspicious Things is a tender and moving coming of age story about family, friendship and community. Sometimes the strongest connections are found in the most unlikely of places.”
Stumbled upon this book on a “books that surprised me in the best way” 2024 recap post. I love the idea of any book that feels premise-adjacent to Thursday Murder Club, and while this one is a little different character-wise, it’s that same kind of unserious, murder-solving plot line I tend to gravitate towards. The reviews are good, which makes me excited to read!
I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman
“A suspenseful, satirical dark comedy about a struggling writer who wakes up to find his date from the night before dead—and must then decide how far he’s willing to go to spin the misadventure into his next big book.”
I screenshotted this book back in early January after reading about it on someone’s Instagram post, then walked into a local bookstore a couple weeks later to find it’s bright pink cover staring at me. Felt a lot like fate, so I had to buy. Dark humor is necessary humor, especially this year.
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
“Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.”
Perusing the shelves of the same bookstore I found the previous book, I stumbled across Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. I hadn’t heard anything about this book from anyone online (it’s from 2023), but immediately to me, the title was giving Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine vibes — and I’ve been looking for an Eleanor Oliphant-esque book for SO long (because I adored Eleanor and her story). Looking forward to reading more about Lenny Marks!
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
“An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice.”
The first book of 2025 to have a true “viral moment”. Released only a few weeks ago, The Favorites was popularized after being a primary pick in January’s Book of the Month box. Of course, after seeing so many raving reviews, I had FOMO and HAD to order it in my box too. It’s my virtual book club’s February pick, so I’m reading it now (and loving)!
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
“In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.”
I loved Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel Black Cake, a book I’m grateful to have found through my Book of the Month subscription. When I saw her sophomore release as an option for February’s box, I had to grab a copy. Much like Black Cake, I fully expect Good Dirt to be a dense, slow burn of a read, and I’m looking forward to the reading experience.
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
“A young girl must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost, navigating truths about love, friendship, and power as the Civil War looms.”
The stunning cover drew me in, but then I read the synopsis and immediately placed an order to have the book delivered to my house on pub day. There seem to be many different elements mixed into this Civil War coming of age, and I’m very intrigued to see how the plot unfolds throughout Junie’s story. One of those books that wasn’t on my radar coming into 2025, but is DEFINITELY high up there now!
Are any of these books on your reading radar?
Enjoy!
JBW