I’m a slow reader these days, but I’m still trying to get at least a few books read this year. My total goal for 2025 is 10, and through mid-August I’ve finished three. So we keep plugging along! Here’s what I’ve been checking out this year—both the completed books as well as everything I’ve started. I’ll give my thoughts on the ones I’ve finished (or officially DNF’d), as well as my final ratings.
You can follow along with me on my Storygraph as well, if you’re so inclined!
complete
Origin
by Dan Brown
Started: August 7, 2025
Finished: August 19, 2025
Pre-Read: It’s been a while since I read a Dan Brown book, and I missed this one, so I’m interested in how he feels in 2025.
Post-Read: Oof. A disappointing read. I felt manipulated to continue reading with so many red herrings and false threads started just to create intrigue. The “twist” ending was really obvious. I honestly can’t be sure if this is that much worse than his earlier novels, but I have no desire to go back to read those and find out.
The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
Started: July 15, 2025
Finished: August 2, 2025
As expected, this was gut-wrenching and terribly, horribly romantic. I mean that in the way that a love can destroy a person, change them, push them to do things they would never do if not for their love.
“That is—your friend?”
“Philatos,” Achilles says, sharply. Most beloved. “Best of men, and slaughtered by your son.”
Cousin. Totally my cousin. In conclusion: Cousin.
Anyway, this was treat, and it makes me w ant to dive into The Odyssey, but I need some thing sweet and happy first, so that will wait a bit. In conclusion: they were roommates, and t heir very sad end is iconic, and this book did well to earn all the punches to my gut and heart.
Circe
by Madeline Miller
Started: April 22, 2025
Finished: May 30, 2025
I finished this book on the plane last week, took roughly a month to read, but honestly it could have been faster if I hadn’t taken a few weeks’ “break” at some point around 60% through.
This was a good read! Having EPIC in mind made some parts fun, even while I knew it wasn’t approaching it the same way. I enjoyed it enough to want to get into Song of Achilles next.
The scars themselves I offered to wipe away. He shook his head. “How would I know myself?”
— A great nod to Homer’s story and the made recognizing Ody by the scar!
The Sun and the Void
by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
Started: January 4, 2025
Finished: March 16, 2025
This came to a satisfying end, though that was helped greatly by the knowledge of an upcoming sequel. The end felt very fast compared to the start, and I get the feeling this was intended as one novel, but it spiraled out of control a bit. Still, it worked out in the end, and I find myself looking forward to the next installment. (It’s called a duology, so that should be the end.)
Overall I quite enjoyed this tale. I appreciated seeing fantasy from an anti-colonizer POV, and getting into some new cultural ideas of magic and adventure.
in progress
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
by Becky Chambers
Started: August 21, 2025
Finished:
Finally getting to this one! I loved The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet so much and I’m excited to start the Monk & Robot series.
1984
by George Orwell
Started: June 7, 2025
Finished:
I’ve never read this book, and in today’s political climate, I really think I should. So I will!
paused
Elder Race
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Started: March 22, 2025
Finished:
Update 6/10:
I got distracted from this by Circe, but I absolutely plan to come back to it. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors, so I just need to reset my brain and get back into it.
Made For You
by Jenna Satterthwaite
Started: December 3, 2024
Finished:
Update 3/8:
It’s been a while since I picked up this book. I stalled out at 39% on January 11, picked up another book and haven’t been interested in returning. I really want to like this, but I feel like it’s try to be too many things, and the author didn’t really know how to balance them well. I’m not officially calling this a DNF yet, but it’s coming off my current reads.