Reading wrap-up (March – June 2025)

Somehow I have managed to miss out a bunch of reading wrap-ups this year. I thought it would probably be easiest to add them all to one big blog post but keep it brief.

In March my favourite book was Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. It might be my favourite read of the year so far. It’s written so beautifully, it’s heartbreaking and just adds so much context to the original trilogy and Haymitch’s character. You can read my full review here.

Gwawrio by Tegwen Bruce-Deans was also one I enjoyed. It’s a selection of Welsh poetry about life, nature and relationships. It’s nice to dip my toes back into Welsh literature and poetry sometimes.

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie is one of my favourites by the author. I loved the setting and how the murder took place. There were some parts that haven’t aged well and I would have liked for more of the plot to have centred around being on the plane but overall it was a good read.

April and May ended up being a bit of a reading slump. I read Swept Away by Beth O’Leary which I didn’t love and I also picked up Emily Henry’s new book – Great, Big, Beautiful Life but it took me so long to get through. I think they weren’t the best picks to help me start reading again.

In June, I picked up my favourite Jane Austen – Emma. It helped me get out of my reading slump. I love how the main character isn’t perfect and how witty the dialogue is.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid was high on my list to read and it didn’t disappoint. Unlike her other books, it was a slower start but it was still the usual emotional story with a brilliant ending that she’s known for. I loved the main character, Joan, as well as the plot being centred around female astronauts and space. Even though there is a lot of focus on the character’s job, there are other elements that are interesting, including her family dynamic with her sister and niece, and Joan’s own self discovery. The romance in the book was perfect too.

Jaded by Ela Lee was a surprise book in the post for a book club I subscribe to. I was pleasantly surprised by the writing and how important the story was from the get-go. The plot basically focuses on the main character as she tries to cope and understand that she has been sexually assaulted. It’s quite a dark and sad story but it’s well written.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield is a horror focussing on Leah and Miri’s relationship after Leah returns from being stranded at the bottom of the ocean. Along the way, the reader is taken on a journey to see how their relationship has been changed and what actually happened in the dark waters. This is a book that could be consumed in a day. The writing is very addictive.

I listened to How to Disappear by Gillian McAllister on audiobook. It was a brilliant and gripping thriller. Perfect for this time of year. The audiobook narrator was great too. The story followed a family who have to go into witness protection following their teenager giving evidence in a major criminal trial. If you enjoy Lisa Jewell, I think you’d also enjoy this author.