Happy 2025!!

Below are the books I read in 2024, in the order I read them. If they have an *, I recommend them:

1. * Maybe Next Time – Cesca Major
2. If You Would Have Told Me – John Stamos
3. Normal Women – Ainslie Hogarth
4. *You, With a View – Jessica Joyce
5. *Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros
6. Love, Me – Jessica Saunders
7. A Court of Thorn and Roses – Sarah J. Maas
8. *The Exception to the Rule (novella) – Christina Lauren
9. *Mercury – Amy Jo Burns
10. *Bride – Ali Hazelwood
11. *Simply the Best – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
12. *The Backup Plan – Jill Shalvis
13. Worst Wingman Ever (novella) – Abby Jimenez
14. *How to End a Love Story – Yulin Kuang
15. *Chain-Gang All-Stars – Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
16. Good Material – Dolly Alderton
17. *Just for the Summer – Abby Jimenez
18. Tangled Up in You – Christina Lauren
19. *Check & Mate – Ali Hazelwood
20. **Tom Lake – Ann Patchett
21. The Husbands – Holly Gramazio
22. *Funny Story – Emily Henry
23. *The Guncle Abroad – Steven Rowley
24. Eruption – Michael Chrichton & James Patterson
25. *Summer Romance – Annabel Monaghan
26. *Slow Dance – Rainbow Rowell
27. Welcome Home, Caroline Kline – Courtney Preiss
28. *A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas
29. *The Paradise Problem – Christina Lauren
30. A Novel Love Story – Ashley Poston
31. *Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew – Emmanuel Acho & Noa Tishby
32. Always Remember – Mary Balogh
33. *Not in Love – Ali Hazelwood
34. **Sandwich – Catherine Newman
35. *The Rom-Commers – Katherine Center
36. *The Women – Kristen Hannah
37. *Sylvia’s Second Act – Hillary Yablon
38. *The Wedding People – Alison Espach
39. *Here One Moment – Liane Moriarty
40. Variation – Rebecca Yarros
41. *The Life Impossible – Matt Haig

My faves from this list (if there’s no explanation, see past posts):

1. Tom Lake – Audiobook – Meryl!!
2. Sandwich
3. How to End a Love Story
4. Chain-Gang All-Stars
5. The Women – I listened to this one and thought the narrator did a wonderful job. I have not previously read a book about Vietnam, I don’t think. This is my favorite Kristen Hannah book so far.
6. The Wedding People – I also listened to this one and further realize how important the audiobook narrator is, as I’m listening to different book now and am not enjoying it as much because I don’t like the narrator. Anyway, I was hesitant about the plot in the beginning, but it won me over. Some good lessons learned here.
7. Here One Moment – A woman on an Australian flight goes row by row informing passengers (whether they want to know or not) at what age and how they each will die. Chapters alternate between specific passengers, post-flight, and the woman. It’s an interesting question, one I’ve posed here before (with regard to The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin), if you could find out how and when you will die, would you want to know?
8. The Life Impossible – This book is not going to be for everyone, and it may not be for you at this moment. I do think it has something to offer people who need to hear some of the messaging. Grief and guilt and hard beasts to tame, and life is not always easy. The sad/bad, however, allow us to appreciate the happy/beautiful.

Movies I saw in 2024 that I gave an A or A-:

1. Irena’s Vow – A-
2. Remembering Gene Wilder (documentary) – A-
3. The Holdovers – A-
4. The Fall Guy – A-
5. Inside Out 2 – A-
6. Twisters – A-
7. Thelma – A
8. Will & Harper (documentary) – A
9. Wicked – A

Will & Harper is a wonderful documentary (available on Netflix) following Will Ferrell and his close friend, former head writer at SNL – who has come out as a trans woman – Harper, as they road trip across the country. Heartfelt and educational for those who are afraid of what they don’t understand, it’s a must watch. Plus, you will come away thinking the world of Will Ferrell.

TV I loved:

“Shrinking” – my fave!

“Nobody Wants This” – adorable

“The Diplomat” – that last episode!

“High Potential” – smart and sassy

“Hacks” – season 3 was its best yet

“Matlock” – clever and yay for Kathy Bates!

That’s it for now – may 2025 bring good health and happiness to you all!