All Over the Bookshelf
All Over the Bookshelf
If you are like me, you may be looking at your 2025 reading goals and mentally calculating if you can finish them before the end of the year. Or, maybe you have already completed all of your reading for 2025. If so, congratulations! I am closing in on my goal of reading 100 books and will probably surpass that number if I finish everything in my queue. While library staff always enjoy sharing their favorite reads with the community, I think it is interesting to see what other people (not librarians) are reading as well. I reached out to my amazing family members and asked them to each send me at least one title of a book they are currently reading or have recently read.
“The Lost City of Z” by David Grann
David Grann’s “The Lost City of Z” follows British explorer Percy Fawcett’s obsessive quest to find a legendary ancient civilization hidden in the Amazon rainforest. Blending history, adventure, and mystery, the book also traces Grann’s own journey to uncover what really happened to Fawcett after his final, fateful expedition. My dad is currently reading this title and is enjoying the daring escapades of the explorers. While he would not have joined them, had he been alive in 1925, my dad is still impressed with the bravery and curiosity of Percy Fawcett as he searched for the mythical city of “Z”. After he finishes the book, I will encourage him to watch the 2016 movie to see how it compares.
“A Stranger for Christmas” by Carol Lynn Pearson
This book tells the story of a lonely family who welcomes a mysterious stranger into their home on Christmas Eve. Through simple, heartfelt moments, the book shows how kindness, hospitality, and compassion can bring unexpected joy and meaning to Christmas. While my mom is not usually a seasonal reader, she felt this book was perfect for this time of the year. As a bonus, it is just over 100 pages, making for a quick read!
“The Nightingale: A Novel” by Kristin Hannah
Hannah’s historical novel is about two sisters in Nazi-occupied France, during World War II, who resist the war in very different ways. Their stories reveal the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of women whose quiet heroism helped shape history. These books are well-loved in our library system, so if you have yet to read a Kristin Hannah novel, check out our collection! I recommended this book to my mom as she was looking for a story that would be engaging and difficult to put down. She would tell you this book fits the bill.
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
“The God of the Woods” is a multigenerational mystery set in the Adirondack Mountains. It begins when thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family’s summer camp in 1975, echoing the earlier disappearance of her older brother and sparking a far-reaching investigation into buried secrets and class tensions. My older brother is reading this book, and it is also on my list. Netflix has recently announced it will be adapting this book into a short series, so make sure to read this title first before it is released.
These next two titles are both from my sister-in-law. She is part of a family book club, and they enjoyed the author so much that they decided to read another of his books after finishing the first!
“My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backman
Backman’s book follows seven-year-old Elsa, a precocious and quirky girl who, after her eccentric grandmother’s death, embarks on a mission to deliver a series of apology letters her grandmother left behind to the unusual neighbors in their apartment building. Along the way, Elsa’s journey blends whimsical fairy-tale imagination with real-world empathy, teaching her about love, loss, and the courage to be different.
“Britt-Marie Was Here” by Fredrik Backman
63-year-old Britt-Marie, a fastidious, socially awkward woman, leaves her unfaithful husband and takes a job in the tiny, struggling town of Borg. She is unexpectedly drawn into the community and tasked with coaching a ragtag children’s soccer team. As she confronts the town chaos and connects with its quirky residents, Britt-Marie slowly discovers her own strength, compassion, and a sense of belonging she never knew she needed.
“Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
Violet Sorrengail is on a mission to find the rare seventh breed of dragons, fight dark armies, and save the love of her life…all in a week’s work. This third book in the “Empyrean” series is packed with magic, romance, and jaw-dropping twists. Readers will be hooked from the first dragon’s roar to the last spell. You may remember this book took the reading community by storm earlier this year…excuse the pun. My other sister-in-law has enjoyed catching up with the series and preparing for the fourth book to be published, hopefully next year (fingers crossed!).
“Once Upon a Summer” by Janette Oke
Guess who in my family is reading this book! Janette Oke writes about a woman who finds herself back in her quaint hometown, where the pace is slower and the community is close-knit. As she reconnects with old friends and faces new challenges, she discovers love, hope, and the warmth of home. If you guessed me, Krista, you would be incorrect. My grandma is an avid reader, so I had to include her in this article as well! I often bring her books to read, but this title is one she received from a friend.
A quick note before we continue: the next couple of books are related to pregnancy. Optional for most readers, but required for those prepping for tiny humans – like my younger brother and his wife. And yes, I am officially counting down the days to auntie life and imagining the storytime adventures we will have together!
“Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know” by Emily Oster
“Expecting Better” delves into the pregnancy myths everyone has heard and asks, “Does the research actually back this up?” Oster breaks down the data on everything from caffeine and wine to prenatal tests, giving parents the tools to make decisions based on evidence, instead of outdated rules or well-meaning advice. My sister-in-law has been surprised by some things in the book, but has enjoyed learning more about this phase of her life. It has helped her feel more prepared, informed, and excited for the journey ahead.
“Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, 3rd Edition: Evidence-Based Insight and Real-Life Tips for Expecting Parents, from the World’s Leading Medical Experts” by Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D.
Always one to read up on something before diving in, my brother has been studying “Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.” Pregnancy isn’t one-size-fits-all, and this guide gets it. Packed with expert advice, practical tips, and evidence-based insights, it helps expecting parents navigate everything from nutrition and exercise to labor, delivery, and life with a newborn. Clear, reassuring, and grounded in real-world experiences, it gives confidence at every stage of this life-changing journey.
Alright, readers! Enjoy these final pages of 2025 and get set…2026 is sure to be stacked with stories that refuse to stay on the shelf. Grab your favorite book, settle in, and let the next chapter begin.
Krista Kugler is the Children’s Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library