The Halfway Shelf: My 2025 Reads at the Midpoint

We are at the mid-point of the year. Anyone else feel that 2025 is moving too fast? I feel as though just yesterday it was January, and now we're halfway through June already?!

Anyhoo... I have set the goal for myself to read at least one book a month this year. I have a lifetime goal of reading 1,000 books before the end of my time on this earth. I have read almost 150 books (probably more, but I can't remember every book I have ever read since childhood) so far in my life. I am actually ahead of the game, and I have read 8 books so far this year and am currently reading my 9th.

Let's discuss those books, and I will give my honest rating of each!

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Overall rating:

Summary:

A family of three moves to a beautiful house on a cliff for an unbelievably low price. They soon learn that the price they would pay was learning that this cliff is actually the spot where people go to end their lives. Pippa's husband, Gabe, is everything she has ever wanted, and has become a whisperer of sorts by talking people out of jumping. Until one day, words were not enough to save one woman. Was she pushed or did she jump by choice?

Review:

This book was so worth the read! Kept you on the edge of your seat. I am usually pretty good at figuring out the plot of a story, but honestly, this one took a turn I was not expecting! Highly recommend!

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Adrienne shares her story of love with her daughter of a man she hadn't talked about in quite some time in order to connect and console her grieving daughter. Adrienne is watching her friend's Inn for her in Rodanthe, North Carolina, when she meets Paul, and their short time together leads to an unforgettable love. So, why didn't things work out? Was it just a fling?

Review:

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite author is Nicholas Sparks. So when I discovered that I hadn't read this yet, I started asap. This book was uplifting, heartwarming, and moving. I laughed, cried, and smiled while reading this. Highly recommend and a short read as well, perfect for a rainy weekend.

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Morgan is a mother who thinks her life is perfect, married to her high school sweetheart. Her daughter Clara thinks that she is nothing like her mother, but she is more like her than she thinks. After a tragic accident tips their world upside down, Morgan and Clara's life takes unexpected turns.

Review:

This is another one of my favorite authors. I loved this book. It is a super heartwarming read. The only reason that I did not give it a full 5 stars is because I felt that we could have used just a little more context on some of the characters in what exactly happened in their lives to better understand them. But overall, I think this one is another one I would highly recommend!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Told from the point of view of a writer, this is a drama-filled book. It is exactly as the title suggests: every person in the family has killed someone. A family reunion quickly turns dark when people end up missing and even dead. A who-done-it based novel.

Review:

This book was a tad difficult for me to get excited about. It was one of those books that was just interesting enough for me to keep reading, but one I was also ready to be done reading. The main reason for this is because I felt as though it was almost too low on action. I am the type of reader that wants to be hooked from the beginning, and this was not that for me. However, it was enjoyable, and if you are into mystery books, this is one of the more entertaining ones. The writing style was also unique, which I did enjoy.

Too Late by Colleen Hoover

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Sloan is a good girl caught in a bad situation. At first, she is oblivious to the situation. She is caught up in the charm that is Asa. But she eventually figures out how he really makes his living. His growing obsession and abuse are put on the back burner in Sloan's mind due to his financial hold over her. Sloan knows she needs to get out, but how? Thankfully, the potential answer comes her way.

Review:

I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it was my favorite Hoover book, but it was still a good read. I did feel as though I could predict a lot, though, which was slightly disappointing. However, it did keep me on the edge of my seat. Definitely worth the read!

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a forensic pathologist who has stepped into the chief medical examiner position. Her predecessor was corrupt, to say the least. She works hard to uncover the truth in what really happened in what she believes to be connected murders. After a near-death experience, Scarpetta becomes more devoted to unveiling what is truly going on.

Review:

I never learn not to read detective mystery novels. For some reason, they are just not my thing. I struggled to get through this book. But it was interesting enough to want to find out how it ended. Overall just felt bored with it. I think they could have added a little more action. But for someone who enjoys a detective story, it might be worth the read; it just isn't my cup of tea.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Lowen is a writer who gets her big break when she is offered to finish the very well-known author Verity's book after a tragic accident prevents her from writing it herself. She settles into the author's home with Verity's husband and their son. Lowen bites off more than she can chew when she discovers a very disturbing and stomach-turning autobiography that Verity had been writing. Although she wants to stop reading, she can't. Lowen quickly starts to fear for her life and safety in the house. Will she get out alive?

Review:

To say that this is an amazing book would be the understatement of the year. This book is very out of Hoover's typical writing style; she is usually known to write romance novels of sorts. But this thriller will keep you reading until you can't anymore. This was disturbing and bone-chilling. If you like thrillers, this book is a MUST read!!!

Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Charlotte is feeling extra single after her two best friends and housemates move out to get married and leave her lonely in a newly empty feeling apartment. After stumbling across a podcast called Sorry Not Sorry, about how to spice up your dating and sex life, Charlotte meets a dreamy man who seems to be everything she has been looking for until he wasn't.

Review:

This was such a fun read! It was at times funny, sentimental, and even went a tiny bit into the steamy side. I usually don't read a book quite like this, but it was actually better than I thought it was going to be! I do wish that there was more character development for some characters, which is why I couldn't give it a full 5 stars. But overall, I do recommend!

As always, thank you for reading! I wish more people read books; it is so therapeutic for me. If anyone has any recommendations for must-read books, please let me know!

-Jacasa Currie - Blooming Thoughts Blog