As many of you know I log the books I read every year during the Goodreads Reading Challenge. It allows me to see what genres I have read during the year, as well as remind myself of the stories that resonated with me. There is a fine balance between the reader in me and the writer! I do find editing errors, plot holes etc. but do try to just enjoy the flow of the story above all.

These are the five star reviews I made in 2025. As you can see there is a wide range of genres. Some gripped me from the start, such as Watcher in the Woods and Last Girl Ghosted. And I’m a sucker for unexpected twists, which are my favourite thing as not many stories do that for me. Maybe its because I understand the structure of creating a narrative, that I notice them most of the time, so being surpirsed by an ending is a thrill.

English Ghost Story by Kim Newman

The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Watcher in the Woods by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Gargolye by Andrew Davidson

Never Flinch by Stephen King

The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger

Homecoming by Kate Morton

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Tan by Tan France

What were your five star reads in 2025?