In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2025.

Our shared top reads:

1. 
   The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
   


2. 
   This American Woman by Zarna Garg


3. 
   My Friends by Fredrik Backman


4. 
   It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Kelly’s remaining top reads:

1. 
   Abigail & Alexa save the Wedding by Lian Dolan
   


2. 
   The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff


3. 
   Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin


4. 
   The Names by Florence Knapp


5. 
   The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram


6. 
   The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb


7. 
   King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby


8. 
   Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin


9. 
   The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison


10. 
    The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

Cindy’s remaining top reads:

1. 
   The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper
   


2. 
   Heartwood by Amity Gaige


3. 
   The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer


4. 
   No More Tears by Gardiner Harris


5. 
   The Eights by Joanna Miller


6. 
   Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh
   


7. 
   We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry


8. 
   What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown


9. 
   Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess


10. 
    The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy
    

Kelly's Favorites of 2025 (so far):

1. 
   Dead Money by Jakob Kerr⁠


2. 
   Seeking Shelter by Jeff Hobbs


3. 
   The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens


4. 
   Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley


5. 
   Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall


6. 
   Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy


7. 
   This American Woman by Zarna Garg


8. 
   The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff


9. 
   The Correspondent by Virginia Evans⁠


10. 
    The Names by Florence Knapp


11. 
    Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin


12. 
    The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

Cindy's Favorites of 2025 (so far):

1. 
   What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
   


2. 
   Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson


3. 
   Dead Money by Jakob Kerr


4. 
   Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell


5. 
   Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton


6. 
   Heartwood by Amity Gaige 


7. 
   No More Tears by Gardiner Harris


8. 
   The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
   


9. 
   The Correspondent by Virginia Evans


10. 
    This American Woman by Zarna Garg


11. 
    What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown


12. 
    The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy
    

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Connect with Kelly Hooker on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stories set on school campuses.    

Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠Threads⁠. 

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