Book Review of 2025! A Book Review Blog Post that No One Asked For :)

Hello, you mesmerizing human! I’m so happy that you’re here, and I hope that you’re having an amazing day today! I can’t believe that we’re at another year, reflecting on the journeys that were taken through the pages. It’s a cozy December night and I’m sitting across from our Christmas Tree. Max is half curled on my lap, and happily taking over the rest of the couch while he naps.

This is the last week of December 2025 that I’m writing this intro, and I’m grateful to be off of work during this time. It just makes it even harder to go back in the new year. Being able to spend quality time with my husband, kids, and many pets. Books are an art form that I appreciate deeply, and I’ve been a book lover since I was a kid. I enjoy a vast variety of written art; anything from paranormal, thrillers, manga, non-fiction, poetry, spicy, dark academia…..

Please enjoy the books I had a pleasure of consuming this year! The book review that no one ask for :)

“The Art of War: Guide to Business Leadership” by Dominic Hale

1. This was a wonderful, refreshing read to start off 2025! It provided strategies and advice for how to lead others, manage projects, and build a business based on the teachings of Sun Tzu’s 5th century military manual. Their philosophy is adapted and put into applicable steps for the modern entrepreneuer, business owner, and/or driven individual. 8/10! (apparently I’m rating things this year as well….go figure!)

Maxy Poo makes one of the best reading companions! :)

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle

This book was absolutely incredible! It’s a memoir and truth telling book about living your most authentic life. She touches on listening to your “knowing”, and how humans have been conditioned to be “tamed, caged”, and follow all the suspected societal norms. We need to not lose ourselves and love ourselves. This book is an inspiration, and I’m sure I’ll end up circling back and giving it a re-read :) It’s uplifting, soul-seeking, everything you could want in a work of print. This book is definitely a work of art. 11/10 :)

“Natural Magic : Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, and the Dawn of Modern Science” by Renee Bergland

I found this beauty of a book while perusing my local library. I hadn’t heard of it prior to that point, and the title and cover drew me in. You can’t deny that the cover artwork is lovely :) This book paralleled the lives and views of Emily Dickinson and Charles Darwin, both brilliantly minded people from the Victorian Era! Both are scientists, philosophers, and artists, and kind of rebellious in their own way. I admire that, and it was a profound read :) 9/10!

“Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book emphasized the importance of not losing your creative self. Anything involving creativity is natural magic to us, and we can’t lose that. The bottom line is, life in itself is magical, and we never don’t want to lose that. I’m sure that this is a book that I’ll find myself reading again :) 10/10!

” Flowers on the Moon” by Billy Chapata

This book is an example of pure artistry. This particular work is filled with poetry and prose, divided by different phases of the moon. It’s a beautiful work of art meant to feed your soul. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work, and I know that this will be a book that is consumed multiple times. 11/10 for sure!

“Fullmetal Alchemist” Volume 16-27 by Hiromu Arakawa

I started reading Fullmetal Alchemist in 2024 and I’m thoroughly enjoying this Manga! It has a total of 27 volumes, so we’ll see if I’m able to read them all this year (insert update here!). And, I did :)

This manga follows the travels of the Elric brothers, Edward and Al (Alphonse) in their quest to regain their original bodies, lost in an alchemy spell gone wrong. It’s a world like no other, for they are also state alchemists with their goal of making the world safer for all. It has everything! Family ties, fantasy, a world like no other. I love the world of anime and manga and I’m so glad to have found Fullmetal Alchemist! 10/10!

“How to Make Emotions Work For You, Instead of Against You. EQ Applied: The Real-World Guide to Emotional Intelligence” by Justin Bariso

This book was read as a part of my Emotional Intelligence course. I appreciated all the lessons this book had to offer. I learned the different domains of emotional intelligence and how to apply them in both business and personal life. I really appreciated the teachings on navigating difficult conversations, which is something that’s always been uncomfortable for me. 7/10

“Rooted” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

This read was absolutely lovely, and I can’t wait to read more of her work. This book was soothing to the soul. Lyanda writes beautifully about nature and being grounded, and how everything is connected. I had a sense of feeling calm and centered while reading this work and I can’t wait to dive into more. I see myself going back to re-read this beauty. 10/10!

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Eiko Kadono

This read was such a delight! If you’ve ever seen the movie from Studio Ghibli, the book has differences, but overall, all the foundational parts of the book and movie are the same :) This was a lovely gem of a young 13-year-old witch coming of age, with her loyal, witty talking cat, Jiji, at her side. It was a delightful read :) 10/10

“Sorceline” by Sylvia Douye

This book was an interesting gem! I saw it at my kiddo’s bookfair, and I LOVE a bookfair. I’m also happy to support the school. This book reminded me of “Owl House”, if you’ve ever seen this series. It turns out this is the first book in a series, and it’s about a young sorceress in a supernatural school learning how to heal cryptids. There’s family secrets and mystery, it was a great, refreshing read! I just put in an order for the second book at the library :) 10/10

“Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

This book did a wonderful job of looking into the beautiful mind of crows. Lyanda dove into the crows function in society, and how their lives look in city settings, as well as more suburban areas. I’ve always been a fan of crows. I appreciate their mannerisms, intelligence, and beauty. I love watching our local crows. 10/10!

“Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose” by Martha Beck

As someone who has had a relationship with anxiety my entire life, I found this book to be extremely helpful. I’ve been to therapy in the past, and this book felt like a wonderful revisit to that, with extra loving tidbits. There were concrete, doable methods for living with anxiety, as long as creative whimsy. I truly loved it and I’m sure that it will be a re-read in the future. 10/10 :)

“The Urban Bestiary” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

“The Urban Bestiary” was another enjoyable read by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. It spoke about various animals of the wild ie. coyotes, raccoons, owls, etc. and encountering them in day to day interactions. It also dives into their natural instincts and maneurisms. It was a pleasure to read, the combination of human life and wildlife, and how to live in harmony the best we can. 9/10 :)

"Mind Over Meetings: A Personal Perspective on Wellness in the Workplace” by Kody Green

I’ve been following Kody on social media for a few years now, and it also made me happy to see that he grew up in an area not too far from mine. Kody writes of his personal experiences, as far as other’s experiences, and policies of how mental health and mental illness are treated in the workplace. This is a wonderful overview for everyone, and is a great reminder that everyone is worthy of empathy and compassion. I know that this will be a book that I read again! Extremely insightful and conversational, I highly recommend! 15/10

“The Renaissance Soul: How to Make Your Passions Your Life” by Margaret Lobenstine

I wish that I had found this book 15 years ago! It was so validating and felt like it was giving my soul a hug. It’s okay to feel your soul and passions drawn to many things, or strongly to one thing. There’s no wrong way in being creative and making your creative passions your life. It was a wonderful read, 10/10

“We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions” by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle

This book was a beautiful summary and highlights of powerful conversations, a lot of them taking place on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast, which consists of these smart, compassionate, wonderful women. This book was exactly what I needed, and it felt healing and inquisitive. I will definitely be reading again! 12/10!

“Demon Slayer” Volume 1-6 by Koyoharu Gotouge

After finishing Fullmetal Alchemist, I knew the next Manga that I was ready to dive in to! I’ve watched the Demon Slayer show, and am enthralled by it! We’re planning on seeing the movie this weekend, so I’ll have to provide an update on that :) The story of Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro and Nezuko, whom are brother and sister. They both tragically lost the rest of their family to demons, and Nezuko was turned into one; however, she’s not like a typical demon (don’t want to reveal any spoilers!). Tanjiro and Nezuko meet loyal friends, and Tanjiro is trained in the Demon Slayer corps, and eventually becomes a Hashira himself. The character development in this manga is beautiful and captivating, a wonderful read! 10/10 :)

“Lessons From the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth: How to Live with Care and Purpose in an Endangered World” by Kate Schapira

A goal of mine the past couple years has been to educate myself on ways to live more sustainably and caring for our world. I started composting last year and attempted growing veggies (I didn’t have much success, but that’s okay! That’s how we learn, and I’m looking forward to planting again in 2026). Kate was inspired to having a Climate Anxiety/ Questions booth by Lucy in Charlie Brown. If you recall, Lucy had a “Psychiatrist, 5 cents” booth where she would offer her best advice. Kate writes about different conversations, experiences, and insights that she has from her experience in the Climate Change booth. It was an insightful read! 9/10

“All The Way To The River” By Elizabeth Gilbert

“All The Way To The River” is a memoir from Elizabeth Gilbert touching on a time in her life that included love, loss, growth, relection, and authenticity. This book helped me to laugh, I cried, and reflected. It was exactly what I needed, and I didn’t know that I needed it! I will definitely be re-reading this one, and I’m sure I’ll feel something new <3 15/10

“A Lesson In Vengeance” by Victoria Lee

“A Lesson in Vengeance” is a suspenseful, thriller mystery centered around dark academia and witches. It has a dash of lady spice, and it was a great read! I’m looking forward to reading more of Victoria Lee’s work :) 10/10