TBD Teacher

I’m a sucker for a good list! I love to write book reviews, even when I don’t love the books. Here is a list of my favorite books that I read last year. Some were published in 2024, and some were published much earlier. I will put the link to my original review, if I wrote one. If you need help finding a book to read this year, hold on to this list.

What Order Are They In?

The first book was my favorite book of the whole year. Except for this book, the list is in the order that I read them. IF you haven’t read the first book, please do. It is incredibly good.

My List:

1. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
   • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/424yfgl
   • My review: https://judiholst.com/the-borrowed-life-of-frederick-fife-a-heartfelt-review/
   • My Why: This book made me laugh out loud so many times.
   • Genre: Fiction & Humor

2. The Women by Kristin Hannah

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3Wass5n
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6114916987
• My Why: I laughed, cried, and felt all of the feels while reading this book. It was wonderful historical fiction. You have to love a strong female character.
• Genre: Historical Fiction

3. Iron Flame (The Empyrean Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3PrTMrV
• My Why: This is the second book in the series. Yes, you should read The Fourth Wing first. The third book in the series comes out this month, and I’m incredibly excited to read it. The first book in this series started my new appreciation of the fantasy genre.
• Genre: Fantasy

4. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/409VS4q
• My Why: This book had everything. It was probably my second favorite book of the year, and in my top ten of all time. People of all ages would love this book. It was a heartwarming story that still hangs out in my mind.
• Genre: Fiction

5. The Stars Are Our Witness by Siobhan Curham

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/425ELU1
• My review: https://judiholst.com/book-tours/ (You will need to scroll down to find it)
• My Why: This book touched my heart, and at times, it was hard to read. It would be a great book for discussion in a high school and/or college classroom. I read many, many books about The Holocaust and WWII, but this one really stuck with me. It was a little bit of a different take than other books I have read.
• Genre: Historical Fiction

6. The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4gJ4eHp
• My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6336292828
• My why: I loved that it mixed a courtroom drama with a mystery. It started a wee bit slow, but then I ended up loving it.
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller

7. The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3BLUnBG
• My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6341193555 – You can find it on my blog, but you would have to scroll to find it. https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
• My Why: UGLY FACE CRY! If you are looking for a beautifully-written love story, you will love this book. It did hit me personally in many ways, but it is an incredible book.
• Genre: Fiction

8. Made For You by Jenna Satterthwaite

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4j4X1mI
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6341194354 or you can scroll down on my blog: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
• My Why: This book was funny, mysterious, but what I liked most of all was that it made me think. I love books that have to do with AI, and then this also pulled in pop culture.
• Genre: Science Fiction / Mystery

9. Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3Ppkl0G
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6341194954 or on my blog.
• My Why: This was her last book in her Nantucket series, and it was my favorite one. You should read these books in order. She references many things in her previous books. This book has more mystery than usual. It includes friendship, family drama, and romance. However, my favorite part is always the characterization in HIlderbrand’s novels.
• Genre: Fiction

10. The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/40oftzh
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6341197630 or on my blog
• My Why: You are going to relate to this book if you are an administrator, office staff, nurse, counselor, custodian, or teacher. I laughed throughout the book and related to so many incidents in the book.
• Genre: Fiction / Humor

11. Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4jlh9RR
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6396367134 or on my blog
• My Why: I was incredibly sad when I finished this book because I didn’t want it to end. It was like saying goodbye to my all-time favorite character once again. Moran’s thorough research showed what was actually real in the movie The Sound of Music. It also revealed what wasn’t.
• Genre: Historical Fiction

12. My Daughter’s Lies by Julia Roberts

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/409twri
• My Review: https://judiholst.com/book-tours/ (scroll down)
• My Why: This book explores the bond within a family. It delves into the love between best friends. Additionally, it unveils the secrets that can tie all of them together. It’s a good mystery.
• Genre: Mystery

13. The Family Experiment by John Marrs

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4h17sFY
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6494887305 or on my blog
• My Why: I can’t stop thinking about the story. This mixes two of my favorite topics right now: AI and reality tv. It is a book filled with drama, comedy, suspense, and science fiction. It is part of a series, but you can read this as a standalone book.
• Genre: Science Fiction / Suspense

14. Feral Maril & Her Little Brother Carol by Leslie Tall Manning

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3PpOTj2
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6510285929
• My Why: This book will have you feeling all of the feels. It made me laugh, cry, get mad, and be happy, sometimes all in one chapter. It sheds light on the foster care system in our country, which sometimes works well and sometimes it doesn’t. Isn’t the cover cute?
• Genre: Fiction

15. The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

• You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4gEDsQu
• My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6576924514
• My Why: This is listed as a YA book. However, I think it’s more of an adult book. This is due to the issues involved in the story. It’s a great clash of fantasy meets real world, and it’s beautifully written.
• Genre: Fantasy

16. Catch The Sun by Jennifer Hartmann

• You can buy the book at: https://amzn.to/4j3Cdfp
• My Review: https://judiholst.com/catch-the-sun-by-jennifer-hartmann-a-captivating-coming-of-age-love-story/
• My Why: Maybe it’s the coming-of-age love story that made me enjoy this book so much. It could be the well-developed characters or the intense storyline at times. All I know is that I didn’t want this book to end. My husband loved this book also.
• Genre: YA / Fiction

17. The One by John Marrs

• You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/3ZZ4dYQ
• My Why: This is the first book in the series for the book The Family Experiment. I’m not sure which one I loved more, but Marrs really makes you think, “What If…?” There is a show on Netflix that is based on this book, but it wasn’t the same at all. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy the show.
• Genre: Science Fiction

18. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis

• You can buy the book at: https://amzn.to/40otRYm
• My Review: https://judiholst.com/why-lies-he-told-me-is-a-must-read-thriller-by-james-patterson-and-david-ellis/
• My Why: I read this book in two days because there were so many surprises throughout the story. The characters were relatable, and I would switch back and forth between cheering them on.
• Genre: Psychological Thriller / Mystery

19. The Final Orchard by CJ Rivera

• You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/4204XzB
• My Review: https://judiholst.com/the-final-orchard-a-must-read-sci-fi-debut-by-cj-rivera/
• My Why: If you are a fan of The Fourth Wing series, The Maze Runner series or the show “The Black Mirror,” then you are going to love this book too. The characters are well-written and believable. I cheered on so many of the characters, and I wasn’t sure who was the antagonist at times.There are themes of friendship, love, family, evil, and scientific advancements. 
• Genre: Science Fiction

20. Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

• You can buy this at: https://amzn.to/3DXZG1e
• My Why: I needed a heartwarming book to read before Christmas and this was perfect. I actually waited a year to read it. It is the 4th book in the Peachtree series. Yes, you should read them in order. If you are a fan of The Gilmore Girls or stories about sisters, you will like this book.
• Genre: Fiction / Romance

I’m excited to come across my favorite books in 2025! If you are someone who loves reading, or you are just starting out and hoping to find a good book, I hope this list will be helpful. What was your favorite book of 2024?

https://amzn.to/49Agk2I

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

If you were a defense attorney, would you be able to defend your childhood bully? Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni is another courtroom thriller that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Switching between the perspectives of a lawyer and a detective combines two of my favorite genres. It brings them into one narrative.

About The Book:

Keera Duggan is following in her father’s footsteps as a defense attorney. When he asks her to represent one of his former clients, Keera hesitates. She is reluctant because Jenna, the client, was her childhood bully. Jenna, a CEO of a biotech company, is accused of murdering her business partner and lover. Keera knew her client was malicious, but she also didn’t want to disappoint her father. Her father said you can learn about yourself by trying cases. This is true even when you believe your client is guilty.

The other point of view in the book is Detective Frank Rossi. I enjoyed reading this point of view because it also brought in the genre of a murder mystery. I was fascinated by what he did to try to solve the case. Was Jenna the real murderer? You have to read the book to find out.

My Thoughts On The Book:

This is a solid read that kept me interested, and I definitely recommend it. I gave it four stars instead of five because I felt that some of the information was a little repetitive. This was especially true in the first half of the book. That being said, the details to help you figure out the murder mystery were fun to find. Discovering them throughout both points of view was enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the courtroom drama and watching Keera’s and Jenna’s relationship play out.

Would you want to defend the person who made your childhood a living hell?

Extra Information:

*If you want to buy the book, and of course you will, you can get it here: https://amzn.to/4ixR7tZ

*My other two favorite books by Robert Dugoni are The Incredible Life of Sam Hell and The World Played Chess.

*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

*Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

5/5 stars ★★★★★

https://amzn.to/48WXT8m

The Final Orchard by CJ Rivera is going to be a huge hit! If you are a fan of The Fourth Wing series, The Maze Runner series or the show “The Black Mirror,” then you are going to love this book too. I can’t believe that this is Rivera’s debut novel. It is extremely well written. The cover alone made me want to read it.

About The Book:

Have you ever thought about what bionic enhancements could eventually do to our future? Will it have a positive or a negative affect on our lives? Dr. Rosio Arata, a scientific researcher, takes her life’s work seriously. However, when her daughter dies in an accident, her career changes drastically. The organic enhancements take on a life of their own.

Eighteen-year-old, Ever, has been raised in an underground colony to become a Saviour. Her life goal is to overcome the “Others” on the Surface in order to save her colony. Her goal also takes on a life of its own.

How will these bionic enhancements affect the life of each woman? Read the book and find out!

My Thoughts On The Book:

I loved this book! It is one I will recommend to others for a while. Following the stories of each woman was exciting, and I read through the book quickly. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. It’s the kind of book where you aren’t sure how it’s going to end.

The characters are well-written and believable. I cheered on so many of the characters, and I wasn’t sure who was the antagonist at times.

There are themes of friendship, love, family, evil, and scientific advancements. I would recommend it for 13 years and up.

I hope that this book will be made into a movie. I would definitely buy a ticket!

If you want to buy the book, and of course you will, you can get it here: https://amzn.to/48WXT8m

If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and CJ Rivera for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

https://amzn.to/3YYWJG2

Everyone has secrets. If you’re a celebrity, those secrets are hard to keep. If you’re an author, you can TRY to rewrite your narrative, but those skeletons in the closet always come out. A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison is a thriller that keeps you guessing about what lies will actually be unveiled.

About The Book:

Celebrated author, Columbia Jones, has a lot of secrets. She is much beloved by her fans, but they don’t really know the real Columbia Jones. Her daughter, Darian, becomes mixed up in Columbia’s lies. Riley, the reporter hired to write Columbia’s story, also becomes entangled without knowing it. However, when a die-hard cop, a relentless reporter, and a fan become involved, those secrets start to unravel.

My Thoughts On the Book:

The story line of A Very Bad Thing kept me guessing. There were enough subplots to keep me interested, and the book tied up well at the end. My only criticism is it felt a little long to me. I think the book could have been shorter, and still had the same effect. That being said, I still recommend reading it if you enjoy thrillers. I enjoy a book with enough twists. It also should have connections to random characters that make you eager to see the ending. This book had both of those.

I gave this book four out of 5 stars. You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3YYWJG2

If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

Than you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and J.T. Ellison for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

https://amzn.to/48bvMSe

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

If you love the Harry Bosch television series, along with Bosch Legacy, then you will like The Waiting as well. It’s like watching Bosch or the Lincoln Lawyer, but this time, Renee Ballard is the key character. I don’t know how Michael Connelly does it, but all of his books are a slam dunk.

About The Book:

Renee is a detective and the head of the LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit in CA. Her day starts out great as she is surfing in the Pacific Ocean. Then it goes downhill when her badge, gun, and ID are stolen out of her car. This one acts takes us on the journey of three unsolved cases. Surprisingly, one of them is the real-life case of The Black Dahlia, the missing case of Elizabeth Short. I thought it was pretty brave of Connelly to include a real case.

My favorite parts of the book were when Harry Bosch entered the scene. Also, Maddie, his daughter, takes on a leading role, just like in Bosch Legacy. Maddie is just like she is in the television show. She is following in her father’s footsteps and wants to become a detective.

My Thoughts On The Book:

This is definitely an easy read. I liked learning more about Renee Ballard and her personal life. Connelly does a great job of showing what it’s like to live in LA (the good and the bad). Most importantly, though, I found it fascinating what detectives go through to solve cold cases. Detectives need to follow specific steps for a chain-in-command. It was also interesting to read about some of the technology available to them today. Renee’s team of people on the Open-Unsolved Unit made the story interesting and added to the story line.

I read this book quickly. I wanted to find out if the cases were going to be solved or not. It is definitely worth getting. You might also like these other books by Connelly: The Lincoln Lawyer and Resurrection Walk.

I gave this book four out of five stars.

If you would like to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Michael Connelly for my free copy. This is my honest review.

You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/3Y6md2u

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Can you imagine becoming a runaway bride? Then, you have everything stolen by your sister. Finally, you learn you are now in charge of the niece you didn’t know you had…all in one day? Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score is a captivating rom-com story. We follow Naomi as she navigates this challenging part of her life.

About The Book:

Things We Never Got Over is a rom-com that kept me laughing throughout the book. Naomi is a feisty female who ends up in a small town filled with the best characters. Her love-hate relationship with Knox (you have to love that name) develops throughout the story. She takes on her abandoned teenage niece, Waylay, and works on forming a relationship with her. This isn’t always easy to do with a teenager on a good day!

My Thoughts On The Book:

This is such a cute, romance book that kept me interested throughout the whole book. Since Netflix is developing this into series, you know it has to be good. I loved the back and forth between Naomi and the people in this small town. I would totally hang out with Naomi. She went from being in HR to working a bar and raising a young human.

Do I Recommend This Book?

I do! If you are looking for a nice book to just read on vacation or need some romance in your life, then this is the book for you. I would compare this book to The Rom-Commers and Forever Never. Things We Never Got Over is the first of the three books in the Knockemout series by Lucy Score. Right now, the book is over 40% off on Amazon. I gave this book four out of five stars.

You can find more of my book reviews at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/194563183X?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.3DP0MTQGO9L0I&linkCode=tr1&tag=tbdteacher-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.3DP0MTQGO9L0I_1727983026383

*I do earn a commission if you buy this book from this link. Help a girl out. 🙂