I started 2025 with an excellent book and I am so grateful to end it with another excellent book. Laurie Frankel’s writing is a treasure. Her characters always stay with me and this book is no exception.
She does not shy away from harder topics and I expect this one will be polarizing because there’s so much about abortion in this story. It’s about a 77-year old who gets pregnant and lives in Texas where a woman is not allowed to get an abortion. This is the kind of story I love the most, it’s not about the plot or settling, though both play a role, especially the old folk’s home where she lives, but it’s about the characters.
It’s about Pepper and Moth and her two new and good friends, her ex who lives in the same home, her three children who each process the news differently. Her grand-daughters. Even her doctor and the doctor’s team. There are a lot of unforgettable characters in this story. It’s hard not to fall in love with each of them.
Frankel’s writing is so strong. So funny. so insightful. so tender. so beautiful and so so heart wrenching all at once. A new book from her is the best gift and a perfect way to end this year.
with gratitude to Henry Holt and Co. and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
It took me a while to get into this story but by the end, I loved every single character and just did not want the story to end. There’s so much goodness in this story. So much about humans and friendship and war and racism and greed. The world building is beautiful and so much attention is paid to every detail. One of the ways I gauge a book is how much time is spent building the side characters and this book does not disappoint. Every character you meet along the way, small or large, leaves something with you.
And the main characters, oh the main characters, there is so so much to love here. Every one of them is magical and multi-layered. Even though there’s a rich plot and rich setting in this novel, it’s the characters that are the most magical, in my opinion. They will stay with me for a long, long time.
Loved this one.
with gratitude to DAW and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This was my first Louise Penny. Even though it was hard to follow on audio with so many characters being introduced, I really enjoyed it and think it would make a great movie. Aha! just looked it up and there is a movie. Off to watch 🙂
Interesting story. I thought it had a great start and was thought provoking all the way but then the ending left me confused. It felt like it was unfinished somehow….
I picked this up earlier this year but wasn’t in the mood for it. This week, I kept looking for other books and finally decided to pick this up again. I’m glad I did. It was fun and entertaining.
This book was an experience. The whole book feels tense as Cady starts unraveling with the death of her twin sister.
The thing that’s unnerving is that the unraveling is slow and steady and feels almost like it could totally happen to anyone. She starts letting go of all the bits of her life she worked hard to build. Her business, her marriage, and becomes obsessed with this woman who experienced grief on the same day she did.
She becomes obsessed. She starts lying, she descends so far in that it becomes impossible to find her way back. And this book is narrated so well that it keeps you wondering where this can possibly go.
And then that ending. Oh the ending….you’ll have to listen to it yourself to find out.
with gratitude to Macmillan Audio and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
As always, I want to start by saying that this is going to be a long post. These reflective posts are how I make sure to live my life intentionally. They matter to me and I love being able to look back on them in future years. I know that this might not be interesting to many (if not any) of you, so please feel free to skip it. If some of you find it interesting, all the better.
This particular exercise is following Susannah Conway’s Unraveling 2026 sheet. You can download it right here. I split the reflective questions looking back on 2025 in and the questions to help clarify goals/dreams for 2026 into two posts. This is part I, part II comes next week. All questions are Susannah’s and are copyrighted to her.
Describe 2025 in three words: unplanned, grateful, content
Were there any unexpected plot twists this year? So many, both good and bad ones. I had not planned for this year to be as active as it was. I had intended for it to be more of a still and go inward year. But alas, plans changed and I met the moments where they came. I stepped up and did what needed to be done. And I am proud of myself. And I am grateful.
If the events of 2025 were made into a film or a book, what would it be called? Here you are. I think 2025 might be the year I finally got closest to living inside my own skin and being really proud of and grateful for who I am. Finally starting to really step into being me.
Did you have a word, words or a phrase for 2025? home.
If you did, how have they guided and supported you through the last 12 months? After all the work I did in 2024, it was really wonderful to have 2025 be the year where I became more and more comfortable being myself. Really living in my own skin. Being able to go inward and trust myself and trust that I can tell what I need and want for myself has been a tremendous help this year. It has helped me really honor myself. And get closer to the peace that comes from that. It’s been a great word.
How have you evolved over the last 12 months? What feels different now? I think what’s changed the most is that I am finally growing into myself. I feel more at peace. I feel like I own who I am. I feel less of a need to apologize for who I am. In fact,, I feel like I’m doing my work and am proud of how hard I work to be the best person I can be.
When were you able to advocate for yourself in 2025? Several times. Again and again. Not just me but also for my kiddos. For my team. But also for myself. Part of stepping into my own skin has been not feeling the need to defend my choices. When I don’t feel the need to defend myself, apologize for my choices, or explain myself, it becomes much easier to advocate.
What’s supported you most in 2025? What’s really helped? My manager Ruth who always supports and sees me, my friend Jess who always sees the best of me and shows me how she sees me regularly. My therapist, who encourages me to advocate for myself. My kids who love me and have my back. Sadie who never tires of snuggling and is always always by my side. Having more people see me and being able to truly hear their words and let myself accept and internalize it has made all the difference. How lucky am I?
What drained your energy in 2025? Did you notice at the time? Interestingly, I noticed that there are things that drain me in “invisible” ways in that I don’t notice them daily, or they don’t feel big enough that I do something about it. But then when I finally did resolve them, I felt a big weight lift. So in fact, it was draining me tiny bits all the time. So I am planning to pay more attention to that in 2026. Also big drains too: people taking me for granted, people unwilling to take accountability or responsibility, trying to solve all possible outcomes of something that I fear might happen, the news, living with the fear of “what if.”
What did you let go of this year? And how do you feel about this? I let go of holding on to the past. I let go of what wasn’t working. I let go of controlling what doesn’t belong to me. I let go of having the answers.
What new priorities have you uncovered in 2025? Big or small. My kids and Sadie continue to be my top priority. This year, I started putting myself on that list. I continued to invest at work both in people and in projects. I continued to paint. I continued with Korean. I took a class at Stanford. I continued to read. But most importantly I decided I am happy to be me. I am far from perfect but I try hard and work hard and I am proud of who I am.
Which connections have you cherished the most in 2025? I think my list is pretty similar to last year: My kiddos. Sadie. My parents. Ruth and Ellen. Beth and Angela and Evelyn. Jess and Audrey and Michelle. My team at work. I am so grateful for everyone who cared about me and checked in on me and showed up and held space. In all ways big and small. I am so lucky.
What ambushed you in 2025? How did you deal with it? I wasn’t expecting to do some of the things I did in 2025. But not all ambush was bad. I also wasn’t expecting some of the great things that happened. I tried to move through it all with grace and speed. I took care of my mental health along the way and did what needed to be done. I am grateful to be mostly on the other side of it now. There are other areas where we’re still in the middle of the journey and I have little to no control over the outcomes but I will keep doing what needs to be done and unyieldingly protect my people.
If your body could talk, what has it been saying this year? I know you’re paying attention now. You’ll get there.
How have you taken care of yourself physically? What’s worked? What needs work? Nope. I am Still not doing anything physically for my body. I need to do a better job. Let’s hope 2026 is the year.
How have you taken care of yourself mentally? What’s worked? What needs work? I took a class at Stanford, and I painted a lot. I continued with Korean. I took on more at work both as a manager and as an individual contributor. I’ve learned a lot and worked hard.
How have you taken care of yourself emotionally? What’s worked? What needs work? I did a lot of therapy and work on myself this year. I did a lot of journaling. I fell asleep to meditation often. Since Fall, I listened to Salt than Sour then Sweet on repeat because it grounded me and I sat with my feelings and let myself feel them.
Did anything happen in 2025 that needs to be forgiven, perhaps? I forgive myself for every time I was less generous than I wanted to be. I forgive myself for times I chose myself selfishly. I forgive myself for when I was short with my kids. I forgive myself for when I was short with Sadie. I forgive myself for when I could have done better but I didn’t. I forgive myself for all the times I didn’t reply to emails, text, check in on friends. I forgive myself for falling short. I truly forgive myself.
Big things, little things, the profound and the everyday. What are you grateful for? I am so grateful for my kids. I am so so grateful for Sadie. For everyone who has had my back and has checked in on me. For therapy. For my pink Christmas tree. For a promotion I never anticipated. For still being employed in this climate. For my kids having good friends who see them and love them. For giving myself the endless grace I need right now. For finally getting comfortable in my own skin. To be healthy and loved. I am grateful to be here and to get to do this with people I love so much.
What are you proud of yourself for in 2025? I am proud of showing up for my kids and Sadie. Always growing and trying to be a better version of myself. I am proud of getting Sadie after wanting a dog for so many years. I am proud of working on doing a good job at work. I am proud of how much effort and time I am putting into painting. I am proud of how much I care and how hard I am working to be the kindest and most generous version of myself. I am proud of who I am trying to be and how much I continue to do my work and grow.
In which areas of your life do you feel you levelled up this year? I think I’ve grown more and more into being who I am and owning that it might be a good thing.
When did you feel most like yourself this year? I think I am feeling more and more like myself each day. I’ve had more days feeling most like myself this year than ever before.
What have you healed this year (or identified needs healing)? I am healing so much of what I’ve been carrying for years now. Finding ways to forgive people and finding ways to forgive myself for carrying it all for so long.
What questions and explorations are you taking with you into 2026? I spent 2024 exploring who I am, 2025 coming home to myself more and more so my plan for 2026 is taking more action. Designing more of what I want in my life. Let’s see what that turns out to be.
What’s deepened in your life? What’s changing in ways that delight you? I think stepping into who I am is changing my whole life in positive ways.
Who are you becoming? Does it excite or scare you? I am so excited to be more of who I am. I’m ready to let go of all that I’ve let weigh me down. I’m ready to experiment and see what I’m capable of, see what I like, see even more of who I am.
Before we finish with 2025, take a few minutes to write out anything else you want to say to the old year. You might like to say some final goodbyes and thank yous…
Dear 2025, well unfortunately you didn’t end up being as uneventful as I had hoped. This was a hard year to be alive in the world. While it wasn’t the same kind of shock and grief like 2024, you sucked in your own way. I would really like a little more hope and joy in the world in 2026. Please. Even with all that, I am so deeply grateful for where I am, where my family is and I do not take it for granted for a moment that we are so incredibly lucky and loved and here. We are still here. I promise I will continue to work hard in 2026 and do my part. Thank you 2025, you are now complete.
incredible on audio. truly can’t recommend enough.
this is a really hard to read and sad story about a marriage that falls apart after a truly horrible incident. the wife tells the story from the past, the husband tells the story of the present when the criminal is finally caught. It’s a character study. It’s quiet and hard to read. but really really excellent. one of the best I read this year.
also took me a while to get into this one. i don’t know if it’s my attention span or these books are hard to listen to. either way loved the way it came together and kept me on my feet the whole time.
interesting, funny but also too over the top? trying to hard maybe? I might have come into this one with too much hype making it harder for me to love it.
