October 2025 Books

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Today I am sharing the books I read in October.

Here are my 2025 reading goals:
1. Read 250 books. This includes the books I read to the kids, audiobooks, and anything I read for myself. 149 READ
2. Read twelve self-help/education books. 7 READ
3. Re-read twelve books. There are so many good ones I have been meaning to re-read, so this is my goal to help with that! 20 READ-DONE!

I am also participating in a few book-related challenges this year:
1. The 2025 Audiobook Challenge, and my goal is the “Binge Listener” level (20-30 audiobooks.) **I decided to change my goal to the next level up “My Precious” (30-50 audiobooks.) 27 READ
2. The 2025 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, and my goal is the silver level which is reading and reviewing at least 25 books off my Netgalley list (I have 38 currently.) 18 READ, 21 REVIEWED
3. The Craving for Cozies Challenge, and my goal is the “Famished” level which is 26-50 cozy mysteries. I have done this challenge the past two years, and it was a lot of fun, so I decided to do it again. 16 READ

A few formatting notes for my book posts:
1. I have inserted pictures as well as Amazon links to the books I enjoyed most for the month so that it is easier to read more about each book if you are interested. Hopefully, your local library system will carry most of these.
2. If I completed a more detailed review of any of these books, I included a review link after my comments.
3. If a book is not available yet, you will see the publication date in parenthesis after my comments.
4. I have rated each book using a bold numbered star after each comment.

The rating system is as follows:
*5-This book was so good, I either bought it, or think it is worth buying. I am pretty picky about the books I buy, so this is as good as it gets!
*4-This book was worth reading, but not necessarily worth buying-look for these books at your local library
*3-This book was just OK. I wouldn’t need to read it again.
*2-Don’t bother
*1-There probably won’t be any of these, because if it was THIS bad, I wouldn’t finish it. 🙂

I read and reviewed quite a few books this month, which was nice. None were new favorites or anything, but I am glad I found some time to read.

Here are the books I read this month:

1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: In the Midst of Wickedness by Janet Benge-read aloud to the boys, good *4
2. A Berry Festival Fiasco (Kylie Berry Cozy Mystery #13) by A.R. Winters-good *4
3. Now I See Winter by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
4. Now I See Spring by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
5. Now I See Summer by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
6. Now I See Fall by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
7. The Armchair Detectives by Matt Dunn-OK *3 REVIEW
8. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake-good *3
9. Cozy by the Fire(man) (Letters to Mrs. Claus #4) by Lindsay Rochester-I liked this one! *4 REVIEW
10. Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo-OK *3
11. Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares-good! *4
12. Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble-good *4
13. Sunrise Summer by Matthew Swanson-very interesting *4
14. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (audiobook)-good as always *4
15. Vanishing Legacy (Elite Guardians, Savannah #1) by Lynette Eason-good *4
16. A Berry Terrible Truth (Kyle Berry Cozy Mystery #14) by A.R. Winters-I liked this one *4
17. A Mistletoe Mix Up (Letters to Mrs. Claus #1) by Bella Greene-good *4
18. Egg Marks the Spot (Skunk and Badger #2) by Amy Timberlake-good *3
19. The Christmas Reboot (Letters to Mrs. Claus #5) by Leah Busboom-didn’t love it *2 REVIEW

This month I read one book to the kids, and I read/listened to ten books just for me. I read eight picture books to myself for review.

For the year, I have read seventeen books to the kids and sixty-nine books just for me. I’ve also read sixty-three picture books to myself for review.

Well, that’s it for today. I will share my November books the first Tuesday in December.