Today’s prompt is: Books on My Summer 2025 to-Read List
I have already posted about 15 books I hope to read this summer so I’ve narrowed it down to the top ten I hope to finish by the end of the summer. I’ve also swapped some books out after doing some research on them and deciding they most likely aren’t really my thang, ya’ know.
As always, these are subject to change, and other books may catch my attention and take precedence.
1. The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Woodhouse
I’ve already started this one and I am enjoying it, so I am sure I’ll finish it in the next couple of months at least.
2. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
I’ve also started this one, but just a few pages. I need a good mystery right now.
3. The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene
I’ll probably read a couple Nancy Drews this summer. I usually do.
4. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Children’s books are apparently my thing this summer.
5. But First Murder by Bee Littlefield
Because I like Betti and want to see what’s going on with her. Plus…more mystery, which I like.
6. Spill the Jackpot by Erle Stanley Gardner
Cool and Lamb. Yes. I need some more of their wicked bluntness and mystery.
7. The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonassen
I have no idea if I will like this or not, but I am going to give it a try anyhow.
8. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley By Courtney Walsh
I swapped this one out with Summer of Yes because it has better ratings.
9. Dave Barry is Not Taking This Sitting Down by Dave Barry
I need some humor. Like bad. That is all.
10. The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon
What books are you looking forward to this summer?
Lisa R. Howeler is a blogger, homeschool mom, and writes cozy mysteries.
You can find her Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.
The 20 Books of Summer Challenge is back this year with new hosts. This will be my first year participating and I can tell you I will most likely not read 20 books this summer. Much less than that.
So, I have a list of 15 books I plan to choose from, knowing full well I will get distracted a time or two or to read all of them. Count on me not reading all of them or even half. Ha.
For the challenge you can actually choose 10, 15, or 20 books.
The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from Sunday, June 1st to Sunday, August 31st
The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15 or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.
Pick your list in advance, or nominate a bookcase to read from, or pick at whim from your TBR.
If you do pick a list, you can change it at any time – swap books in/out.
Don’t get panicked at not reaching your target.
Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!
They will alo have monthly summary posts where you can add progress reports and recommendations. The final one at the at the beginning of September will stay open for a while to catch all the last reviews.
If you’re planning to join in please do add your blog / planning post link to the Mr Linky on the hosts blogs, and you can download the logos and bingo card now. You can also use the hashtag #20BooksofSummer2025 on your socials.
And now my list of 15 books I will be choosing from this summer. These books are a mix of mysteries, romances, thoughtful, fluffy, and all in between. And of course I’ll probably read more Nancy Drew than I have listed here. They’re fast reads.
Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
Between Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox
The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Woodhouse
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Spill the Jackpot by Erle Stanley Gardner
‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
Death In A Budapest Butterfly by Julia Buckley
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonassen
But First Murder by Bee Littlefield
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman
A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson
The Unlikely Yarn of The Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon
And bonus…my “take my time” read: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
I am a mood reader so I will not be reading this list in order and if my mood dictates I have to choose off the list, I certainly will. Reading is a leisure activity for me, and applying too much structure takes the joy out of it for me, but making lists is also fun for me so…this is why I make a list.
Do you have a list of books you like to choose from for each season or do you just grab whatever you feel like reading next?
It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, whatthe rest of the familyand I have been reading and watching, andwhat I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.
Last week was a disappointing week in many ways.
I am not going to go into a ton of details on my blog but we had a bad experience with a staff member of our local library and have decided that we can no longer attend the place I fell in love with reading.
It was heartbreaking and hurtful and a bit shocking, so I spent the second half of the week and this weekend in a deep depression over it all. I’m still very, very down today. It was so surreal and it’s still hard to wrap my mind around how my daughter and I were treated. This is one of those times I did not read into what happened or misunderstood. Not at all.
My daughter was also very hurt, and it breaks my heart she will not have the same experience I did with this little town library that I did when I was growing up.
Maybe this week things will be better. We are looking for a new library to patronize and new places to participate in activities.
It will be colder than last week it looks like, and that isn’t going to be fun but we will take it one day at a time.
I am so down this weekend I barely had the mental energy to write this post today at first.
I will say that we had a crafternoon link up on Zoom yesterday and that did lift my spirits. There were three of us and we had fun discussing crafts, books, libraries, and all things in between. Erin from Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs and I hope to hold our crafternoons once or twice a month and will be changing them to “drop-in crafternoons” so even if a person wants to drop in for a half hour to chat and do some crafts they can. Email me at a lisahoweler@gmail.com or Erin at crackercrumblife@gmail.com if you want to get on our list for the Zoom link!
These chats and opportunities to just relax and craft have been so nice and needed. I know that sometimes I don’t take the time to do things that relax me and take my mind off of the stresses of life. The virtual meetups are a way I “force” myself to slow down and take some time for me. I am so grateful to Erin for having this idea. It’s been such a boost to my mental health.
Last week I finished The Case of the Clueless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner. It is not about kittens (not really) and it is a Perry Mason mystery.
I really enjoyed it and plan to share a review of it. I love Gardner’s writing.
This week I am reading:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders by Joanne Fluke (am I the only one who has never heard of putting egg shells in coffee grounds before brewing them!?)
Whose Body by Dorothy Sayers (not sure why I abandoned this before. I must have been tired and not tracking. I am enjoying it so far.0
And before bed some nights I am reading All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot. This one seems to be a retelling of some stories mixed in with stories of his time in the RAF.
My “long” read (or the read I am taking my time on) is The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien and I am really enjoying it.
Little Miss and I finished Miracle on Maple Hill, which we listened to on Hoopla.
We will be starting The Littlest Voyageur by Margi Preus tomorrow for school and for fun.
The Husband is reading When One Man Dies by Dave White.
The Husband and I are making our way through Castle.
I started A Touch of Mink. I didn’t finish it yet but not really sure what I think of it…Not my favorite Cary Grant, even though it is somewhat funny.
I also watched Just A Few Acres Farm on YouTube to try to relax from the stressful week.
Next week I will be getting ready for Springtime in Paris, the next movie event with Erin.
We will be watching movies that take place in Paris. Erin and I watch the movie one week and then share our thoughts about the movie on a Thursday on our blog. So the dates listed on the graphic are the dates we will share our thoughts on our blogs.
Then we offer a link for other bloggers to share their thoughts on the same movie. You do not have to watch the movies at the same time as us or even put your link up for a particular movie on the week we watch it. Just drop a link whenever you watch whichever movie. And you absolutely do not have to watch every movie to participate.
I am listening to the podcast True Drew Podcast about all things Nancy Drew and will be listening to Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson on Hoopla later this week.
Now it’s Your Turn!
What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.
I don’t often stick to my TBR for any particular season (see my post from yesterday for more info on that) but I like to make the list to remind me of books I’d like to read next. I consider it my “choose from” pile.
I have a list of 14 books I plan to choose from for Spring, but I know that list will change and adapt throughout the next two and a half months.
For today I will list my ten main books and then four “honorable mentions” so to speak.
Village Diary by Miss Read
All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
Spill the Jackpot by Erle Stanley Gardner
Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
Between The Sea and Sound by Amanda Cox
‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
The Littlest Voyageur by Margi Preus
Four others I might choose from this spring include:
