Winners of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards

The day has come! The winners of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced, and as usual, there a few surprises, as well as a few 'of course' reactions. 

And immediately, with the first category, a DSN has won for Favorite Fiction. Fredrik Backman's My Friends has taken the top prize in one of the most competitive categories. And for my first 'of course' reaction, we have Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid winning for Favorite Historical Fiction. 

And another 'of course' goes to Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins winning for Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi. And while I am thrilled that John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis won for Favorite Nonfiction, I did not think it was a given due to the other competitive entries.

So four DSNs managed to win in their respective categories, which is about right, though there were five that won in 2021. As usual, this only makes me look forward to next year, while I also research those books that I missed in 2024. 

Historical Fiction: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Before the end of the year came and went, I wanted just one more historical fiction book to cover. Thankfully, Patrick Ryan's Buckeye caught my attention. The description promised a story about choices and consequences that have long-lasting effects, and I looked forward to experiencing all that it had to offer.

The Situation: When Margaret Salt and Cal Jenkins first meet, neither of them have any idea that their lives, and the lives of their families, are about to be changed in unimaginable ways. Margaret never knew either one of her parents, but after growing up in an orphanage, she managed a life on her own before marrying Felix. Cal was born with one leg shorter than the other, a condition that would make him exempt from serving in the war, which is both a relief and a burden. It bothers him more than it does his wife Becky, who stays busy helping her clients contact their dead loved ones. It is 1945 when Margaret marches into the store where Cal works, desperate for a radio that will tell her what she already suspects is true: Germany has surrendered to the armed forces, which means Margaret's husband Felix may soon be coming home.

The Problem: Margaret does love Felix, or at least she is fairly certain that there is something close to love there. But their marriage has always left her a little underwhelmed, and she is not sure what to expect when he returns. Cal and Becky look great on paper, but he has never been too sure about her little 'hobby,' and the truth of that has always hurt his wife more than a little. When Cal and Margaret have an encounter that neither of them saw coming, the next few decades of their lives in the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio will be full of secrets and quick glances, as well as hushed conversations. In time, everyone will have to confront the truth of what happened, and what kind of people they really are.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that begins the narrative in 1920, when Cal is born, and continues on through two World Wars, the Korean War, and then the Vietnam War, before ending in the early 1980s. At the center are two couples: Margaret and Felix Salt, and Cal and Becky Jenkins. Divided into three parts, the history and background of each of the four main characters is thoroughly explored before reaching the point in history where they marry their spouses and begin to build a family. The difficulty of human relationships remains a focus, especially during and after World War II, when the couples are younger and are figuring out life together. And what makes this even more difficult than it already would be are the things not being said, or acknowledged.

My Verdict: I wanted a sweeping epic that covers a large span of time while staying focused on only a few people, and that is exactly what I got. This story of the Salts and the Jenkins is incredibly specific, while also feeling like it could be about anyone's neighbors in any small town in the U.S. There is not necessarily a hero in the story, or any one true villain, as everyone makes mistakes and assumptions, and the consequences that follow are simply part of the natural course of events. Nothing feels forced or overly dramatic, and the small bits of humor are subtle and appreciated. And I enjoyed the exploration of the complicated and often conflicting emotions that come with the revelation of family secrets, and the reality that sometimes people do not try their best, if only because they do not want to. 

Favorite Moment: Roman, Cal's father-in-law, may not be the most sympathetic character, but he gives his son-in-law some marriage advice that is blunt, to the point, and needed to be said.

Favorite Character: Cal's father Everett is a hoarder and an alcoholic, and loves to write angry letters to the President of the United States (whoever that may be at the time). His and Cal's relationship borders on contentious most of the time, but he is more than just a grumpy old man who has lost more than most and wants to be left alone.

Recommended Reading: I could not help but be reminded of John Steinbeck's East of Eden. 

Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 Final Round

The voting has now opened for the final round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards, and after this, the winners will be announced on Thursday, December 4th. It is time to see which of the 20 nominated DSNs did not quite make it to this last round of the competition.

For the Favorite Historical Fiction category, it looks like not enough people put in votes for Patrick Ryan's Buckeye (review will be published this Friday), a sweeping epic about two families in early 20th century middle America. But Charmaine Wilkerson's Good Dirt remains, so it will keep my vote. Yiming Ma's These Memories Do Not Belong to Us suffered a similar fate in the Favorite Science Fiction category, while Nnedi Okorafor's Death of the Author holds strong. 

Joanna Miller's The Eights failed to gather the votes to stay in the Favorite Debut Novel category, leaving no DSNs in the running. But it is no surprise the Suzanne Collins' Sunrise on the Reaping is still in it for Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi, while the same could not be said for The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor. 

And heartbreak of heartbreaks, not one of the three nominated DSNs made it to the final round for Favorite Young Adult Fiction. Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours, Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley, and Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams are all left out of the top ten for the category. A man who is known for his YA books, John Green, has a nonfiction book that is still in the running for Favorite Nonfiction. Everything Is Tuberculosis could very well take it all, but sadly, Imani Perry's Black in Blues has not moved on.

So it seems eight of the 20 nominated DSNs have not advanced to the final round of voting, but that means 12 still remain. This final round will stay open to reader votes though this Sunday, November 30, and we will all find out the results the following Thursday, December 4th. 

Young Adult Fiction: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Since the publication of her first novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, author Angeline Boulley has become a household name for YA readers. And while her most recent offering, Sisters in the Wind, does contain some of the characters from Boulley's two previous books, it is considered a standalone novel, but still within the same universe.

The Situation: Lucy Smith's dad died five years ago, and for most of that time, she has been in the foster care system. But for the last six months or so, she has managed to be out on her own, living in a small but clean and respectable apartment, while earning and saving money by working at the Pleasant Diner. When a Native American man enters the diner and asks Lucy to join him when she gets her next break, she is already thinking of exit strategies and where she may head next. After he last foster care placement, Lucy has been on the run and always prepared to once again head out on the road and make another life somewhere else. But the man insists he wants to help, and while Lucy is extremely cautious, she also really wants to believe him.

The Problem: While the Native American man, Jamie, and his friend Daunis do appear to have Lucy's best interest in mind, she knows she is being followed and still in incredible danger. She throws out every misdirect that she can to keep her pursuers from finding her, but she will eventually have to tell Jamie and Daunis about her past, and why someone may be looking for her. Even as she holds on to her secrets, Jamie and Daunis have a big reveal for her, something her dad failed to tell her. Not only is Lucy part Native American, but she has a family that would be able to take care of her. It is a lot to take in, and Lucy has little time to decide what direction to go in next.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book that takes place in and around Michigan, and is set between the years of 2002 and 2009, although there is a brief moment when Lucy goes as far back as 1996, when she was six years old. As 2009 Lucy tells her story, she goes back in time and talks about her dad, how he died, and everything that followed, including the multiple homes she lived in while in foster care. It is only after meeting Jamie and Daunis that she finds out she is part Native American, and that her social workers should have followed the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. But because that did not happen, Lucy stayed in foster homes that were varying degrees of safe and dangerous, with the last one giving her enough reasons to stay on the move and always look over her shoulder.

My Verdict: Boulley gives readers another intense story full of complicated characters, determined and greedy villains, and plenty of mysteries to solve. As the story progresses and Lucy reveals more of her past, both to the readers and to Jamie and Daunis, it is clear that she has been through a lot, but Boulley manages to reveal the most delicious details of the story in a way that keeps the story engaging and riveting, and somehow also not frustrating or tacky. There is a near-constant sense that things are going to come to a head, but how and who it will involve remains unclear until the final few pages. 

Favorite Moment: Lucy makes plenty of mistakes, and is often confronted with the fact that she does not know everything, but she can and does defend herself against an attacker, remembering the advice of one of her foster sisters.

Favorite Character: It was nice to have Daunis back in a story, and as an adult who is now able to help out someone younger who is going through a tough time. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Boulley's previous two books, both part of the Firekeeper's Daughter world. 

Contemporary Fiction: The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera

As a follow-up to her 2022 novel Neruda on the Park, author Cleyvis Natera has given readers The Grand Paloma Resort. Mostly set in and around a luxury hotel in the Dominican Republic, the staff must navigate the demands and whims of the wealthy guests, while maintaining a facade of exclusivity and the highest quality, even as a storm approaches, and the country continues to experience unrest.

The Situation: Nothing would make Laura happier than if her younger sister could get it together. When Elena shows up with the unconscious body of the little girl she was supposed to be watching, it is the last thing Laura needs as a mid-level manager at the resort they both work at. Laura has done everything to make sure that Elena has the best path forward in life, especially since they only have each other. With their mother long dead and a father that abandoned them for life in the U.S, Laura has put her desires, and sometimes her humanity, aside so that she could climb the corporate ladder and provide for her sister. But now everything is about to come crashing down, and all because Elena cannot seem to pay attention long enough to not be a problem.

The Problem: Laura can only think to call on a friend for help with the young injured girl, though that friend wants nothing to do with the entire situation. Meanwhile, Elena continues to rely on pills supplied to her by another hotel employee, and eventually ends up at the bar of a friend. But after another round of poor decisions and planning, two local girls go missing, and it might be Elena's fault. Over the course of seven days, Laura and her sister, along with several other staff members and many guests, will have varied experiences at The Grand Paloma Resort, proving that at this hotel, 'paradise' means something different to everyone.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set in the Dominican Republic at The Grand Paloma Resort, where sisters Laura and Elena work. While Laura is determined and driven, even to a fault, Elena is only concerned with her next escape, whether it is via drugs, or an actual physical escape from the hotel, the island, or even life altogether. At the forefront is life at the hotel, but the hotel successfully hides the truth of life on the island, including the crime, poverty, and social, civil, and political unrest. Laura must continually make the choice between what is clearly the right thing to do, and what must be done to secure the future of both her and and her sister. No decision is easy, and with each trial, Laura is less and less sure of who she is.

My Verdict: When the characters in this book were not getting on my nerves, then the messy plot and awkward pacing certainly were. Nearly everyone is unlikeable in this book, and also seemingly determined to make the worst possible decisions. At a certain point, I was fine when something terrible happened to most of them as they mostly brought it on themselves. And the social commentary was not only heavy-handed, but also awkwardly placed throughout the narrative. There is a reveal about three-fourths of the way in that did not seem worth the effort, but I will say that at least the ending is not ambiguous, and does provide real answers. 

Favorite Moment: There was something about the Zoom meeting calls Laura has with her boss that made me chuckle, if only because of how closely they mirror the truth of working post-COVID. 

Favorite Character: In a sea of characters with few redeeming qualities, Vida is like a bright spot in the darkness. 

Recommended Reading: For something that feels like a beach read, but still deals with some heavy topics, I recommend Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. 

Goodreads Choice Awards 2025

Well, this moment certainly got here in a hurry. Or perhaps I am the only one caught off guard by the fact that the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards are already here. It is time to review the nominees, make our voices heard through voting, and then eagerly await the results of this opening round. 

In the Favorite Fiction category, only two DSNs are to be found, and they are Charlotte McConaghy's Wild Dark Shore, and Swedish author Frederik Backman's My Friends. One takes place on a tiny isolated island off of the coast of Antarctica, while the other involves a highly sought-after piece of art, and the strange history behind it, the artist, and his close group of friends. They are both compelling novels, but I will choose Backman's work, mostly because he once again married humor with heartfelt storytelling.

I will admit to not being very surprised by the Favorite Historical Fiction category, with its inclusion of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (review is forthcoming at the end of this month), and Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson. It is a tough call, but I will go with Good Dirt for my selection. I may have placed it under the heading of 'contemporary fiction,' but it is one of those books that spans both categories due to the story being split between modern day, and the history of both the main character, and her ancestors. 

Samantha Sotto Yambao's Water Moon is one of the most unique novels I have ever read, though I could also say the same for R.F. Kuang's Katabasis. So I am pleased to see them both nominated for Favorite Fantasy. It is actually a tough choice to make, but Katabasis is the kind of story I was hoping for in 2025, involving adventure, an unlikely pairing, and impossible odds at incredibly high stakes.

Any longtime reader of this blog knows I struggle with picking out science fiction, but both Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, and These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma have been nominated for Favorite Science Fiction. Okorafor's book absolutely blew me away and I cannot recommend it enough, so it certainly has my vote.

I did manage to read one book for the Favorite Horror category, and it was Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Bewitching, which is my favorite of the author's books that I have read yet. Competition is fierce in this category, and there is a Stephen King novel in the mix, so we will have to see how readers choose to vote.

Joanna Miller's The Eights is the only DSN to make the cut for Favorite Debut Novel, but it is there for good reason. Following the academic career of four women who are part of the first cohort of females to be admitted to Oxford, the novel details their struggles, their desires, and what it took to be pioneers in a time when many believed that admitting women to the prestigious university was a step in the wrong direction.

The Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi category includes two DSNs, and between Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and Otherworld Post by Emily J. Taylor, I have to go with the former as far as voting. Collins managed to give readers of her beloved Hunger Games series a story they have been wanting since the beginning, and I was happy to finally get more background of one of my favorite characters. 

It is no secret that I adore young adult fiction, and having Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours, Sisters in the Wind (review forthcoming in a few weeks) by Angeline Boulley, and Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams all be nominated for Favorite Young Adult Fiction makes my heart happy. I am fairly torn between the last two books, but since I must pick one, I will go with Sisters in the Wind. 

Both John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis and Imani Perry's Black in Blues have certainly earned their place as nominees in the Favorite Nonfiction category. Both are incredibly well-written and well-researched books, and if I must choose, I will opt for Green's exploration of the history of one our deadliest infections. 

And for the final category in which a DSN was nominated, having just finished Tim Curry's Vagabond (review will be published in December), I love seeing it be included for Favorite Memoir, and I will be voting for it over Sarah Wynn-William's Careless People, which chronicles her tumultuous time working at Facebook. 

This opening round of voting ends Sunday, November 23, with the final round of voting beginning the following Tuesday, November 25. I am always curious to see what happens, and with the inclusion of 20 DSNs across ten categories, the competition remains as tough as ever. 

Nonfiction: Positive Obsession by Susana M. Morris

Science fiction author Octavia E. Butler was only 58 years-old when she died on February 24, 2006. Writers and readers alike mourned the loss of a creative talent that gave us some of the most intriguing, unique, troubling, and bold science fiction and speculative fiction stories that I have ever read. In Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler, Susana M. Morris chronicles the author's life, diving into Butler's personal journals, her essays, novels, speeches, interviews, and travels. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of nonfiction that focuses on the life and work of Octavia E. Butler, a science fiction writer probably most well-known for her novel Kindred, a story of a black woman living in the 1970s in the U.S. who is transported back in time to a slavery plantation where her ancestors lived. Like many people, this novel was my introduction to Butler's work when it was assigned reading in graduate school. Morris dives deep into the publication history of each of Butler's works, while also detailing what Butler went through to become a published science fiction writer, a genre that was long dominated by white men. Butler's goal was to support herself through only her writing. The title of the book comes from a quote in Butler's Parable of the Sower, and is also the title of one of her essays in Bloodchild and Other Stories.

My Verdict: This book is short and sweet, but also a fairly thorough recounting of Butler's life, and her work. Even those who are familiar with the author and her stories will most likely find new information here, particularly regarding Butler's private life and thoughts, but also about the inspiration for some of her most famous work. While many readers are in awe at how some of her work, in particular the Earthseed Duology, seemed to predict recent and current events, Butler disliked being labeled a 'prophet,' and Morris carefully and intelligently explains how Butler was able to reach the conclusions she did. Butler was nothing if not observant, and a researcher, and these traits are among the many factors that lead to her creation of such enduring, and often haunting, literature. 

Favorite Moment: I will always love the story of a young Butler watching a bad movie and casually thinking, "Geez, I can write a better story than that." So she did.

Recommended Reading: As I mentioned, Kindred is probably Butler's most famous work. But for the vampire lovers out there, her last novel, Fledgling, is a different take on the genre.