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One of the biggest things my husband and I have in common is our love of books! He mostly listens to audio since he has a good commute to work.
I mentioned in my post sharing my top 10 favorites of 2025 that he was very sick this past year. I remember trying to get him to listen to audiobooks in the hospital to help give him a lift because he was struggling with depression and illness so much, but it was hard to get him to. I was surprised at the end of the year when he had still listened to over 70 books for the year.
He and I have very different reading tastes, although we both love a good mystery, thriller, or middle grade, so two books made my list that made his. We always have a book we are reading together. We love taking rides in the car, so we always have a great audio playing at all times. We also have an adult son with high-functioning autism, and we always have a book to listen to with him as well. I have such wonderful memories of listening to books with these two guys!
I shared YOUR top books in a different blog post. I polled my readers, and I have quite the list for that, so be sure to check it out!
BEST BOOKS
If you like to have a list to print out to take to your library of the books mentioned in this post sign up below:
Leviathan Wakes (the Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey
Science Fiction
Humanity has spread across the solar system—settling the Moon, Mars, the Asteroid Belt, and more—but traveling to the stars remains impossible.
Jim Holden serves as the executive officer aboard an ice-hauling ship that travels between Saturn’s rings and the Belt’s mining stations. When his crew discovers an abandoned vessel called the Scopuli, they unknowingly uncover a dangerous secret. It’s the kind of secret powerful forces are willing to kill for—on a scale far beyond anything Holden can imagine. As tensions rise, the entire system edges closer to war unless he can uncover who left the ship behind and why..
Caught between Earth’s government, revolutionary factions from the Outer Planets, and powerful corporate interests, Holden and Miller must navigate a web of lies and shifting loyalties. The odds are stacked against them—but in the Belt, the usual rules don’t apply, and one small ship may hold the power to change the future of humanity.
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
Non Fiction
The Princess Bride has been a beloved family movie for nearly thirty years. Recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest love stories ever told and named one of the top screenplays of all time by the Writers Guild of America, its charm and impact continue to captivate audiences of every generation.
During the film’s twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion, Cary Elwes was inspired to reflect on his time making the movie and offer fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together. In As You Wish, he shares delightful memories, including never-before-seen photos, interviews with fellow cast members, and a treasure trove of on-set secrets and backstage stories.
Featuring a foreword by director Rob Reiner and a limited-edition original poster created by renowned artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-read keepsake for anyone who loves this timeless film.
The Shining by Stephen King
Horror
This one made my winter reading list.
You can find our Stephen King Printable Here
Taking a winter job at the remote Overlook Hotel feels like a second chance for Jack Torrance. As the hotel’s off-season caretaker, he plans to focus on his writing and rebuild his strained relationship with his wife and young son. With the vast, empty hotel all to themselves, it seems like the perfect opportunity for a fresh beginning.
But as winter tightens its grip and snow cuts them off from the outside world, the isolation becomes unsettling. The Overlook begins to reveal a darker presence—one that feeds on fear and weakness. While the adults struggle to understand what’s happening, Jack’s five-year-old son Danny senses the danger first. Gifted with an unusual ability, Danny sees the hotel for what it truly is—and knows that something inside is watching them all.
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (number 1)
Horror
“The dead don’t talk—at least, I don’t know why.” Yet they still find ways to reach out, and in a quiet desert town, a humble short-order cook named Odd Thomas has become their unwilling go-between. The spirits who appear to him often want justice, and at times their silent warnings help him stop terrible crimes. But this time, the signs are far more disturbing.
When a mysterious stranger arrives in Pico Mundo surrounded by swarms of menacing, hyena-like shadow creatures, Odd senses that a devastating disaster is on the way. With the help of his true love, Stormy Llewellyn, and an unexpected group of allies—including the King of Rock ’n’ Roll himself—Odd must fight against the clock to stop the growing darkness.
What follows is a powerful and emotional race through a handful of life-changing hours, where the past and present collide and destiny reveals its hand. This haunting, hopeful story is a moving guide for how to live—and a modern fable that stands among Dean Koontz’s most unforgettable novels.
And Then There Will Be None by Agatha Christie
Mystery
This one made both of our lists!
We love a good Agatha Christie, the Queen of the who-dun-it. Shockingly, we had never read And Then There Were None! What was we waiting for? I can totally see why this is many Christies lover’s favorite! It was amazing! We listened to this one with my son also! There is nothing quite some creepy as being in a group and watching one by one, them all get murdered. We did not guess who the murderer was, it was quite the surprise.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Middle Grade/Fantasy
We love middle grade reads. I am going to do a list soon of some of my favorites. This also made both of our lists.
This was so well done. The audio is fabulous. We are about to listen to the sequel soon!
The day Christopher rescues a drowning baby griffin is the day everything changes. It leads him to the Archipelago—a hidden chain of islands filled with magical creatures—and to Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.
As Christopher and Mal race across the islands, they uncover a frightening truth: the magic is fading, and creatures are dying. Facing sphinxes, kraken, and dragons along the way, they realize that saving the Archipelago may rest entirely in their hands.
This is a fast-paced, magical adventure bursting with danger, wonder, and unforgettable creatures—brought vividly to life with stunning illustrations throughout.
Bad Luck Charlie (Dragon Mage #1) by Scott Baron
Fantasy
Charlie always seemed to attract trouble—just never the good kind.
Space pirates? Of course. Aliens? Naturally. Dragons? …Hold on—dragons?
Getting sucked into a wormhole and crash-landing on an alien planet was bad enough. But things quickly spiraled into something far stranger and far more dangerous than he ever expected.
As unbelievable as it seemed, this new galaxy didn’t run on advanced technology at all—it ran on magic. And Charlie had absolutely no idea how to deal with that. None of this should have been possible. Then again, neither should wormhole travel… at least not until the moment he was dragged through one and hurled into a distant universe filled with wonders and threats beyond imagination.
Reeling from his new reality, Charlie could only wonder how much worse things could get before he managed to find a way home.
He would soon regret asking that question.
Watchers by Dean Koontz
Horror
On his thirty-sixth birthday, Travis Cornell sets out on a hike in the foothills of California’s Santa Ana Mountains. His quiet trek is interrupted when a scruffy Golden Retriever appears on the trail, refusing to let him continue into the shadowy forest beyond.
Earlier that day, Travis had been searching for a glimmer of happiness in a life marked by loneliness and bad luck. Instead, he encounters an unusually intelligent dog—one whose presence pulls him into a terrifying chain of events involving humanity’s most dangerous creations.
Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2)by Craig Johnson
Mystery
Sometimes I tell my husband I need to find a cozy read! Maisie Dobbs is that for me, he always teases and says Longmire is his cozy read! He really enjoys this series. I have never read it but we watched the show years ago and it is fantastic! I did read a Longmire short stories collection at Christmas with him.
When Mari Baroja is discovered dead from poison at the Durant Assisted Living Home, Sheriff Walt Longmire uncovers a case that stretches back more than fifty years. As he digs deeper, he finds the victim’s past tied to Wyoming’s Basque community, the powerful coal-bed methane industry, and the hidden history of the county’s former sheriff. Each clue reveals layers of secrets, unspoken loyalties, and long-buried truths.
With help from his longtime friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and newcomer Santiago Saizarbitoria, Longmire must untangle the past from the present to uncover which of them is hiding the truth—and who is responsible for the murder.
Billy Summers by Stephen King
Fiction
You can find our Stephen King Printable Here
If Billy Summers is after you, two things are certain: you’ll never see it coming—and you probably deserve it. A highly skilled hitman, Billy accepts contracts only on people he believes are truly evil. He’s the best at what he does, but age and exhaustion are catching up with him, and he’s ready to walk away for good.
Before he can disappear, however, Billy agrees to take on one final job. The payout is enormous, but from the beginning, something doesn’t feel right. Despite being a decorated Iraq War veteran, an elite sniper, and an expert at vanishing without a trace, Billy soon discovers that even the best plans can unravel—and when they do, everything goes wrong.
Blending action, emotion, and reflection, this powerful novel is part war story and part tribute to small-town America. At its heart is a complicated man searching for redemption, driven by fate, love, and the need to make things right. Gripping and deeply moving, this is a story—and a character—you won’t soon forget.
In conclusion
So, there are his top 10.
If you would like to share some top books you have read this past year, leave them in the comments. I always think people love to see what other readers are loving.
Other posts you may enjoy:
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