Nishkarsha Kotian

1. My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Leviney

Premise:

A struggling artist ends up sharing an apartment with a very old vampire who is… adjusting to modern life.

My thoughts:

Felt like an interesting premise, but what a colossal letdown. The idea had potential. The execution did not.

The only thing that worked for me was that it was an easy read and it helped kickstart my 2025 reading list. Beyond that, it just did not hit.

Verdict: Not recommended.

2. The Darkest Flower by Kristin Wright

Premise:

Told from two perspectives, a woman accused of attempted murder and her defense attorney, the story revolves around PTA moms, secrets, and someone being poisoned at school.

My thoughts:

Very dark, which the title does not even try to hide. I liked the dual POV structure and I could not guess the big reveal easily, which is always a win.

The ending could have been stronger, but it was nicely paced and easy to read. Solid thriller energy.

Verdict: Recommended.

3. The Appeal by Janice Hallett

Premise:

A murder mystery told entirely through emails and text messages, where you piece together the truth from correspondence.

My thoughts:

I finished this in under 24 hours after an unintentional reading break. I have been loving unusual formats lately and this one really worked for me.

The murder happens later in the book, so by then you know all the suspects very well. And then it is reveal after reveal after reveal. Super fast, super engaging.

Verdict: Recommended.

4. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

Premise:

A festive follow up to The Appeal, set around a Christmas play and, of course, a dead Santa.

(this was one of the cheat books I read this year 👀)

My thoughts:

Very quick little book. Not as interesting as The Appeal, but a nice, cozy follow up mystery. It did not blow my mind, but it was enjoyable enough.

Verdict: Recommended, but lower than The Appeal.

5. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Premise:

A journalist returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls, forcing her to confront her own dark past.

My thoughts:

Dark. Disturbing. Deeply uncomfortable in parts. The book is written with such intensity that it genuinely made me anxious while reading. I think the author is very good at making you feel trapped inside the story.

That said, the plot felt predictable to me. I did not guess every single detail, but I felt like I was reading to confirm what I already suspected. Maybe it did not hit as hard because I am late to this book and this particular theme has been explored so much in movies and TV over the last decade. Still gripping though.

Verdict: Recommended.

6. Anxious People by Fredrik Backmanolly Jackson

Premise:

A failed bank robbery turns into a hostage situation during an apartment viewing, revealing the messy, anxious humanity of everyone involved.

My thoughts:

Recommended by two friends, and I LOVED EVERY BIT.

It is such a perfect balance of humor, mystery, and beautifully relatable humanness. There is something about Backman’s writing that makes you feel seen.

One line that really stayed with me was about how we are more than our past mistakes and that we are also all our next choices.

Verdict: Recommended.

7. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Premise:

A socially awkward genetics professor creates a scientific survey to find a wife, and chaos ensues.

My thoughts:

This took me a while to finish, but that was more life getting in the way than the book itself.

Parts were genuinely entertaining, especially the duo getting into chaotic situations for a personal project. But the ending frustrated me. The transformation felt more like a performance than actual growth, and the emotional resolution did not fully convince me.

But to be fair, I would probably complain if every plot point was wrapped up perfectly too.

Verdict: Mixed feelings.

8. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Premise:

A memoir about grief, identity, culture, and the author’s relationship with her mother.

My thoughts:

This is not necessarily a book you enjoy in the traditional sense. It feels deeply personal.

It explores loss, confusion about identity, culture, and heritage. I skimmed some of the detailed food prep sections, but overall it was an interesting and honest perspective on grief.

One line that stood out: the world is divided into two people, those who have felt pain and those who have yet to.

Verdict: Recommended.

9. The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey

Premise:

Set in pre independence India, Perveen Mistry investigates a suspicious royal death.

My thoughts:

I loved how this kept me guessing right until almost the end. No reveal until very late, which I appreciate.

Side note, this series teaches me more about everyday life in pre independence India than I remember learning in school. That alone makes it worth reading.

Verdict: Recommended.

10. Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

Premise:

Poirot investigates a murder from sixteen years ago, interviewing five suspects who were all present at the time.

My thoughts:

A classic whodunnit with that convenient “let us all gather in the room for the reveal” ending. I kept jumping between suspects, convinced each one was guilty at some point.

Not being able to guess correctly is always satisfying. Overall, a great and easy read.

Verdict: Recommended.

11. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

Premise:

A dystopian novel about women imprisoned underground with no explanation, and what freedom actually means.

My thoughts:

This book gave me an existential crisis and the need for a hug.

It relentlessly explores how futile hope can be and what true loneliness feels like. The author keeps you searching for answers, giving tiny breadcrumbs of hope, only to leave you with none.

It is bleak. But I am actually very glad I read it. I usually hide in comfort reads. This forced me out of that.

Strangely, despite how lonely it is, it left me feeling less alone.

Verdict: Recommended, but emotionally prepare yourself.

12. The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

Premise:

Strangers who take the same train every day slowly form connections and change each other’s lives.

My thoughts:

What a cute book. Full of relatable, well rounded characters just trying to navigate life.

Very uplifting and heartwarming. Exactly the kind of comfort read that balances out the existential dread from other books on this list.

Verdict: Recommended.

13. Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Premise:

After a tragic accident kills his three best friends, a boy grapples with grief, guilt, and blame.

My thoughts:

This one was kind of a letdown, especially since it deals with grief and guilt. I kept waiting for it to hit harder, but it never fully did. A few parts had me tearing up, but overall the plot felt forced.

That said, I really loved the ritual of a “goodbye day” that they described. The idea of spending one final intentional day remembering someone, revisiting shared spaces, talking through memories, giving closure in your own way… that really touched my heart. That concept stayed with me more than the actual plot did.

Verdict: Mixed feelings.

14. Parliamental by Meghnad S

Premise:

A political satire that explores how Parliament works in India through an entertaining fictional narrative.

My thoughts:

A super fun and surprisingly educational read for me. I learned about where MPs stay, anti defection laws, and so much more, all in a very chill, engaging way.

✨ It is rare to feel entertained and educated at the same time ✨

Verdict: Recommended.

15. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Premise:

My thoughts:

SO CUTE.

Full of love, hope, and joy. The characters felt real in their emotional reactions and flaws. It was exactly the kind of heartwarming, feel good read I needed at that point in the year.

I watched the movie too. The book is better.

Verdict: Highly recommended.

16. The Examiner by Janice Hallett

Premise:

Six students. One murder. Told through exam submissions and correspondence.

My thoughts:

I discovered I love the epistolary format this year. But this particular one felt more complicated than clever.

The plot was stretched, and the reveals did not fully land for me. Especially disappointing because I loved The Appeal so much.

That said, it was a decent long flight companion.

Verdict: Mixed feelings.

17. Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams

Premise:

A memoir exposing toxic leadership, workplace culture, and the inner workings of Facebook.

My thoughts:

An unsettling read about hustle at all costs culture, morally bankrupt leadership, toxic workplaces, and dangerous concentrations of power.

Working in digital marketing, I already knew a fair bit about how engagement driven algorithms operate, but I was still shocked by how openly real world harm is ignored because sensational content performs better.

The casual dismissal of consequences is chilling.

Even if the author does not fully take accountability for their own role, the book is absolutely worth reading.

How many of our opinions are really ours anymore?

Verdict: Recommended.