With the turn of the year, it’s time to reflect on the goals ahead—one of the first being my annual Goodreads reading goal. After a hiatus from reading in late 2023, I was lucky enough to be gifted a Kindle for Christmas. Since then, my love for reading has been reignited with full force. Though the holiday season slowed me down a bit, come January 1st, I set my sights on a new challenge: 30 books for 2025.
The start of the month was a little slower than I’d hoped as I debated over what would be my first read of the year. After some back-and-forth, I landed on The House of My Mother by Shari Franke—and that was the spark that kicked off my reading spree. Below are the books I read throughout January and my thoughts on each.
1. The House of My Mother
by Shari Franke
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214151420-the-house-of-my-mother
This was my first read of 2025, and it was the perfect way to dive back into the world of books. As someone who grew up watching family vloggers (including the Frankes), this memoir felt both personal and essential. Shari Franke’s narrative is a powerful testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of protecting children’s privacy online. She recounts her experiences of growing up in the public eye, shining a light on the complex dynamics of family vloggers and the sometimes disturbing way these influencers curate their lives for the camera.
Shari’s writing is raw and vulnerable, and her ability to reflect on her past with both compassion and clarity is incredibly powerful. The book offers a unique perspective on growing up under constant scrutiny and the emotional toll that can take. I appreciated her deep dive into the darker side of social media, especially her advocacy for children’s autonomy and privacy. As a reader, I found myself questioning how I viewed these families as a child—and how, even now, we are complicit in normalizing the invasion of privacy for the sake of entertainment.
This memoir is more than just a celebrity tell-all. It’s a journey of personal growth, forgiveness, and advocating for change in an industry that often overlooks the well-being of the people it exploits. A must-read for anyone interested in the realities behind the influencer culture.
2. The Boyfriend
by Freida McFadden
Rating: 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208503280-the-boyfriend
I dove into McFadden’s world of thrillers with The Boyfriend, and while the premise had me intrigued, the book ultimately fell short. The story follows a woman who finds herself a seemingly perfect dream man in the wake of her best friend’s murder. A murder that is still unsolved as police are trying to track down the mysterious man she was seeing. The pacing is fast, and the tension is high from the start, making it difficult to put down. However, the character development left a lot to be desired.
The main character’s actions often felt illogical, and the decisions she made didn’t quite align with her supposed intelligence or instincts. It made it difficult for me to connect with her or to fully suspend disbelief, which was a problem given the stakes of the plot. The twists were entertaining, but some of them felt too far-fetched, pushing the story into more unbelievable territory.
That said, if you’re looking for a quick read that you don’t have to think too hard about, The Boyfriend definitely fits the bill. It’s got the fast pace and suspense you expect from McFadden, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact on me.
3. The Teacher
by Freida McFadden
Rating: 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195967140-the-teacher
The Teacher continued my McFadden binge, but this one left me feeling more frustrated than entertained. The story revolves around an inappropriate student-teacher relationship, and the plot follows the devastating consequences that unfold. While I found the premise to be dark and gripping, the characters were difficult to root for. Both the teacher(s) and the student are morally ambiguous, making it hard to invest emotionally in their journeys.
The real issue for me, though, was how The Teacher handled the ick factor. The situation at the heart of the story is uncomfortable, and the toxic dynamics between the characters were hard to digest. It was a tough read on an emotional level, but I do give McFadden credit for diving into such a complicated and controversial topic.
However, the book redeems itself with an explosive twist at the end. The final reveal was a jaw-dropper, and it’s the kind of twist that makes you want to throw the book across the room. It was shocking and unexpected, and while it didn’t make the rest of the book perfect, it did elevate it just enough to leave me thinking about it long after I finished.
4. Never Lie
by Freida McFadden
Rating: 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62080187-never-lie?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9
If you’re a thriller fan, you’ve probably seen Never Lie mentioned on BookTok, and for good reason. McFadden is known for her fast-paced, twisty stories, and this one is no exception. The plot revolves around a couple who, after treking to a house showing in upstate New York end up at a mysterious therapist’s mansion, getting stranded in a snowstorm. The therapist has been missing for years, and the couple finds themselves trapped in the mansion, unsure who to trust.
The suspense in Never Lie is intense, and I couldn’t put it down. McFadden knows how to ratchet up tension, and the claustrophobic setting of the mansion only adds to the unease. The pacing is perfect—never dragging, always keeping you on edge—and the twist at the end completely blindsided me.
What really impressed me about Never Lie is the psychological aspect. The characters’ interactions, combined with the snowstorm and isolation, create a sense of paranoia that’s palpable. The book doesn’t just rely on traditional thriller tropes; it delves deeper into what happens when trust breaks down and when things aren’t as they seem. If you want a fast read that messes with your mind and keeps you guessing until the very last page, this one is for you.
5. Tress of the Emerald Sea
by Brandon Sanderson
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60531406-tress-of-the-emerald-sea?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17
My first fiction five-star read of the year! This was a work book club pick, and it completely won me over. Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical, fun take on fantasy that I never knew I needed. It brought me right back to the magic of childhood, reminding me of the joy I found in books like The Princess Bride. Sanderson’s world-building is charming and immersive, yet the story never takes itself too seriously. This is the kind of fantasy that taps into nostalgia without feeling bogged down by complexity. If you’re someone who misses the wonder of childhood fairy tales, this one is for you.
6. One By One
by Freida McFadden
Rating: 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54197718-one-by-one?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14
As I neared the end of my McFadden reading marathon, One By One was the final book on my list for the month, and it certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of sheer suspense and thrills. The premise itself is gripping: a group of six friends, out on a hiking trip in the woods, find themselves stranded when their car breaks down. What should’ve been a short trek to the nearby inn quickly turns into a nightmare when strange events begin to unfold, and one by one, members of the group begin to disappear.
McFadden excels at creating tension, and the isolation of the woods adds a perfect layer of dread. The pacing is relentless, and I found myself flying through the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. The suspense is built up masterfully, as the friends realize that someone—or something—is targeting them. The sense of paranoia within the group builds slowly, and by the time the first disappearance happens, the atmosphere is thick with unease.
But while the book does a fantastic job of keeping you on the edge of your seat, I did feel the plot stretched credibility a little too far at times. There are some twists that feel a bit far-fetched, and there were moments where I found myself questioning the plausibility of certain actions or decisions the characters made. While that’s not uncommon in thrillers, it did detract from my enjoyment of the story a bit.
Final Thoughts
January has been a month of rediscovery when it comes to reading. I’ve revisited some old favorite genres—thrillers and fantasy—and found some fresh gems along the way. Shari Franke’s memoir was a standout for me, giving me much to think about in terms of both social media culture and family dynamics. Meanwhile, Freida McFadden’s books were a wild ride (some more than others), with Never Lie being the clear favorite of the bunch.
Here’s to many more months of reading, discovering new worlds, and reflecting on the ones we already know. Let’s see what February has in store!
On The Go With Lilly 
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