Yesterday we celebrated the Winter Solstice, so you know what that means . . .
Yep. It’s time for me to share my Top Five Books for fall 2025.

But before I do that . . . I just want to remind you that it’s nearly time for us to gather to discuss the Fall Read With Us selection . . . The Antidote. Our blog discussion day and Zoom meet-up is coming right up on Tuesday, January 6 at 7:00 pm Eastern time. If you’re planning to join us for the Zoom, please RSVP so I can send you the link information. (You can send me an email – or just comment here on this post.)

Okay. Back to my Top Five Books for fall 2025. At the end of each season – very near the equinox or solstice – I “force” myself to choose five books to highlight for you. Only five. Sometimes it’s hard for me to choose just five . . .  because the books I read were all so good. And sometimes it’s a struggle to choose five at all because the season was full of clunkers. This season . . . it was easy-peasy. (Although, unfortunately, a few of them were advance copies, so they’re not all available quite yet.)

Let’s get started!

First, I’ve got author Susan Orlean’s Joyride: A Memoir. Susan Orlean has long been a favorite author of mine (she’s the reason I’ve been a New Yorker subscriber for decades . . . ), so I was really happy to dive into her memoir, Joyride, when it was published recently. And, wow! It did not disappoint! In her memoir, Orlean takes her readers along for an in-depth review of her career — a true writing journey of curiosity and wonder. Her sense of discovery fuels her writing, and propels us – her lucky readers – to learn about fascinating subjects we never knew we wanted to learn about. Joyride is a delight! It’s endlessly engaging and filled with positive energy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir — and revisting several of my favorite essays (a selection of which are included in the appendix of the book). I gave this book 5 stars.

Next, I’ve got The Keeper by Tana French. (I’m sorry to say I read this one as an advance copy from NetGalley, and it won’t be published until late March.) If you’re a fan of Tana French – and particularly her Cal Hooper novels – you’ll be excited to read this final installment. As with her earlier novels in this series, The Keeper is yet another slow burn. French keeps the pace deliberate and unhurried, building suspense gradually as the weather in Ardnakelty grows colder – and darker. French is a master when it comes to characterization, and she really shows off her skills in this one. The village of Ardnakelty itself continues to be a major “character” in the book. Moody and gritty, French explores the challenges of preserving small, rural Irish villages in a rapidly-changing world – especially when the ties of generational history bind the residents – and threaten to rip them apart. With atmospheric writing, memorable characters, and a bit of mystery, Tana French concludes her Cal Hooper trilogy . . . on just the right note. I gave this book 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Next up is Vigil by George Sanders. (Sorry. This is another advance copy from NetGalley – but it’s due to be published in January, so you won’t have to wait long to read it.) If you’re a fan of Sanders’ Lincoln in the Bardo, I’m going to bet you’ll enjoy this new novel as well . . . as Sanders takes us, once again, deep into the underworld of his imagination. This time, we have ringside seats for the passing of oil tycoon J.K. Boone, aided by Jill “Doll” Blaine, an “angel” tasked with comforting him on his last journey. Reading Vigil is rather like reading a very clever mash-up of one of the Brothers Grimm’s darkest fairy tales and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This short novel provides an inventive, funny, and profound look at how we live our lives on earth — and in the afterlife. Vigil is a pleasure to read. Sanders gives us much to think about: pre-determination and free will (Jill poignantly asks, for example Who can you BE but who you ARE?), the unrelenting push of technology (both the discovery and promotion of it – AND the using/consuming of it), and the vital and necessary role of providing comfort for each other. Bottom line . . . Vigil is a clever and artistic look at morality, justice, pre-determination, free will, and the meaning of life. A deliciously chewy read! I gave this book 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Then, I have Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Buckeye is a sprawling epic family saga at heart, with historical fiction and social commentary thrown in for good measure. The writing is quite lovely and a pleasure to read, and the tone is down-to-earth and never overwrought, despite some heavier topics. The story itself is always engaging and interesting, with ample emotional depth. (It’s been quite awhile since I’ve gotten engrossed in a big novel, and this one did draw me in right away.) The characters are vividly drawn and very human, and the author creates a nice sense of place and time in history. My only quibbles with the novel are with the pacing, which does lag in the middle, and the sprawl. There were some storylines/characters I wanted more of. Perhaps it just went in too many directions? Overall, though, I really enjoyed my time reading Buckeye – a tender story of love, loss, and reconciliation. I gave this book 4 stars.

Last, I have The Spinning Heart by Irish author Donal Ryan. This one was a re-read for me. I first read The Spinning Heart when it was first published (in 2012), and was totally captivated by the story — and especially by the way it unfolded (more on that in a second). When I learned that Ryan has written a sequel to The Spinning Heart – set 10 years later featuring the same characters and community – I decided a re-read was in order to jog my memory before reading the sequel. My re-read did not disappoint; my high regard still holds true for this book all these years later. I love the gentle unfolding of the story, told through the voices of 21 distinct characters (each with their own personality, background, and dialect). Ryan fits the puzzle pieces of this rural Irish village together with clever precision. The pacing is perfect, the primary characters are surprisingly well-developed, and the writing is brilliant. I haven’t read the sequel (Heart Be at Peace) yet – but plan to in the new year. I gave this book 5 stars . . . then and now.

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And here are some “bonus” titles for you . . . five more books I read this fall that nearly made my fall Top Five list and really are all worth a mention: Seascraper (Benjamin Wood; 5 stars), Departure (Julian Barnes; 5 stars), More Than Enough (Anna Quindlen; 4 stars), Heartwood (Amity Gaige; 4 stars), Mercy (Joan Silber; 4 stars).

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How about you?
What books would make it onto YOUR fall Top Five list?

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If you want to see what I’m reading now, or if you’d like to check out my recent reviews on Goodreads, just check out the sidebar on my home page.  You can find me here on Goodreads.

If you’re looking for my previous Top Five lists, you can find them in my Field Notes (just click in from the menu bar at the top or bottom of any page) — or click the link.