haley’s 2025 Top 10
Haley’s ten favorite reads from 2025 (not necessarily published in 2025) in alphabetical order by author.
Raising Hare
by Chloe Dalton
"There was a time when I knew nothing about hares and gave them little thought," Chloe Dalton writes in Raising Hare. That changes when Dalton rescues a baby hare (called a leveret) near her English countryside home. As her habits shift to accommodate the little wild creature, its presence gradually awakens her to the natural world outside. This beautifully written and moving memoir will fill you with wonder and reverence. Highly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in animals or nature.
The Art of a Lie
by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
The Art of a Lie is my favorite book of 2025 so far! I was drawn in by the main character's eighteenth-century confectionery shop and treated to a page-turner full of more twists and turns than a Hitchcock film. Historical fiction can be hit-or-miss for me, based on how real the setting feels, but in The Art of a Lie, Shepherd-Robinson completely transports her readers into a well-researched 1749 London world. Learning so much about daily life and customs during this time period was a highlight, but the storyline also constantly kept me on my toes—even gasping with surprise at several parts. I'd tell you more of the plot, but I think it's best to go into this book with no prior knowledge, like I did. Check it out if you enjoy history, mystery, or just a well-told story.