Mini Book Reviews: October 2025

Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Eternal Forest from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

October was a crazy busy month for me, and unfortunately, I didn't get as much reading done as I had wanted. I also picked a couple of books that were long and a little bit slow. I only had 2 NetGalley reads this month, but I wasn't able to read both of them based on my library holds coming in. I know, excuses, excuses. 

I'm looking forward to a slower paced November with lots of good books because...it's non-fiction November! I'm kicking it off with Nobody's Girl, the blockbuster memoir written by Virginia Giuffre. Stay tuned for my review!

This month of reading unfortunately started with a DNF. An epic novel (it's close to 700 pages), The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny sounded so promising and has great reviews. It's been shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. Even though I only made it about 1/3 of the way into the book, I can see why--the writing is beautiful. But for me, that was the problem. The story was overwrought, the narrative so bloated and overly descriptive that I never quite could figure out what the story was about. It reminded me of Steve Martin's quote from the movie Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, when, after listening to John Candy blather on about something, he said, "Here's a good idea: have a point! It makes it so much more interesting for the listener!" That was a week of reading that I'll never get back. I've been told that once Sonia meets Sunny, the story picks up, but I lost my patience waiting for that to happen.

The Eternal Forest is a beautiful rendering of one family's life in Cuba and their immigration to the US. She tells her story in a conversational style, sharing many cultural details that transport the reader to the setting. I felt as if the author was sitting in front of me, telling a story. Her descriptions were detailed, which helped take me to Cuba and Miami. A really lovely book.

I picked up Buckeye on the recommendation of my sister, who is usually a reliable source for me. This was a good one. It's the story of an orphan, Margaret, who grows up naive about men and life, follows her dream, and moves to the big city, where she eventually meets the man she would marry. Against her will, they move to Bonhomie, a small town, where she settles into life as a housewife. Her husband Felix is called to serve in the Navy, and she is left alone to her own devices. The story alternates between Felix and Margaret and another couple, Cal and Becky. Cal has a leg deformity and has been rejected from enlisting in the military. His wife, Becky, possesses the ability to speak with the deceased. After the war, these two families form a connection of unusual circumstances. What unfolds will have you turning the pages. Have the tissues nearby because this story will break your heart. What a beautiful story! These characters will stick with me for a long time!

Sybil Van Antwerp is a letter writer, and that is how this excellent book proceeds. So many people have recommended this book to me. I've never been a fan of epistolary novels, but this one is so well done that it kept me turning the pages. Sybil sends letters regularly to her family and friends, and she also writes to outsiders. She uses her letters to make life make sense, writing some but never sending them. Sometimes saucy and opinionated, her letters are fun to read. So are some of the replies! There is a big twist in the middle of The Correspondent--all told through letters, which I didn't see coming. Well done!

I picked this one up on a whim after reading the review in the NYT. I was not disappointed. The Doorman is an intriguing novel about a tony building in NYC, where the uber rich and famous reside, with the doorman at the center of all the activities. The first two-thirds of the book focuses on several key residents of the buildings, as well as some of the staff. I felt like this part of the book dragged a bit, as the author spent a lot of time on tangents that made me question why they were part of the story. But stick with it, because it all comes together in the final 1/3 of the book, when the author takes it from a story to a thriller to a very satisfying conclusion. 

How was your month of reading? Have you read any of these? Do you DNF novels and if so, which was the most recent one? How do you feel about epistolary novels? The last one I read was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, which was a cute story told via letters about the post WWII German occupation of the island. 

Are you participating in Nonfiction November? It's not an official thing, but it's kind of fun! I do read a lot of non-fiction throughout the year, but it's a great way for me to clear my shelves. I even have a few Netgalley reads awaiting me. Stay tuned!

I'm linking up with My First 5k and More, Running with Attitude, and Run with Pugs for Fit Five Friday!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Check out the newest link-up: Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life, Memphis Bridges, Overflowing with Thankfulness, and The Other Side of the Road.