2025 Library Staff Picks
- Kira Williams
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
Have a look at what the Milne staff have chosen as their favorite books of the year, why they chose them
and how you can get a hold of these titles. Are you interested in any of these books or similar ones? Or did you read one of them and want to share your thoughts? Please let us know the next time you're in the library!
Recommended by Brianna
Stone Blind, by Natalie Haynes
Similar to my pick last year, Stone Blind is a retelling of Greek gods and goddesses with an emphasis on Medusa and her story. However, this work humanizes instead of villainizing Medusa. Readers are provided different perspectives that converge into the overarching story that is ultimately one about sisters, love, and revenge.
The Wedding Date, by Jasmine Guillory
As part of a series where different characters have their own books, The Wedding Date is a stand alone romance novel that follows a fake relationship for a wedding and follows the journey of the main characters falling in love. The novel is funny and witty. It's a great read. Once you are hooked, there's no putting it down.
Recommended by Debbie M.
The Wonder, by Emma Donoghue
Spellbinding historical novel about an English nurse hired to prove or disprove a possible miracle in rural Ireland in the years following the famine.
Recommended by Jenna
Daughter of the Empire, by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts
When her father & brother are killed in battle, Mara must become the ruler of a noble house & restore her family's fortunes. Surrounded by powerful enemies, it will take everything she has just to survive. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves political fantasy. Mara is a clever & capable heroine who I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, by Caitlin Rozakis
When your daughter gets bitten by a werewolf, what's a parent to do? Enroll her in a prestigious magic school, of course! I love stories featuring magic schools, so seeing a magic school from the perspective of a non-magical parent immediately appealed to me. Highly recommended for anyone who ever thought, "How do Hermione's parents feel about all of this?" while reading Harry Potter.
Recommended by Kira
Saltcrop, by Yume Kitasei
I enjoyed this adventure story, not so much for its dim view of the future but for the love between three sisters, two of whom set out to find their oldest sister who seeks to solve mass hunger by infiltrating a seed vault on another continent. The story breaks down gender stereotypes in so many ways - one is a brilliant scientest, the other is a skilled negotiator and the third can 'man' a sailboat like no man can (in the novel, anyway), and all three are completely fearless.
Recommended by Kirsten
The Other Bennet Sister, by Janet Hadlow
This takes a familiar book and totally re-interprets it from another perspective, and in the process reveals the narrow range of options available for "proper" women in the 19th century.
Buckeye, by Patrick Ryan
I love sweeping family sagas - the writing here is gorgeous and the people feel so real!
Recommended by Patt
Dodger, by Terry Pratchett
I "discovered" Terry Pratchett earlier this autumn. I am now a confirmed "Discworld" junkie. How's this for a quote: "If there is any kind of supreme being, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior."
Recommended by Rocio
Displacement: A Travelogue, by Lucy Knisley
Lucy Knisley's books and illustrations are always a pleasure. This book deals with a journey she took with her aging, beloved grandparents.
Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection, by Haemin Sunim
Mesmerizing illustrations accompany pages filled with peaceful words from Zen Buddhist, Haemin Sunim.
Recommended by Angie
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
This story follows Gretel, a woman in her 90s who has spent her whole life trying to outrun her family’s past. The story moves between her childhood and her present day, and it’s written in a way that’s easy to fall into (I read it in one afternoon!). It’s emotional, tense, and makes you think about guilt, responsibility, and what it means to live with something terrible you can’t change. It’s well-told and it pulled me in right away!
Sociopath by Patric Gagne
I really loved this book. It’s straightforward, honest, and eye-opening. Gagne talks about her life in a way that feels real and not dramatic or overdone. She explains what it’s like to live with emotions that don’t work the way most people expect, and she does it without asking for pity or making excuses. What I liked most is that it made me think about people differently. It challenged the usual stereotypes and showed a more human, complicated side of what “sociopathy” can actually look like. The writing is clear, the stories are interesting, and I found myself wanting to keep reading just to understand her better. Overall, it’s one of those books that sticks with you because it’s honest and makes you see the world in a new way.
The tension rises when Escape Road throws unpredictable twists that demand sharp reflexes and perfect control under pressure.