Miss Amy Rae's 2025 Book FavesLike this list

25 items

• The Bog Wife

  Chronister, Kay

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  The plot of this book might sound typical - an isolated family's world falls apart after its patriarch dies of cancer - but it's shot through with magical realism that keeps you guessing right through the final pages. An eerie and compelling…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Pinecone!

  Yoon, Helen

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  Helen Yoon's picture books are always hilarious, but this chaotic story of a parent, child, and rowdy dog is especially fun.

• The Fairy Dogfather

  Day, Alexandra

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  A rare Alexandra Day book with words, The Fairy Dogfather is my first five-star read of the year. Begs to be read aloud (make sure you give the dog a Jimmy Durante voice).

• Critical Role

  Vox Machina Origins. Vol. 2

  Houser, Jody

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  The barbarian from a fantasy mercenary group goes missing...and when they find him, they'll have to go on a wild quest to patch him up. While there are now several Vox Machina comics collected in trades (all of which I've read this year), I think…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Unbound

  the Life and Art of Judith Scott

  Scott, Joyce (Joyce Wallace), 1943-

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  It's hard to write a biography of a non-verbal person, but Joyce Scott's picture book is a moving tribute to her twin sister, the outsider artist Judith Scott. Unbound tackles difficult subjects - the ways society has failed disabled people,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Ranger

  Vo, Nancy,

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  Nancy Vo's series of picture-book westerns, set in an ambiguous 19th-century time and place, are unlike any other books on the market. In this one, a cowgirl called Annie makes friends - eventually - with a raccoon. Be sure to read The Outlaw and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Cat Way

  Lundberg, Sara,

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  A girl and her cat always talk walks the girl's way. One day, that changes. This Norwegian picture book is quiet and full of small wonders, as two friends learn to appreciate each other more deeply.

• I Need Pants!

  Sweet, Susan D.,

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  If you like Mo Willems, you'll love this silly book about clothing for fish. Trust me.

• Yellowface

  Kuang, R. F. (Rebecca F.)

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  A compulsively readable novel for anyone who loves an unreliable narrator. R.F. Kuang blends thriller, cultural commentary, and threads of horror through this story of a writer who can't stop justifying why she built her career off a dead girl's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Ruin of a Rake

  Sebastian, Cat

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  Julian Medlock has agreed to help Lord Courtenay, a Byronian rakehell, repair his reputation. As they fall in love, however, one of Medlock's secrets threatens to come between them. Charming and fast-paced for any Regency romance fan.

• How to Sell a Haunted House

  Hendrix, Grady

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  How to Sell a Haunted House pulls together generational trauma and goofy subcultures into a possession story that managed to make my heart ache even as I was laughing. This book succeeds on the fact that Grady Hendrix understands why people are…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bright Red Fruit

  Elhillo, Safia,

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  Samira, longing for more freedom than her strict mother will allow, becomes involved with a poet she meets online. Bright Red Fruit is the smartest adaptation of Hades and Persephone to come out in years, filled with gorgeous lines and painfully…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Annihilation

  Nakamura, Fuminori, 1977-

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  What does it mean to be alive? How fragile is the concept of "you" in a world of hypnosis and electro-convulsive therapy? An eerie, twisty literary novel that mixes horror and noir.

• Cheese Belongs to You!

  Deacon, Alexis

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  A hilarious approach to discussing the idea of "might makes right."

• Can You Imagine?

  the Art and Life of Yoko Ono

  Tolin, Lisa

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  A sensitively written story about one of the most maligned artists of the late 20th century. Beautifully characterized, beautifully illustrated.

• Dance Fast

  Cribbins, AR,

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  A story that will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled with perfectionism. It's hard not to be charmed by Bizzy and her warm, supportive family.

• I Am on Indigenous Land

  Phillips, Katrina M.

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  A simple, resonant reminder of the many nations that make up this land. Includes a shoutout to Wisconsin Dells!

• Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta

  Lucido, Aimee,

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  A rhythmic, rhyming delight with a funny ending.

• Boy Here, Boy There

  Groenink, Chuck,

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  A superb picture book about a Neanderthal child's late afternoon walk. Young children will love the simple language and beautiful illustrations; older readers will see how impeccably researched it is.

• The Most Boring Book Ever

  Sanderson, Brandon

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  Simple text paired with vivid illustrations makes for an hysterical introduction to irony for children.