Besides getting access to our digital magazine and a wealth of archived content, BookBrowse members can take part in our First Impressions reader review program and book club discussions year-round. In 2025, we discussed or will discuss more than 35 books in our community forum, and we featured nearly 50 titles in First Impressions. Below, we look at some of the books that generated the most enthusiastic and intriguing discussion and that were the most highly rated and positively reviewed. We hope you enjoy browsing through them and find some perfect picks for your TBR or your own book club discussion list.
We also invite you to follow along with or contribute to our discussions and First Impressions reviews in 2026. Members can request free books for review and discussion as they become available, and anyone can participate in the forum. Sign up for a one-time notification to receive an alert when a discussion begins. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Favorite First Impressions Features of 2025
When the Cranes Fly South: A Novel
by Lisa Ridzén
Paperback Aug 2025. 320 pages
Published by Vintage
“The novel centers on Bo as he experiences his final days when just about everything he had either slips away or is yanked from him. He remains in his childhood home that he got when his parents died and where he and his wife raised their son, Hans. Only now Bo lives there alone, his dignity long surrendered to carers who tell him when and what to eat and strip him down for showers. His wife suffers from dementia and is living in nursing facility. Sometimes she remembers and sometimes she doesn’t. Throughout the novel he talks to her as he relives moments of their life together. Then there is his dog, Sixten, who provides him with comfort. But his son insists Bo can no longer care for the dog and must give him up. And then there is Bo’s longtime best friend who also approaches the end of life. Patched together, the various chapters of Bo’s final days present a rather morbid story. Yet, in the end When the Cranes Fly South proves to be reassuring and generates in each of us a reexamination of our life stories.” —Joshua M. (Westfield, NJ)
“I finished it in a little over a day with a good cry. I’m ready to read it again…Ms. Ridzén is so into the feelings of both sides of this issue. Taking care of the elderly. And loss of choice as you age. Make this your next book club read.” —Katherine H. (Indianapolis, IN)
“This story will tug at your heartstrings, make you stomping mad, and then have you smiling only to lead you through those emotions again. Wonderful!” —Julia B. (San Antonio, TX)
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Hardcover Apr 2025. 368 pages
Published by Berkley Books
“Nikki doesn’t have any idea of her family’s past. Her mother is estranged from her grandmother so she never had the opportunity to hear any details of her family’s origins. Then she receives a call from her grandmother to come for a visit. What follows is a story of determination, pride, and perseverance. Perkins-Valdez paints a vivid picture of those post-war years on a mountain in North Carolina and the freed slaves who make it their home…The story is engaging and emotional. I could feel the awe as Nikki discovered her ancestors and their place in the Kingdom of Happy Land. Please read this book! The story is engaging and you may even learn a bit of history. Even if you’re not a fan of historical fiction, I believe you will find this book an excellent read.” —Donna D. (Riverside, IL)
“I don’t usually like novels that have two interconnected stories from two different time periods, but I very much enjoyed this novel, and it was easy for me to follow…I will be recommending this book to my book club and will read other books by this author.” —Louise E. (Ocean View, DE)
“This is a wonderfully written historical novel with complex characters who had me rooting for them from page one…I adore historical fiction based on real events, especially those like the Kingdom of the Happy Land, which would be lost to history without writers like Dolen Perkins-Valdez bringing these stories to life.” —Angela W. (Shelby Township, MI)
The Dream Hotel: A Novel
by Laila Lalami
Hardcover Mar 2025. 336 pages
Published by Pantheon Books
“Sara lives with her husband and twin babies. Sleep disturbance in new motherhood—she has a job, too—has made it impossible for her to stay on top of things in her waking life. Exhaustion has taken over. She agrees to an implant from a technology firm, and as we typically do, Sara scans the terms of service agreement rather than eyeballing the details. Shit happens, and she ends up being ‘retained,’ as they say—’not imprisoned’ as they say, in a facility she can’t leave freely until they decide to release her. Bad food, low water, strict rules that amplify feelings of confinement, and random petty violations that the not-jailers say retainees did all ensure extended stays.” —Betsey V. (Austin, TX)
“It’s a chilling yet captivating look at what could lie ahead. I plan to recommend it to my book club as I think it would lead to very interesting discussion.” —Lisa G. (Port Washington, NY)
“Once I started reading it, I was so riveted I could barely tear myself away…The Dream Hotel is filled with the questions that matter: In our quest to embrace the latest sophisticated technology to make us safer, are we losing that very element that makes us most human? Can true freedom only be written in the company of others, those courageous enough to fight back and say ‘no’?” —Jill S. (Durham, NC)
Raising Hare: A Memoir
by Chloe Dalton
Paperback Mar 3, 2026. 304 pages
Published by Vintage
“When author Chloe Dalton decamps from London to her country home to wait out the Covid lockdown, she has no idea her sojourn will result in writing an exquisite memoir about a relationship with a wild hare. In Raising Hare, she chronicles coming across a newborn ‘leveret’ (baby hare) while on a walk in the meadow. Fearing for its life, she moves past her reservations and takes it home. From the beginning, Dalton knows the tiny creature, though in need of care, should not be treated as a pet, and as such, refuses to give it a name. Her instinct to provide it nourishment and shelter leads to a miraculous opportunity to live with and learn from a wild creature and gain a new appreciation of the natural world around her.” —Linda A. (Sherman Oaks, CA)
“Relationships require work and cooperation. The author shows how we can live in peace and harmony with the world around us…I recommend this book to those who love nature or are concerned about our path going forward.” —Windell H. (Rock Hill, SC)
“It is a very involving book that I couldn’t put down, and though I didn’t read it in a ‘sitting, still it hovered in my consciousness for the three days I pondered and was enriched by it. I think the lasting effects of this book will be experienced for many years.” —Kassapa (Minneapolis, MN)
Our Best Book Club Discussions of 2025
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Paperback May 2025. 400 pages
Published by Berkley Books
From the Jacket
A propulsive, extraordinary novel about a mother and her daughters’ harrowing escape to Taiwan as the Communist revolution sweeps through China, by debut author Eve J. Chung, based on her family story.
From the Discussion
“What resonated was the focus on the resilience of the human spirit, particularly the strength exhibited by the women in the face of adversity. Their story highlights the personal impact of historical events and explores themes of familial bonds and adaptation. The novel serves as a reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring capacity for survival and rebuilding in the aftermath of displacement. While this was not an easy read, in the end I loved the book and will look forward to more books by the author.” —Cherryl_Valenzuela
“I haven’t read a book that I enjoyed this much in a long time. I really enjoy sagas and this one was hard to beat. The writing was absolutely beautiful and I felt like I was right there with Hai and her family.” —Dixie_C
“I read Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden featured several years ago…The subject was a similar view into life in China at this same time in history. Great book club choices!” —Carol_Sullivan
About the book | View discussion
Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray
Paperback Mar 2025. 544 pages
Published by Berkley Books
From the Jacket
New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic new novel about an American heroine, Frances Perkins.
From the Discussion
“I found this book very engaging! I had heard of Frances Perkins but had no in-depth knowledge of her. As I read Becoming Madam Secretary, I felt I was getting an interesting and insightful look at history, finally giving credit to a woman who never got enough credit in the history classes I took! Since I am retired and receiving social security, I am so very grateful for the role she played in putting social security in place! I will definitely be sharing this book within my circle of friends who are readers.” —Shirl
“This was so darn good. It’s not only incredibly interesting historically. But it’s also so well written. It just grabs you from page 1.” —Lloyd_R
“My book club read this book and it was a big win. What was really exciting to see was those members in their 30s that learned about a woman they never knew about.” —Dee_Driscole
About the book | View discussion
The Jackal’s Mistress: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian
Mar 2025. 336 pages
Published by Doubleday
From the Jacket
In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger, from the New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical fiction as Hour of the Witch and The Sandcastle Girls.
From the Discussion
“Bohjalian provides readers with a great deal to contemplate about war, the costs of war, the Civil War in particular, racism, and social structures. He gives insight into the different ways his characters see the world and respond to their circumstances…It would make an excellent choice for a book club because there is much to discuss and debate.” —Janie-Hickok-Siess
“The Jackal’s Mistress is a superbly written and exhaustively researched Civil War novel set in northern Virginia. This exciting book has great character development and an interesting plot. The main characters are extremely likable, and there are plenty of villains to offset them.” —John_A
“It was a very moving period piece, really feeling the impact of what it was like living during this war in this geographic area.” —Lisa_Siebert
About the book | View discussion
The Frozen River: A Novel
by Ariel Lawhon
Paperback Nov 2024. 448 pages
Published by Vintage
From the Jacket
From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.
From the Discussion
“I loved the book, could not put it down. The character development, the plot, the information about midwifery, the murder mystery, the drive for justice—even the quotes from Shakespeare…This is a book club gem—soooo much to discuss!” —Susan_W
“I totally enjoyed the story and most important, I was very fond of the main character Martha Ballard. The writing proved enjoyable and the novel reminded me somewhat of Cold Mountain. This book was a welcome distraction with a message of family, pride in your work and empathy for other women.” —Mary_H1
“I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction but this book was phenomenal. I had never heard of Martha Ballard and thought she was incredible—so strong and brave but with such a human side. The description of life then was so interesting.” —Candace_Broman
