FFF Day 6: Top Books of 2025

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the last day of FFF. This week has been such a blast! I’ve enjoyed talking with y’all about some of my favorite books, and I’ve enjoyed getting a bunch of new books on my TBR.

Here’s the final list of links to the blogs on my team:

Rebekah @ Read Another Page

Bethany @ A Ruby In The Rough

Cate @ Southern Scribblings

Ellie @ Ellie’s Book Haven

Rhys @ A Handful of Quietness

Savannah @ Savannah Jane Author

On this last day of FFF, I get to share some of my favorite books of 2025!

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Awakened in Another War by Lydia Coral Willcock

He lost everything yesterday, but yesterday wasn’t yesterday at all.

“Raynard Miller is still reeling from the shock of losing his family and home when he wakes up in a dark, unfamiliar forest, dressed in the wrong uniform with no clue how he got there. As Ray deals with adjusting to a changed world and new allegiances, memories long forgotten resurface — and with them comes a startling realisation of present danger. Ray soon discovers that those in authority are not prepared to hear his story, and he knows then that his life and the safety of his company are under threat. But where can he turn when the only person who believes him is someone he doesn’t even remember and who he would have shot as an enemy?

With his past and present a confused jumble, and his life feeling like something belonging to a stranger, can Ray move past the missing memories and stop a disaster before he and those around him end up dead?”

I had the privilege of beta-reading this book before it was published in an anthology and proofreading it when it was expanded to be published on its own. It’s such a great story that I look forward to reading again and again.

I love the way the amnesia trope is done, with Ray’s memory not completely wiped but just enough missing to make the present situation impossible to understand. And James is just the greatest!

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Into the Frozen South by Scout Marr

“This book offers a firsthand account of a remarkable voyage to the Antarctic, recounting the experiences of a young Scout who joined Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1921 expedition aboard the “Quest.” The author, a young man at the time, vividly details the challenges and triumphs of life at sea, from the initial excitement of leaving England to the harsh realities of battling storms and seasickness.

He provides intimate glimpses into the daily routines of the crew, their camaraderie, and the rigorous demands of polar exploration. His narrative captures the spirit of adventure that captivated young Britons in the wake of the First World War, highlighting the allure of the unknown and the desire to contribute to a larger purpose.

The book is a testament to the enduring fascination with the Antarctic and the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity. The author’s unfiltered perspective offers a unique and captivating insight into the world of Antarctic exploration.”

This is a true story, but it reads more like an adventure story. It’s the story of a young Scottish Boy Scout who wins a competition and is chosen to accompany Sir Ernest Shackleton on one of his Antarctic expeditions. I’ve read other books about Antarctic exploration, but this one is unique in that it’s written from the perspective of a newcomer to the Polar regions. While sad in parts, particularly when the Boss dies of a heart attack, it’s also got excitement, danger, and humor. Soccer on pack ice with a penguin, anyone?

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The Daisy Chain by Charlotte Mary Yonge

“Meet the Mays, the endearing family at the heart of The Daisy Chain by Charlotte Mary Yonge. This inviting Victorian novel welcomes you into the cozy world of the May family as they navigate the emotional and moral complexities of life after a sudden family tragedy. With each family member grappling with their own dreams, moral dilemmas, and questions about responsibility, you’ll find it easy to see a bit of yourself in these timeless characters.

The story skillfully addresses themes such as responsibility, compassion, and the pursuit of personal aspirations. More than just a glimpse into Victorian society, this book serves as a rich source of enduring lessons on family dynamics and personal growth.”

This is an interesting family saga, that follows the Mays through many hardships, joys, and sorrows. It has endearing characters and good lessons. Since the author was high-church, I don’t agree with all of her theology, but it’s still a very worthwhile book to read.

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Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies by Janet and Geoff Benge

“Three thousand feet above China, it was Jake’s turn to jump. He slid his pistol, knife, and ration packets into the pockets of his leather jacket and edged toward the open hatch of the B-52 bomber. He checked the tension on the harness of his parachute, made sure the handle of the ripcord was free, and then began lowering himself out of the hatch and into the darkness.

One of the famous Doolittle Raiders who first attacked Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jacob DeShazer knew this one-way mission was dangerous. Indeed, it led to his capture as a prisoner of war. Beaten, malnourished, and alone in his cell, Jacob was given a Bible – and far away from home, this American soldier became a Christian. After the war, Jacob returned to japan and served his former enemy for thirty years as a missionary. His testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation – of love over hate – inspires a powerful gospel message for our lives today.”

This is a powerful biography about an amazing man. It is incredible how God changed him from a man who hated the Japanese into a man who loved them and was willing to spend his life sharing the Gospel with them. There are some hard parts when he was in prison, but God was faithful through each and every hardship he endured. This is a very inspiring book!

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Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

“Tricked by the uncle who has stolen his inheritance, young David Balfour is kidnapped and bound for America. Or at least that was the plan, until the ship runs into trouble and David is rescued by Alan Breck Stewart, fugitive Jacobite and, by his own admission, a ‘bonny fighter’. Balfour, a canny lowlander, finds an echo of some wilder and more romantic self in the wilful and courageous Highland spirit of Alan Breck. A strange and difficult friendship is born, as their adventures begin.

Kidnapped has become a classic of historical romance the world over and is justly famous as a novel of travel and adventure in the Scottish landscape. Stevenson’s vivid descriptive powers were never better than in his account of remote places and dangerous action in the Highlands in the years after Culloden.”

I loved reading this book, and I imagine I’ll be reading it again in the not-too-distant future! I love all the Scottishness: the speech, the scenery, the post-Jacobite war setting, the clan rivalries. And I love the characters! I think this book has some language, but I’m not sure how much since I was reading an edited e-book.

And those were my final books to recommend for FFF. Have you read any of them? Which ones look the most interesting?

Don’t forget to check out Kate’s and Rebekah’s blogs for more book recs and the full list of all of the participating bloggers. Today’s the special day when various bloggers are giving away free books on their websites, so you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss any!