We’re a quarter of the way into 2025 and I’ve listened to five audiobooks so far. I’m getting through them way faster than physical books and it’s made me realise that this year is all about the plot. Give me exciting crime-thrillers and all-encompassing fantasies. I need up’s and down’s – something to keep me interested and prevent me scrolling on social media. So, if this sounds like a bit of you, keep reading for some great recommendations. You’ll see ‘twists’ mentioned in most of these reviews because I believe surprise is crucial to a novel. It’s a building block of story-forward-curiosity. Surprise the reader so they want to find out what happens next. Reach out on IG and TikTok (@aminasbookshelf) if you have any recommendations for plot-heavy books full of twists and turns. Because lord knows I need them!
The Plot: ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ is a contemporary fantasy about witches in the modern world. Friends since childhood, four witches are reeling from a magical civil war that tore their group apart. Linked by HMRC – a covert government department – Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may be dealing with all the conventional aspects of contemporary womanhood, but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven. But when a young warlock with extra-ordinary powers is captured by HMRC, the friends are thrust back together as they decide where their loyalties lie.
Rating: I adored this novel. First and foremost, this book has a great plot. The twists and turns kept me hooked and I couldn’t stop listening. I had so many ‘gasp’ moments as the author took the story in different directions. Secondly, the wit is as quick as the pacing. The writing style is sharp, funny and relatable – with a strong, distinctive voice for each of the modern female characters in their mid-thirties. Thirdly, the contemporary setting is inclusive without being contrived or didactic. It is clear this is written in response to J.K Rowling and novice authors would be tempted to get carried away, hammering home the message. But in Dawson’s capable hands, the inclusivity feels authentic and natural. In particular, I want to praise the portrayal of Black witches, which realistic and sensitive, rather than being a tokenistic attempt at diversity. Finally, the audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan (from Bridgerton and Derry Girls) and she did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Seriously, she’s so good at accents, I thought it was full-cast.
My only criticism is that I thought they lingered on the Theo storyline for too long, but the ending exploded and brought the story full-circle so I understand the author’s choices. Speaking of the ending… well, I immediately started the next book in the series! Perfect for fans of ‘The Ministry of Time’ by Kaliane Bradley and ‘Our Hidden Gifts’ by Caroline O’Donoghue.
The Plot: ‘The Safekeep’ is a literary, historical novel about desire and obsession. It is 1961, in a quiet, rural Dutch province. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel’s life is routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his new girlfriend Eva to stay. Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. When things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral into a fury-fuelled obsession.
Rating: I didn’t enjoy this book but it’s my own fault. Firstly, I knew I would prefer reading the physical book because it’s a very literary novel. However, I jumped on the audio because it was faster and cheaper. Secondly, I wasn’t in the right headspace to listen to a slow novel but I wanted to join a buddy read with friends. That being said, it is a well-written book and I can see why so many people love it. The unlikeable protagonist coupled with the hot, sweaty, pressure-cooker setting is very evocative. You can tell the writer has honed their craft and many sentences made me stop and think. But, guys, it’s kind of boring. Like, nothing happens for huge swathes of the novel and I predicted the “twists” very early on. It’s slow in every sense of the word. Even the sentences describe how each character picks up a fork and then puts down a fork and then looks to the left and then swivels to the right. It feels so cumbersome. There is an element of personal taste – I just don’t find sexual desire and sex scenes interesting, which is the entire middle part of the novel. It picks up in part three and I enjoyed the ending, but I still think it’d be more powerful as a sub-200page novella. If you’re a fan of Sally Rooney or Ottessa Moshfegh, give it a try. But I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook.
The Plot: ‘Next of Kin’ is a thriller about the death of a child. On an ordinary day at work, Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with panic. His three-year-old son Max is missing. Leila was supposed to drop Max off at nursery that morning. But she forgot. Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. Max has been locked in her car for three hours on the hottest day of the year. She’s too late. Max is dead. And what follows is an explosive, high-profile trial, that will tear the family apart as they discover that there’s more to this incident than meets the eye…
Rating: This exciting court-room drama is perfect for audio. You can easily follow the plot but it’s also gripping, with lots of twists and turns to the story. For me, a good crime-thriller hinges on a moral dilemma the reader can relate to. When listening to this, I couldn’t stop thinking about my nephew (who’s had a few near-misses in his short lifetime). While the story isn’t exactly realistic, it was a good vehicle to reflect on the morally grey history of each character and our perceptions of childless women in society.
The Plot: ‘Pretending’ is contemporary women’s fiction about modern dating and sexual assault. April is a relationship advisor for a youth charity – helping young people with their relationships and mental health. She got into the job after a difficult relationship of her own, but she can’t shake what he did to her. Despite this, she wants to find a new boyfriend yet she can’t seem to get past date five. Then she invents Gretel. Her fake dating profile for “perfect” Gretel makes her exactly what men want. Soon April starts dating the unsuspecting Joshua under her pseudonym ‘Gretel’. Finally, April is the one in control, but as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending?
Rating: This book is fine. There is a strong message about feminism, sexual assault and performative identity in the modern dating world. However, the novel feels so obvious. April hates men and she repeats that sentiment about 50-million times throughout the novel. The misandry is so exaggerated to the point where April stops being a realistic character. I think the author exaggerates this character trait because, otherwise, the book is quite thin. April’s masquerade as Gretel can be quickly addressed and dismissed with one meaningful conversation with Joshua. The author tries to up the tension with April’s declining mental health and job uncertainty, but there’s no real stakes so it feels like basic white feminism full of cliches and unconvincing characters. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book because there’s no subtlety, minimal character journey and a predictable plot.
The Plot: ‘Strong Female Character’ by Fern Brady is a memoir about the comedian’s diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder. Starting as a young child in Scotland, Brady humorously recounts times where she’s felt odd or different to others, with the stories building into a crescendo until she becomes a famous comedian in London and is, after much trying, eventually diagnosed with ASD. From being a teenager on a psych ward to being a stripper while studying at Edinburgh Uni, she seamlessly ties together her life experiences with a core message about women’s neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health.
Rating: I love this five-star audiobook and this was my third listen. As it’s a re-read, I won’t bore you by writing about it again. You can get my full review here.
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