Welcome to our yearly Recap Book Chat Awards for the year 2025.Most whimsical: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – Its dreamy, childlike philosophical tale of a young prince traveling planets, full of wonder, imagination, and gentle absurdity, captures pure whimsy more than any other on the list. BFG and Much Ado About Nothing also fit this category.Grittiest: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Depicting extreme poverty, injustice, prison brutality, prostitution, child suffe...
Welcome to our yearly Recap Book Chat Awards for the year 2025.
Most whimsical: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – Its dreamy, childlike philosophical tale of a young prince traveling planets, full of wonder, imagination, and gentle absurdity, captures pure whimsy more than any other on the list. BFG and Much Ado About Nothing also fit this category.
Grittiest: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Depicting extreme poverty, injustice, prison brutality, prostitution, child suffering, and revolutionary violence in raw detail, it unflinchingly explores human misery and societal cruelty.
Most unique format: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Vol. 1 or 2) – Written entirely as witty, personal diary entries from a quirky Victorian-era heroine, this journal style stands out distinctly among traditional narratives, plays, and prose.
Best opening line: The Green Ember by S.D. Smith “Heather had invented the game, but Picket made it magic.”
Most unpredictable: The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner – Filled with shocking twists involving deception, bigamy, and survival amid the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, its plot revelations keep readers guessing.
Most intense: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon-Family killed in front of her, captured by Indians, yet in love with an Indian man.
Most impactful in society: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – A monumental critique of social injustice that influenced reforms, human rights discourse, and popular culture worldwide through adaptations highlighting redemption and inequality.
Most creative: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Inventing an entire mythology, languages, maps, and world (Middle-earth) showcases unparalleled imaginative world-building.
Best leading lady: Emmalyne Knox from The Quarryman’s Bride by Tracie Peterson – Intelligent, resilient, compassionate, dealing with trauma from loss of sisters, home and betrothed.
Best leading man: Aragorn from The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien. Brave warrior, wise strategist, skilled healer, humble leader, stoic strength and empathy. Aragorn demonstrates a balanced masculinity free of pettiness, unjust anger or despair. He epitomizes patience and loyalty beyond today’s imagination!
Best ending: Ferris by Kate Dicamillo, what a beautiful story of reconciliation and community, Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle ends with her teaching her daughter to navigate the dragons (aka mean girls) in life.
Changed our lives: Seeing the Unseen by Joe Beam, preparing yourself for Spiritual Warfare along with the bishop in Les Miserables whose kindness changed Jean Valjean’s life!
Stands the test of time: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Decades later, it remains a cultural cornerstone, influencing fantasy and enduring as a beloved classic.
Best overall book: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Masterful storytelling, rich themes of friendship, heroism, and good vs. evil, combined with enduring influence and depth, make it a standout masterpiece. Happy New Year dear readers!!!
