As we begin 2025, the Champlain Library team has been reflecting on the books we loved last year. Whether they made us smile, think, or stay up way too late reading, these are the stories that stuck with us. Read on for summaries of our top five picks. Who knows? You might just find your first great read of the new year!
Counting Miracles, by Nicholas Sparks
Tanner Hughes, an Army Ranger and lifelong adventurer, has always avoided putting down roots. But when his grandmother’s last words urge him to “find where you belong,” he heads to Asheboro, North Carolina, to learn about the father he never knew. There, he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom, sparking an instant connection despite Tanner’s uncertain future.
Nearby, 83-year-old Jasper lives alone with his dog, haunted by a long-ago tragedy. When he hears rumours of a legendary white deer in the forest, he becomes determined to protect it from poachers.
As their lives intersect, none of them expects a miracle—but one may be just around the corner.
The Magic All Around, by Jennifer Moorman
The Russell women have always lived in a magical Victorian house in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, but Lilith Russell was the exception, leaving home to wander with her daughter, Mattie. When Lilith dies unexpectedly, Mattie returns to Ivy Ridge and discovers her mother left behind a series of unusual tasks she must complete to earn her inheritance, with her aunt Penelope overseeing the process.
As Mattie tackles tasks like throwing a Halloween party and sharing secrets, she begins to uncover her mother’s mysteries, including the identity of her father and the truth behind the Russell family’s magical gifts. Along the way, she reconnects with Penelope and crosses paths with Jonathan Carlisle, her first love, who has also returned to town. Through Lilith’s final wishes, Mattie may finally find where she belongs.
All The Colors of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.
When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.
Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.
A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, and a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the alarming rise in adolescent mental illness since the early 2010s, marked by soaring rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm. He traces this epidemic to the decline of “play-based childhood” and the emergence of a “phone-based childhood,” detailing how factors like social media, sleep deprivation, and perfectionism have disrupted children’s social and neurological development.
Haidt explores why social media harms girls more than boys and why boys are retreating into virtual worlds, with profound consequences for society. He concludes with actionable steps for parents, educators, and policymakers to combat this crisis and restore a healthier, more balanced childhood.
Lula Dean’s Library of Banned Books, by Kirsten Miller
Beverly Underwood and her nemesis, Lula Dean, have lived in Troy, Georgia, their entire lives. Now, Beverly serves on the school board while Lula, a self-proclaimed crusader, is on a mission to purge the public library of “inappropriate” books she’s never read. To replace them, Lula sets up her own lending library filled with what she deems “worthy” literature.
Unbeknownst to Lula, a mischievous local swaps her collection with banned books—classics, gay romances, Black history, and more—leading to unexpected transformations for her neighbours. As tensions rise and Lula and Beverly vie for the mayoral seat, the truth about Lula’s library comes to light, sparking a showdown that will shake the town and its residents forever.
