Rita Reads: August 2025 Roundup📚✨

👋 Hi friends,

My name is Rita and I’m an avid retirement reader. I usually finish about 70 books a year, and I wanted to start this newsletter after a friend (thank you, Lisa!) suggested I share my book recommendations. With my daughter Margaret’s help, I’m excited to send you my monthly reading roundup. I hope you find a new favorite book here!

Happy reading,

Allen Levi grew up in Columbus, GA. He earned degrees in English and Law from the University of Georgia and worked as an attorney before becoming a songwriter, storyteller, and blogger. Theo of Golden was self-published in 2023 and grew in popularity thanks to word-of-mouth.

I loved this book. It’s my #1 read of 2025 so far! I first discovered it in Book Page Magazine (a free gem at my local library).

Levi’s writing is beautiful, and the story took me on an emotional journey filled with kindness, compassion, generosity, and even a few happy tears.

The novel follows Theo, a kind elderly man who moves to Golden, GA. At a coffee shop, he finds 92 pencil portraits of townspeople, drawn by local artist Asher Glissen. Theo begins gifting these portraits to their subjects — sparking curiosity, suspicion, and ultimately transformation throughout the community.

The central theme: love is essential for anything to be truly good. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Theo’s mission, making the book a moving, heartwarming experience. The best part? The story will continue in Ellen of Golden (release date TBD).

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author, blogger, and columnist who grew up in Helsingborg, Sweden. He is married with two children. Best known for his international bestseller A Man Called Ove, Backman has written over a dozen beloved novels that explore themes of family, friendship, and loss.

I’ve read four of Fredrik Backman’s books, and they never disappoint. What I love most is his writing style — the way his characters’ dialogue bounces back and forth with wit, depth, and his trademark dry humor.

In My Friends, Backman tells the deeply moving story of four childhood friends, each shaped by difficult backgrounds that made them outcasts. Decades later, a painting resurfaces and changes not only their lives but also someone else’s future in an unexpected way.

This book made me laugh and cry, but ultimately, it felt like a warm hug. It reminded me of the enduring power of friendship and the beauty of human connection.

Adriana Trigiani is a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, director, and producer. Three of her novels — Big Stone Gap, Very Valentine, and Then Came You — have been adapted into motion pictures.

She grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and graduated from St. Mary’s College in Indiana. Today, she lives in New York City’s West Village. Trigiani’s work is often inspired by her Italian-American heritage and Appalachian upbringing. While traveling in Italy, she spends time in Lake Como, which served as the inspiration for this novel.

I’ve always loved Adriana Trigiani’s books! Maybe it’s because, as a northern New Jersey girl, I grew up surrounded by Italian families and had many Italian girlfriends through school. Her characters feel so familiar.

Trigiani’s themes are always centered on love, family bonds, and strong women finding their place in the world. In this book, the main character, Jess (Giuseppina) Capodimonte Baratta, is newly divorced and back living in her parents’ basement in Lake Como, New Jersey (yes, there is one near Belmar on the Shore!).

Jess is lost and searching for herself. She subscribes to an online therapy app, works in the family marble business run by her Uncle Louie, and is invited to Italy to see the marble quarries and the town where her grandparents once lived. But before the trip, family secrets are exposed, leaving Jess questioning everything she thought she knew. Ultimately, she discovers that true happiness comes from building a life that’s authentic to her.

This was a funny and heartfelt novel that often made me laugh out loud. Trigiani’s characters are so vivid that I felt like I knew them personally, and I wished I had a seat at the Capodimonte family’s Sunday dinner table.

My only small criticism: I wish the author had shared more detail about Jess and Bobby’s divorce, which felt a little underexplored.

Check out some of my other book ratings from the month. Although I mostly read fiction this summer, I’m looking forward to introducing more mysteries and thrillers to my reading list as we head into the fall.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the books I’ll be reading next. Plus, you can follow me on Goodreads to keep up with my latest ratings.

If you enjoyed this month’s reviews and ratings, forward this email to a friend who loves books and tell them to subscribe using the button below. If you received this first email, you’re already subscribed and will get your next reading roundup on September 29th.

Thanks for spending a little of your time with me. I hope these stories, recommendations, and little literary detours brought a smile to your day or even inspired your next great read. Keep turning those pages and sharing the joy of books with someone you love. Until next time!