ICYMI: Most Popular Posts in 2025
- Brandi Bradley
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Part of the reflective experience is learning what information I am providing here on this website that relates most to the Books and Boots Blog.
I started Books and Boots back in 2022 when I needed a space where I was regularly writing and posting content for whoever is interested in my process in writing, editing, publishing, and promoting my work.
When I started, I was not going to indie route, so that process has been exciting and full of forward momentum, which is why I have absolutely no regrets. I have also knuckled down on my genre, which is southern noir. This means I am now documenting what I am learning through my research in true crime, mysteries, and noirs.
Each day, I have new visitors to the Books and Boots Blog. And I am always surprised to which posts get the most responses and while ones are overlooked.
Here are the most popular posts on the Books and Books Blog in 2025
Best TV Shows for Aspiring Writers : This post was actually written to appease an observation on my search queries. People were looking for suggestions for TV shows for writers and it got me thinking about fictional representations of writers who are doing the work. Check out my short list!
The virtues of The Residence’s Cordelia Cupp and other locked room mystery detectives : I loved The Residence, and the beauty of streaming is new people are discovering this show everyday and want to read more about it. The Locked Room mystery is increasingly popular right now with The Residence, the new Knives Out mystery Wake Up Dead Man, and the many reboots and adaptations of Agatha Christie mysteries on Netflix and Prime. I recently introduced my boys to the Kenneth Branagh directed Agatha Christie movies because --despite their many flaws-- they are perfect mysteries to watch with the family without too much discomfort.
What I learned watching Poker Face on Peacock : Okay. So I am incredibly bummed that Poker Face was cancelled. I love Rian Johnson. I love Charlie Cale. I love an unexpected detective. It was hitting all the marks for me, and while they imagine rebooting it with Peter Dinklage, I can't imagine it will be the same.
And while it's great to see the numbers on these posts grow, there are so many others on the blog that were so much fun to write but don't get the same attention. My best friend told me these posts scare people off because they look too much like homework. It's okay. I flexed a little bit this year and I liked what I had to say about some of the things I observed through my research.
My favorite Books and Boots posts this year:
The Value of Bad Book Reviews : I was reviewed by a lot of readers this year. Some were wonderful and complementary, and others were scathing. And the feeling was like having a parent or teacher yell at me. But I got past it and lived to tell the tale. Many writers never publish anything because of their fear of being criticized, but bad reviews do have a purpose and after I recovered a little, I realized how important they are.
Thirst Trap and Other True Crime Objects of Desire : I had no intention of watching the Paramount + documentary Thirst Trap, but I found myself sucked in despite myself. I had a very Louise Belcher response to this influencer, like I recognized the attraction to the point of mild violence. But I was also witnessing this obvious double standard when compared to another similar case where an influencer drove another fan to actual hideous violence. In both stories the documentarians wanted to pose the men as victims: women are either sirens or cougars.
The Pretty Little Liars forum puts the Unknown Number culprit on block : I will admit, this post was self-indulgent. But it's my blog and if I want to try to make fetch happen, I can do that. It combined two things I love, true crime docs and hot takes on the Pretty Little Liars Reddit forum. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is a true crime doc where the act of watching it will have you declaring all the ways that everyone screwed up -- the cops, the parents, and sadly ... the teens involved. And then when the reveal happens, the culprit is allowed to justify their actions. When I listened to the recap of the doc on True Crime Obsessed, the two hosts got into a spirited debate about whether a documentary should even bother allowing the culprit to speak and the lack of experts, therapists, or other professionals who can explain catfishing behavior. I was more interested in the complicated act of forgiveness and who should and can be forgiven by society who is absorbing this story for entertainment.
For new posts, be sure to check in on Thursdays, or for a recap of posts, sign up for my newsletter which includes updates on events, exclusive content, and my monthly Currently Loving List. Sign up at brandibradley.com/newsletter
And in case you have not checked it out yet, be sure to read Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder, a mystery about secrets and lies in a small town.
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