2025 is racing towards its end, but before we cross into 2026, I want to take some time to reflect on the year behind me. While the final number will probably be more, at the time of writing this I have read a total of 55 books in 2025. There were some reading low points, but, overall, I had a really great reading year. According to my StoryGraph stats, my average rating was 4.06.
In all fairness, I did re-read a fair number of books this year, so most of them were guaranteed 5-star reads. However, the majority of the books I read this year were first-time reads for me.
These are some first-time reads that I loved this year, in order of when I read them:
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
This is the third book in the Rome, Kentucky series by Sarah Adams, and it was an instant hit for me. I have loved every single book I’ve read by this author so far, but this series has a particular spot in my heart. There’s something about her writing that just makes me giggle and kick my feet, and I love every second of it. I re-read the first two books before reading this, and with the next (and final) installation of the series coming out on December 30, 2025, I’ll be re-reading the entire series again in preparation. Am I insane? Possibly. But that’s just how much I love this series.
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
I was not prepared for how much I would love this book. I picked it up from my local public library on a whim, and it hit me like a truck — in the best way. The writing was beautiful and captivating, and the characters felt so real that my heart broke alongside theirs. It was tragic, but also cathartic in a lot of ways. I want to read more by this author, but I’m holding off for a bit because I prefer long breaks between emotional books. Her next book comes out in March 2026, though, and I already have it preordered. If you want more details and thoughts about this book, I wrote this article diving deeper into it.
There, There by Tommy Orange
Despite specifically preferring long breaks between emotional books, I did not take long to pick up this book after Promise Me Sunshine. It had been on my radar for a while, and when I saw it at my local public library, I went ahead and grabbed it — also on a whim. I knew that it would be a deep read, but I wasn’t expecting it to impact me the way that it did. It’s hard to put into words, but I did my best in this article. This is another author that I want to read more by.
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
A friend of mine recommended this book soon after its publication, but it took me a couple of months to actually pick it up. Once again, I picked it up on a whim. I was on a trip to disconnect, and I naturally found myself at a bookstore. I was in the mood for a fantasy, but I didn’t want to read anything too heavy or anything that was a part of a series. I am so glad that this happened to come to mind, and that I decided to pick it up. It was exactly what I was wanting, with it being light enough to be relaxing but deep enough to keep me engrossed.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The trend continues, with this book also having been picked up on a whim! I absolutely loved the Hunger Games trilogy when I was younger, but I never picked up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes when it came out; something about it just didn’t catch my eye. When Sunrise on the Reaping came out, I wasn’t planning on picking it up because I wasn’t in the mood for a dystopian book, but I kept seeing it online. It was emotionally devastating, but so well-written. I am so excited to re-read all of the books next year before the movie comes out!
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
This may have been my favorite new book of the year — and it was also picked up on a whim. Naturally. This was a slower read than I expected, not because it was boring, but because there was something about the writing, story, and characters that made me want to savor every bit of it. It was heartwarming for most of it, with some heartbreaking for balance, of course. Kindness and humanity played big roles in the story, and it left me wanting to be a better person, a softer and more generous person. I have recommended it to everyone I know, and this is a book that I will inevitably re-read multiple times in my life.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Breaking the streak, I did not pick this book up on a whim. After reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I proceeded to put all of her books on my TBR. I’m getting through them at a snail’s pace, though, because they are dense and emotional reads. I love the apparent research that she puts into her novels, and I’m two for two in having new perspectives on historical events that I thought I was familiar with. I love how deeply her books make me think and feel, and this one was no different. The Four Winds takes place during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, and it’s a completely different experience to read a historical fiction book set during that time versus just reading about it in a textbook. It sparked an interest in that time period that I plan on exploring at some point.
The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island by Linda Greenlaw
I likely never would have picked up this book on my own, given my general disinterest in nonfiction and the fact that it’s a memoir from a person I wasn’t familiar with at all. A friend recommended it for me when I visited Maine this year, though, and I am so, so glad that I actually listened to them. Linda Greenlaw has the type of writing voice that feels like you’re talking to a friend, and it’s a wonder that she makes so much information sound interesting, while making it easy to digest. After finishing this book, I had to restrain myself from buying every book she’s written. I still plan on reading them all at some point, but in moderation.
I was lucky enough to have a great year of reading, so this is only a portion of the great books I read, but I would absolutely recommend all of them. Feel free to share of your favorite reads of 2025 in the comments!
Thank you for exploring with us! Until next time, may the pages and paths ahead of you be great.
