My Favorite Reads of 2025

I read some really incredible books this year — some universally loved, some that felt written specifically for me to read, and some unexpected favorites. For instance, I never thought my top read of the year would be non-fiction (a genre I rarely gravitate toward) and be the last book that I picked up.

As someone who reads a little bit of everything, but falls heavily into the categories of Literary Fiction, Romance, and Thrillers, the 42 books I picked up this year were a bit all over the place. I’ll rank them all from best to worst at the bottom of this piece, but please enjoy my self-imposed superlatives.

Best Love Story: Exit Lane by Erika Verurik & It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard.

I’ve heard both of these novels be compared to When Harry Met Sally, which isn’t far off considering they both have electric will-they-won’t-they storylines that have you hanging on their every word. Where Exit Lane is shorter, more modern, and more realistic, It’s Different This Time is more farfetched and New York-centric. Both are incredible romance reads laced with wit and emotion and I loved every second of them.

Most Fun: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

A ridiculous romp of a novel following two best friends who end up having to navigate the chaos of accidentally becoming vampires. It’s about female friendship, not settling for less than you deserve, and—yes—vampires. It’s funny, a little gory, but still somehow heartfelt. Read it in October and thank me later!

Most Underlineable: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Hilarious and will make you hungry and mad at men. Delicious.

Most Diabolical (Praise): Make Me Famous by Maud Ventura

This was a long-awaited read for me. I absolutely adored her first novel (My Husband) and couldn’t wait to see what she would do with this plotline. Cleo is an internationally renowned singer and she details exactly how she became one — through sheer force of will, complete disregard for others, and at least some real amount of talent. But it all has to come at a cost... Maud Ventura has an excellent knack for crafting unnerving characters that you love to hate, as well as pulsing narratives that have you bracing yourself at every turn. Someone please read this so I can talk to you about it.

Most Diabolical (Derogatory): The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

I really wanted to like this book— It’s historical fiction about a luxury hotel in North Carolina being occupied during WW2. It was also 150 pages too long.

Most Underrated: Seven Summers by Paige Toon

Sorry, I absolutely HATE the cover of this book. I don’t know why. But it does this story such a disservice. Aside from the stellar love story, this book should be promoted by the Cornwall Tourism Bureau because it made me want to pack up my life and move to this cozy beachside English town and never look back. But that’s beside the point — Seven Summers is about two teenagers who fall in love, drift apart, but see each other for a month or so every summer… for seven summers. It’s heart wrenching and tender and if you loved One Day or Talking at Night like I do, pick this one up.

Most Charming: 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I picked this book up in a bookstore ages ago, but didn’t take it home with me. Then when fall was flying by I realized I didn’t have many cozy winter reads at the ready. Then I came across it again via Jack Edwards and had to get my hands on it. So I (fittingly) placed an order from Blackwells and waited.

84 Charing Cross Road is a collection of real postmarked letters between Helene Hanff, a witty and absurd writer from New York, and Frank Doel et al., shopkeepers at Marks & Co. Booksellers in London. Helene started the correspondence by asking for a specific book she couldn’t find in the city, which snowballed into twenty years of letters. Each one is a peek inside life in the post-war world, with mentions of rations and little luxuries that we take for granted every day. The sheer price differences between now and then are astonishing, with most books only costing Helene less than £3.

I really never thought a non-fiction book could mean so much to me. Especially this copy, which also includes "The Duchess of Bloomsbury” which is Helene’s firsthand account of her eventual pilgrimage to England after publishing 84 Charing Cross Road. She dazzles every Englishperson she meets, makes trips to Oxford, discovers the wonders of London that she’s only ever dreamed about, and so much more.

Hearing how much her trip to London meant to her — a feat she so wished to do over the 20 years of writing to Frank but was always delayed by some financial issue or another — and experiencing it all through her eyes made me feel so lucky to share her love of England and have the means to visit it as I please. And, interestingly enough, she so eloquently expressed the split-personality feeling of adoring the UK while also being absolutely enamored with New York.

All of this is to say, I don’t know if this book will hit as hard for everyone, but it sure meant a lot to me. It was my favorite kind of reading experience — clever, insightful, and full of little winks that reminded me that I was meant to pick up this book and feel so much for these people I’ll never meet.

In 2026, I’m aiming to do more personal book reports to help me remember more of why I liked or loved a book, and share some of my favorite quotes. It’s a bit frightening to me how quickly my brain forgets the content I put into it. I want to make a conscious effort to consume intentionally and create more in the new year. The less time spent in front of a screen, the better.

Here’s to another year of great reading!

All of my 2025 reads are linked here on my Bookshop.org profile - shopping with Bookshop.org allows you to support local indie bookstores while book buying online.