I felt like 2024 was a bit of a down reading year for me (both in quality and quantity), but 2025 came in almost dead even with 2024, maybe even a bit lower. But, I FELT better about my 2025 reading despite the slightly lower numbers. I think I’m seeing a trend that years like 2024 and 2025 are actually normal for my reading, they just aren’t the standouts (like 2023). Not every year can be a standout…otherwise it wouldn’t be called a standout. Sad and dark books stood out for me this year (Sad Girl Summer, anyone?!). Even my “light / funny” book (The Road to Tender Hearts) on this list has very dark undertones.
Highlights of my Best Books of 2025
- I picked 11 books this year. One book slid into my Top 10 at the very end of the year and I there wasn’t a book I felt comfortable removing from the list to make room for it. So, the more the merrier!
- 91% Fiction / 9% Nonfiction (it was not a great nonfiction year for me)
- 4 debuts (36%, an increase from last year)
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Best Books of 2025
My #1 Book of 2025
The Elements by John Boyne
The Book Where I’m Separating the Art from the Artist
Most Depraved
Most Brilliantly Constructed
Buy from: Amazon
The Rest of the Best Books of 2025
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Best Genre Mash-Up
The Book I Recommended the Most in 2025
Best Love Triangle
Buy from: Amazon
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
Best Linked Reading Experience (with What Kind of Paradise)
The Book I Re-Rated
Best Book About Technology
Buy from: Amazon
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
Voiciest
The Second Book I Re-Rated
Best Snarky Humor
Most Misbehaved Reverend
Buy from: Amazon
Family of Spies
Best Nonfiction of 2025
Most Shocking Secret Discovered
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The Bright Years
Best Debut
Most Heart-Breaking
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The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
Best Novel Based on a Real Serial Killer
The Book on this List I think Deserves More Attention
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The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Best Example of Sad Girl Summer
Featured Heavily in our Discussion of What Constitutes a Spoiler
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The Road to Tender Hearts
Best Quirky Humor
Best Cat
Most Delightfully Weird
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
The Slip by Lucas Schaefer
Weirdest 5 Star Book I Read this Year
Best Sports Novel that Isn’t Really About Sports
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What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
Best Linked Reading Experience (with Culpability)
The Book I’m Furious I Missed Including in my 2025 Summer Reading Guide
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More Best Books of 2025…
Most Underrated Gems of 2025
Best Debuts of 2025
What were your favorite books of 2025?
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I’m glad you included Culpability. I haven’t seen it on other lists, but I can’t help thinking about it. It will make a great book club selection.
I’m glad go see Broken Country on your list! I loved it too.
I’m hoping to read Broken Country this year! I’m glad to see it made your list for 2025. Happy reading!