My Top Ten Reads of 2025

I had a bit of a reading slump in 2024, but 2025 made up for it. I read a lot of great books from a variety of genres. That made it very difficult to rank them, but I love a ranked list, so I had to try. If you asked on a different day, I might rank them differently, but these ten would always be stand outs.

10

No surprise here, Jesse Q. Sutanto shows up on all of my end-of-year favorites lists. I love how she stayed true to the Vera Wong character but added depth in book two. For more of my thoughts, you can see My Favorite Read of August 2025

9

I’m more of a fantasy reader than science fiction. So, the description of this doesn’t really sound like a book for me. But, Andy Weir’s humor transcends genre. For more of my thoughts, you can see My Favorite Read of June 2025

8

This middle-grade novel was on my tbr pile for a long time. Middle Grade March prompts finally pushed me to read it. Even though this book is written for and about children, it’s such a beautiful story that I highly recommend it for adults. For more of my thoughts see Middle Grade March Mini-Book Review: Echo

7

The Last Train to Key West was my very first “favorite read of the year” on Nicole’s Nook. Chanel Cleeton makes the list again this year. She creates such complex and interesting characters. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of April 2025

6

Abby Jiminez writes romances that are so funny, but also deal with serious issues. But, I think what I love the most is that her couples face real problems and face them in a healthy way. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of March 2025

5

Jodi Picoult’s books consistently make me think of the world differently. This one makes us question the greatest playwright of all time. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of September 2025

4

I started of 2025 on such a good reading streak, that my fourth favorite book of the year wasn’t even a favorite of the month. So, this is the first time I’ve written about Frozen River. This was the first book I finished in 2025 and it’s still with me. Set in the 1700s, this is a mystery involving a real woman who was a midwife. It was wonderful to read about a woman who was respected in a time when women had limited rights. This was the first book I’ve read by Lawhon, but it won’t be the last. Her prose is beautiful.

3

This book stands out from the rest of the top five. It’s not going to make anyone look at the world differently. No tears were shed. I always have some humorous books on my list, but what really made this one stand out was the format. There are footnotes throughout the book that speak directly to the reader. It feels more like a conversation with the author than reading. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of January 2025

2

I’m a little behind because this was on a lot of lists for 2024. No one makes her readers cry like Kristin Hannah. The story of nurses who served in Vietnam is gut-wrenching. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of July 2025

1

There may be some recency bias here because I just finished this one in November. But, I couldn’t see picking a different book. It hit the perfect notes of suspense, sadness, extraordinary experiences, and real life. For more of my thoughts see My Favorite Read of November 2025