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Picking my favorite books every year often feels like picking my favorite children. I read some really good books this year, even though I read fewer than I normally do. Given that I was dealing with significant grief and started a new job in March, it’s not totally surprising. (It’s not about the numbers anyway, right?)
What’s funny about this list is that after I picked which ones to include, I noticed they didn’t all get five stars when I first finished them. It goes to show that it can take some time to know for sure how we really feel about a book.
This list is as eclectic as my taste in books as it crosses many genres. The only genre I didn’t read much of this year was Sci-fi/Fantasy. I have a few in this genre that I’m eyeing for 2026!
You can see ALL the books I read in 2025 here.
This post is all about my favorite books in 2025!
My Favorite Books of 2025
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
While the books on this list aren’t ranked, if I had to pick a favorite book of the year, this would probably be the one. This book has been popular since it was first published in 1987. I love the way Pilcher takes you deep into her characters and ties them all together. The book opens with Penelope Keeling, who has just broke herself out of the hospital after having a heart attack, in a taxicab on her way home. The first decision she must make is which of her children she should tell: Nancy, the middle-aged mother of bratty kids who cares too much about social status; Olivia, the single magazine editor, or her son, Noel, the shallow playboy. She chooses Olivia because she knows that’s the one who will both care and give her the least amount of grief. From there, we learn about each of her children, who she is, and what has brought her to this point. One of the driving elements of the story is the fact that Penelope is the daughter of a now-deceased famous artist whose paintings have recently increased in value. One thing that surprised me about this book is that part of it is a World War 2 historical fiction, but I loved it! This one is long but worth it!
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt is one of those authors who has been on my radar for years. While this is not her most popular book, it is the one that won her the Pulitzer. I went into it pretty blind, but I was instantly intrigued by what was going to happen to 13-year-old Theo Decker after his mother is killed in a terrorist attack on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and his father is nowhere to be found. To make matters more complicated, Theo takes a famous painting from the museum called, you guessed it, “The Goldfinch.” The painting is small enough to fit in a backpack, but it becomes like a sword of Damocles for Theo. This book left me in a serious book hangover! It has a compelling storyline, interesting characters, and asks interesting philosophical questions.
Read my full Goldfinch review here.
Reading Note: Great on audio!
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Lila is in a bit of a crisis. Her husband left her for the local bombshell, her Mom died, her step-dad has moved in, her biological father (who is a bit of a has-been actor) shows up at the door, and she’s a writer who is expected to produce another book that she hasn’t even started yet. On top of that, she still has to parent her two children, one who is in high school and one who is still in elementary school, where she sees her ex-husband’s new (and very pregnant) wife during pick-up almost every day. This is my second JoJo Moyes book, and I loved it! This book has angst, humor, found-family, and a love story (or two) all in one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
In the Woods by Tana French
A young girl is found dead near an archaeological dig in Ireland. It’s the same area where Detective Rob Ryan’s friends went missing, and he was found unconscious decades earlier as a young boy. Is there a connection? Ryan and his partner take on the case without disclosing his connection. I loved the banter between Rob and his partner, Cassie. This book has a bit of a controversial ending. I didn’t mind it, but if you read it or have already read it, you’ll have to let me know what you think. This was my first Tana French, and I will definitely be reading more.
Anne’s House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery
I decided to start reading through the Anne of Green Gables series this year, and while it’s hard to pick just one from the series (besides the first book, of course), this one especially stood out. When you think about the Anne books, you don’t think twists and turns, but that’s exactly what this book had. This book also feels like the climax of all the other books because it’s the one where Anne and Gilbert finally get married and move into their first home, which they affectionately call their House of Dreams. I love the town of Glen St. Mary, where they live, (they end up there because it’s where Gilbert gets a job as a doctor). I loved the new characters we meet in this book, especially Captain Jim, Miss Cornelia, and Leslie.
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
April is a neglected teenage girl who needs to get out of the small town that doesn’t want her and away from her dad, who has just moved on to his next family. But she can play the guitar, and she can sing, which gives her a way to make some money. The book explores the journey to her new life. It’s wrought with uncertainty, but eventually she finds a new family who will love her. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but I found myself rooting for April from the first chapter. Even though this book is about a young girl, I don’t think I would categorize it as YA.
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
This book is the ultimate comfort read, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. Father Tim and the whole town of Mitford have my heart, and I will definitely be reading more books in this series! In At Home in Mitford, we get to know Father Tim and the relationships he has with several of his parishioners. One of the things I like about Father Tim is that he’s not the self-righteous/preachy type of pastor. He’s quite humble and gracious. Father Tim is a bachelor who lives alone in the parsonage of the Lord’s Chapel. His life starts to change when a large dog shows up at his door, his doctor warns him that he needs to make some lifestyle changes, he takes in a young boy whose grandfather and parents are unable to take care of him, and a new woman moves in next door.
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Four siblings who never met before embark on a road trip in search of their father. Imagine someone showing up at your house and saying that he’s your brother, and not only that, but you have two more siblings, AND he wants you to come with him so that together you can find them. That’s this story in a nutshell. One thing I found interesting about this story is that their dad didn’t just knock up their mothers and then leave. He was in their lives and involved, and then he one day just took off. This ends up being a great found family story, and I loved seeing how much these kids found what they needed in each other. I love Kevin Wilson’s books. They are always a bit quirky and interesting reads.
Great on audio! (It’s read by one of my favorite narrators, Marin Ireland.)
You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace
Claire is the serial killer you don’t see coming. This was an interesting and humorous read that I didn’t think I would enjoy as much as I did. Claire is Dexter with a hammer. What I found interesting about the way the story is told is that we don’t just learn about what Claire’s life is like now, but learn how she was made. Once you meet her mother, you won’t be so surprised that Claire turned out the way she did.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
What starts as a sort of science experiment by Victor Frankenstein becomes the thing that destroys his life. First time read for me and super interesting. Victor creates Frankenstein, and when he wakes up, he’s gone. Most of the book is spent with Victor chasing the monster he created. On the flip side, you see Frankenstein wanting to be loved by someone, but he’s so hideous that very few people will even come near him. He then starts to blame Victor and seeks to destroy him. I found it to be an interesting exploration of human nature and the unintended consequences of our actions.
Reading Note: Great on audio! (This one is read by Dan Stevens, the actor who plays Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey.)
Christ and Calamity by Harold Senkbeil
2025 was a year of grief for me. Not that grief is ever over, but the sting does lessen with time, at least in my experience. This was my go-to book for comfort. I actually picked this book up a year earlier and found that it’s comforting for both the darkest valleys and even if you’re just having a bad day. Definitely pick this one up if this sounds like something you can use.
Favorite Christmas Books of 2025
I read a lot of Christmas books last year. This is partly because I was still reading them well into January. These are the ones that stood out. Yes, there are nine, but it was hard to figure out which ones to exclude, so I decided to include all of these:
What were your favorite Books of the Year??
What books did you love this year?? I would love to hear about them. Share in the comments below!
Looking for a fun reading challenge to join in 2026? Check out the Reading Through the Decades reading challenge. Join below!
