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I absolutely slayed my 2025 reading goal. <- Curious what didn’t make the top 10? You can see all 46 books I read in 2025 over on Goodreads. People love or hate Goodreads – primarily because of its association with Amazon which I totally understand – but I use it for tracking, not purchasing.
I set out to read 35 books, which was 11 more than I read in 2024. And somehow? I managed to read 11 more than my goal. I finished 46 books!
Forty. Six. 🎉
As a very regular human who reads purely for enjoyment, there’s nothing overly academic happening here. No complex ranking system, really no ranking at all – just my favorites. Vibes and strong opinions.
I love seeing what books other people read because that’s how I find new ones. If I’m not pulling a book from a Little Free Library, I’m probably choosing a book because:
• I saw someone else reading it
• It kept popping up on my feed
• Or yes, the cover was extremely pretty
The “buying a book because it’s pretty” method did betray me once this year. But we live and we learn.
Favorite Books of 2025 That I Could Not Put Down
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Fast. Twisty. Slightly unhinged in a way that makes you say “just one more chapter” at midnight. You know the feeling. And I’m happy to report that the movie was shockingly close to the book. Highly recommend!
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice by Jesse Q. Sutano
Cozy mystery with heart? Yes. Found family? Also yes. Vera is chaotic in the most lovable way, and I devoured this one.
How To Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
If you like your books spiked with sass and served with a side of rebellious charm, this one delivers. It’s quick, it’s sharp, it’s part dark comedy, part self-aware romp. The title alone feels like a wink from the cosmos to every woman who’s ever felt underestimated, overlooked, or boxed in by expectations. This isn’t a textbook thriller — it’s playful and unapologetically bold, perfect for when you want something less earnest and more edge-of-your-seat fun.
The Wise Women by Gina Sorell
A little mysterious, a little sharp, and layered in a way that kept me turning pages. The kind of book where you start noticing small details and suddenly you’re in deep. t’s the kind of story that sticks with you — a blend of introspection, interpersonal complexity, and that satisfying feeling of slowly discovering hidden truths. Readers who aren’t into loud twists but do love layered character work will find this deeply satisfying.
The RomCommers by Katherine Center
I bought this book because it was SO pretty. The pink sprayed edges? Immediate yes. Bonus: the book cover is orange, a very rare color for hardbacks. Thankfully, the story delivered too. Charming, heartfelt, and exactly what I wanted it to be.
Murder on Demand by Al Roker and Matt Costello
I read all four books in this series in 2025, but the first one shines brightest. The others were okay reads, but book one had that spark.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
This book was SO different from everything I usually read and I loved it. It felt real. Messy. Honest about money, motherhood (from what I’m told), and modern survival. It surprised me in the best way.
Killers of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Given that the majority of thrillers involve male assassins, it was quite an easy mental sell to snag this book. Four women assassins of a certain age? Immediately iconic. I loved that the characters weren’t young and figuring it out. They were seasoned. Sharp. Experienced. As if I needed another reason to love aging. The sequel is on my TBR, I just need to find it!
Kill for Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh
Y’all! I never saw the ending coming. I literally gasped and texted my friends immediately. YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK – if you like thrillers.
One Good Thing by Alexandra Potter
If you caught Not Dead Yet on ABC in 2023, you might know that it was based on a book by this author, Alexandra Potter. Read that book and found One Good Thing in an airport and had to snag it. Warm, reflective, and thoughtful in a way that sneaks up on you. Involves a shelter dog, which usually tugs at my heartstrings. It’s one of those quiet books that lingers after you finish.
Books I Almost Quit in 2025
This year, I tried to diversify my reading. After years of barely reading at all, and only getting back into it recently, I experimented with dystopian fiction, historical fiction, and memoir.
There are only so many hours in a life. I firmly believe in quitting a book if you’re not enjoying it. But I’m proud that I pushed through these, because they stretched my brain in new ways.
Growth, but make it literary.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
A memoir that feels like a late-night chat with a best friend who’s been through the awkward, glorious, messy early parts of adulting — dating, heartbreak, identity, and that lingering question of “who even am I?”. Everyone loved this. I really tried. I just didn’t connect the way everyone else seemed to.
The Women’s Hotel by Daniel M Lavery
The first chapter nearly lost me. It was long. It dragged. I skipped ahead to the back half and suddenly it got so much better. After finishing, I actually went back and reread what I skipped because I was invested. But that opening? A test of endurance.
The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan
I picked this book up in Dublin and wanted to love. It wasn’t bad. It just didn’t fully click for me. A sharp, observant story about relationships and the messy paradox of modern love — where logic and feeling do not always agree. Dolan has that keen eye for social nuance that elder millennials appreciate: dry, perceptive, and quietly uncanny in pinpointing the little moments where romantic ideals and real life collide.
The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins
The cover pulled me in. The premise sounded fascinating. But this was far outside my norm, and I struggled. Perhaps the genre of dystopian fiction isn’t for me? I eventually finished it, but would not personally choose it again.
What Did You Read?
I’m always on the lookout for a new-to-me author or a fresh take on a genre I already love.
Tell me your favorite recent read. Convince me. I’m ready to add to the 2026 list already. 📖✨