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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!
listen to the book!
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!
listen to the book!
