The Best Books I Read in 2025
Need some reading recommendations for the coming year? Here are the best books I read in 2025…the ones that stayed with me long after I read the last page. Give them a try!
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Over the past several years, I’ve made a real effort to rekindle my love of reading. I’ve always loved books (I mean, I was an English teacher after all), but adulthood has a way of filling the days with lots of “have-to-do’s” that crowd out cozy time curled up with a good book. But as I’ve gotten back into reading more, partly because I listen to a LOT of audiobooks while getting other things done, I’ve remembered how much I really do love a good story.
This year, I read (or listened to) over 50 books! Not every book was a hit (there were a few I didn’t even finish), but I also found several that I completely loved and that have stayed with me long after I finished the last page.
Below, I’m sharing my top 10 books of 2025! The list includes fiction and nonfiction, adult and middle grade, and a mix of lighthearted and heavier reads—something for every kind of reader. Maybe you’ll find some of your favorites below, or even better, hopefully you find a few new ideas to add to your “to be read” list!
Happy reading!
My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2024
The Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower
This book has been everywhere this year, and it’s one of those rare books that totally lives up to the buzz. I tore through all eight books in just a couple of months early in the year, and I just listened to the audiobook of book one (the narration is fabulous). I want to be best friends with Emma, and I’m officially counting down until book 9 comes out. If you haven’t read them yet, just skip the rest of this list and go read it right now. You won’t regret it.
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
I’ve been meaning to read this nonfiction book for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally did. It tells the true story of thousands of airline passengers stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001—and the incredible generosity and tireless efforts of the people who took them in. It celebrates the best of side of humanity during what was a truly terrible event.
Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
I listened to this one on audio, and it felt like almost like a historical thriller—even though it’s nonfiction. Steve Sheinkin has a gift for making history come alive (he also co-wrote The Bletchly Riddle below), and this fast-paced account of the race to build the atomic bomb is fascinating. Note: It’s technically YA lit, and I would absolutely recommend it for ages 12+, but it might be too intense for younger kiddos.
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
This book took me completely by surprise. I didn’t read much about it before I listened to it, and it was not at ALL what I expected, but I ended up really loving it. A laugh-out-loud retelling of Lady Jane Grey’s story, it blends (very loose) historical fiction with fantasy and sharp humor in the best way. It’s clever, a little irreverent, and I found myself grinning in my car like a fool as I listened to it. If you enjoy history that completely goes off the rails of reality and has fabulous characters, this one’s a win.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This is my third Kristin Hannah book, and I think it’s my favorite. Set in Nazi-occupied France, The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters navigating war in very different ways. It’s emotional, intriguing, and at times devastating (as you would expect from Hannah), but it’s also beautifully written and hopeful. I won’t pretend it was an easy read, but it’s one that stayed with me long after I finished it.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes
Are you a fan ofThe Princess Bride? I grew up watching the cult classic, and this memoir about its making was just so. much. fun! Cary Elwes (Wesley) shares tons of behind-the-scenes stories, and I couldn’t help sharing all the hilarious anecdotes with my husband and kids over dinner. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, narrated by Elwes himself with guest appearances from the cast. If you love the movie, this is a must-read (or must-listen).
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
I listened to this one with my whole family on a road trip to San Diego this summer, and it ended up being one of our top three books of the year! It’s a WWII story about codebreaking in Bletchly Park, England, and although it started a little slow, we were soon hooked. In fact, when we finally reached our hotel after ten hours in the car, my kids didn’t want to get out because they wanted so badly to know what happened next! Now that’s a good story.
A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay
After loving Katherine Reay’s historical fiction in previous years, I was excited to pick this one up, and it did not disappoint. Set during the Cold War, this novel explores secrets, loyalty, and the personal cost of political division. It’s a quieter story that still packs an emotional punch.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
This was Barnes & Noble’s YA Book of the Year in 2024, and we picked it as our first read-aloud of the year. It’s a beautifully written epic fantasy with hilarious, lovable characters that we completely fell in love with. I rarely buy books (we’re loyal library users), but as soon as I saw the sequel was coming out, I immediately preordered it. We read The Poisoned King in the fall and liked it just as much (and maybe even a little better).
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
This was my first Brandon Sanderson novel written for adults, and I adored it. Whimsical, adventurous, and incredibly witty, it feels like a fairy tale with a little more depth. Tress is a fabulous protagonist, and the world Sanderson created to place her in is unique and creative. A great choice if you want a slightly quirky fantasy that will have you laughing and keep you on the edge of your seat.
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