Going into 2025, I intentionally set my reading goal at a moderately low 50 books, knowing I was going back to grad school in the summer. In spite of that, I managed to nearly double my goal and read NINETY books (25 audio, 65 print or e-books) this year. Per usual, I have made a top 10 list for the year. The top 4 from this list were all 5 stars, and the remaining 6 were 4.5 stars (seriously goodreads, can we get 1/2 star ratings in the year of our Lord 2026??). If you've read any of these, I would love to hear your thoughts.
1. The Bright Years (Sarah Damoff) - We see multiple generations take shape across time and learn of the impact of decades-old decisions on the present in this gut-wrenching literary fiction work. The adoption storyline is what sold me on it. So while it may not be for you, this was a book that stuck with me for months afterward and made me feel all the feelings. If I could have given it 6 stars, I would have.
2. Theo of Golden (Allen Levi) - What would the world look like if we tried to see the best in strangers? That's the question that drives this compelling debut novel. We follow Theo, a stranger in a small Georgia town, as he seeks to bring joy into the town and right some previous wrongs in his days. I sobbed at the end of this. It was magnificent and worth all the hype it's getting on goodreads.
3. My Friends (Fredrik Backman) - How much do adolescent experiences shape our adult lives? In his signature style and ability to weave together multiple stories and make you feel all the things about found family, Backman really delivers with this lengthy read. While it's long, I tore through it and loved every bit of it. It was phenomenal and probably better than Ove in my opinion.
4. Sunrise on the Reaping (Suzanne Collins) - I've gotta be honest. My initial response was "another prequel?" But man, Collins delivered. I loved this story way more than Ballad, and the Easter eggs from the entire Hunger Games series were top-notch. Rebekah and I binge-listened to this over spring break, and it was magnificent. I have enjoyed fangirling over all the casting announcements and can't wait for the November movie release.
5. We All Live Here (Jojo Moyes) - Moyes once again delivers a powerful family novel about family and how we deal with grief in the midst of challenges. Lila's life is falling apart, much like her house, and multiple extended family members (including her dad and stepdad) decide to move in. She learns a lot about herself and those she loves along the way.
6. The First Witch of Boston (Andrea Catalano) - I'm hit and miss on historical fiction, but I loved this take on one of the first women tried for witchcraft in Massachusetts in the 1600s. It is definitely spicy (I referred to it as "Puritan witch smut" while I read it). I was in the minority in our book club, but I adored this. Some parts reminded me of Frozen River, but it wasn't so much that it felt like a one-off. If you like some conspiracy and strong female leads, this may be a good read for you.
7. Kills Wells with Others (Deanna Raybourn) - The follow-up to Killers of a Certain Age picked up right where we left off as we find the geriatric assassins up to more shenanigans. Each of the women has a strong, unique voice, and Raybourn masterfully weaves together their viewpoints. It is sharp, witty, and fast-paced. It also plays right into my love for the trope of old people who murder or solve murders (Thursday Murder Club, Marlowe Murder Club, Vera Wong, et al). This was a riotous good time.
8. Dead Husband Cookbook (Danielle Valentine) - Where do I begin to describe this? Thea is a ghostwriter who was hired to write the memoir of a celebrity chef who was rumored to have murdered her long-missing husband and then used his body as the secret ingredient in her world-famous meatballs. The way Valentine delivered to all the senses in the writing and reading of recipes, on top of the thrilling side of this famous family with lots to hide, was top-notch. I could taste the food she described because the descriptions were so vivid. Honestly, the last sentence of this was perfection. #iykyk
9. The Favorites (Layne Fargo) - If you love slow burns and ice dancing, you will love this. We get a documentary-style novel of back-and-forth timelines about Katarina and Heath, partners in the cutthroat world of ice dancing. Katarina is straight FIRE, and Heath is ice. It's a disastrous, wonderful match made in heaven. My only complaint is that the "payoff" for the buildup we got through the entire book was just mid. I tore through this, and I read it in the winter, so it was a perfect "right book at the right time" situation for me.
10. The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can Eat (Edward Kelsey Moore) - I don't really know how to describe this other than it's a tale of friendship that has endured through time. The Supremes are middle-aged friends enduring the changes of life and all the trials of aging, and they are hilarious. The narration was perfection, and I laughed out loud in droves. There's a bit of language and some cannabis use, but it only added to the humor, honestly. There's also a movie version on hulu that I need to watch.
I don't know what reading in 2026 holds for me. I would like to do a few classics and dive more into Greek mythology, especially with the new Odyssey (ANNE FREAKING HATHWAY!!!) coming out in July. If all goes according to plan (LOLZZZZ), I'll knock out 15 more hours of grad school in 2026, so I don't want to set any unrealisic goals around reading, when I know career things and family time will be much more important.
