Favorite Books of 2025
For some reason, no matter how often I summarize my favorite books, I always end up with 17 that I would absolutely recommend. Maybe that's my lucky number. I averaged one book per week in 2025, which was my goal. There were a few duds in the mix, but none made this list. So let's dive in, and hopefully you'll have some that you agree with me on and maybe take away a few new ones to add to your list.
If you like a beautiful but tragic love story, read Heart the Lover
I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my first Lily King book. I understand the hype. She's a beautiful storyteller. This book follows a love triangle through college, then takes you years into the future to see where the three characters' lives lead them. It was a short book, and I flew through it in two days. If you haven't read Lily King yet, start with Writers and Lovers, as this book serves as both a prequel and a sequel. I'll be reading that next, but I will know more about the characters now than the author intended.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you like a Barack Obama recommendation, read The Wilderness
Angela Flournoy wrote this beautiful story of five friends navigating life together and apart. The story jumps around between perspectives and years, giving you glimpses of life and helping you understand each character's perspective. Obama added it to his favorite reads of 2025, and I absolutely agree with him on this one. The intertwining of multiple storylines was well done, and I was so invested.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you want a unforgettable friendship story, read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Luckily, I read this for book club because I needed to talk about it afterwards. Reading the description on the cover was strange because I didn't think there was any way I would get invested in a story about hardcore gamers and the programmers behind the software, but I loved these characters. I can see why this made so many lists in 2024.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you are intrigued but a little scared about AI, read Culpability
Bruce Holsinger tells the story of a family grappling with the consequences of leaning on technology. Each member of the family is facing their own unique challenge. The setting is a family vacation on the Chesapeake Bay, and it's incredibly relatable while offering some warnings about where the world is heading with AI and phone use. This would make an excellent book club pick.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you want a classic rom-com, read Great Big Beautiful Life
Emily Henry is an author who delivers the same type of book every time, and it doesn't disappoint. I'm not a romance girlie, but her books have interesting side characters and fun settings. I love that there are more stories about epic women who have lived big lives, and this is a creative way to tell one woman's story with a side of romance. This is a great vacation book.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you hate Facebook and want more justification, read Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
Sarah Wynn-Williams shared all the details of her time working for Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, and it was even worse than I would've guessed. She worked on the executive team and gained a firsthand look at the decision-making process for international expansions and other major company initiatives. The stories range from cringeworthy to downright terrifying. It's brave to stand up against these incredibly powerful people and is definitely worth the read if you want to understand a bit more about this corporation.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you need a heartwarming story with a wild set up, read The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
This book started off a little strange. Imagine your main character having all the worst possible things happen right at the beginning of the book. Once you get into it, you'll be cheering on all kinds of characters. I could have read another 600 pages of this story and recommended it to anyone looking for a more light-hearted book.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you are hoping to have an analog year, read How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
After being on my radar for a few years, I finally picked up this book this summer. Jenny O'Dell writes about different ways you can take back your attention and get a break from the constant feed of capitalism. This isn't a quick read—it's a book that you should slowly savor and take to heart. I got mine from the library, but I will likely purchase a copy and reread it in a year or so.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you need more reasons to support people having an analog year, read The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
We all understand that phones and screens are addictive, but this book was about so much more than that. I am a childfree adult, but there are plenty of children in my life that I care deeply for. Understanding some of the psychology behind screens and how kids are encouraged to play was incredibly engaging and changed the way I want to show up when kids are around. I think every parent with small children should read this, but I wouldn't stop there. If you care about the next generation, pick up a copy.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you want to be inspired by the story of a death doula, read The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Mikki Brammer wrote her character, Clover, to help readers potentially shift their views on death. She's a death doula who helps people experience a beautiful end-of-life process. It's easy to fall in love with Clover, and it's easy to see why her clients love her and want the best for her. The story is compared to The Midnight Library, which is one of my favorites, and it holds up.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you love to watch Day in the Life Tiktoks, read What I Ate in One Year
Learn more about Stanley Tucci and what his life looks like by reading his food-focused diary. I listened to this on audiobook while walking the dog over the summer. I would come home from each walk ready to create an Italian feast in the kitchen, but usually settled for a piece of good cheese. Tucci is picky about his meals, and it's so enjoyable to listen to. Plus, you get fun glimpses into his work, family life, friends, and exercise.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you're seeking out a little hope with a twist of magic, read The Measure
Imagine receiving a box outside your door one morning that will tell you how many years you will live. And everyone else receives it at the same time. It's chaos because, as you would expect, each person reacts differently. This book follows eight different characters as they navigate how this string changes their life. It reminded me of this book from last year's list.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you didn't plan on ever caring for an octopus, read Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt wrote this beautiful story using an octopus as a narrator. Usually, that would not be my cup of tea, but I loved this book. My husband read it first and recommended it before he was 25 pages in. Tova Sullivan cleans the local aquarium each evening in her small town on the Puget Sound. She spends a lot of time talking to Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus. I loved hearing things from his perspective, and I have a new appreciation for this remarkably bright creature.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you love a multigenerational family saga, read Real Americans
Follow multiple generations from Mao's Cultural Revolution in China to New York City to a remote island in the PNW in this book. Rachel Khong taught me important history while challenging me to think about DNA and science in such an interesting way. The best description reads, "Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made? And if we are made, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome?" This would be an excellent bookclub choice as well.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you like unique storytelling, read The Three Lives of Cate Kay
This is Kate Fagan's first novel, and it was a great book to start my 2025. The main character has changed her identity multiple times, and each version of her tells part of the story. It's a little tricky to get into the flow, but once you do, you'll get wrapped up in the book.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you watch true crime documentaries, read This Book Will Bury Me
We listened to this audiobook on a long road trip. If I were reading, I don't know if I'd love it as much. Jane Sharp is a 24-year-old who becomes an internet sleuth while grieving the death of her father. When things take a (fairly unrealistic) turn, she has to work with her internet friends to solve the Delphine Massacre. The only hesitation in recommending this is that the story seems very closely based on the recent Idaho college murders and that gives me a weird feeling.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
If you want to read my favorite book of the year, read Wild Dark Shore
This is my first Charlotte McConaghy book, but it won't be my last. The story unfolds on a remote island near Antarctica, a place primarily used for research. A woman washes ashore, and the family that cares for the island is forced to take her in. She has intentions she keeps secret for her mysterious arrival. I still think about this book and probably recommend it more than any other book I've ever read.
Grab a copy here from an independent bookseller or on Amazon if you’re a Kindle reader.
What were your favorite books of 2025?
Comment below and tell me so I can immediately add it to my list.