A Year of Reading: 2025

I'm never quite sure how to review my year in reading, but I'm happy with what I've done in the past couple of years, so I think I'll stick with it. I didn't set a reading  goal on Goodreads this year because the number of books I read isn't terribly meaningful to me. This fall and winter there seemed to be lots of enticing books recommended by various Goodreads friends and also plenty of ARCs, so I just kept reading. And then reading some more. Goodreads tells me I've read 106 books so far, but I'm still reading three books right now and I'm not sure when I'll finish them. And like I said, numbers aren't what really matter to me. 

It's the enjoyment of the books, what I've learned, and where the books have transported me that matters most to me. I don't want to bore you with numbers, statistics, and ratings, so I'm just going to write about some of my highlights. The links will take you to Goodreads; if you are so inclined, you can read more about the books and decide if they might be for you.  

 

Some of the books I've enjoyed the most include:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

This was a stunning work of epistolary fiction. 

 

The Names by Florence Knapp

A book about the possible impacts of a decision, presented in parallel narratives

 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

A Read With Us book that was just as good on my third reading

 

The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck

Probably the best collection of short stories I've ever read 

 

The Elements  by John Boyne 

"Enjoyed" is not the exact descriptor for this one because it is about abuse, but Boyne presents the moral complexities of abuse from the viewpoints of enabler, accomplice, perpetrator, and victim, written in elegant prose.

 

 

A few of the books I have learned from:

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch

A novel about a mother who was ordered by the courts in 1983 to remove herself entirely from her daughter's life due to her sexual orientation

 

A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko 

A nonfiction account of an epic 750 mile hike along the length of the Grand Canyon

 

99 Ways to Die by Ashely Walker

Nonfiction written by an ER doctor about viruses, bacteria, poison, diseases, pretty much what the title states, but with plenty of humor

 

Tilt by Emma Pattee

A novel about a pregnant woman's ordinary trip to Ikea that is transformed by a massive earthquake

 

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton   

Nonfiction about one woman's friendship with a wild hare

 

 

 

Special books that transported me:

 

Winter Morning Walks by Ted Kooser

A wonderful volume of poetry from the wonderful Ted Kooser 

 

Whistler by Ann Patchett

The latest novel from Patchett, and I think her best yet. It will be published in June 2026 

 

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

A quietly devastating novel about Bo, an 89-year-old man aging in his home in Sweden  

 

Winter by Val McDermid

A collection of essays about the season and traditions in winter in Scotland 

 

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

Another Read With Us selection about emotional abuse and what it might take to escape that abuse and build a safe home. 

 

That last category is a little bit different. I think of it as books that made me want to keep reading along with those that took me to different countries, places, times, and situations, even if I didn't end up awarding the book too many stars. That's how I ended up with a book of poetry, an ARC about relationships, a poignant story of aging, essays about winter in Scotland, and a Read With Us book about emotional abuse together in one list.  

 

For the sake of some conciseness (and because I don't want to bore you!), I've limited my list to 15 of my favorites. This is not exhaustive by any means, especially because it only includes about 15% of the books I read. The books I'm currently reading are all ARCs: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves, The Shock of the Light by Lori Inglis Hall, and John of John by Douglas Stuart. 

 

I would love to hear about the books you enjoyed most in 2025, what you are reading now, or the ones you can't stop thinking about. I need to make sure I've got some good books lined up for next year, and many of the best recommendations come from you! Some books slated for publication in 2026 that I am really looking forward to are Where We Keep the Light by Josh Shapiro, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, and The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Here's to another enjoyable, educational, and immersive year of reading for all of us in 2026!

 

A reading reminder: The Zoom discussion for our current Read With Us book, The Antidote, is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 7:00 pm Eastern time. You can RSVP (by email or in a comment) to Kym, Carole, or me and let us know that you'll be attending. You can find my email in the upper right hand corner. I say this every time, but I really need to discuss this book and hear everyone else's thoughts. Thanks and I hope to see you there!