Today I’m sharing a list of the best books I read in 2025. 

I read 30 books in 2025, a triumph, all things considered. 

Actually, it was kind of a strange year of reading. I basically didn’t read a single page during the first trimester of my pregnancy in Q1, blew through a ton of incredible literary fiction through the middle of the year, and then binged a bunch of lukewarm thrillers during late-night breastfeeding to finish out the year. 

This list was–and I know I say this every year–excruciating to narrow down. Another way to look at is that there’s a little something for everyone: a thriller set on a subantarctic island, a scandalous love story about a pair of Olympic ice dancers, and, as always, plenty of family dramas.

Fiction

Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy 

This literary thriller is absolutely stunning and was one of my favorite reads of the entire year. The story takes place on Shearwater, a fictional island based on Macquarie Island, a subantarctic island halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. The setting is the star of this book, but the plot was just as gripping and had me guessing the entire way through. Tyler loved this one too. 

Heartwood – Amity Gaige 

In this novel, a hiker named Valerie Gillis vanishes from the notorious Maine portion of the Appalachian Trail. The book flips back and forth between Valerie’s point of view and the search team desperately working to find her. The pace was a little slow at certain points, but it all came together and I really enjoyed it. The author included a lot of fascinating information about the Appalachian Trail which I didn’t know anything about and found really interesting. Add this to your list if you’re looking to fill The God of the Woods shaped hole in your heart. 

The Favorites – Layne Fargo 

When I came across a blurb describing this book as “part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six,” I pressed “download” immediately. This book follows a pair of ice dancers who meet during their troubled childhoods and embark on a lifelong roller coaster relationship as they labor towards Olympic Gold. I absolutely loved this. This book was written for the very specific but–I believe–substantial Venn diagram of people who may or may not have read Daisy Jones twice and get way too emotionally invested each Olympic cycle. It’s a gripping winter read and the perfect way to prep for Milano Cortina 2026. 

The Names – Florence Knapp 

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. The story opens as a woman named Cora is trying to decide what to name her new baby. Cora waffles between three choices: the name she likes, the name her daughter suggested, or after her husband, per family tradition. Then, the book splits off and follows the three names and the three different stories that unfold as the boy grows up with each name. This book was very heavy but so, so beautiful. 

The Correspondent – Virginia Evans 

I saw a lot of hype about this novel this year, and I think it absolutely met and even exceeded the praise it received. This novel is written exclusively in the form of letters and follows the main character, Sybil Van Antwerp, as she navigates aging and her new stage of life (divorced, retired, grown kids). I found Sybil so endearing and spent the entire book with my heart in a knot over her. Warning: do not proceed without a box of tissues. 

Faithful Place – Tana French 

This is the third installment of the Dublin Muder Squad series and my favorite so far. I always recommend these mysteries for crime junkie-types. They are super well-written and have the most compelling characters. These books also tend to be a bit longer and slower than your average thriller, but I love them. I have also heard the audiobooks are fabulous!

This Must Be The Place – Maggie O’Farrell 

This Must Be The Place is totally different from either of Maggie O’Farrell’s two smash-hit historical novels (Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait). The story takes place starting in the 1980s and carries on through the present day. It’s a love story about two very complicated people and their even more complicated pasts. The narrator switches every chapter, so it took me about 100 pages to get into a good flow, but then I couldn’t put it down. LOVED. 

What Kind Of Paradise – Janelle Brown 

This story begins in Montana in the 90s and centers around a girl named Jane Williams. Jane’s world doesn’t extend past the walls of the remote cabin she lives in with her father. One day, when her father is out, she makes a discovery that changes everything. I don’t want to reveal anything else, but this one kept me hooked from start to finish. 

Finding Grace – Loretta Rothschild 

This is truly one of the most unhinged books I’ve ever read. The book begins with a snapshot into Honor and Tom’s fraught marriage: Honor is frantically desperate for a second baby while Tom grows increasingly frustrated that Honor doesn’t appreciate the family they do have. Things are reaching a boiling point when, at the end of the first chapter, something shocking happens. This book is a love story, thriller, and intense moral quandary all in one. Now that I think about it, this would make a fabulous (and polarizing!) book club pick. 

The Bright Years – Sarah Damoff 

This one was a major tearjerker but so beautiful. The novel follows Ryan and Lillian’s love story and as each of their pasts threaten to tear their family apart. I would recommend this if you enjoy a good old fashioned family drama–I’d file it under the same category as The Dutch House, Ask Again, Yes, and Silver Sparrow.

My Friends – Fredrik Backman 

In Fredrick Bachman’s latest release, a girl named Louisa visits a museum with a backpack full of spray paint and a plan to finally see her favorite painting, a renowned illustration of three people sitting on the end of the pier. Louisa is chased out by security and ends up meeting someone who tells her the story of the painting and the figures depicted in it. The book bounces back and forth between the story of the past and Louisa’s newfound friendship. Fredrick Bachman does have a very specific, quirky writing style that you have to really be in the mood for, but I loved this one. 

Culpability – Bruce Holsinger 

I typically don’t reach for books that center around AI (it’s like reading about COVID, I can’t explain it), but I couldn’t put this one down. The Cassidy-Shaws, a family of five, are traveling to a soccer tournament in their autonomous minivan when their car crashes into an oncoming vehicle. The novel follows the aftermath of the crash, as each of the family members sort through their memories of the crash and the role they perceive themselves to have played in it. 

Heart The Lover – Lily King 

Sigh. This novel was definitely one of my favorites of the year. The novel tells the story of an angsty love triangle between three college friends and the ripple effects of the drama later in life. I think Lily King is such an incredible writer, and this was such a stunning book.

Nonfiction

The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins 

It seemed like I couldn’t go five minutes without hearing about Mel Robbins’ new book, The Let Them Theory, so naturally I needed to see if it was worth the hype. Mel Robbins presents a very compelling (and digestible) theory that the “problem” for most of us, in our relationships, mental health, and work life, lies in the power we are giving to others–and, most importantly, to our stress. She argues that by enacting the simple phrase “Let Them,” we remind ourselves what we can and cannot control in this life. It’s a safety lever, a way to signal to our brains to turn our stress response off. I was surprised by how much the concept resonated with me and by how much research she put into the book. 

The Self-Driven Child – Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson

I cannot recommend this book enough to other parents. The book begins by addressing the current mental health crisis and talks about how stressed kids and teenagers are now compared to previous generations. The authors unpack the theory that if we give children more ownership and control over their lives, they will grow to be more confident and develop a stronger sense of self. The examples, studies, and tips they share are all very compelling. I found the chapter about being a “nonanxious presence” particularly illuminating. BTW, this book is a fabulous, practical complement to Jonathan Haidt’s work!

Awake – Jen Hatmaker

I downloaded Jen Hatmaker’s memoir Awake about 9 hours after its release last week and absolutely tore through it. In the book, Jen talks about the catastrophic end of her 26 year marriage and her journey through the wreckage. In true Jen Hatmaker fashion, this book made me laugh, reduced me to tears, and gave me full-body chills.

On that note…

The best books I read in 2024

The best books I read in 2023