Top 10 Reads of 2025
- Dec 21, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 29
The New Year is not just a time for celebration; it’s also about the story we wrote along the way. A great book can transport you to different worlds, inspire your next journey, or provide the perfect companion for those long winter days. Whether you’re lounging on a beach, hiking in the mountains, or exploring a bustling city, having a good read can enhance your story throughout the year. Here are ten top reads from 2025 that ignited my passion for reading this year.
"Loud" by Drew Afualo is a gem that delivered everything I could hope for in a nonfiction text. I have always admired her quirkiness since I landed on her TikTok page, but this book touches on a more vulnerable side that resonated with me on a spiritual level. It was validating to find someone who shares my beliefs about womanhood and articulates them in a much more professional manner than I ever could. If you are like me and are told you are "too much" or "too opinionated and loud", this book is for you--I would encourage listening to the audiobook as that makes the telling even more powerful as it is read by Drew herself.
Key Themes:
Self-Love: Drew is unapologetic in being "loud" or deemed as too much for people--maybe they simply are not ENOUGH.
Authenticity: The idea that we shouldn't water ourselves down to make other people feel comfortable.
In this romantasy, local peasant girl, Tem, is part of a matchmaking ceremony between the upcoming Prince of the town and young women within the town. During this matchmaking, local women are placed with the ostracized basilisks who attempt to show them the ways of the royals and what the Prince would like. Tem finds herself in a debacle when she begins to fall for both the Prince and her trainer.
Highlights:
Witty Banter: Temperance is the exact opposite of her name. She has a forked tongue (get it :D?) and is willing to use it!
Action-Packed Plot: The book encourages readers to nonstop read because each chapter ends on a cliffhanger begging you to continue the story to the next chapter...and then the next...and then the next. You get the point.
"Firekeeper's Daughter" has something for everyone: love, sports, mystery, action, and more! Despite its rating as a Young Adult (YA) novel, the themes within are for mature young adult audiences. Main character, Daunis, finds herself caught up in a criminal investigation of her tribal community. Although she blurs the lines between adolescence and young adulthood, she faces a multitude of challenges such as protecting those she loves the most, being true to her heritage, and navigating the rocky waters of love.
Why You’ll Love It:
Coming-of-Age: Daunis' journey appeals to everyone who travels with her as she navigates the world of losing the innocence of adolescence and learning the challenges of young adulthood.
Connection to community: The book beautifully captures the transformative power of community and understanding one's elders and traditions.
In this psychological thriller the believable characters and fast-pace allows readers to speed through reading this book (I finished it within 24 hours of starting it!). The main character is set to nanny a child, but when his drawings become worrisome, readers become entrapped for the ride of a lifetime!
Key Takeaways:
Picture Perfect: Pictures aren't just for kids--in this thriller, pictures add to the thrill of the ride.
Grief and Addiction: The book prompts readers to reflect on their understanding of grief and addiction and what it means to give someone a second chance.
Although it is historical fiction, everything about this feels REAL. Kristin Hannah weaves a tale about two sisters during the Holocaust and how they experience the event. During this time, we are faced with family turmoil, what it means to resist, and the power of relationships.
What Makes It Special:
Rich storytelling: Hannah's storytelling is impeccable. You feel as though you are taking each step with the characters.
Strong relationships: The book offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabit France during the Nazi takeover and shows the resilience of the French people and the relationships they build with one another to overcome.
A dystopian novel set in the near future, that feels less dystopian and more realistic in the current era, everyone is microchipped to be sure they are documented. You are only permitted into public places after scanning your chip. Our characters are undocumented and are attempting to survive in hostile conditions across the United States.
Highlights:
Personal growth: Vali's journey encourages readers to understand the plight of the older sibling, while also seeing how she grows under extreme circumstances (also, without much choice in the matter).
Reality vs. Unreality: The book is filled with scenes that are far too realistic for a world based in unreality.
In what I would consider another dystopian novel, Bazterrica sets up a world where humans are slaughtered by others. Surprising no one, the government has mandated this transition, but our main character is given a human to presumably slaughter, but he begins to question: should this be the way?
Key Themes:
Animal treatment: Being that humans are being farmed as animals, it truly shows the inhospitable conditions we put farm animals through.
Challenges to status quo: The characters are placed in situations where they have the free will to choose the "right" thing to do, but this isn't always the preferred choice.
Who knew the priesthood could make you hot? Lock in for this steamy novel about a priest who breaks his priestly code for a little lost lamb. 10/10 would recommend for any spicy novel lover!
Why It’s a Must-Read:
Unexpected characters: The characters aren't typically the ones I would have pictured in a romance novel, so this was a nice surprise!
Spice: The book made me question my morals. Everything is taboo, and I absolutely loved it!
Remember the nursery rhymes we all used to chant on the schoolyard? Well, what about "At seventeen, Lenora Hope/Hung her sister with a rope"? Kit, a home health aide, is tasked with taking care of Lenora Hope, who suffered a stroke leaving her without the ability to communicate. What could go wrong in Lenora's home on the hill?
Key Highlights:
Unreliable narratives: I can't speak too much more on this or it will be spoiled--just trust me!
Shocking twists: Is there something more sinister at play in the house on the hill other than Lenora Hope?
This is a thriller you DO NOT want to miss. With witty humor, our narrator takes us through the time where she and her husband purchase a haunted house. Although her husband isn't fond of the house, we learn that the vows, "until death do us part" take a whole new meaning when a haunting is involved.
What You’ll Discover:
Ah, September!: September is actually when the veil begins to be the thinnest.
Unreliable narrator: The narrator is absolutely hilarious and witty, but can she be trusted? To be determined.
*Honorable Mention: "Early Departures" by Justin A. Reynolds
This is such an interesting concept: What if you could bring your loved one back to life? But, what if it were only for a short amount of time? I laughed, I cried, I screamed. Absolutely heart-wrenching.
Key Themes:
Friendship: Does the power of friendship overcome all or is it conditional?
Moral Dilemmas: The reader is presented throughout with a moral dilemma: Is this the correct choice? Would I do this for someone I love?
Final Thoughts
These ten reads offer a mix of adventure, humor, and profound insights that can enhance your travel experience in the upcoming year. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, a good laugh, or a deeper understanding of the world, these books are sure to accompany you on your next journey. So, pack your bags, grab one of these titles, and let the adventures begin!
Remember, the best journeys often start with a good book in hand. Happy reading and safe travels in the upcoming year!
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