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I want to start by letting you know I had a very difficult year! My husband suddenly became very sick this past summer. It was a life changing illness that required emergency surgery, 25 days in the hospital and a lot of care after. He is much better now and back to work, but it left us with some life altering changes. I also have MS, so to say life can be a challenge is an understatement. I didn’t get the reading in I wish I could have. By some miracle I still read around 41 books.
I also found myself being quite picky with books this year. I did not finish many books I started. It is harder for me to start and finish a great book and then open a new one and it be mediocre. I feel like I don’t have time for books I’m not enjoying! I’m too old to be wasting time, LOL!
I’m also not a trendy reader. I like to keep up with trends, so I know what my readers like but for my personal reading I don’t necessary pick the hottest new find. I also find that I will often read books a couple of years after they are written which helps with library hold lines.
My favorite genre is mystery and historical fiction. I also love a great middle grade book and children’s literature holds a special place in my heart. So, I try to include one of each of those in my top ten!
I will soon be sharing YOUR top books in a different blog post. I polled my readers, and I have quite the list for that, so be looking out for it.
So, without further ado, here is my list. The last book was my very favorite!
THE BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2025
If you like to have a list to print out to take to your library of the books mentioned in this post sign up below:
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
Fiction
Elfrida Phipps, once an actress in London, has moved to the quiet village of Dibton hoping for a fresh start. She’s grown used to the cozy rhythm of village life—shopkeepers who know her preferences and neighbors who greet her by name—but even with all that, she can’t shake a feeling of loneliness.
Oscar Blundell left behind his music career when he married Gloria. They now have a daughter, Francesca, and loving her is the one thing that makes his sacrifice feel worthwhile. A single unexpected tragedy sets off a chain of events that pulls very different people together in a large, run-down estate house near the fishing village of Creagan.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book! People have been telling me for years to read it and I finally did. I read this in January, and I still am thinking about it time to time. It is about second chances, friendship and family, and one beautiful Christmas. I know I will be reading it again in the future!
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Time Travel/Fantasy
I used to say I didn’t like time travel, but I have read a few books that have proven me wrong about this! This is one of them. I really enjoyed The Unmaking of June Farrow. It speaks to family secrets, love, and figuring out where we belong.
In the quiet mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow has grown up under the shadow of a family curse and the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. When June begins seeing and hearing things she can’t explain—a voice calling her name, wind chimes, and a strange door that appears out of nowhere—she knows the fate she’s been waiting for has finally arrived.
After her grandmother’s death, June uncovers clues tied to her family’s past, and when she realizes the mysterious door is real, she steps through it, setting off a journey that changes everything. What follows is a story of buried secrets, time-bending mystery, and a powerful, star-crossed love.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a haunting blend of romance and mystery with just a touch of the impossible.
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Mallard
Non Fiction
I have always loved books about American history and presidents. This one did not disappoint! I never knew much about President Garfield. I knew he was assassinated but there is so much more to it. The way he died, how and why it happened and how discoveries about medical procedures (like sterile fields) were formed because of the lessons learned about the president’s care. I was so enthralled with this book I didn’t want to put it down. If you enjoy non-fiction, you must pick this one up.
And Then There Will Be None by Agatha Christie
Mystery
I love a good Agatha Christie, the Queen of the who-dun-it. Shockingly, I had never read And Then There Were None! What was I waiting for? I can totally see why this is many Christies lover’s favorite! It was amazing! I listened to this one with my husband and son and they loved it too! There is nothing quite some creepy as being in a group and watching one by one, them all get murdered. We did not guess who the murderer was, it was quite the surprise.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Middle Grade/Fantasy
I love middle grade reads. I am going to do a list soon of some of my favorites.
This was so well done. The audio is fabulous. We are about to listen to the sequel soon!
The day Christopher rescues a drowning baby griffin is the day everything changes. It leads him to the Archipelago—a hidden chain of islands filled with magical creatures—and to Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.
As Christopher and Mal race across the islands, they uncover a frightening truth: the magic is fading, and creatures are dying. Facing sphinxes, kraken, and dragons along the way, they realize that saving the Archipelago may rest entirely in their hands.
This is a fast-paced, magical adventure bursting with danger, wonder, and unforgettable creatures—brought vividly to life with stunning illustrations throughout.
Honorable Mention: I had an honorable mention in this category and just felt like I couldn’t not include it. I was so torn between these two, just shows how much I love middle grade: the second one is:
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Middle Grade
For Ghost—whose real name is Castle Cranshaw—running has always been his way of surviving. He first learned to run as a little boy, escaping a terrifying moment when his father chased him and his mother with a gun. Ever since then, Ghost has been running from trouble, pain, and his past. But everything changes when he meets a tough, no-nonsense coach who recognizes Ghost’s incredible natural speed. For the first time, running might lead him somewhere instead of away from everything.
Now Ghost has a chance to become the fastest sprinter in the city—if he can stay focused and out of trouble. The question is whether he can learn to run toward a future instead of away from his past.
This was so well done, and I love a good book about a sport. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
Mystery
I really enjoy the Massie Dobbs series. Like any series, I have enjoyed some more than others. Massie Dobbs is a detective, and she takes on cases with her assistant Billy. I consider this series a cozy mystery. Book 1 is heavy though because it sets the story up for the rest of the books in the series and it deals with serious topics such as war and death.
This one was book 6 and it has a special place in my heart. When my husband was sick, I was looking for something cozy I could listen to on the way back and forth from hospital each day and I started this one. It was the perfect read for me at the time and it helped take my mind off very heavy things.
On Christmas Eve in 1931, private investigator Maisie Dobbs witnesses a shocking tragedy when a man takes his own life on a crowded London street. The very next day, a threatening letter arrives at the prime minister’s office, warning of catastrophic loss of life if certain demands aren’t met—and unsettlingly, Maisie’s name is mentioned.
After being questioned and cleared by Robert MacFarlane of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, Maisie finds herself pulled into the investigation as a special adviser. As the pressure mounts, she’s drawn deeper into a dangerous case with national consequences.
At the same time, Maisie’s loyal assistant, Billy Beale, is struggling at home as his wife sinks further into grief following the loss of their young daughter. With emotions running high on all sides, Maisie must race against the clock to stop a man capable of unleashing destruction on thousands of innocent lives.
As the case grows darker, Maisie is forced to confront horrors that stir memories of her past as a nurse during the war—experiences she hoped she’d never have to face again.
Snowflake Bentley: A Caldecott Award Winner by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Picture Book
Although my children are grown, and I don’t have grandchildren yet, I will always love children’s literature. There is just something magical about it and I’m constantly checking out what is new in the children’s section. I love to pick up a middle grade or a beautifully illustrated picture book. We never get too old for the magic.
This is a great non-fiction picture book. The illustrations about beautiful!
Wilson Bentley was captivated by snow for as long as he could remember. From childhood into adulthood, he saw every snowflake as something extraordinary and felt driven to understand their delicate beauty.
His parents encouraged his curiosity, eventually saving enough money to buy him a camera and a microscope. At the time, many people didn’t understand his passion, but Wilson stayed patient and determined. Over the years, he photographed and carefully recorded hundreds of snowflakes, shared what he discovered through public talks, and finally published a book of his photographs at age sixty-six.
His groundbreaking work changed how we see snow forever and laid the foundation for what we know today about the intricate and one-of-a-kind nature of snowflakes.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Mystery
I’m a big Ruth Ware fan and I have read several of her books. I can’t believe I’m just now getting to Woman in Cabin 10. Netflix now has the movie!
I especially loved the mid to the second half of the book. It does take a while before things really get going but once it does it has your attention! This feels more like a thriller to me than a mystery, but it is certainly its share of both.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Christmas/Mystery
Maggie is the rising star of cozy mysteries.
Ethan is the king of high-octane thrillers.
She can’t stand him.
He keeps calling her Marcie—even though she’s corrected him a thousand times.
Both receive an enigmatic invitation to a Christmas house party at an English estate, hosted by an anonymous superfan. What they don’t expect is that the fan turns out to be Eleanor Ashley, the legendary “Duchess of Death” and one of the most powerful authors alive.
This one is so much fun. It has wonderful banter, it’s funny, and it has romance and mystery!
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Fiction
By far this was my favorite book of 2025! Oh, how I loved this one. I did a combination of reading it and then listening to audio when I was driving or taking my walk. The audio is fabulous and has a full cast. The main character is an older woman in her 70’s and I find that so refreshing! It is rare you find a book anymore about an elderly person as the main character. It is letters to different people in her life. It highlights the joys and disappointments of life. I’m in mid- life now, a new empty nester and although I’m not as old as the main character I can relate to the mature woman character.
Life is a journey full of joys, sadness, disappointment, and successes. This book reminds us that life isn’t picture perfect all the time but there is always room to grow and learn. It’s about family and friendship, forgiveness, and getting through life together. I loved every minute of it! I love a good epistolary book, they are truly one of my favorites. I have a great list of those here!
In conclusion
So, there are my top 10. I read 41 books this past year, I was hoping for a little more but to me you can’t ever be sad about getting 40 books read. I track all my reading on Goodreads if you want to follow along! I do not write fancy reviews or anything, I just track them and write a quick thought. I love that different people use Goodreads all different ways. It was fun putting together my top 10 favorite-I was so happy to have such a great variety.
If you would like to share some top books you have read this past year, leave them in the comments. I always think people love to see what other readers are loving.
Other posts you may enjoy:
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