Looking back at my 2025 book log feels a little like reading my own mood swings. I read through a year that felt heavy, loud, and bitter; when the state of the world made it hard to focus, let alone escape into a story. Some books stuck, some helped, and honestly, a lot didn’t make it to the end. I should have kept a list of my DNFs too, but they’re gone, abandoned mid-chapter and already forgotten. Maybe that says more about 2025 than my reading habits. All I know is this: I need to read more in 2026. Less scrolling, more pages. More wonder, more patience, and maybe a little less bitterness tucked between the lines.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know the drill: I finish a book, post the pic, move on. No reviews, no deep thoughts, just a simple “I read this.” That’s intentional. I’m usually not ready to process a book the second I close it, and forcing a takeaway feels wrong. I’d rather let the stories sit. At the end of the year, I come back to them and see what actually stuck, but honestly... most fade because I have to go back and look up their storylines... Looking back at my book log is my favorite kind of reflection: honest, unfiltered, and one story at a time.
★ indicates my favs of the year ★
Non-Fiction
Good Soil by Jeff Chu - A memoir about a journalist who left his high profile job to work and learn in Princeton's seminary.. "farminary". It's about gardening and getting in touch with spirituality. I'm not a religious person, but am a spiritual one who enjoys gardening, so it was a nice read for me.
Fiction
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - I remember flying through this book and enjoying it because it is a really easy read and has some fun surprises. It definitely fit the fun, fast read that I wanted at the time.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - I did not like this one. There is a lot of spice... I think (back to the I can't remember the books sometimes). I remember being annoyed with the main character, not a lot of depth, but also pretty unrelatable for me as she was much younger, so that could've been it.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawson - ★ - This book I really enjoyed. It's historical fiction, beautifully written, inspired me to keep a very simple journal of my own.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - This one I did the audio version, so maybe that didn't help, but my goodness... I didn't like it. It was a mystery that left me with the mystery of why it was written. That sounds so mean, but I just couldn't get into it. I wonder if I read it instead of listened to it if I'd have liked it better. I find that with most audio books.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune - ★ - I loved this book. It was a bit slow, but it was calming and sweet. Reminded me of my favorite show (Our Flag Means Death... which is a very sweet show, ironically).
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - I just realized that this is a part 3 of a series, but like most rom coms... each book wasn't particularly about these characters I'm guessing. Also, after reading the synopsis... I don't really remember the book at all. I think it was a fun read at the time, but I'm a crappy book blogger, so try it for a beach read? lol.
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson - ★ - I liked this one. Although, as I'm looking at ratings of all the books, some of the ones I love seem to rate lower than the ones I don't remember. I think it's a matter of people rating high for authors they know and love, but maybe I just like a little more quirky? This book was quirky and sweet. I loved the odd little village.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - Womp womp... predictable and forgettable... which some could say about me too probably, but I'm okay with that. I don't feel like the narrator trusted the reader and repeated the story to us a LOT, but who am I to judge? This book as a better star rating on goodreads than the last one I gave a star to.
The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden - Meh, a quick read to keep your mind busy. I did fly through it and enjoyed it for the most part... Now, I'll just say... the third book in the series, I DNF, also I did it via audiobook and that may have hindered my care for it because the voice was NOT GOOD!
The Switch by Beth O'Leary - ★ - This one I did as an audiobook. It was cute. I do enjoy this author and the sweet little English village the story takes place in. I also love a good grandma storyline.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary - Easy romcom read. Not one of my favorites by the author, but a fun little read.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill - I loved the idea, the concept, the integration of feminism, but it wasn't an easy read. It took me some time to get through, and it wasn't quite a favorite, but the ideas were interesting.
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer - Need to admit up front, this was another audiobook, so like most in this trend, I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. I think I would've loved it if I read it and it may have taken me a bit of time to read it. So, give it a try.
The Sirens by Emilia Hart - ★ - I didn't love it as much as her first book, but I did enjoy it a lot. It's a fun mix of fantasy and reality. (I know, I'm very detailed in my captions, but if you're actually still reading this in my post... hello to you, the one person who actually cares about my opinions. I appreciate you!)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach - Another audio listen, so what do you think my feelings were? It was fine. I just wish I read the physical book because I probably would've liked it better.
The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thanyne - Well, maybe it doesn't matter if I listen or read a book physically because I completely forgot what this one was about and looking back... it was fine. lol
Dream on Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake - I really like this author, but I'm not a fan of the celebrity falls in love with a regular person trope. So while this was way better than other reads from this year, it was very predictable, no happy surprises.
The Hiking Trip by Jenny Blackhurst - Another audiobook, why did I do this to myself? I can't even remember what happens even after reading the synopsis.
Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin - I read this one... don't bother! It took me way too long and so many pages skipped to get through this rom com.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman - ★ - If you're still here at this point.. thank you and you will want to try this one. Sometimes it's a little slow, but it is intelligent writing and I really love his story telling.
A Wedding in Lake Como by Jennifer Probst - Another romcom that I didn't know was part of a series (it's #3), but that didn't ruin it for me. I picked it because of the cover and Lake Como is the city where Naboo scenes were filmed for Star Wars. The nerd in me had to! I did enjoy it enough not to skip pages.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - An audiobook that defied all others... I actually enjoyed listening to this one. It is an easy story to listen to, probably better read with a physical copy, but this one made a cleaning day very busy. It's like a romcom copy of The Seven Hasbands of Evelyn Hugo... I think that was the name of the book, but I'm too lazy to look it up right now, you know what I'm talking about.
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner - Easy summer read that has a bit more depth than regular, predictable rom coms.
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston - Okay, this is the celebrity/regular person trope, but like all of Poston's books, there is a little magical element and I liked that. There is a line stolen right out of the movie The Holiday, but I'll forgive her because it is a beautifully loving line. I did like this one.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman - Another by Backman and I loved it! I'm on the second in the series now, and yes, with this one I started with the first one, lol. :)
The Baby Dragon Bakery by Aamna Qureshi - I wanted to like this one so much, my daughter bought it for me for Christmas... I actually saw the cover before she got it for me and fell in love with the cuteness... the cover is the best part. It is... not good. (If future Aria is reading this, I'm sorry I lied and said I liked it, it was literally the perfect gift because you knew what I would like... it's the authors fault!)
