My 2025 Year in Books: 12 (and a Bit More) Favorites

Read time: 10 minutes

Welcome to the last day of the year 2025! The day we tend to look back and reminisce on how the year had been for us.

This year, reading wasn’t just a habit.
It was therapy, escape, comfort, chaos, and occasionally a quiet act of rebellion.

2025 threw too many incredible reads at me. Some books found me exactly when I needed them. Some made me slow down when I wanted to race ahead. Some rewired my brain a little, others wrapped me up so gently that I didn’t want to leave their worlds. Today, I’m staring at my Goodreads list and thinking “How did I manage to read this much and still pretend to have a social life?”

When I look back at this year, I don’t remember weeks or months. I remember books! However, instead of listing all the books that I loved, I am choosing to share those that mattered the most: one favorite book for every month. These stories made me laugh, rage, cry, clutch the book dramatically to my chest, and fall in love with reading all over again.

**January – The Door to Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn (translated by Melody Shaw)**

If human kindness had a scent, this book would smell like freshly brewed coffee and old paperbacks. It’s soft, gentle, and full of characters you want to hug. The story reminded me that sometimes companionship is just about noticing someone’s silence and saying, “Hey, I see you.” The perfect book to kick off the year. And yes, I absolutely added it to my list of Christmas comfort reads.

**February – Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez**

Okay so don’t judge me. And don’t give up on the list just because a non-fiction entered the list. I’m a data person too, along with living in the dream world (Yes, the irony!!!) So, when I come across a book that talks about how data has been biased against women, I had to read it. This book doesn’t get into the propaganda of men suck! Women rock! Caroline talks with numbers and facts backing up her comments that women need to be considered in order for creating a safer world for women. It was enlightening and interesting. I would highly recommend this as a palate cleanser. You will come out of the book feeling like you are seeing the world a bit differently, and not in a negative way, but in a clearer way.

March – Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Women by Anne Helen Petersen

Another non-fiction in the list. And yet again, I will caution you not to get intimidated by this book. This is a perfect book to read on the month of International Women’s Day (March 8). It’s a shout out to all the women out there who refuses to adhere to rules made to suppress women. Be loud, be frank, be you! Because no one else can be you! Love yourself for who you are!

**April – Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller**

In a world where books are being banned in the name of “protecting young minds,” Kirsten Miller delivers a hilarious and biting response with heart, humor, and unforgettable characters. This book took me by surprise. I was expecting essays on censorship, but I didn’t expect to laugh so much along the way, and have characters that touch my heart. Books like The Diary of Anne Frank and Beloved being banned is not protection. It’s denial. And the story calls that out with humor and heart. Must read for anyone believing in the freedom of words. And for those who don’t believe in it, an even muster read.

**May – The Four Queens of Crime by Roseanne Limoncelli**

Four women who basically invented the mystery genre get together to solve a real crime. I mean, come on! How could I not lose my mind over this book? Agatha freaking Christie is one of the leads! It’s smart, witty, and such a beautiful tribute to women who changed literature while men were too busy underestimating them. The book focused on quite a bit of strong women from that time who made a name for themselves even when the men tried to push them down. This homage to the strength of women deserves an applause and also more fanbase.

June – Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of writing emotions like no one else can. Her writings hit you straight at the heart. Add to the fact that I have a brand new 8-month-old niece who’s my entire world. This book is categorized as a love story, but for me, the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances, was more precious. I could see the future where my niece is (already) growing up fast, and I’m trying to keep pace with my love which is growing and evolving along with her. So yes, this is a love letter to my niece. May she fly to the stars like Joan and Vanessa.

July – The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso

The way Debut autor Hayley Gelfuso crafted the story was mesmerizing. I was equally reading it fast to know where the story is going, while at the same time, trying to slow down to savour the story. The characters (Lisavet, Ernest, Moira, and Amelia) are so vivid, it’s difficult to think they were imaginary. The concept of time being warped in one place, and that too, a library, was too good not to pass on. 100% must read for anyone interested in Fantasy and Fiction.

August – Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

I can’t remember how I came across this series. I’m not a fan of either Romance or Fantasy. But however, this came to my life, I’m beyond grateful to those literary Gods for this privilege. Evie and Trystan are a mismatched couple you didn’t know you needed in your life. The mess of unruly and chaotic characters around them are equally delightful and so precious. Hannah Nicole Maehrer made me addicted to her story telling, humor, and wit. And there are dead bodies in the stories! Plus, a prince turned into a frog! I mean, what more do you need to be forced to read this book? Trust me, you won’t regret it! (Make sure to read from the Book #1 – Assistant to the Villain)

September – The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6) by Dan Brown

For this book, I cannot say why I love this. My fan letter says it all. Not only did I write a fan letter about this instead of a book review, I also wrote a short story while waiting in anticipation for this book. This book released on September, which is my birth month, so it was an early birthday gift for me by myself. And I read it very. Very. Very slowly. I was scared of finishing the story, because Dan Brown makes you wait and wait till the next one comes out. And every. Single. Book. Of his is just a masterpiece. How this man bends the reality to a science fiction-esque land making us question our own reality… It’s not a book to be read. It’s an experience to be lived through and felt.

October – A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra

This book is extra special to me, not just because of the awesome story, but also because, after reviewing and falling in love with the ARC, I was fortunate enough to befriend Carmela Dutra too, and today, she’s my author-bestie. Written by an amazing human being, this is a splendid first book in the Food Truck series, with a pair of fraternal twins, Beth and Seth, and Beth’s best friend Rylie. The story is the epitome of cozy mystery, with a dead body, amateur sleuths, and a whole bunch of fun and adventure, along with awesome recipes from Carmela’s recipe stash. Read this to be prepared for the next book in the series, Hot Wings and Homicide, coming out in May 2026.

November – DallerGut Dream Department Store by Lee Mi-Ye (translated by Sandy Joosun Lee)

Sometimes you need something whimsical in your life. This is that book. Talking about Dreams like a manufactured product that requires so much research, expertise, and analytical tracking is something I didn’t know was missing in my life. And once I found it, I couldn’t keep away. It is such a pure, precious, cleverly written book that needs to be protected at all costs, and raved about from the top of the world. Being a translated book, you realize how much you’d miss in literature if wonderful translators like Sandy Joosun Lee weren’t there. If you don’t read it, you wouldn’t miss it, but if you do read it, you’ll keep this as a treasure to be passed on for generations.

December – 12 Ways to Kill Your Family at Christmas by Natasha Bache

OMG! What did I just read? Natasha Bache not just managed to write a brilliant Christmas thriller, she also ensured the mystery continues till the last freaking chapter! Toxic family is a Christmas troupe, and whether you confess to it or not, it is everyone’s secret thrill to read about a toxic family getting their due during Christmas. Natasha does that and more. Please, I beg of you, don’t miss this gem during the holidays! Even if you are blessed with a perfect family, you’d still enjoy secretly killing a bunch of fictional strangers (and if one of the stranger has the face of a person you know, then that’s an additional bonus no one needs to know!)

A Holiday Bonus (Because It’s the Season for One More)

And because it is the holiday season, when rules soften and we allow ourselves just a little extra, I couldn’t help but add one more. This book refused to stay out of the list.

Bonus Book – The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

There are books. These books have superpowers. These powers mean you could use whatever the book title is, for the same thing. And if the title of the book is “The Book of Doors”, you could open a door using this book, and go to anywhere you want – past or present, here or there, anywhere! This book has the emotional depth deeper than Mariana Trench. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was immersed in the book feeling everything Cassie was feeling, from everything to the void. It’s a magical book, not because it has magic in it, but because the writing is magical. Really truly deserves all the love I could give this book.

Looking Back

Twelve months, twelve core favorites, and one gloriously indulgent bonus book, because honestly, how was I supposed to choose less? From feminist powerhouses to fantasy chaos to Christmas killings, every book gave me a memory I’m carrying into 2026.

Now your turn! What book made your year unforgettable? Drop it in the comments so I can add it to my ever-growing TBR (send help, but also don’t).

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