2025 Book Review Wrapped: Best Books I Read This Year
A stack of emotional novels that made me cry in 2025, featuring powerful stories of love, loss, and resilience
When I started my book blog in August, I had no idea how deeply this journey would shape my year. Books became my travel companions, my teachers, my mirrors, and sometimes even my therapists. Through each story, I discovered new places, new histories, new emotional landscapes—and a little more of myself.
In total, I read 28 books in 2025, but the ones I reviewed and the ones that stayed with me long after I turned the last page deserve a special spotlight. If you want to explore all the titles I’ve covered this year, you can browse my book reviews for the highlighted list of 2025 reads.
So here it is—my 2025 Book Review Wrapped, a celebration of the best books I read in 2025 that moved me, surprised me, challenged me, and expanded my empathy.
Best Books I Read in 2025
Books I Reviewed in 2025
The Lost English Girl
A sweeping historical novel that examines motherhood, separation, and resilience during wartime. This book reminded me how deeply identity is shaped by sacrifice and circumstance.
The End of Drum-Time
Atmospheric, layered, and rooted in the Arctic frontier—this novel transported me to a rugged world where love and survival collide.
The Women of Tehran
A beautifully intimate portrait of female friendship, rebellion, and the weight of tradition. This story lingered with me long after finishing.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
A standout of the year. A meditation on memory, desire, and what it means to be seen. Addie’s story is one I wish I could read again for the very first time.
The Spectacular
A dazzling exploration of ambition and identity set in the world of entertainment—richly told, full of artistry and grit.
The Secret Life of Sunflowers
Tender, reflective, and perfect for art lovers—this novel entwines past and present with emotional clarity.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea
A lyrical, imaginative story about secrets, sisterhood, and the power of storytelling itself.
You can discover even more of the books I reviewed in 2025 on my complete Books I Reviewed page.
Some of the books that defined my 2025 reading year.
2025 Reading Superlatives & Personal Favorites
The reads that shaped my year—in ways both delightful and unexpected.
Book I Regret Putting Off: The Nightingale
A masterpiece of courage and heartbreak. This book reminded me why historical fiction is such a vital keeper of memory.
Best Writing Style: We Do Not Part
Every sentence felt like a small work of art. This novel reaffirmed my love for language itself.
Most Confusing but Brilliant: The Candy House
A book that left me thinking long after the confusion faded.
Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Yes, it deserves a second shoutout. Some stories imprint on you—and Addie’s is now part of mine.
Books That Made Me Cry (In the Best Way)
Some stories break you open—in the gentlest, most necessary way.
Isola
Circling the Sun
A Twilight in Paris
A Postcard
A Sting of a Bee
Each of these novels was beautifully written with emotional precision and depth. They reminded me that vulnerability is a strength and that stories can heal. These are some of the most memorable and emotional books I read in 2025.
Emotionally powerful books from 2025 that made the reader cry
What Reading Gave Me in 2025
Through books, I traveled—from Arctic frontiers to wartime Europe, from Tehran’s hidden corners to the glitter of show business.
I discovered new histories, walked in the shoes of strangers, and gained empathy for worlds vastly different from my own.
Books became my way of listening.
They taught me to slow down, to reflect, to imagine, and to appreciate the small quiet truths found between the lines. Reading these 27 books in 2025 was truly a journey for the mind and heart.
Why This Year of Reading Mattered
Starting this blog was one of the most fulfilling decisions I made in 2025. Not just because it encouraged me to read more—but because it allowed me to connect deeply with stories and with readers who feel the same.
Every book I read expanded me in some way.
Every review helped me process what I learned.
Every character gifted me a new lens to see the world.
If you’re looking for more recommendations or want to explore all the stories I’ve shared so far, you can find them on my complete book reviews 2025 page.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Want first dibs on my upcoming reviews, favorite reads, and 2026 book discoveries?
Subscribe to the newsletter and stay connected. I can’t wait to share more stories, more recommendations, and more unforgettable books with you in the new year!