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My 2025 5-Star Reads!
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items Just as last year, I'm creating a list of the books that I rated 5 stars on Goodreads. This year, I read 110 books - these ones were the best! A couple things to keep in mind: I consider myself a mood reader, which means that these books were rated 5...
This was the last book that I read while enjoying my winter break, it was cozy and warm, really funny at times, and it set me on the right path to start my year in a fun and easygoing mood!
Statistically Speaking: A Quirky British Novel
This one was like reading an intense episode of criminal minds! It was spooky and thrilling and I FLEW through it in like three days!
Sleep Tight: A Novel by J.H. Markert
In true Picoult fashion, this book is HEAVY. Trigger warnings for racism & infant death and loss. But the way that it's written makes you HAVE to know how it all ends. Did it break my heart into a million pieces? Yes. Was it written in such a com...
Small Great Things: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
The coziest, cutest, most whimsical little witch book! There's a little romance on the side, too. Cozy fantasy with a side of romance checks all my boxes!
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
You likely recognize Josh Gad from a lot of things - in our house, we know him best as the voice of Olaf & Book of Mormon. I listened to this as an audiobook, read by Josh himself and it was INCREDIBLE. He's hilarious, he's heartfelt, his writing...
In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some Memoir by Josh Gad
My first TJ Klune book! I was absolutely blown away by how immediately attached I became to the characters. Fantasy, surprisingly cozy (despite being all about death), romantic in the cutiest way. I can guarantee that I will read every book he's writ...
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
WOW wow wow. Read this one while I was on vacation in the UK this summer and I could NOT put it down. My instant love for (most of) the characters was so intense and the story was compelling, thrilling, and left me rooting SHOOK multiple times.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
2024 was when I discovered how much I truly love the fantasy genre after mostly avoiding it for years. After reading Fourth Wing, I decided to dive into other ones recommended by people who loved dragons and I saw quite a few people recommend this on...
One Dark Window: The Shepherd King #1
As I mentioned earlier in the list, I became a bit obsessed with TJ Klune this year. I wanted to read this one first but it wasn't available at the library when I was looking and so I ended up reading Under the Whispering Door first. Anyway, THIS BOO...
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Trigger warning: child loss. This book broke my heart almost instantly. It's such a rollercoaster of emotions but I'm so glad I read it.
Broken Country (Reese's Book Club) by Clare Hall
Sequel to One Dark Window – I put this on hold at my library before I had even finished the first one, I knew I was going to have to know how the story concluded before I was even a fraction of the way into the first book. Again, a fantasy romance th...
Two Twisted Crowns: The Shepherd King #2
Trigger warning: suicidal intentions (did not actually happen). This book was surpising in the best way. I wasn't sure how to feel as it started, I wasn't sure who to root for or if I hated all the characters but the development of the story was grea...
The Wedding People: A Novel by Alison Espach
Another first for me from a highly recommended author. I LOVED this one! A bunch of strangers find themselves in an unlikely situation and the whole story takes place in the span of just a few days and the way it all unfolds was equal parts funny and...
Anxious People: A Novel by Fredrik Backman
I actually wasn't sure that I liked this author, having only read Malibu Rising and not really enjoying it. But this book blew me away and was the best historical fiction I read this year!
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Another historical fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed this year! It was exciting and at times a bit gory so beware of that!
The Quiet Librarian: A Novel by Allen Eskens
My absolute favorite book of the year! It's heartwarming and hilarious and I just can't say enough good things about it. I've recommended it to everyone I know that loves reading and I haven't heard anything but rave reviews.
How to Age Disgracefully: A Novel by Claire Pooley
This is one of the highest rated books I've ever seen on Goodreads and I now fully understand why. It's written entirely in correspondence, in letters to & from the main character, Sybil. It's funny and heartbreaking and then heartwarming as well...
The Correspondent: A Novel by Virginia Evans