My Top 10 Books of 2025
When I ask people what their favorite book is, the majority of the answers are all the same: “I don’t really read at all.” Every once in a while they will have one or two favorites, but most of the time I’ve already read the book. I think the problem is not that people aren’t reading; I think we aren’t given good book recommendations. Out of the 376 books I have read in 2025, I have compiled a list of my ten favorites, across all different genres; I ranked the books based on plot, writing style, and how much I think about it today. Most of the books below currently take up my thoughts every day.
1. Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh
I read this book for the first time in March of 2024, so technically it’s not a new favorite, but I still had to include it. This novel explores the hard to read and heavy topics of love, connection, and isolation. Even though this book is marketed as a romance novel for younger audiences, it should and can be read by anyone and everyone.
This YA romance novel tells the story of Shannon Lynch and Johny Kavangh throughout their days in high school. The story is told through the perspectives of Shannon and Johnny as Shannon starts her first day of high school at Tommen College.
2. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This was the second book written by Dostoevsky that I have read. I originally wanted to read this book because I heard it was a good book to get into Russian Literature, but it is more than that. Dostoevsky writes such realistic characters and makes them seem more than just words on paper. Every setting, relationship, and family feels real. I saw so much character development and felt so deeply connected to the plot. If you want a book that forces you to contemplate existence and second guess the nature of everything around you, then this book is perfect for you.
The three sons of Fyodor Palovich do everything together. They experience love together, the depths of religion and how it shapes one’s view of reality, grief, guilt, and the entirety of life itself. The patriarchal relationship between Pavlovich and his sons doesn’t help, and leaves the men with an internal struggle over the love and hate they feel for their father. Tensions rise and soon a murder is committed, but who did it?
3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
This book was recommended to me online, and it immediately caught my attention. This book is everything; the writing style is so descriptive, and I really felt the main character aging as the years went by. This is a memoir but doesn’t feel like what you would imagine one to be.
Everything feels so real and relatable, and I felt so understood and seen. I wanted to underline every single word in this book because Walls’ writing is immaculate, and I can’t wait to read another book by this author.
The novel follows Jeannette Walls as she moves from place to place with her parents, unable to find a permanent home. Through a series of important memories, Walls shares all of the lessons she learned from her childhood and adolescence. She is determined to make a splash in the world and be remembered, and she does exactly that. Walls shows so much courage, compassion, and empathy to the neighbors, siblings, and families she writes about in the book, while also trying to figure herself out. This is definitely a book everyone should read; it highlights how important empathy is.
4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
This was my first Leo Tolstoy book, and I cannot wait to read another. This book made me question both my values and my purpose in life. Am I supposed to follow the passionate love I crave for, or am I supposed to find a quiet, comfortable love? I could feel these characters’ emotions deep inside me; they weren’t just names on a page but lives spread out over 800 pages.
I constantly think about the depth of Tolstoy’s characters and feel as though I’m reading a reality show script. The novel follows three different couples, some married while some are just getting started. Anna Karenina, our main character, is falling out of love with her husband of many years. Their love is so boring that Anna starts to find excitement in a secret affair. From the outside, Anna Karenina appears to have everything—wealth, family, power—but she is deeply unhappy with her life. If marriage is the main goal in society, the novel suggests, some will be left feeling incomplete.
5. The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
You may recognize the name of this author like I did when I first picked up this book. Yarros is mainly known for her work in fantasy with her bestselling romance book Fourth Wing. However, Yarros’ preferred genre is contemporary romance novels, so I thought I would give The Last Letter a try. All I wanted from this book was the happy ending I knew I would never receive. The novel is beautifully written, and you can tell that Yarros spends time poetically crafting her sentences. If you are in the mood to be deeply upset and cry your heart out, then I would recommend picking up this book.
A modern war story about two people on opposite sides of the world, Ella, a single mom, lives with her children but can’t shake the feeling of loneliness that seems to follow her endlessly. Beckett, a war hero, is constantly surrounded with death, and he can’t find anything worth holding on to. In a search of companionship, both find themselves sending letters to each other, unaware of each other’s identities.
6. The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath
This is hands down my favorite book. It is truly unforgettable. I originally picked up this book because I was watching Gilmore Girls, and there is an episode where Rory is reading this book on a bench. I was in the mood to read a fall-themed book, so I ordered it and started reading. When starting, I was hesitant because I was not a big Sylvia Plath fan (later I learned that was perfectly fine). I was not prepared at all. Never have I felt so seen by someone who doesn’t know I exist; as I read I felt like words that I could never quite say myself were placed on the page. This book teaches so many widely applicable life lessons. There are quotes that talk about animals, makeup, love, and everything in between, and I genuinely want to force everyone around me to read it.
This 732-page book is a collection of Slyvia Plath’s diaries, originally published in 1982. This uncensored version of the events through her point of view is devastating but beautiful. It follows Plath from childhood through college and ends in adulthood. It reveals many internal struggles Plath went through while writing books such as Ariel and The Bell Jar.
7. Night Road by Kristen Hannah
I have read this book twice this year—that's just how much I love it. The way Hannah writes characters is so in-depth and amazing; so much character growth is present throughout the pages. I felt such a connection to the plot and was desperate to find out what happened next. This book puts into perspective how different all of our lives are and how the way we look at one situation can shape everything. If you want a good cry, this book is for you.
The Night Road follows Lexi after she moves in with her great aunt after spending endless years in the foster care system. Starting at a new school, Lexi finds herself on the outskirts until she comes across the Farraday twins: Mia and Zach. The three explore the highlights and hardships of childhood as the novel tells a story of found family. A devastating event changes everything and destroys the life Lexi has built.
8. Releasing 10 by Chloe Walsh
This book is part of Chloe Walsh’s Boys Of Tommen Series, which includes Binding 13 I had been looking forward to this release for years because I had wanted this specific character’s story for such a long time. I felt seen in how Walsh describes mental health struggles.. The themes of love and friendship are beautiful and make the book so special. The setting of Ireland and the way the high school is described is magical.
The novel follows Lizzie and Hugie through childhood and their teenage years, taking into account the challenges they go through, both separately and together. Lizzie deals with mental health issues that affect almost all the relationships around her and is used to scaring people off. Hughie, on the other hand, is known as the golden child and is expected to be perfect. From friends to lovers to strangers, this book is sure to make you feel for the characters.
9. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Almost all of the books included in this review made me sob, but if I had to pick the saddest book of them all, it would be this one. I felt ripped apart while reading this book and struggled to finish because of all of the terror that reigned throughout the pages. Yanagihara writes such tragic but poetic sentences that encapsulate strong feelings of destruction, anger, and grief. This book is really A Little Life; you will feel so connected to the characters’ lives and relationships.
The novel follows Jude as he moves through life and is hesitant to pursue both romantic and platonic relationships. When Jude journeys to college, he begins to open up to three other boys who are outsiders: JD, an artist trying to make his way in New York City; Willem, a budding actor with a big heart; and Malcolm, a brilliant architect. Jude is the glue in the group of four, and they work together through thick and thin.
10. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
I honestly have no words for how to describe this book. It was beautiful at times but also made me angry. I felt so much emotion and could see the love between father and son throughout the struggles depicted. Beautiful Boy asks an important question: How do you love and support someone who has done and does terrible things?? I think everyone should read this book; it highlights how the love a parent feels for their child is different from any other kind of love and how the adults we let into our life shape our beliefs.
Sheff, the father of a son who struggled with addiction, wrote Beautiful Boy to share his perspective as a parent with a child with mental health and substance abuse challenges. In Beautiful Boy, Sheff returns to his memories, questioning if he should have handled things as he did.. He asks how his "beautiful boy,” who was a straight A student, volunteered, and played on playgrounds, could become a lying, stealing addict without a social life. This is a story of family, loss, and everything in between.
I hope this list has inspired you to pick up a book or at least gift one to a friend. Reading has so many benefits and can be super fun, so put down your screens and pick up a book instead!