Dec 28, 2025
I didn't finish as many books this year as I did last year, but that wasn't my goal anyway. My goal was to enjoy what I read. If a book wasn't resonating with me after a while, I'd put it down and start something else. I also read a few larger books than I have in years past. So while the number of books dropped from 33 to 28, I think I may have actually read more this year.
Okay, I'll stop coping/giving excuses.
My top 10 books I read in 2025 (in no particular order) are:
Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)
Lived up to the hype. This was also the first time I did "immersion reading" where I listened to the audio book as well as reading the physical book.
Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy)
This was the second book I've read from McConaghy and she's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I'm saving Once There Were Wolves for when we travel to Scotland next year.
Travels with Charley (John Steinbeck)
Perfect audio book to listen to while roadtripping.
11/22/63 (Stephen King)
This also lived up to the hype — and then some. I've never read King before, but this was such a fun and wild read. One of the few times I can say, "I couldn't put it down" and mean it.
Exhalation (Ted Chiang)
Short story GOAT. Wish he had more.
The Correspondent (Virginia Evans)
A delightful read. This book may have partly influenced my desire to start writing again.
The Strength of the Few (James Islington)
A bit of a slog at the beginning, but ended on a high note and has set up a dramatic final book in the triology.
The Raven Scholar (Antonia Hodgson)
I didn't realize dark academia was a genre, and I didn't realize I like it until I read this book. I kept thinking about the characters.
The Place of Tides (James Rebanks)
A great read for winter as it's very cozy and a great reminder to slow down. Opens your eyes to other ways you can live your life.
Moonbound (Robin Sloan)
Just a fun story. Beautiful writing, well-paced, and wrapped up nicely.
Notable mentions:
The Thin Man (Dashiell Hammett)
This was fun in a classic detective, noir, whodunit kind of way. Not normally my type of thing, but this was a fun and easy read.
Dungeon Crawler Crawler Series (Matt Dinniman)
So much hype around these, and the audio books live up to it. It's incredibly fun, silly, somehow very action packed. That said, after the first two books, I wasn't feeling the need to continue. Maybe I'll pick them back up in the future when I need a light read again.