25 Books in 2025 (my reading list)

This year I want to read more books.

I've shared a lot here about my love of movies. While I'm also a lover of books, I've never quite become the avid reader I've aspired to be. I grew up surrounded by readers—people who would rather lie in bed all day with a book they've read six times than do anything or see anyone else. My oldest child is this kind of reader, and I cherish their insatiable reading habit.

The inspiration came from a childhood friend who loves to read. In high school, we bonded over reading Oprah's Book Club selections together. Her “25 books in 2025” goal rekindled something within me, and I've found such delight in crafting this reading list and sharing it with friends, family, and even complete strangers.

My word of the year is FLOURISH, and I'm watching this manifest through reading. As I read, the stories and characters create new pathways within me. I feel like I’m being rearranged—making personal connections, finding new perspectives, noticing when I laugh or cry or want to write something down. When I discuss these things with others, it feels like we've shared the same dream and can now explore it together.

My list is a mix of book recommendations from trusted reader-friends and book reviewers like Books are Sick. I organized everything via Notion.so.

2025 Reading List with Summaries

Quick Reads (4-5 hours)

1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan // Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction // A morally complex tale set in 1980s Ireland examining conscience and social responsibility.

2. The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer // Genre: Contemporary Fiction // An introspective story about a death doula finding joy in life.

3. The Housekeepers by Alex Hay // Genre: Historical Fiction/Feminist Fiction // A feminist heist novel about five maids in 1950s London.

4. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang // Genre: Literary Thriller // A provocative exploration of cultural appropriation in publishing.

5. The Dictionary of Lost Words // by Pip Williams Genre: Historical Fiction A story about women's voices during the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

6. Crying in H-Mart // by Michelle Zauner Genre: Memoir A poignant memoir about family, food, and cultural identity.

Medium Length (5.5-7 hours)

1. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano // Genre: Contemporary Fiction A Little Women-inspired story about chosen family and healing.

2. The Marriage Portrait // by Maggie O'Farrell Genre: Historical Fiction // A detailed portrayal of a young Renaissance duchess's life.

3. The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley // Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Social Commentary // A blend of romance and prepper culture examining modern anxieties.

4. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell // Genre: Historical Fiction // An imaginative exploration of Shakespeare's family life.

5. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon // Genre: Historical Mystery // A midwife investigates deaths in 1790s Maine.

6. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett // Genre: Literary Fiction // A nostalgic story about storytelling during the pandemic.

7. Go as a River by Shelley Read // Genre: Historical Fiction/Coming-of-Age // A lyrical story set in 1940s Colorado.

Longer Reads (7.5-9.5+ hours)

1. Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine // Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical Realism // An Indigenous and Latinx multi-generational epic.

2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt // Genre: Contemporary Fiction // A heartwarming story featuring an unusual friendship.

3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride // Genre: Historical Fiction // A story of Jewish and African American communities in early 1900s.

4. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar // Genre: Literary Fiction // An exploration of Iranian American identity.

5. James by Percival Everett // Genre: Literary Fiction // A reimagining challenging historical narratives.

6. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See // Genre: Historical Fiction // A tale of female friendship in 19th-century China.

7. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver // Genre: Literary Fiction // A modern Dickensian tale about rural poverty.

8. The Women by Kristin Hannah // Genre: Historical Fiction // A story about female WWII pilots.

9. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See // Genre: Historical Fiction // A tale of female divers on Korea's Jeju Island.

10. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee // Genre: Historical Fiction/Family Saga // A sweeping multi-generational Korean family epic.

11. East of Eden by John Steinbeck // Genre: Literary Fiction/Classic // Steinbeck's epic reimagining of Genesis in California's Salinas Valley.

12. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese // Genre: Literary Fiction/Family Saga // A multigenerational epic set in Kerala, India, spanning the 20th century, exploring family bonds, medical mysteries, and cultural transformation.

Have you read any of these? I’ve read Small Things Like These and Hello Beautiful so far and loved them both. I’m starting The Dictionary of Lost Words tonight.

What are your favorite books? I want to know.

xo, Corinne