Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

As with every year, this one required a little bit of grace. Blocking out the influencers who read 150+ books a year, I buckled down and did my best. On Goodreads, I set the goal of 30 and read 22. I’ve realized that my reading habits change based on the time of year; I start out strong in January (in fact, I just requested books from the library), then it dips hard in the summer and I barely read anything, and then in the fall it’s a mad dash to get in another ten to finish respectably. In the end, I read as I please, so I consider that a victory. This year, a lot of the books I read really stuck with me and I highly recommend most of them. This is my 2025 book roundup. Enjoy!

stack of books with a fern planted in a yellow pot

Classic Books

The stack of classic novels I want to read is ever-growing, but I ticked four off the list this year. Each was its own creature, exhibiting the time, place, and author. It’s interesting to see how each author had their own voice and vision and were telling a story they really wanted to tell without any thought of trends or tropes. I think that’s what I like about the classics; they are raw and real.

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

A Room with a View is a fun snapshot of time in which a young girl and a broody young man fall madly in love without saying a word (almost – they do speak, but it’s not a lot). Can I say just how much I LOVE George? He’s so strange and quiet, but powerful and bold.

book cover of E. M. Forster's A Room with a View with a blue bird and flowers

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

These people are nuts. I laughed out loud when the trailer for the 2026 adaptation flashed “The Greatest Love Story of All Time” across the screen. Tell me you haven’t read this book without telling me you haven’t read this book. Are Heathcliff and Cathy drawn to each other? Sure. Is this the greatest love story ever? Not even close. But it was an enjoyable read with a bleak landscape, fascinating (if not crazy) characters, and a unique approach to storytelling.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

I FINALLY finished it!! Woohoo! I did like The Three Musketeers, but boy was it rough to get through at times. Clearly translated, it has some clunky dialogue and lots of exposition. In the end it took me a few years to get this off the TBR, but I did and I’m glad I made my way through it.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Charming, short and sweet, and an Americana fantasy that is a bit underrated. I think Tuck Everlasting should be mandatory reading for younger kids to help them dip their toes into the fantasy genre and get a sense of what it means to add a little daydream and drama to a fairly simple story.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

I’m not a huge sci-fi or fantasy reader, so this list is usually pretty short, but I got in some good ones this year.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

A classic if there ever was one, The Hobbit was actually part of a book club. I had tried reading a few years ago and just couldn’t get into it. I had the same struggle this year, but did enjoy it.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

A sci-fi must for 2026, Sunrise on the Reaping made me love Haymitch even more (if that’s even possible). I definitely liked it more than The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but I do have a general problem with this trend of prequels. I think it’s obvious the author struggled to tie in certain things at times and rewind characters who were so well thought out and shaped in the original series.

the purple and gold cover of Suzanne Collins's book Sunrise on the Reaping — Photo: Elaine Atherholt, austenetc.com

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I quadruple checked the publication date on this because it felt less sci-fi and more 2020. But it was published in 2014 (or somewhere around there) believe it or not. I highly recommend Station Eleven as a precursor to something like The Road, because it’s dark, but not that dark, and gritty but still maintains a lot of heart and hope.

Mystery

Surprisingly, only one mystery this year so he gets his category all to himself. The Naming of the Dead was not my favorite Ian Rankin novel. It was long and packed with history I would have learned if I went to school in the UK, but was lost on me as an American. It had the same grit, though, and was a good change up from the usual Inspector Rebus pace.

Historical Fiction Books (No World War II)

Looking through this list of historical fiction, I very proudly say I didn’t touch a single World War II book this whole year! Nothing is wrong with WWII books, but they tend to dominate the historical fiction genre and some of the best historical fiction books I read have nothing to do with that war. If you can, I encourage you to branch out into other realms of history for stories just as fascinating and captivating.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants takes place during the Great Depression and follows a young man as he literally runs away with the circus. This is not a new book, but, as always, I’m late to the party, so I hopped on this train (no pun intended) this year and really enjoyed the wild ride.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

Based on true events but filled with fictional characters who really drag you into the Turn of the Century era, The Paris Express kept me wondering what exactly would happen. I did my best not to Google anything and was rewarded with an interesting turn of events for a Paris train and its passengers.

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

As the Jewish people flee Jerusalem, they are forced to travel across huge expanses of wilderness and take refuge in forts built centuries ago. The Dovekeepers follows the stories of four women who come together with two goals: survive and take care of the doves. Love, war, tragedy, found family, and so much more is packed into this book.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

I gather it’s hard to sort fact from fiction when it comes the famous Fitzgeralds, but this novel did a fairly good job of telling their story. Primarily from the point of view of Zelda, Z follows the couple’s life as artistic nomads, parents, and icons of the Jazz age (though they didn’t know it at the time).

Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel

I LOVED this book. A totally unique look at the life of Galileo, Galileo’s Daughter tells the story of the astronomer and his beloved daughter through her letters. Cloistered as a nun, Suor Maria Celeste is still the eldest daughter of her father’s household and therefore helps him with regular chores (like patching and washing shirts), as well as crafting tinctures and medicinal cures, sending him gifts, reading his manuscripts, and supporting him through prayer and encouragement through all his trials and triumphs. She’s a force of faith and love to be reckoned with, and she never leaves the wall of the convent.

hand holding open a book showing the page and chapter title — Photo: Elaine Atherholt, austenetc.com

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

Not a day goes by that I do not think of Endurance. The first book I read this year and it’s still on my mind. Those men endured insane circumstances and faced incredible odds to survive in the arctic, trusting the leadership of Shackleton to see them through. It’s amazing. Also, it’s an interesting look at the year 1914 that doesn’t involve the World War. It reminds you that other things still happen, even when there’s a war on.

The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai

A parable and allegory, The Ardent Swarm takes us to North Africa in the wake of an Islamic fundamentalist revolution and its aftermath. The country is shaken and changing, facing an invasion that will change the course of history and Sidi determined his “girls” — his bees — do not face the same fate.

photo of the yellow cover of Yamen Manai's The Ardent Swarm book on a denim blue background — Photo: Elaine Atherholt, austenetc.com

Just for Fun Books

All books are fun, I’m not trying to insult my previous inclusions, but these books were the ones that didn’t fit into any category or were just ones I gravitated towards.

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

This was out of my comfort zone and I can’t say I want to go back for seconds. I’m really not into spice, or sex (because let’s call it what it is), in books or movies. It’s just not my thing. I loved the coziness of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and its Gilmore Girls vibes, and I liked the general storyline, but I think it was soured a bit by the lusty-ness. Maybe I should write a series of cozy, no-spice romance novels…

China Rich Girlfriend & Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Obviously, I had to finish this outrageously fun series. I’m in love with all of these. They’re strange, quirky, insane, food-focused (very important), and just a good time. Plus they have a lot of heart. I can’t recommend them enough.

all three books from the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan — Photo: Elaine Atherholt, austenetc.com

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

My cousin handed me Remarkably Bright Creatures and I’m so glad she did. It’s such a charming story about an older woman, a mystery, and a very clever octopus. It draws you in and keeps you rooting for all the characters to find their happy ending.

The Story Collector by Evie Wood

One of the last books I read this year, but certainly not one to be ignored. I loved The Lost Bookshop so I knew I’d be very happy with The Story Collector and I was right! Something about Ireland is just so romantic and welcoming and warm, plus this had some good twists and a slightly different take on romance.

Books for 2026

I have some great reading planned for 2026 and can’t wait to set another goal and barely get close to it. But that’s the beauty of reading for fun; you can read whatever you want, whenever, and just enjoy the stories you find.

Happy Reading!

2025 Book Roundup