I set out to read 65 books in 2025—and justtt squeaked past the finish line. Down from 80 last year, but hey, quality over quantity, right? This year, I did something new: I wrote a blurb for every. Single. Book. From gut-punching literary fiction to creepy thrillers, binge-worthy romcoms to mind-expanding nonfiction, 2025’s reads had me laughing, crying, and occasionally staying up way too late. Here’s the full rundown.
Colorfully yours,
Haley
Literary Fiction
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (5/5)
This book will break your heart, full stop. At times, it made me sick to my stomach. By the end, my tears were hitting the pages. But, it’s also beautiful. I’ve never read something that delves so deeply into the power—and nuances—of friendship; particularly chosen family as its own kind of love. Note: This book is essentially one big trigger warning, so don’t pick it up unless you feel like you’re in a safe, stable mental place.
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (4/5)
If you loved Fleischman Is In Trouble (or its TV adaptation), you know the drill: expect satire, weirdness, and unhinged characters. If not, brace yourself. Darkly funny, sometimes earnest, sometimes ridiculous, it turns generational trauma into something strangely entertaining.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach (4/5)
Is it weird to call a book about depression charming? This one is so emotionally observant it’s almost uncanny. The story highlights grief, chance encounters, and the strange comfort of strangers that sneaks up on you.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (3.5/5)
Like most women my age, I love TJR. This one wasn’t her strongest IMO—potential was huge, execution a bit meh—but I still enjoyed it. Definitely gets the tear ducts going by the end.
Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld (3.5/5)
A solid short story collection that’s smart and observant, though uneven. Some stories lingered more than others. A million years ago I was shaken (in a good way!) by her novel Prep. While this isn’t that, it still gives that “fly on the wall” feeling.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (4/5)
Gorgeous, lyrical writing. A hostage situation where music bridges divides in ways you never expect. Love, art, and human connection all in one.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (4/5)
A survival story at sea that somehow sneaks in philosophy. You’ll question what’s real, what you believe, and how much hope the human spirit can hold—all while secretly rooting for a tiger.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton (3.5/5)
Told from a man’s perspective post-breakup. Emotionally honest and sometimes funny, though slower and more introspective than expected.
Historical Fiction
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright (4/5)
If you want a perspective shift, this novel delivers. The protagonist lives in a waste dump in Cambodia, scavenging among trash for survival. All she dreams of is reading. A reminder of the power of words—and hope.
Christadora by Tim Murphy (4/5)
Ooof, this one broke my heart. Sexual orientation, race, addiction, adoption… it touches on heavy topics and doesn’t pull punches. An eye-opening look at New York City from the 1980s onward, and a beautifully-written ode to complicated relationships.
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis (4.5/5)
Glitzy, emotional, and thrilling. A historical mystery with a strong female lead hunting a killer, wrapped in Broadway flair.
Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams (4/5)
Two intertwined women in different timelines: one in the present, confronting an old lover for her son; one in the past, a refugee finding her path. You’ll find romance, secrets, and emotional depth.
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (4/5)
Punchy, dynamic, and transportive. A crime-adjacent look at 1960s Harlem, following a furniture salesman navigating legality and corruption in a changing neighborhood.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (4/5)
I braced for a dense historical novel, but was pleasantly surprised. It was based on the real diaries of a heroic woman fighting for justice against all odds in 1700s Maine.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (4.5/5)
Long (!), powerful, and deeply human. A family saga spanning generations in South India plagued by a “curse,” blending medicine, culture, and the human choices that affect generations.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (4/5)
Proof that a short book can still pack a heavy emotional punch. Quick to read, but it stays with you. Set in a small Irish town in the ‘80s, it makes you reflect on whether you’d follow your conscience or just go along with the unspoken rules of your community.
Romance & Rom-Com
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (4/5)
Call me cringe, but this has everything I want in a beach read: hot characters, tension, and a dreamy summer backdrop. Plus, roughly a hundred references to oysters. Will it change your life? Not likely. Will it make you swoon? Absolutely.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (4/5)
Another perfect romcom beach read. Don’t expect depth beyond fun romance—but beware, it may make you crush on someone random in your local coffee shop.
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey (4/5)
Tender, messy, and heartbreakingly real. Grief and romance tangle together in a way that doesn’t sugarcoat anything.
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory (4/5)
Fun, flirty, and comforting. A dependable romcom with likable characters set against a vaguely political backdrop.
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan (4/5)
Romance + England + a relatably high-strung twenty-something abroad? Yes, please. Psst: prepare to get emotional.
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (3/5)
Cute and readable, but ultimately forgettable. One of the most “smutty” books I’ve read recently, though it fits the era of Heated Rivalry.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (3.5/5)
Cute and nostalgic, but didn’t hit as hard as her other books. Shares an eerily similar twist to My Oxford Year, which I think was part of my problem.
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (3.5/5)
Don’t kill me, superfans. Took me until about 70% to get hooked, but I’m intrigued enough to read the next one. Fingers crossed for deeper character work in the sequel.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (3.5/5)
To be fair, following two viral books is nearly impossible. This one fell a bit short, though the ending pulled me back in.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (4/5)
Surprisingly heartfelt and…dare I say cute? Science-heavy but accessible enough to skim the academia and still enjoy the story.
Lightbreakers by Lindsay McCrae (3.5/5)
Super interesting concept: would you go back and relive parts of your old life? The story explores potential consequences, but it doesn’t feel fully fleshed out.
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Friends With Secrets by Christine Gunderson (3.5/5)
Easy read with a theme of women supporting women—especially mothers. Familiar “nobody has it all together” trope with a dark twist. Not groundbreaking, but page-turning.
Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell (3/5)
I knew it would be dark based on the title…but I didn’t expect it to be quite so unsettling. It’s certainly unlike anything else I’ve read—points for that! At the beginning, I took it as a satire about our culture’s obsession with true crime. But, by the end, I think that might’ve been giving it too much credit.
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (3/5)
I appreciate what this book was trying to do, but it just didn’t hit for me. The style, although very creative, felt extremely repetitive to me. The unique layout kept me interested enough at the front end, but by about halfway through I was ready for the last page.
Pictures of You by Emma Grey (4.5/5)
Mystery, thriller, and romance collide when the protagonist suffers amnesia. Dark and creepy in the best possible way.
The Family Experiment by John Marrs (4/5)
A dark thriller about a dystopian social experiment done on families. It’s kind of like if Big Brother, The Giver and The Hunger Games had a very unsettling baby.
The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne (3.5/5)
Definitely interesting, as it follows a woman confronting her father, a notorious criminal, in the wilderness. Just not the most memorable book on the list.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden (3/5)
Quick and twisty, but predictable. A classic Freida McFadden: Domestic suspense about secrets, lies, and their consequences.
God of the Woods by Liz Moore (5/5)
One of my standout reads of the year. A summer camp, family secrets, and a compelling mystery make the perfect moody, literary suspense.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (4/5)
Damn, this was haunting. It admittedly begins with a slow burn, but then becomes unforgettable. Kidnapping, chosen family, love, and loyalty all meld together.
The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva (3.5/5)
A solid spy thriller following an international master assassin, with timely references to the Israel Palestine conflict. My boyfriend raves about this series and, spoiler alert, the books only get better after this.
The English Assassin by Daniel Silva (4/5)
As I promised above, this spy series doesn’t disappoint. This installment focuses heavily on European art and music, which I loved.
The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino (4/5)
A creepy mystery meets the NYC caste system. This one follows a woman obsessed with climbing the social ladder—and the lengths she’ll go to stay on top. Equal parts dark humor and psychological thrills, it had me turning page after page.
The Confessor by Daniel Silva (4/5)
I didn’t expect to be this interested in Catholicism or its role in World War II, but this makes it fascinating. It’s a spy thriller that dives deep into Vatican secrets while keeping tension high and the twists coming.
Memoir & Biography
Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir by Clint Hill (4/5)
Jackie Kennedy’s main Secret Service agent gives us a glimpse into the First Lady’s personality, quirks, strengths and even insecurities. While Hill’s writing feels a bit self-serving at times, I found the memoir extremely interesting overall. If you have any interest in the Kennedy family, you’ll love it.
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy (3.5/5)
This one left me feeling uncomfortable, which seems to be the point. Grealy’s struggles—both with her health and her resulting facial deformity—are heartbreaking. The memoir definitely left me feeling extra grateful for a supportive family to help navigate my own chronic illness, but it left me a bit drained all in all.
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad (4/5)
Whew. Young people battling illnesses will always get me. But add in Suleika’s raw, introspective writing style and her journey becomes even more powerful. The effect of her cancer on her romantic relationships was especially intriguing and complicated, particularly given her age. This is an inspiring read, but not in a “rainbow and butterflies” way.
What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator by Barbara Butcher (4/5)
Grim, fascinating, and oddly compelling. An industry veteran investigates unsolved deaths while also nodding to grief and community. Solid for fans of SVU like myself.
Notes to John by Joan Didion (3/5)
After Didion’s death, her therapy notes to her husband were turned into this book. It offers a fascinating peek behind the curtain, though the repetition wore on me.
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (4/5)
Forewarning: this memoir is heavy. Suicide, grief, loneliness—it’s raw, honest, and teaches radical acceptance in the worst circumstances.
The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service by Laura Kaplan (3.5/5)
Chronicles the underground abortion movement and the fight for reproductive rights. There was so much I didn’t know, but I admittedly wish it had been told in a less dry way.
One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (5/5)
Angry, provocative, and brilliant. The Palestinian author blends memoir, history, and cultural critique in a way that feels urgent and deeply personal.
Non-fiction
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City by Jonathan Mahler (2.5/5)
Some of the NYC history is interesting, but it feels disjointed—like several books trying to be one. Baseball fans may enjoy it more than I did, but the format remains clunky.
Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win by Jessica Valenti (3.5/5)
I learned a lot here and know others will, too, but be ready to buckle in—it’s pretty dense.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel (3/5)
This should be a fascinating story of art forgery, stolen masterpieces, and strange love…but for some reason it never quite gets there.
Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum (4/5)
Smart, fun cultural criticism. It explores reality TV, media, and modern storytelling. The tea about Survivor, Big Brother, and The Apprentice had me gasping.
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow (4/5)
Right in my wheelhouse! It chronicles the powerful—yet largely unrecognized—businesswomen behind fashion in NYC and beyond during the 20th century.
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez (3.5/5)
Eye-opening and important, highlighting gender bias in data and design. Some of the stats will make you very angry. But be warned…it’s another dense one.
Blood: The Science, Medicine and Mythology of Menstruation by Dr. Jen Gunter (3/5)
Explores menstrual periods by debunking myths and highlighting facts. Definitely some solid tidbits in here, but a lot to read in one go.
Contemporary Fiction
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (4/5)
Messy, dramatic, and very readable. Explores relationships and ambition among elite figure skaters. Yes, my second ice skating book this year…
Anyone’s Ghost by August Thompson (4/5)
A coming-of-age, queer love story. It’s an emotional, at times intense glimpse at the intersection between masculinity and sexuality.
Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier & Wendy Katzman (4.5/5)
Anxiety-inducing, timely, and SO bingeable. Centers on a murder investigation at a boarding school and the cutthroat process of getting into college.
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau (3.5/5)
A sweet, nostalgic glimpse into suburban life in the 70s through an innocent, young teen’s eyes. Fun, but relatively low-stakes.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (4.5/5)
This is one of the year’s standouts for me. It’s a beautifully written, multigenerational family saga that delves into trauma and love.
I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney (4/5)
Darkly funny with more heart than I expected. Follows a man discovering who he is and what he lives for by going to strangers’ funerals.
