Are you an avid reader!? I went from a crazy reader (150+ books per year) to now an above-average enthusiast sitting at 82 books read for 2025. Doing the math it makes it to about 1 and half books per week – which is a good number for me. Either way, because I tend to read a bit more than average, I figured I’d share my favourite reads from 2025.
I shared a similar list of favourite books two years ago, so check that out if you want to know more. I also keep everything organized on Goodreads – so click here to see my profile and follow along more closely.
Unfortunately, I don’t do a good job of rating the books I read (I’m not super picky). But I can talk more in depth about any of them if you have questions, ha! For the most part I read for fun, and I’m in two-and-a-half book clubs which introduces me to some books that are different than the usual. My most-read genres are contemporary romance, cozy murder mysteries, police-y type books, even a variety of non-fiction!
And finally, every month I share my favourite book in my email newsletter – so sign up here to get access to that.
Without further ado, here were my top five books read last year:
All The Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker was my favourite book read in March 2025 – one of my Book Club picks. It’s kind of an epic story that follows two kids from a small town, one who is kidnapped and held hostage, the other who finds them. It spans several years, locations, etc. and is a good read if you don’t like anything too genre-specific.
I’ve also just read another Chris Whitaker book (We Begin at the End) and it’s sort of a similar vein (although it spans only 1 or 2 years).
Beartown by Fredrik Backman was one of the first books I read in 2025. Surprisingly, I didn’t put it in my email newsletter as my favourite that month (that honour went to Still Life by Louise Penny). BUT it’s definitely a book that I have thought about so many times since. Set in a small Swedish village called Beartown, this book follows the local high school hockey team. Apparently, there are two other books that follow this one – but I think it’s a great standalone and I kinda refuse to read the others, ha.
The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben is a non-fiction book… about animals! And another one of my book club picks. Seriously, you’ll learn SO MANY interesting facts about animals and nature, I highly recommend. Did you know that squirrels eat baby birds!? The same author also wrote The Hidden Life of Trees, which I’ve heard is also really good. About trees/nature and how everything communicates.
Wild Love by Elsie Silver was my top book read in December 2025, and the first of a series (that I have since all read). The first one is probably my favourite (I love the “buttoned-up male character” trope!). Set in Canada, this rom com is of the open-door-spicy-type, so keep that in mind. I definitely don’t mind a bit of spice in my romance novels, and nothing is worst to me than a romance book where the mains characters share one kiss, and then get married. Definitely not realistic! (More so the automatic proposal/wedding versus the intimacy).
The Women by Kristin Hannah was my favourite book for April, and I even read it for both of my book clubs this year! From someone who knew very little of the Vietnam War (I know it happened and wasn’t the most popular) – I feel like I have a much better understanding. A few books I’ve read after this one have also referenced the Vietnam War – and I’m always like, oh hey! This book was also on so many “need to read lists”, so it’s a very popular title.
As I mentioned above, according to Goodreads I read 82 books in 2025. I definitely don’t stick to only new titles, and I’d say 1/3 of the books I do read are from a few series.
Remember to check out my Top Five Books of the Year (from 2023/24) to see other titles I’ve enjoyed. Not sure if this is a super popular subject, but it’s definitely something I can talk about if you want :)
Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or if you have any book suggestions! I’m open to pretty much anything, and like to mix up the types and genres of books. Honestly, 95% of the books I read are from our library, so it’s not an expensive hobby to me, ha.
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