Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. If you asked whether I’d rather go to the movies or stay home and read, there’s no contest… I’m already curled up under a blanket with a book in my hand, two more on the coffee table, and at least one lost somewhere in the house.

My 2025 “read” list wandered all over the map: fiction, biography, faith, parenting, personal growth, and a few books I picked up simply because everyone else was talking about them and I needed to know what the buzz was about. (Spoiler: sometimes the hype is earned… sometimes it’s not.)

.

Here’s a look at what I read in 2025, along with ratings and reflections

–

---

–

Fiction

———

.

–

The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles (10/10)

Possibly my favorite fiction book ever. Brilliantly written, unforgettable characters, deeply moving. I didn’t want it to end.

–

–

The Dutch House – Ann Patchett (10/10)

I listened to the audiobook read by Tom Hanks—HIGHLY recommend. Beautifully crafted story.

.

–

Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier (10/10)

Atmospheric, haunting, masterful. I read this in high school – loved it then and still love it!

–

–

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston  (9.5/10)

A surprisingly moving story about how one life touches many others. Delightful!

–

–

The Summer House – James Patterson (7/10)

 I had to read at least one book by this prolific writer. It was an interesting, well-written mystery. 

–

–

The Academy – Elin Hilderbrand (7/10)

I was curious about this book because so many people seemed to be talking about it, and with Elin Hilderbrand teaming up with her daughter on their first dual project – I had to see what the buzz was about. It’s an interesting peek into the dramatic, glamorous, and sometimes messy lives of rich and famous teens at an elite boarding school.

The story is entertaining, but I didn’t love it. Still, it was a fun, well-written book worth checking out if you enjoy YA drama with a luxury twist.

–

–

A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles (8/10)

Slow start, beautiful finish. The story follows a man confined to a room inside a hotel for decades, yet he still finds delight in the little things: a game, a book, a meal, or a song.

I resonated with the author when he said that time seems endless until you have a child ready to leave the nest – then you begin to notice and treasure each day.

Overall this was good book, but a GREAT one (by the same author) is A Lincoln Highway.

–

–

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr (8/10)

Beautiful writing and interesting characters. I didn’t love the nonlinear timeline, but the themes of hope and courage were impactful.

Favorite quote:

Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.

–

.

.

The Alternate End of Cassidy Marchand by Tracey Barski (9/10)

I originally picked up this book to support the author (a friend), but I ended up genuinely loving the story. It’s creative, engaging, and full of clever twists that kept me turning the pages faster than I expected. The characters are memorable, and the plot moves with the perfect balance of mystery and momentum. Highly recommend!

–

–

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry (10/10)

Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Patty Callahan Henry has a way of crafting stories that pull you in, and this one was no exception. I first fell in love with her writing after reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and this novel only deepened my appreciation for her storytelling.

The author masterfully blends history, mystery, and emotion, making this book a GREAT read.

–

.

The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese (8/10)

A tender, faith-filled story of loss, love, and restoration. It’s an emotionally rich story that gently points readers toward trust, healing, and God’s presence in hard seasons

–

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende (6/10)

Isabel Allende is a talented writer, and her storytelling is rich with detail. However, The House of the Spirits didn’t resonate with me. While the writing itself is strong, I found the story to be slow-moving at times, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, some of the themes explored in the book didn’t align with my personal beliefs, which made it challenging for me to enjoy.

.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (5/10)

I kept seeing this pop up on everyone’s lists so I decided to check it out. I felt it was like watching a train wreck – compelling but left me feeling disappointed. PASS!

.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (4/10)

I just couldn’t connect with this book. It begins with a young girl accidentally making a deal with the devil to escape an arranged marriage, only to live a life where no one remembers her. While the writing itself was well-crafted, the premise felt too far-fetched for me, and I had to force myself through to the end (it never got better). If you’re looking for engaging fiction, try Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, Remarkably Bright Creatures, or The Women. Interesting book club discussion though!

–

–

---

–

Non-fiction

——————-

–

Steps by John Ortberg (10/10)

A hopeful, grace-filled rewrite of the 12 steps. Accessible, practical, and life-giving. A must-read for anyone seeking freedom, healing, or deeper authenticity. I took 6 pages of notes on this book but here are a few highlights:

• A true spiritual journey depends on our sincere recognition that we are not in control.
• God created the word, makes the sun rise, answers prayer, moves mountains, provides wisdom, offers hope, comforts, blesses, calms, invents, brings justice, forgives, redeems, gives breath, loves. He is in control.
• Are you willing to believe that there is a Power in the universe greater than yourself? Pause and Reflect on the immense importance of that question.
• Ask God for the gift of helpful faith. 
• You can have doubts and go to heaven. You can be certain and go to hell.
• In some ways God’s biggest miracle was his smallest: He condensed all his being into a single human body and came down to earth to be with people.  
• Wise (self-aware) people practice self-examination because they understand that “the unexamined life is not worth living.”
• We often want God to change our circumstances, while God wants to use our circumstances to change us. 
• One must realize that he cannot be in a relationship of love with Jesus and continue to harm the people around him. If we aren’t willing to make amends, we don’t really want to be forgiven, we just want to avoid pain. 
• Unforgiveness is a toxic emotional cocktail that involves anger, fear bitterness, stress, hurt and resentment and refilters neurochemically throughout our body.
• The deeper the hurt, the longer the journey of forgiveness will take. Our hearts are sneaky. We may forgive someone then doubt our forgivness. Forgiveness is rarely one and one. It’s a maintenance program.
• Write about your hurt. Ask God to help you forgive. Ask him to help you find the GOOD along with the hurt. How did it cause you to grow, allow you to help others? The person who hurt me is another broken person. Let God do the avenging. 
• We want to heal so that we can be a FORCE for GOOD in the lives of those around us.
• Be DELIBERATE about fixing your mind on what is LIFE-GIVING! The thoughts we allow our minds to dwell on determine the kind of life we will lead and the person we will become. 
• Generous people are healthier, happier, friendlier, calmer, live longer, and die older than ungenerous people. Generous people make more friends, learn more ideas, tap into more networks and job opportunities and end up with more money than ungenerous people. Miser and Misery are only one letter apart. 
• The only real antidote to fear is conscious awareness of the presence of God. God is able. God is here. God is good. 

–

–

How to Know a Person – David Brooks (10/10)

David Brooks offers a thoughtful guide to building meaningful relationships. Blending psychological insight, storytelling, and reflection, this book encourages us to slow down, listen attentively, and cultivate empathy. In a noisy world full of distractions, Brooks reminds us that knowing another person – truly knowing them – is both an art and a discipline worth mastering.

Three favorite takeaways:

• Humans long to be seen with loving respect. We need recognition as much as food and water.
• Well-being depends less on objective events, but more on how these events are perceived, dealt with, and shared with others.
• Wisdom comes not from knowledge but from lived experience. You can be knowledgeable with other men’s knowledge but you can’t be WISE with other men’s wisdom.

–

–

The Watchmaker’s Daughter by Larry Loftis (9/10)

A wonderful companion to one of my favorite books of all time: The Hiding Place. This one provides a fuller context, more stories, and a deeper understanding of the Ten Boom family and their bravery.

–

84 Charing Cross Road – Helene Hanff (9/10)

A gift from a friend. I found it charming, sweet, and endearing. It’s a short book of letters written between a book-lover/writer and a book seller during and after World War 2.

–

---

–

Biographies

———————–

Heroes of History & Christian Heroes (Janet & Geoff Benge)

Heroes of History is my favorite series of biographies. These books make history come alive. This year I read:

• Ben Carson (10/10) – So inspirational.
• Count Zinzendorf (9/10) – Interesting story about Moravian christians and missionaries.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower (10/10) – What an incredible life. Loved this glimpse into one of our former presidents.
• Merriweather Lewis (10/10) – A fascinating peak into history as a brave group of men and women explored and mapped the unknown western territory of America!
• Captain John Smith (10/10) – An action-packed and vivid biography that brings early American history to life. Captain John Smith was an adventure, a soldier, and a leader who shaped America’s first colony. Smith traveled the world, was captured by pirates and negotiated with Native American leaders. Great book for middle school aged readers and up who are interested in adventure-packed history!
• Eric Liddell (5/5) – Fantastic story about an Olympic runner!
  

–

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson (9/10)

A well-written biography about a brilliant, yet complicated man.

–

From Here to the Great Unknown – Lisa Marie Presley  (5/10)

This book left me feeling sad and disappointed – there’s a lack of depth or true soul-searching. It feels like Lisa Marie skimmed the surface of her life without ever finding any depth. With such a unique and complex story to tell, I kept hoping for more reflection, more vulnerability, more connection.

The audiobook is read by Julia Roberts and Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough. Riley’s parts were my favorite. Her voice is calm and grounded, and knowing the immense loss she’s endured – from her mom’s drug and alcohol addiction she observed and tried to help with – to losing both her brother and mother, adds weight to her words. I hope that she finds her purpose and peace that her mother never found.

Lisa Marie said she didn’t think there should be a book about her – and honestly, I agree. I wouldn’t recommend the book

–

–

Through Gates of Splendor – Elisabeth Elliot (9/10)

Powerful, moving book about the life of missionary and martyr, Jim Elliot.

–

–

The Wright Brothers – David McCullough (10/10)

A favorite of the year. The Wright brothers’ perseverance, ingenuity, and humility were extraordinary. I loved the contrast with Langley’s government-funded failure and the brothers’ self-taught success.

–

---

–

Faith & Spiritual Growth

——————————————-

–

The Reason for God – Timothy Keller (10/10)

A fantastic book! Timothy Keller writes that:

• The Bible tells us that God did not originally make the world to have disease, hunger, and death in it. Jesus has come to redeem the wrongs and heal the world where it is broken.
• His miracles are not just proof that He has power but also a wonderful taste for what He is going to do with that power.
• Jesus’s miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts, that the world we all want is coming.
• Since God claims He’s the Messiah, He’s either a lunatic or He is who He says He is.

Favorite insights:

• Beauty and meaning themselves point to God.
• Shalom means absolute wholeness – the life we were created for.

.

–

Raised to Stay by Natalie Runion (9/10)

I really appreciated my friend Natalie’s vulnerability and her deep love for the church – even in the midst of hurt, disappointment, and rejection. She writes with honesty, compassion, and a steadiness that feels both comforting and challenging. Her stories remind us that faithfulness doesn’t mean avoiding pain, but choosing to stay rooted in grace and purpose despite it.

A heartfelt, encouraging read for anyone who has ever wrestled with church wounds yet still longs to serve and belong.

–

Encouragement for Today (10/10)

A great daily devotional.

.

Teatime Discipleship for Mothers and Daughters by Sally Clarkson (7/10)

A warm book written to help mother’s disciple young ladies/daughters.

.

.

Help, Thanks, Wow – Anne Lamott (9/10)

Honest and funny. Even when I disagreed theologically, her insights on gratitude, surrender, and wonder were beautiful. She explores 3 simple prayers that carry us through life’s messiness: Help. Thanks. Wow! Anne invites readers to be real with God and others, to breathe, slow down and pay attention.

.
Favorite parts:

• Prayer doesn’t change God; it changes me.
• Imagination is a gift from God and we get to choose which thoughts to follow.
• When you are aware of all that has been given to you, if is hard not to be humbled and pleased to give back. God’s idea of a good time is seeing us share what we’ve worked hard to have.
• Gratitude is peace. Practice gratitude EVEN in disappointment.
• Wow means we are not dull to WONDER. Look around in AWE at the gifts we’ve been given like landscapes, seascapes, forgiveness, healing. We have SO many things for which to give thanks.

–

A Curious Faith – Lore Ferguson Wilbert (7/10)

A contemplative exploration of asking questions in faith. Beautiful writing, though not fully what I expected.

–
Favorite idea: Knowing you are loved is better than knowing all the right answers.

–

–

Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson (10/10)

Phenomenal book to read at Christmas time!

–

–

The Passion Translation Bible (10/10)

Though I don’t always mention it, the Bible is woven into everything I read. It’s my lifeline – a constant source of encouragement, direction, and wisdom. My father-in-law gifted me The Passion Translation, which I’ve come to love deeply. This year, I reread the New Testament alongside The Bible Recap videos on YouTube, and it was incredibly grounding.

–

---

–

Memoir

————

–

The Many Lives of Mama Love – Lara Love Hardin (7/10)

This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. The first half felt frustrating, heavy and was tough for me to read (3/10). The second half completely shifted my experience. It became redemptive, powerful, and beautifully written, ultimately landing with deep impact. As someone who has loved people struggling with addiction, her story resonated in painful and meaningful ways. Lara Love Hardin is an exceptional writer (The Sun Does Shine remains a favorite), but this memoir was especially hard for me to read as a fellow mom of four sons. Still, the honesty and hope in the ending made it worth the journey.

–

If Life’s a Bowl of Cherries, Why Am I in the Pits? Erma Bombeck (6/10)

She’s undeniably a talented and witty writer, but I just didn’t connect with her stories the way I hoped.

–

---

–

Read Aloud with my kids

———————————–

–

• Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (9/10) – A Classic.
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang (9/10) – Heartwarming and meaningful.
• Odder by Katherine Applegate (8/10) – Sweet and poetic.

–

---

–

Personal Growth, Parenting & Life

—————————————-

–

Same As Ever – Morgan Housel (9/10)

Wise and practical. A simple yet profound thought from the book: Every American should be HAPPY. We have electricity, indoor plumbing, modern medicine – but we often base our happiness by comparing ourselves to the people around us. Luxuries soon become necessities. We no longer think to be grateful for the many blessing we have, we just expect them and want more. Lower expectations = more happiness

We often safeguard the things we BUY and neglect what is truly priceless – our relationships, health, freedom, and faith.

–

–

Back Away From the Cookies – Nancy Holte (10/10)

Written by a friend. Hilarious, relatable, and surprisingly deep.

–

321 Magic: Teens (8/10)

This is a helpful and easy-to-read book for raising teenagers. 

I like that the chapters are short but provide insight and tools to address common issues like attitudes, tech use, boundaries, and communication (or lack there of).

The author points out four cardinal sins that parents commit with their teens:
1. Arguing
2. Nagging
3. Spur of the moment ‘problem’ discussions
4. Lecturing

Instead, the author recommends these four things for strengthening the bond with your teen:
1. Sympathetic listening
2. Sharing your own stories (rather than continually pointing out what they are doing wrong)
3. Having fun together
4. Positive reinforcement (catch them doing what’s RIGHT)

This book reassured me that some of the things I’m experiencing are very normal and NOT to take it personally. I liked the tips the book provided on what to do and what not to do.

If you are a parent struggling with your teen, or just need insight into how to have a better relationship, this book is for you! 

–

–

Value Creation Kid – Scott Donnell (9/10)

Value Creation Kid by Scott Donnell encourages parents to raise children who are confident, self-sufficient, and focused on adding value to the world. The book challenges the idea that kids should be shielded from all difficulty, instead teaching that “any struggle can be leveraged to bring value to the world if we choose.” Problems are not happening to us but for us, they are opportunities to grow and help others. By cultivating curiosity, replacing excessive screen time with meaningful engagement, and encouraging the mindset that everything is “figure-out-able,” parents can help their kids develop into capable adults with purpose and resilience.

Donnell introduces practical strategies like giving kids jobs or “gigs” to build skills and confidence. Action gigs like as cleaning the garage, organizing the pantry, or doing yard work, develop practical responsibility. Brain “gigs” like watching a TED talk, learning a foreign language, or planning a family trip, strengthen creativity and problem-solving. These activities not only build competence but can also strengthen family bonds. Parents are encouraged to ask, “What’s a problem you found that you could help with this week?” and “Who was a person you helped this week?”

By helping children understand that God made them, loves them, and has a purpose for their lives, we can inspire them to “create positive emotional value” that improves the atmosphere around them and equips them to live lives of meaning and impact.

–

---

–

Final Thoughts

2025 was a rich reading year – full of stories that made me think, biographies that inspired me and fiction that swept me away.

If I had to pick my top five, they’d be… CLICK HERE!

.

MY FAVORITES Of 2024!

.

CLICK HERE to follow me on Goodreads!

.

This post contains affiliate links!