It’s always interesting to me to reflect on a year in terms of reading. For some titles, I can remember exactly what was happening in my life; for others, I don’t even remember that I read it in the current year until I look at the date I finished it The books that I read in January, if they were meh-level, feel like distant memories, while the ones I marked as 5 stars feel like I just read them a couple of months ago.
Even though I wasn’t sure how reading would go this year as I entered into motherhood and survived the newborn stage, I read a fairly good amount! I finished about 30 books (and didn’t finish even more), and I gave some 5-star reviews to a couple of handfuls along the way.
Because of that, I had a difficult time narrowing down what I read this year to just a few titles, so… I decided that I wouldn’t very much. 🙂 I did, however, separate them into a few categories at least.
Not many of the books that I read this year are from 2024. For those who don’t know or remember, I decided to get many of my title ideas from The Book Girls’ Guide Backlist Challenge this year, which they have now updated for 2025.
Speaking of reading challenges, I plan to do another reading challenge roundup post before January 1st, so be on the lookout!
Kid Lit
A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
June and her family are kicked out of their home because her mom is too far gone in depression and grief to hold a job. It’s up to June to take care of her younger sister and her mother, all while attending school and trying to pretend that nothing has changed. They’re taken to Huey House, where June becomes friends with Tyrell – one of the kids who has been there the longest. Together, they try to stop the mayor from making a policy that would end up really hurting their families as they try to get back on their feet.
Drawn from the author’s real-life experiences working with homeless shelters, this book tugs at all your heartstrings as you root for June and Tyrell. I think for many adults, it helps paint “homeless people” in a more human and relatable light. For kids, it will help broaden their understanding of those around them, especially if they know a classmate who is experiencing insecure housing.
Beyond the morally uplifting and empathy building aspects, it’s in general a beautiful and well-written story. I can’t recommend it enough! [Also mentioned here.]
The Academy by T.Z. Layton
My students (boys, especially) always ask for books about sports. The Academy delivers that! It’s about an underdog kid, Leo, who seemingly by happenstance gets chosen to attend the titular Academy for football in the U.K. (which means it’s for soccer, for all you American readers 🙂 ). At the end of camp, a select few will be chosen to be in the youth feeder team to one of Britain’s prestigious football teams. Leo has a lot of catching up to do, having never been privately coached or played on a travel/elite team and has to decide how hard he’s going to work for the coveted spots.
I loved watching his character develop through the course of the book. I also appreciated that the ending – while not the predictable one – is still satisfying.
Bonus: It’s #1 in a series, so there’s more if you want it!
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr
I’ll need to hear from other readers about their thoughts on this book. I can’t tell if it’s my penchant for spunky, candid narration; my love of all things nostalgic; or if it’s truly as well-written as I think it is. But I love this short little book. It’s equal parts Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, and its own unique flavor. Spirited, full of heart, and a happy ending, you’ll want to read this wintry tale this season!
Fiction
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A large part of what made this one of my favorites was the voice of the narrator: it was humorous, witty, and insightful. I also really enjoyed peering into the mind of a person with Aspergers. As another reviewer said (about a different book), “It matters who’s telling the story.” Rather than showing the perspective of the mainstream, Simsion shows the thoughts of the person in the minority, and it’s delightful! I read several parts out loud to my family because I enjoyed them so much.
A word of warning: this is not an expletive-free book. Rosie drops f*** and bs and a few other “choice words” somewhat frequently. Sex is discussed in a very common sense way, as well as extramarital affairs. However I was ultimately okay with this book because of the internal growth of multiple characters and the moral standard set overall. For example: the book doesn’t actually promote open marriage though at first it seems to be saying it’s fine.
Legends of the First Empire series by Michael J. Sullivan
For fans of Brandon Sanderson, I highly encourage you to check out Michael J. Sullivan’s works! While long, (what good fantasy series isn’t?) I enjoyed the complexity of the characters, the strong female characters, and the fact that he created backstories and connections for other series that he wrote. There’s solid world-building, difficult decisions, and heroes in the making – all elements of satisfying fantasy storytelling. He also explores the idea of right and wrong both for people and actions, so there’s literary elements in the midst of the tales. All this with chaste writing and made up expletives, so it’s pretty clean reading.
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
This book took my breath away. It’s chilling and astonishing how many decisions this family made at just the right moments that kept them alive through WWII. So many Jewish people from Radom, Poland were killed – only a few hundred survived out of the many thousands that lived there at the start of the war. Seemingly miraculously, this entire nuclear family survived and were able to find each other again.
Read the author’s note at the back when you finish!
Nonfiction
Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
This book might not tickle every reader’s fancy on this blog, but I have come to realize that I am fascinated by ancient civilizations – especially those that were in the western hemisphere. I thoroughly enjoyed Indian Givers several years ago, learning so much of indigenous culture and what these people groups have given to us today. This book reminded me a bit of that since it was searching for understanding of what happened to the “lost city of the Monkey God” – an ancient civilization, indeed.
The content was different than what I expected – I thought I’d get a lot more info on what actually happened to the city. Rather, this was focused on the journalist’s experiences penetrating the jungle in Honduras, and we only get theories of what happened. Still, I learned so much along the way that I wound up talking about it with my husband. I know that a nonfiction book is good when I pause my reading to share what I’m learning about with my family.
Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
I put this title on my TBR when I saw it recommended on an IG account I follow (1000hoursoutside). I liked it! It complements what I’ve learned as a teacher about how to reach and teach “kids from hard places,” but fleshes it out into everyday parenting – which I need!
Especially relieving is the approach to parenting that the book explains: our job is not to entertain our children or make every moment “educational.” We simply bring them along into our adult world in whatever way they can access it.
Right now, that means my little guy is sitting on the kitchen floor playing with a wooden spoon or small pot while I unload the dishwasher or cook. Or I wear him in a carrier while I vacuum. It really frees me up to not have to try to get everything done during his naps on the weekends, which would severely hinder my chore completion I did that.
Michaeleen’s tone is inviting, personal, and transparent – not many people I know would be willing to put their tough parenting moments out there for all the world to read; yet she does! And I’m better for it.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
This book packs a punch. Or, rather, what technology has done to us and our teenagers packs a punch, and Haidt unpacks why it’s such a blow to the gut. If you don’t have time to read it, here’s the takeaways: social media and screens have been wreaking havoc on our teens and their developing brains. They have hindered their emotional growth and harmed their emotional and mental health. It’s happened to both genders. To stop the downward spiral, we need to get government legislation that reins in companies and work together to delay the use of technology amongst kids. Fixing the problem requires collective action.
So please, if you read nothing else in 2025, read this book. And let’s work together raise our kids to have friendships and community in the real world – not the virtual one.
Find it in your local library if you’re not ready to pay the newly-published price like me. 🙂
What were some of your top reads this year? I’m always looking for my next good read as are other readers here, so please share in the comments!
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