Inspired by Sarah J who read approximately 3.75 times as many books as I did!
Stats: By the end of 12.31.25, I am confident I will have finished 50 books (I have about 30 pages left in Ina Garten’s memoir DONE!).
These included 28 fiction books, 22 nonfiction books, and exactly one re-read (shout out to Marie Kondo for her timeless classic).
Format: Almost all were read on paper! I often purchase nonfiction books because I like to write in them, and give them away when I’m done unless they feel like they have earned a spot on my permanent library (rare). I get most of my fiction books from the library; I just use the holds list, and our local library is conveniently located on the way home from work, so it’s easy to pick up/drop off.
I don’t think I read any books on the kindle or electronically. I did listen to The Sober Lush on audio plus the second half of Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping because I left my freshly purchased paperback copy on the plane!
Reading habits: Nonfiction in the morning (usually for 10-15 minutes). I’m sure I skipped a few days, but since I love this habit it’s one that I keep unless there’s some compelling reason I can’t do it. Fiction randomly at all other times, before bed, and then for longer stretches on some weekend afternoons. I will often throw a library book into my tote back when I’m headed to any scenario where I might have to wait around.
Things that got in the way of reading: Mostly I would say . . . podcasts! Reading blogs? Not a terrible amount of scrolling, but on occasion when deep on the throes of PMS or something 🙂 I have no problem with these alternate activities and do not plan on reducing my podcast listening or blog reading. Just noting that these are probably what are preventing me from reading a bunch more books in my down time. (Not counting “work” here. Just noting what I am doing during non-work time when it would be feasible to consume media!)
Top 10!!
(I am pleased with how nice these covers look all together!!)
A few other superlatives:
Book I sort of hated but thought about all the time: All Fours by Miranda July
Book I was surprised to really enjoy: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Book that ALMOST made the top 10: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
2 nonfiction books I thought about a lot: The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, and Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
Have a list to share? Comment below or share a link to your own post!
Reading Goals for 2026: Just to ABANDON books more quickly! I see a few on my list that could have been ditched at the 50 page mark. I want to “set aside for later” books that are not working for me (even if “later” means never) because I know I will get to more books I love that way.
15 Comments
Keep sharing your reading life! I got so many of my favorite books this year from your blog! Specifically Margot’s got Money Troubles!
Too funny as that’s also I book I read after seeing it recommended here!
oh that’s so awesome! YAY!!
The Correspondent and Annie Bot were my two favorite books of the year! I also enjoyed Rabbit Moon, What Kind of Paradise, and Culpability a lot too, although they didn’t quite make my “best of 2025” list. My others top books were:
Nonfiction: Memorial Days and There is No Place for Us
Fiction (I always read way more fiction, and was skewed even more than usual this year!): Help Wanted, Dream Hotel, Leaving, The Housekeeper and the Professor, Run for the Hills, Heart the Lover, Lonely Crowds, Buckeye, the Road to Tender Hearts
Run for the Hills and Road to Tender Hearts blend together in my mind (i read both and enjoyed both but not top 10 level). I will write down your other picks! Just started Heart the Lover and I can tell it’s up my alley already.
You are right—those two books were oddly similar! Heart the lover was amazing. I thought it started a bit slow but I loved the last 2/3. It might have been my favorite after Annie Bot and the Correspondent. I also really loved Lonely Crowds.
I am here to cosign on The Wedding People, Margo, The Correspondent, and What Kind of Paradise. So good! I read Die With Zero nearly two years ago and I still think about it often.
If I have to pick a favorite out of a sea of great books, I’m going with Sky Daddy. It’s not a book for everyone, but it is about our favorite topic, an unraveling character.
Oohhhh!!! Adding to list!!
I want to say a huge thanks for all your reading recommendations Sarah! You are my go to for fiction – I’ve been recommending Culpability to everyone which I got through you and I’ve just started Here One Moment. I find it easier to relate to your recs as a busy person doing loads of different things, versus, say, a book influencer.. I’m an Audible gal though – I find I’m more likely to progress that way – and nothing better than a good listen whilst declluttering – esp when its cold outside and I’m ill!
aww i’m so glad! i also love a good book influencer though – gotta give credit to Modern Mrs Darcy (Anne Bogel) and the Currently Reading podcast!!
I read many of these books and will add the others to TBR as it seems our reading taste is similar. I also want to abandon more books to find books that I find fascinating.
yessss like why waste time when it’s meh!? I want to be less completist!!
We read several of the same books this year- 9th House, The Correspondent, Here One Moment, The Wedding People. And several more of yours are on my TBR. I think I came in around 60 books for this year, which is a little higher than normal for me. I also only read print. I know I could up my reading a lot by listening to audio books, but like you, I like my podcasts too much. And of course there’s always lots of blog reading to fill our time!
So. I loved Annie Bot as you know, and my other friend just recommended The Correspondent. She recommended Long Island Compromise as well which is a top 5 for me for this year… maybe you’d like it? I just started Writers and Lovers based on you feeling meh about it (haha). Totally agree that Done and Dusted was super fun. As always and most importantly, I love hearing about books from you even if our tastes don’t always line up! 🙂
I have Long Island compromise on my TBR! Now your rec will move it up. You’ll have to let me know about writers and lovers. I don’t remember actively disliking it – just did not love!