Picking my favorite books every year often feels like picking my favorite children. I read some really good books this year, even though I read fewer than I normally do. Given that I was dealing with significant grief and started a new job in March, it’s not totally surprising. (It’s not about the numbers anyway, right?)

What’s funny about this list is that after I picked which ones to include, I noticed they didn’t all get five stars when I first finished them. It goes to show that it can take some time to know for sure how we really feel about a book.

This list is as eclectic as my taste in books as it crosses many genres. The only genre I didn’t read much of this year was Sci-fi/Fantasy. I have a few in this genre that I’m eyeing for 2026!

You can see ALL the books I read in 2025 here.

This post is all about my favorite books in 2025!

My Favorite Books of 2025

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

While the books on this list aren’t ranked, if I had to pick a favorite book of the year, this would probably be the one. This book has been popular since it was first published in 1987. I love the way Pilcher takes you deep into her characters and ties them all together. The book opens with Penelope Keeling, who has just broke herself out of the hospital after having a heart attack, in a taxicab on her way home. The first decision she must make is which of her children she should tell: Nancy, the middle-aged mother of bratty kids who cares too much about social status; Olivia, the single magazine editor, or her son, Noel, the shallow playboy. She chooses Olivia because she knows that’s the one who will both care and give her the least amount of grief. From there, we learn about each of her children, who she is, and what has brought her to this point. One of the driving elements of the story is the fact that Penelope is the daughter of a now-deceased famous artist whose paintings have recently increased in value. One thing that surprised me about this book is that part of it is a World War 2 historical fiction, but I loved it! This one is long but worth it!

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The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt is one of those authors who has been on my radar for years. While this is not her most popular book, it is the one that won her the Pulitzer. I went into it pretty blind, but I was instantly intrigued by what was going to happen to 13-year-old Theo Decker after his mother is killed in a terrorist attack on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and his father is nowhere to be found. To make matters more complicated, Theo takes a famous painting from the museum called, you guessed it, “The Goldfinch.” The painting is small enough to fit in a backpack, but it becomes like a sword of Damocles for Theo. This book left me in a serious book hangover! It has a compelling storyline, interesting characters, and asks interesting philosophical questions.

Read my full Goldfinch review here.

Reading Note: Great on audio!

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We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Lila is in a bit of a crisis. Her husband left her for the local bombshell, her Mom died, her step-dad has moved in, her biological father (who is a bit of a has-been actor) shows up at the door, and she’s a writer who is expected to produce another book that she hasn’t even started yet. On top of that, she still has to parent her two children, one who is in high school and one who is still in elementary school, where she sees her ex-husband’s new (and very pregnant) wife during pick-up almost every day. This is my second JoJo Moyes book, and I loved it! This book has angst, humor, found-family, and a love story (or two) all in one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

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In the Woods by Tana French

A young girl is found dead near an archaeological dig in Ireland. It’s the same area where Detective Rob Ryan’s friends went missing, and he was found unconscious decades earlier as a young boy. Is there a connection? Ryan and his partner take on the case without disclosing his connection. I loved the banter between Rob and his partner, Cassie. This book has a bit of a controversial ending. I didn’t mind it, but if you read it or have already read it, you’ll have to let me know what you think. This was my first Tana French, and I will definitely be reading more.

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Anne’s House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery

I decided to start reading through the Anne of Green Gables series this year, and while it’s hard to pick just one from the series (besides the first book, of course), this one especially stood out. When you think about the Anne books, you don’t think twists and turns, but that’s exactly what this book had. This book also feels like the climax of all the other books because it’s the one where Anne and Gilbert finally get married and move into their first home, which they affectionately call their House of Dreams. I love the town of Glen St. Mary, where they live, (they end up there because it’s where Gilbert gets a job as a doctor). I loved the new characters we meet in this book, especially Captain Jim, Miss Cornelia, and Leslie.

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The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

April is a neglected teenage girl who needs to get out of the small town that doesn’t want her and away from her dad, who has just moved on to his next family. But she can play the guitar, and she can sing, which gives her a way to make some money. The book explores the journey to her new life. It’s wrought with uncertainty, but eventually she finds a new family who will love her. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but I found myself rooting for April from the first chapter. Even though this book is about a young girl, I don’t think I would categorize it as YA.

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At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

This book is the ultimate comfort read, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. Father Tim and the whole town of Mitford have my heart, and I will definitely be reading more books in this series! In At Home in Mitford, we get to know Father Tim and the relationships he has with several of his parishioners. One of the things I like about Father Tim is that he’s not the self-righteous/preachy type of pastor. He’s quite humble and gracious. Father Tim is a bachelor who lives alone in the parsonage of the Lord’s Chapel. His life starts to change when a large dog shows up at his door, his doctor warns him that he needs to make some lifestyle changes, he takes in a young boy whose grandfather and parents are unable to take care of him, and a new woman moves in next door.

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Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

Four siblings who never met before embark on a road trip in search of their father. Imagine someone showing up at your house and saying that he’s your brother, and not only that, but you have two more siblings, AND he wants you to come with him so that together you can find them. That’s this story in a nutshell. One thing I found interesting about this story is that their dad didn’t just knock up their mothers and then leave. He was in their lives and involved, and then he one day just took off. This ends up being a great found family story, and I loved seeing how much these kids found what they needed in each other. I love Kevin Wilson’s books. They are always a bit quirky and interesting reads.

Great on audio! (It’s read by one of my favorite narrators, Marin Ireland.)

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You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace

Claire is the serial killer you don’t see coming. This was an interesting and humorous read that I didn’t think I would enjoy as much as I did. Claire is Dexter with a hammer. What I found interesting about the way the story is told is that we don’t just learn about what Claire’s life is like now, but learn how she was made. Once you meet her mother, you won’t be so surprised that Claire turned out the way she did.

Read my full You’d Look Better as a Ghost review here!

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

What starts as a sort of science experiment by Victor Frankenstein becomes the thing that destroys his life. First time read for me and super interesting. Victor creates Frankenstein, and when he wakes up, he’s gone. Most of the book is spent with Victor chasing the monster he created. On the flip side, you see Frankenstein wanting to be loved by someone, but he’s so hideous that very few people will even come near him. He then starts to blame Victor and seeks to destroy him. I found it to be an interesting exploration of human nature and the unintended consequences of our actions.

Reading Note: Great on audio! (This one is read by Dan Stevens, the actor who plays Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey.)

Listen to the book!

Christ and Calamity by Harold Senkbeil

2025 was a year of grief for me. Not that grief is ever over, but the sting does lessen with time, at least in my experience. This was my go-to book for comfort. I actually picked this book up a year earlier and found that it’s comforting for both the darkest valleys and even if you’re just having a bad day. Definitely pick this one up if this sounds like something you can use.

Listen to the book!

Favorite Christmas Books of 2025

I read a lot of Christmas books last year. This is partly because I was still reading them well into January. These are the ones that stood out. Yes, there are nine, but it was hard to figure out which ones to exclude, so I decided to include all of these:

A Retail Carol by Lee Vetter

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Can This Be Christmas? by Debbie Macomber

Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Looking for a fun reading challenge to join in 2026? Check out the Reading Through the Decades reading challenge. Join below!

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The post My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2025: The Books That Stuck With Me appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.

Looking back on the books I read throughout the year is always something I look forward to, especially when it’s time to reflect on the ones that left a lasting impression. In 2024, a few books truly stood out — making the task of choosing favorites less daunting than usual.

Selecting favorite books can sometimes feel like picking a favorite child, but these titles captured my heart and mind in unique ways, making them clear winners.

Here’s the breakdown by genre:

• Literary fiction (2)
• Fantasy (1)
• Historical Fiction (5)
• Thriller/Mystery (2)

If you haven’t had the chance to dive into any of these, I wholeheartedly recommend them. And if you’ve already read some, I’d love to hear your thoughts — did they resonate with you as much as they did with me?

Let’s dive in!

My 12 Favorite Books of 2024

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

• This might be my favorite book of the year. This is definitely what you would call compulsively readable literary fiction.
• Monica Wood struck the perfect chord for writing a book that is both character and plot-driven.
• In this book, you get an older couple romance, a beautiful redemption story, and characters you will be rooting for. And, yes, there is a book club in this book.
• This book centers around a retired English teacher who leads a book club at a local women’s prison. My favorite moments are during the book club sessions. I love the very real and raw conversations.
• Read my full How to Read a Book Review.
• Genre: Literary Fiction
• Pub Year: 2024

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Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

• I decided I wanted to start reading more fantasy this year, which used to be a favorite genre when I was younger.
• One of the authors I was interested in reading is Brandon Sanderson, but he has written more than 30 novels, so I wasn’t quite sure where to start. In a video I found, he says to start with Tress of the Emerald Sea. Since it’s also a standalone novel, I decided to go for it.
• This book sucked me in from the first chapter and left me with a decent book hangover when it was over.
• I loved the very innocent and naive Tress, who decided to go on a dangerous adventure in her dangerous world. This book left me wanting to read more Sanderson and more cozy fantasy novels.
• Read my full Tress of the Emerald Sea Review.
• Genre: Fantasy (Cozy Fantasy)
• Pub Year: 2023

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird in 10th grade, but I remembered so little about it that I decided this book deserved a re-read. (Do books we read in school even count?)
• (I also needed a book to read that was published in the 1960s for the Reading Through the Decades Reading Challenge.)
• So many people call this book one of their all-time favorites, and now I know why. This book is sooo good!
• This is one of those books where you fall in love with all of the main characters, from Scout to Jem to Atticus and their cook, Calpurnia. I think Harper Lee does such a good job showing how children think and feel.
• I also now understand why so many people literally name their kids after Atticus. He might be one of the most noble literary characters.
• Genre: Historical Fiction (Early 1930s Alabama)
• Pub Year: 1960

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If I Were You by Lynn Austin

• I think Lynn Austin is an underrated Historical Fiction author. Her writing and storytelling are sooo good.
• I highly recommend this book for fans of Downton Abbey. Imagine what it would be like if Lady Mary and the child of one of the servants became best friends.
• This book is about a friendship between two very different girls — Eve and Audrey.
• This is World War II historical fiction that tells the story from before the war to after the war. It shows how the war broke down the class differences (and how it didn’t). You get such a good picture of what life was like in England during this time — very nerve-wracking. I also like seeing how the English women played a role in the war.
• Austin is a Christian author, but she’s never preachy and she does such a good job of incorporating Christian themes into the story in a very organic way.
• Eve and Audrey are both very flawed in very real and relatable ways, but Austin shows how there is grace for both of them. Very beautiful.
• There’s a sequel to this book, which I actually read first, called The Wish Book Christmas. That book made me want to go back and read this one. (I actually re-read this one in December.)
• Read my full If I Were You Review.
• Genre: Historical Fiction (World War 2 England)
• Pub Year: 2020

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Long Bright River by Liz Moore

• If you want to know what the opioid crisis is like for those who live with it (and fight against it), this book does a great job of pulling back the curtain.
• The story follows Mickey, a Philadelphia police officer, and her sister Kacey, a drug addict, as they navigate opposite sides of the city’s opioid crisis.
• Mickey gets involved in a potential homicide while her sister seems to have gone missing.
• Through alternating timelines between past and present, the book reveals the sisters’ complex family history and the events that led them down different paths in life.
• The novel addresses broader themes, including police corruption, sexual abuse, community dynamics, and survival.
• Despite being on the longer side (500 pages), the book maintains momentum throughout the novel.
• Read my full Long Bright River Review.
• Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Literary Fiction
• Pub Year: 2020

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The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

• I love it when a historical fiction novel takes you back to a particular time and place and makes you feel what it was really like for the people living in it. That’s exactly what this book does, along with really good characters you fall in love with. This book definitely lived up to the hype for me!
• This book left me with a serious book hangover!
• The story explores complex social issues, including race relations, anti-semitism, and class struggles, exploring how these challenges intersect in the characters’ lives.
• And it’s all combined with an interesting mystery and more!
• Genre: Historical Fiction (1930s Pennsylvania), Mystery
• Pub Year: 2023

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Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

• I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to start reading Amor Towles, but I’m glad I finally did.
• This is Amor Towles’s first full-length novel.
• This historical fiction book follows two young women living in New York City in 1938 — Eve and Katey. Eve is a bit of a free spirit, while Katey is the boring but responsible one.
• Their lives are forever changed when they meet handsome banker Tinker Grey on New Year’s Eve in 1937. The book tracks their lives over a one-year period.
• This book explores themes of class, honor, integrity, contentment, friendship, and love.
• While I loved how the book explored the complex relationships of all of the main characters, the book also explored what it took for a woman to have professional success in the 1930s.
• Genre: Historical Fiction (late 1930s New York City)
• Pub Year: 2011

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Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

• Ann Patchett has become one of my go-to authors, but there are still quite a few of her backlist titles that I have yet to read. This was one of them.
• Bel Canto takes place entirely within a single house, where terrorists crash a birthday party hoping to kidnap the president of a South American country.
• The party’s guest of honor is a Japanese businessman, and the evening’s entertainment features a renowned opera singer performing for the distinguished guests.
• When the terrorists discover their target – the president – isn’t present at the party, they decide to hold everyone hostage until their demands are met.
• What begins as a tense hostage situation evolves into something unexpected as terrorists and captives develop close bonds while living together over several months.
• Like Patchett’s other works, Bel Canto demonstrates her gift for storytelling as she weaves together an unlikely tale of friendship and romance blooming in the most extraordinary circumstances.
• Genre: Literary Fiction, light-thriller
• Pub Year: 2001

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The Call of the Wild by Jack London

• This might have been one of the most fascinating books I read this year. My question: For those who know dogs, do you think dogs really think like this on any level??
• I chose this book for the Reading Through the Decades Reading Challenge for books from 1900 to 1909. (Even though this book is more than 100 years old, it’s written in such simple language that it is so easy to read.)
• The funny thing is that this was required reading in third or fourth grade, but I while I remember reading it, I can’t imagine an eight or nine year old really understanding it. (I know I didn’t.)
• Buck, a domesticated dog from Northern California, is stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
  Thrust into this harsh new environment, Buck must quickly adapt to survive among the sled dogs and challenging conditions.
• Throughout his journey, Buck transforms from a pampered house pet into a resilient creature who learns to thrive both in service to humans and in the wilderness.
• His interactions with various humans – both kind and cruel – offer fascinating insights into human nature as he navigates relationships and survival in this unforgiving world.
• Genre: Historical Fiction (turn of the century), Adventure Story
• Pub Year: 2001

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The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald

• I adored this book, and I am really surprised it didn’t receive more accolades last year.
• The book tells the story of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial through the eyes of Annabel Craig, who is native to Dayton, Tennessee, where the trial takes place.
• Lisa Grunwald throws you right into the middle of Dayton, and you feel like you are one of its blessed citizens as the world descends on the small town.
• It’s also very much a coming-of-age story as it shows Annabel go from a small child to a young woman trying to find her way in the world.
• I’ll be honest: I thought because it deals with the topic of evolution that it was going to be very anti-religion, but it really isn’t. Although it does explore the supposed conflict between religion and science.
• Genre: Historical Fiction (1925 Dayton, Tennessee)
• Pub Year: 2024

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Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez

• I loved Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez, and I thought it was that perfect summer romance novel.
• I love a romance novel that has more going on than just the romance. I also love it when a romance novel has fun banter. This book definitely delivered.
• Even though this book is a romance novel, I wouldn’t exactly call it a light read. This book explores some heavy topics, but it also had me literally laughing out loud at the same time. (I don’t know how Abby Jimenez pulls that off, but she does!)
• This book is open door, but there really aren’t that many sex scenes.
• Read my full Just for Summer Review.
• Genre: Romance
• Pub Year: 2024

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Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

• I really love this series by Megan Goldin. Dark Corners is the second installment in the Rachel Krall series. (The first one is The Night Swim). Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster with a journalism background.
• What I love about the way these books are written is that they alternate between the story, and Rachel’s podcast. I find that her commentary helps with processing what is happening in the book.
• Thrillers by nature can be a bit stressful to read, and her “podcasts” offer a respite that slowly help to tie things together.
• I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but I picked up one by Megan Goldin a couple of years ago, and I have since gone on to read almost all of her titles.
• The Rachel Krall series is great on audio! The podcast portion really sounds like you are listening to a podcast. They even have a different narrator doing this portion of the book.
• Genre: Thriller
• Pub Year: 2023

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Honorable Mentions:

• Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
• Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin
• You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles
• A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
• The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

What were your favorite reads of 2024??

The post My Favorite Books of 2024: My 5-Star Reads of the Year appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.