So, twenty-five is a big number for me. Especially when I look at my measly 15 books read last year. But you know what they say: new year, new me. I’m aiming for a good 53 books this year, so that leaves a little under half for me to put on my list for this (hopefully) beautiful new year. Readers, welcome to the twenty-five books I want to read in 2025!
To Preface, I like rom-coms and women’s fiction and writing that helps me escape, but I’m trying to branch out a little this year!
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Emily Henry is still an auto-buy author for me, despite my okay-ness with Funny Story. I’m excited about the premise (back to the writing ambiance) and excited that she’s said that this book is different than what she’s been writing. We’ll see how it goes.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Admittedly! I have not read one of B.K Borison’s books before, but this cover is gorgeous and the whole radio host situation has me sat, so I will be going out into the world in February to get it!
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Are we surprised by this line up so far? Ali Hazelwood has been an auto-buy author for me since Love on the Brain, and despite the repetitive sex scenes in Not In Love, she has not disappointed me yet. The voices of her protagonists are always so engaging, and I can’t wait to see wait she does with her newest fixation––college sports.
Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
I saw a random ad for this out on Instagram in October of 2024 and it’s been on my TBR since. I usually don’t read books with a one night stand trope, but the premise with the winning lottery ticket and the bakery won me over. Plus, it’s being published by Berkley, and I find it hard to say no to Berkley.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez is in my top 5. That being said, she’s teetering on the edge of my list. Nothing to do with her writing––it’s fantastic and I love her character work––but this women needs to stop writing blood-boiling third acts where her protagonists make absolutely despicable decisions. You could say it makes her a good writer, but Yours Truly had me up at 3am seething. I’m still buying Say You’ll Remember Me though!
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Three words for you: Second chance romance. Second! Chance! Romance! Not only does this book feature my favorite rom-com trope of all time, but it also plays off of the cute Chicken Shop Date series being dominated by Amelia Dimoldenberg on YouTube, so I know it’ll be funny, too. I look forward to giggling and kicking my feet with these two.
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
Despite the horrendous color scheme on the cover, I am looking forward to this release. I loved The Seven Year Slip and think about once a week, but A Novel Love Story was admittedly lacking a little bit of magic, and I fear this may lead to the same result. But I have faith in Ashley, so I’ll give it a try.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Have I been avoiding Sally Rooney’s work ever since I heard how sad Normal People is? Yes! But I’m turning over a new leaf and trying something new. I haven’t heard too much about this book yet, just that it captures what it’s like to be human, so sign me up!
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
I just mentioned how I avoid sad books, and yet a book about three sisters reconnecting a year after the death of their fourth sister is on my list. Make it make sense. I’m trying to turn over a new leaf here. I’m realizing that I really love impactful prose, and it’s time to come to terms with the fact that I’ll probably find the best of it on the sad side of fiction.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
On the note of dipping my toes more into the literary fiction side of things, I’ve heard that Kristin Hannah is a good place to start. Her plots can get a little sad, but I found The Great Alone at a little free library and took it as a sign to introduce myself to her writing. That combined with the fact that people say The Great Alone is the perfect place to start with Kristin Hannah, and it’s on the list!
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This is a random pick, I know. I showed my brother–science fiction guy, romance doubter–my list and even he was perplexed at Pachinko being on here. This is another attempt at me trying to round out my reading interests and hopefully find more books to enjoy. And it has awards, too. I also (might) be interested in family sagas and history? So we’ll see.
The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt
I read Savor It by Tarah DeWitt last year and it ended up being one of my favorite books of the year. Something about the atmosphere and the simplicity of the relationship won me over, and I still think about it once a week. Therefore, The Co-Op naturally falls on my list and beautifully on my TBR cart.
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
Don’t need to talk about this one! See above.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Another thing I’m trying to do this year is dip my toes into a little more fantasy. Bonus if it’s based in some kind of mythology, which Daughter of the Moon Goddess is! I’ve heard great things about this duology, and the cover is simply gorgeous, so I’m looking forward to reading it.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The first time I encountered this book was in high school, when your teacher gives you a list of classics to choose from and then you choose one and try to read it and then get bored and pretend you read it. I didn’t choose A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but I’ve thought about it since and want it to be one of the classics I read this year. I’m trying to get more into them, as with everything at this point.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I heard–somewhere, forever ago–that this is the perfect book to read in your early twenties. And, by grace of my laziness and the fact that I get bored at the lack of pining and kissing, I have not yet read it.
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
When this came out last year, I went to three different stores in my town trying to find it (my town doesn’t have a Barnes and the Books-A-Million here sucks). I finally got it and then proceeded not to read it. I loved You, With A View and The Ex Vows brings in second chance romance! So I was understandably excited. I still am, and hopefully I can get to this before an entire year passes.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Another book about growing up and female independence. This is the perfect time in my life to read this, I think, so it’s here.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
I’m doing it this year, I swear.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Is this only on my list because I saw Emily Henry talk about how good it was in an interview? Yes. But there’s time travel included and a clueless man and romance so I’m there.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This is technically not a classic yet, but it’s definitely going to be, and I’m getting FOMO because I haven’t read it. I’ve heard so much about Donna Tartt’s prose and how well she writes dark academia, and I’m going to try my hardest to focus on her words so I can understand what makes this book so fantastic.
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
While I haven’t read the Dance of Thieves duology by Mary E. Pearson, I’ve heard great things, and when I heard there was a deadly bargain and a potential enemies to lovers situation, I went out and bought it. Now that it’s sitting happily on my TBR cart, I have no choice but to read it.
One Hundred Years in Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This thing won a Nobel Prize. Even more, it’s a family saga focusing on relationships and life and I love all that stuff. I’m also really curious on how this book was influential on the genre of magical realism and have wanted to read it for a while.
Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
I’ve heard good things about this one! I’ve had it for a year and have been hesitating simply because the romance setup sounds a little weird and not like I would get into it, but everyone has only said good things and I’m obsessed with the UK covers.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
So, yeah. I’m actually very scared of this book, and I feel like you’re acquainted enough with my reading taste at this point to understand why. A focus on moving from a small college town to NYC? Discovering yourself with your friends? How everything in your life impacts who you are as a person? I’m there. I’m scared, but I’m there.
