I discovered this book tag last year, and sadly, I did not succeed at completing it, but I am determined to do it this year. In case you have not heard of this tag, the point behind it is to read the number of books (25) in the year you are currently in, which is 2025, when I am writing this. I had a look through my shelves, and everything that I have chosen with the exception of two books, are ones that I already own. I decided that 2025 would be the year I really focus on reading the books I already own. Don’t get me wrong, Reader, I have made book purchases already this year, but I am trying to be better about reading what I already own. So, without further ado, here is my 25 in 2025 list. There is a large variety here, so I am hoping that maybe one or two of them might interest you as well.
Marmee by Sarah Miller
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60091367-marmee?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=vcNxu9OXP7&rank=1
I heard about this book from Booktube, and I thought the cover was absolutely beautiful. What interested me even more was that it follows the mom from Little Women. I loved Little Women, and I was excited to see how the story goes from Marmee’s point of view. I am happy to say that I have read it, and I love it. The author did a great job writing it from Marmee’s perspective.
The Secret History by Donna Tart
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_History?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_18
I have heard so much about this book and dark academia in general. I have heard many people say that this book is what started the whole genre, so I am eager to pick it up. I have never read a dark academia book, or at least I do not think I have, so this will be a new experience for me.
A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50659468-a-court-of-mist-and-fury?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_24
I believe it was last year that I read A Court Of Thorns And Roses, and I really loved the world and the characters. I know this is a popular book series among many, and I was curious, so I picked up book one and really enjoyed it. I am hoping that the second book will be just as good, if not better.
Grey Wolf by Louise Penny
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203578881-the-grey-wolf?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9
Louise Penny is an auto-buy author for me, and with good reason. Her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series is amazing. This is book nineteen in that series, and I am so excited to get to it. I have read all of these books through audio, and I can honestly say the narrations are always done very well. I really love getting back into the world of Three Pines with all of my friends waiting there for me. Reader, I know how crazy that sounds, but honestly, when you read these books, you will understand what I am saying because these characters are so fleshed out, and the same goes for the Little Village. Three Pines is one of those fictional worlds I would love to visit in real life, if that makes sense. If you have not read any of these books, I hope you give them a try. You may want to go in order because a lot happens between books one and eighteen.
The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by Victoria E. Schwab
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50623864-the-invisible-life-of-addie-larue?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8
This book has made its way around all the social platforms and has graced every popular book table I have ever seen at all the bookstores I have been to. So when I saw that I could select it as an add-on for Book Of The Month, I decided to do just that a few years ago. I have decided that this is the year I am going to read it because, frankly, I am tired of everyone saying how great it is and having no idea if that is true for me. 2025 will be the year I read Addie LaRue.
The Wren In The Holy Library by K. A. Linde
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431964-the-wren-in-the-holly-library?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_28
Alright, I am sure someone on here can relate to what I am about to say, but this book was a complete impulse buy for me. I was at the register cashing out of BAM when I looked over and saw this beauty sitting on a display shelf. Once I looked at the cover and lifted the dust jacket, I was sold, and I didn’t even know what the book was about. I didn’t care. I will say that since buying it, I have checked out the blurb, and I am happy to say it sounds really good. I look forward to reading it this year.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305853-the-women?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9
I bought this book from Book Of The Month as soon as it was released. Everything I have ever read by this author, I have loved. When I saw that she wrote a book about women in Vietnam during the war (conflict), I knew I needed it. My father was a Marine in Vietnam during that time, so needless to say, I already have a soft spot for the veterans. I will say I have not picked this one up yet because I know it will make me cry, and probably it will hit differently for me since I am the daughter of a Vietnam Vet. With that being said, I will be reading The Women this year, and I am sure that it will be a book that I love. If I am being honest, it may even destroy me a bit, so I want to make sure I have the tissues nearby.
Nightwork by Nora Roberts
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58724963-nightwork?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9
I bought this book back in 2022 when it came out, but I never got around to it until just recently. I picked this book because I really craved a world created by Nora Roberts, a queen when it comes to writing, in my opinion. I was really enjoying it, but I decided to put it back down for a time. Come May, it will be one year since one of my Besties passed away from Breast Cancer, and when I saw that one of the characters in this story was struggling with cancer, I knew I needed to set it down for a bit. I was not in the right mental headspace to take on this story. However, I plan on revisiting it this year because I was really enjoying the story. I just couldn’t bring myself to carry on with it at that moment.
East Of Eden by John Steinbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4406.East_of_Eden?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_12
I am not ashamed to say I spotted this beast of a book at a thrift store. The cover, along with the page edges, sold me on bringing it home. I am so glad I did because this year, in one of the Discords I participate in, we will be reading this chunker as a group. I mean, come on, what is better than reading a chunky classic than to read one as a group? At least that is my opinion, and well, I am excited about it.
North Is The Night by Emily Rath
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210366739-north-is-the-night?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_18
I am going to be honest: I had never heard of this author until my friend messaged me with a picture of the new book she was picking up. The cover of this book is beautiful, and the sprayed edges are fantastic, so when I saw it at a bookstore, I knew I needed it. Since then, my friend and I did a Buddy Read for this book, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I am very glad that I made that purchase, and now I am eagerly waiting for the next one in the series to come out.
The Woman With The Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54737067-the-woman-with-the-blue-star?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_28
Have you ever read an author and thought Wow, they are really good and decided to pick up past works without knowing anything about them? Well, that is how I came across this book. I received an ARC a couple of years ago from Netgalley for Code Name Sapphire, and I was blown away by this author’s writing and decided that when I saw her works, I would pick them up. So, Dear Reader, this is the year that I will be reading The Woman With The Blue Star, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10431447-wildwood?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_8
I had never heard of this book, but I was out thrifting one day, and well, the cover won me over. I decided after reading the blurb on the back that it was coming home with me. This year is the year I have decided I am going to read it. Let me just tell you, Reader, I am excited about it.
Marking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59523097-marking-time
This is book two in The Cazalet Chronicles, and it has been on my shelf for a while. I read the first book in the series for a book club a couple of years ago, and I really enjoyed it. I am excited to get back to this family this year and see what is in store for them.
No You’re Crazy by Jeff Beamish
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103196692-no-you-re-crazy?ref=nav_sb_ss_3_15
I received this book from Jeff Beamish in return for an honest review of his work. I am embarrassed to say that I have not gotten to it yet despite having it for such a long time. I feel really bad about that, so I thought you know what: It is going to go on my 25 in 2025 list because dang it, it is getting read this year and hopefully sooner rather than later. My goal is to have read it by summer, so fingers crossed.
Somewhere Beyond The Sea by T. J. Klune
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199415360-somewhere-beyond-the-sea
I ABSOLUTELY loved the first book in this series, The House In The Cerulean Sea, and I just could not wait to get my hands on the second book when it came out. I fell in love with these characters and am eager to return to this world.
The Sirens by Emilia Hart
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210411871-the-sirens?ref=nav_sb_ss_4_10
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley over the winter months and spoiler alert I already read it. I wanted to get this book because I absolutely loved Wayward when I read it. I will say, Reader, that I also loved The Sirens.
Close Knit by Jenny Colgan
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199465836-close-knit?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_10
I am a fan of Jenny Colgan and have been for years. I love her stories, the characters she creates, and the way she describes the areas in which they live. When I saw that she was coming out with a new book last August, I was more than happy to pick it up. I managed to read around one hundred pages of this book before realizing that it is book two in a series. The MacIntyre Series. Reader, I should say that I am not one to read books out of order, so I decided to set this book aside for the moment so that I could read book one, which is The Summer Skies. I am hoping to get to book one relatively soon because I do not want to forget what is going on in Close Knit.
Murder At A Scottish Castle by Traci Hall
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138378705-murder-at-a-scottish-castle?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_27
This is book five in The Scottish Shire Mystery Series, which is a cozy mystery series that I have enjoyed very much. I love these characters, and I can not wait to get back into the world of The Seaside Village of Nairn. I love the fact that the main character is a single mom who runs a yarn store and has a dog named Wallace. I mean, come on, all of that sounds lovely to me. Not to mention the friendships and the cozy vibes all around.
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63017306-the-air-raid-book-club?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17
Last summer I traveled to Prince Edward Island in Canada like I do most summers and I popped into an Indigo Bookstore in Charlottetown and that is where I found The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons. I have never heard of this author, but that didn’t stop me from checking it out. On the front cover, the staff had put a staff pick sticker on it, so of course, I decided to pick it up. When I went to the checkout, the lady at the register told me that she was the one who had selected this book for her staff pick. Naturally, we got to talking, and I asked her if this book would make me cry. She said it might, but that it was a really great read and worth it, in her opinion. I loved being able to talk with that staff member, and doing so has made me even more interested in the story. This book will definitely be one I get to in 2025.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57945316-babel?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_5
This was another Book Of The Month pick for me and one that I am hoping to enjoy. I will admit I was on the fence about this book because I did not enjoy Yellowface which is an unpopular opinion but that book just was not for me. I am not going to let that stop me though from trying another work by this author so fingers crossed here is to a good reading experience.
The Love Elixir Of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203579107-the-love-elixir-of-augusta-stern?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_12
This was another Book Of The Month selection for me back in 2024 and one that I am hoping to read in 2025. I love the idea of following an eighty-year-old woman who has recently retired from her job and is now trying to figure out what to do with her life. I also love a good dual-timeline story that shows the characters’ past and present. I think that this book is one that I will enjoy very much.
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199927030-the-lost-story?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14
I was excited to see that Meg Shaffer brought out a new book since reading The Wishing Game in 2023. I really enjoyed that book and the style of writing, so when I saw that Book Of The Month had The Lost Story as an option back in 2024, I was sold. I knew I needed to have it. I have my fingers crossed that I love this book just as much as The Wishing Game, and I think I will because I have seen people say that it has a Narnia-type vibe. Side note: I love Narnia, so of course I was doubly sold.
The Secret Book Of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
To my knowledge, I have not read a book by this author (or maybe I have, but honestly, I can not remember), but when I saw this come up as a Book Of The Month option in 2023, I thought, “Yes, that sounds fantastic.” I am a girl who loves historical fiction, and this just sounded amazing. I then saw that Anne Bogel gave it a five-star rating, and I was sold. My selection that month was determined: I was getting The Secret Book Of Flora Lea.
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58428207-bloomsbury-girls?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_16
I picked this book up because I absolutely loved her book, The Jane Austen Society. The Jane Austen Society just felt like a warm hug to me, but in book form, if that makes sense. So when I saw that she had come out with another book, I was ecstatic to pick it up. Now, I have had this book on my shelf since it was published in 2022, but I just never got around to picking it up. I am here to say that 2025 will be the year that I finally get around to reading this one. I really hope I love it as much as The Jane Austen Society.
The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222361665-the-seven-rings?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_15
I am such a huge Nora Roberts fan, and I tend to read whatever she writes, so of course, I picked up The Lost Bride Trilogy when it came out. This is the third in the series and is set to come out in November. To say that I am excited is a bit of an understatement. Reader, if you have ever read one of her book series, you know that she is known for ending the books on cliffhangers, and the second book in this series, The Mirror, was no different.
Reader, I hope that my list of twenty-five books for twenty-five has given you one or two new reads that you might also want to pick up this year. I am curious, though, if you have made a list of the books you want to read for this year, and if any of these books are on your list. As always, Reader, I am curious to know. Until Next Time, Reader, Happy Reading.