Mid-Year Reading Roundup
With the year already halfway over (how?!) I thought now would be a great time to reflect on the best books that have hit the shelves thus far by drafting some good ol’ Best Of lists. (Any excuse I have to make or read a list, I’m going to take it.) I created a list of my favorite books of 2025 so far, and I also compiled another one based on a few websites that have released their own lists. Hope you find something to add to your TBRs. Until next time, happy reading!
P.S. If you're interested in purchasing books (including ebooks) from this list, click on the title, and it will direct you to the book on Bookshop's website, where you can support your local bookstores and my blog.
My Best of 2025 (So Far) List:
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
It is not for the faint of heart, but it is an enjoyable adventure nonetheless. (Review Here)
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei
Get your copy now! (Review Here)
I’ve never been happier to not have children. (Review Here)
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
This one that has stayed with me. (Review Here)
Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature’s Secret to Longevity by Nicklas Brendborg
Still in search of a nature book this good ever since. (Review Here)
You know I love my girl Olga. (Review Here)
Superb through and through (Review Here)
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Cannot recommend this enough (Review Here)
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A fun story to get lost in. (Review Here)
Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success by Jeff Hiller
Oh to be best friends with Jeff Hiller… (Review Here)
Best of 2025 (So Far) List According to Bookshop, NYT, BBC, Vulture & NPR
Show up on more than half of the lists:
I wasn’t the biggest fan, but you should still give it a try.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
A historical horror? I’ll give it a shot.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Have I mentioned how much I adore this book?
Kang is back and better than ever! (Review Here)
Again, I wasn’t a fan, but don’t let that stop you. (Review Here)
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
Worth the read (Review Here)
This hasn’t been on my radar, but perhaps it should be since it’s being made into a TV series with the help of Spielberg and Obama’s production companies.
Honorable Mentions (showing up on more than one, but less than half of the lists):
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
For all of you The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue fans out there! I went to a book talk with her, and man, oh man, did I fall further in love with her. Can’t wait to read this one closer to Halloween time.
This has been on my list for a while (and everyone else’s because 176 other people have it on hold at the library).
Other authors and readers are raving about it. Maybe it’ll be featured in next month’s reading recap. Stay tuned…
“The world belongs to those who read.” — Rick Holland
