In 2025 I read seventy-three books. So while I’m hardly a super-reader, obviously books remain something I love and regularly indulge in.
This year I enjoyed a bumper crop
of good stories. Most of them earned a four- or five-star rating for me. What
does that mean?
For me, a four-star read is one I enjoyed and would be quick to recommend. The book is well-crafted and contains clean to edifying content. A five-star usually means a book clicked with me personally in some way or is truly extraordinary in craft and content.
This makes picking out my favorites from this past year unusually difficult, because I have so many I want to recommend. But that would make this newsletter unwieldy. So, doing my best to pare it down, here are seven of my top reads of 2025.
Favorite Picture Book
Because by Mo Willems, illustrated by Amber Ren
Genre: Contemporary
The Story: How a little girl
becomes inspired to become a composer-conductor.
Content Notes: This is a secularly
published book.
Why I loved this book: This was
truly a right story and the right time. I needed very much the reminder that
small actions are important and that our actions can have an unseen impact.
Honorable Mentions:
Do Great Things for God series
(nonfiction biography)
Pippa and the Singing Tree
by Kristyn Getty (rhyming)
Favorite Midgrade (8-12
years) Novel
Genre: Midgrade mystery
The Story: Two kids try to banish
the “ghosts” from a neighbor’s attic.
Content Notes: Light violence
(dealing with bullies) and questions raised (though addressed) about ghosts
Why I loved this book: This book
has all the vibes of the old Boxcar Children series, which I adored as a kid.
There’s a mystery without getting overly scary. There’s heart and humor and quirky
characters. There are also some good discussions of hard topics (grief,
friendship/marriage, ghosts) at age-appropriate levels.
Honorable Mentions:
Beneath the Swirling Sky (The
Restorationists #1) by Carolyn Leiloglou (magical realism)
The Sapphire Sword (The
Sapphire Saga #1) by Robert Fuller (science fiction)
The Tiny Cyborg (RoboTales
#3) by Jill and Luke Williamson (science fiction)
Favorite Young Adult
The Unraveling of Emlyn Dulaine
(The Rivenlea Sphere #1) by Lindsay A. Franklin
Genre: YA Portal Fantasy
The Story: A teen searches for her
missing sister in a world she once though imaginary.
Content Notes: Moderate fantasy
violence (no gore), light and clean romance subplot, extensive unexplained
supernatural elements.
Why I loved this book: I loved the
whole premise of magical libraries and the ability to jump into storybook
worlds. This whimsical foundation was then coupled to a world that felt vibrant
and fresh, offbeat characters, great dialogue, a strong narrator voice, a
dizzying plot that kept me guessing, and some great humor. What is not to like?
Honorable Mentions:
The Chaos Grid (Book #1) by
Lyndsey Lewellen (dystopia)
Echo Nova by Clint Hall
(dystopia)
Squire of Truth (Blood of
Kings: Legends #1) by Jill Williamson (Romantasy + Mystery)
Darkfell (Book #1) by
Amanda Wright (Fantasy)
Nonfiction
The Anxious Generation: How the
Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by
Jonathan Haidt
Genre: Adult psychology (secular)
The Story: A look at the impact of
digital childhood on kids.
Content Notes: This book is
written by a non-Christian.
Why I loved this book: This was a
fascinating and thought-provoking read. The author communicates in a clear,
easy-to-understand language and with a level-headed sensibility about the
growing documentation concerning the impact of social media and the digital
realm on our everyday lives. He primarily focuses on children and young adults,
but much of what he says equally applies, in varying degrees, to adults as
well.
Honorable Mentions:
Waiting On the Word by
Malcolm Guite (Advent devotional/poetry)
An Annie Johnson Flint
Compendium by Annie Johnson Flint/Roland V. Bingham (poetry/biography)
George Müller:
The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge (biography)
Favorite Adult Novels (Tie)
Tea With Elephants
(Suitcase Sisters #1) by Robin Jones Gunn
Genre: Adult women’s fiction
The Story: Two women struggling
with the crossroads in their lives take a trip of lifetime to Africa.
Content Notes: Emotionally
poignant and potentially tough topics
Why I loved this book: The gentle
pacing and thoughtful spiritual content of this story is a soothing balm to the
soul. Plus the joy of travelling to and being immersed in another
place/culture.
To Love a Beast (Once Upon
a Time in Texas, Book 1) by Karen Witemeyer
Genre: Adult historical romance
The Story: A western retelling of Beauty
and the Beast.
Content Notes: Sweet and clean
romance, with some light violence (no gore)
Why I loved this book: Plain and
simple, I’m a huge fan of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. So, all the
Easter eggs and head nods to that movie kept me smirking throughout the book.
And while this may not be the most original retelling, it was presented in a
way that I found comforting rather than annoying, probably because there are
enough unique aspects to make the story enjoyably its own, between the
delightful characters, a sweet romance, and a beautifully integrated spiritual
thread.
Honorable Mentions:
Protector (Susa Chronicles #1) by Megan Schaulis (dystopia)
26 Below (Alaskan Cyber
Hunters #1) by Kimberley Woodhouse (suspense)
Injustice for All by C.C.
Warrens (suspense)
Favorite Christmas Novella
Christmas on the Goblin Express
by J.J. Fischer
Genre: Christmas magical realism
novella
The Story: A burned-out medical
student boards a magic train to escape Christmas
Content Notes: Sweet & clean
romantic subplot, light fantasy violence, high supernatural (due to non-human
characters or magical objects).
Why I loved this book: This story
felt completely Christmas-y, hitting all the right feels, without feeling like
a Hallmark rom-com or a knock-off of another famous Christmas story, like It’s
a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol. This book was its own unique
story filled with great humor and sprinkled with poignant moments that added a
beautiful emotional depth with weighing it down. Add in quirky but complex
characters, some action-packed adventure, and a large dose of whimsy, and the
result was Christmas-perfect.
Honorable Mentions:
Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor
by Roseanna M. White (historical romance)
Holly Jolly Christmas by
C.C. Warrens (contemporary/suspense)
What were some of your favorite
reads of 2025 and why?
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