It’s that time of year again! While it is always difficult to select my top reads, I have made a noble effort to whittle down my list. Below are some of the books I most enjoyed reading in 2025.

The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow

The Dollmaker is one of those books that is unforgettable, the kind that sears itself on your soul. From the opening pages, it becomes clear that Gertie Nevels is one of the American novel’s great characters. Alone and desperate, she enters, determined to save the life of her son when no one else seems to care. She does so by sheer will power. She is a force of nature. And so, when she moves to Detroit to be with her husband, it comes as a shock to realize that this is a world Gertie no longer understands, one in which she is not in control. It is a story of survival and of heartbreak. A story that broke my heart.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I have waited far too long to reread Austen’s books! Once again, I was immediately engrossed by the characters and their dilemmas. I plan to keep on working though Austen’s oeuvre in 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping might already have an ending familiar to readers, but that is beside the point. This is the story of what broke Haymitch. Of what turned an idealistic teenager, who has never touched a drop, into the character we know from The Hunger Games. It is a testament to Suzanne Collins’ writing skill that, even though his ending is set in stone, it feels impossible not to hope for another outcome, anyway.

Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair

Bramton Wick is a generally soothing domestic fiction–but definitely one with its share of knowing social commentary. The village has its own rhythm of daily life, where lunch invitations and church gatherings are considered of great significance, and the characters must navigate the dangerous waters of social convention to keep the peace. The book reminds me a bit of Jane Austen, as far as understated scathing characterization goes, but it also has echoes of the cozy village life of Miss Read.

The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge

The Dean’s Watch is an enchanting book, one that feels difficult to describe. It is about friendship, and love, and change. And about the ways love can transform not only a person, but also a place. It is gentle and inspiring, but never melodramatic or overly sweet. It is the type of book you read when you want to feel good about the world.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Nettle and Bone is an intriguing mix of the whimsical and the macabre. It begins almost like a traditional fairy tale–the kind with gruesome punishments and impossible tasks–but then moves on into a quest to dethrone a prince. Except that the heroes are an overlooked third princess, a grumpy witch, a seemingly unexceptional godmother, and a confused and reluctant soldier. Parts are very dark. Yet it is also surprisingly funny. Pick this one up if you enjoy stories that assemble the familiar elements of fantasy into something that feels new.

The Lark by E. Nesbit

I had no idea that E. Nesbit wrote for adults as well as children, so was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon The Lark. The summary sounded exactly like the type of book I wanted. One with hardworking heroines living happily (despite money worries) in the countryside, tasting independence for the first time, and falling sweetly in love. And, indeed, The Lark is exactly the book I wanted.

Babbacombe’s by Susan Scarlett

Somehow, Babbacombe’s is exactly the time of romance I would expect from a book written in the 1940s. A young woman falls in love above her station, but finds herself (unknowingly) competing for the man’s affections with a wealthier, more worldly woman. Of course, innocence and virtue must triumph in the end against naked ambition and scandalous flirtation. It is a fun read, but Scarlett’s knowledge of department store work, as well as her complex family dynamics are what really make Babbacombe’s an immersive read.

Pirouette by Susan Scarlett

Pirouette provides a fascinating glimpse at the world of ballet, where girls train from a young age with no certainty that they will ever have a career–much less become a star. Judith Nell finally receives her big chance, but at the same time her suitor Paul asks her to marry him and leave for Rhodesia. Torn between desires and with her own mother conspiring to keep her in the ballet (to live out her own frustrated dreams of stardom), Judith has to determine what matters to her most. I loved the honest look at the challenges of stage life, the crushed dreams and broken lives the art can demand. Streatfeild’s more well-known book Ballet Shoes does not quite capture the less glamorous aspects of the life, so I appreciate how Pirouette confronts the reality that most ballet dancers will not become stars and will experience a very short career if they do.

A Vicarage Family by Noel Streatfeild

A Vicarage Family is an old-fashioned coming-of-age story, in the best possible way. Based on Noel Streatfeild’s own childhood, it looks back on a way of life (for the impoverished gentry) that vanished with the First World War. Streatfeild recalls the feelings of childhood with great clarity, bringing to life all the longings, trials, and vexations of growing up in a household that felt too restrictive. However, with the value of hindsight, she also attempts to understand the perspectives of her siblings and parents, creating a work rooted in complex family dynamics. Sometimes I fear I will never find a book that brings to me the great joy and comfort of my old favorites–but A Vicarage Family possesses that ineffable charm of beloved works like Anne of Green Gables or Little Women.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Of course, none of my annual lists would be complete without at least one Tolkien book. As always, rereading The Hobbit proved just as delightful as when I first entered Middle-Earth.

Silverborn by Jessica Townsend

The fourth installment of the Nevermoor series was worth the wait! Morrigan’s world is an enchanting and original as ever, even as Townsend expands it, giving readers a look at the city’s rich elite. The book blends a fantasy mystery with social commentary.

What were some of your favorite reads in 2025?