What I Read in 2025

New Favorites, Old Comforts, & Unexpected Delights

I have a confession… I used to find reading wrap-up posts extremely annoying. They came across to me as arrogant and self-congratulatory, and I didn’t understand why people needed to announce to the world that they had read enormous amounts of books, stacks of tomes, that just made me feel bad for my (perceived) deficiencies of time, taste, and ability. A naturally competitive person, I viewed these posts as competitive rather than invitations to engage in a shared love of reading in the public square.

It took me a while to lower my defenses and realize that I liked reading about what other people were reading, and that it was okay to be a slower reader than the person who blazed through twenty books a month.

These days, I find it a fun exercise to curate my reading list by following people I admire and whose tastes I trust—especially those who are faster readers than I am—as they blaze ahead of me through books. And I especially love the end-of-year reading wrap-ups.

In fact, I now often build my yearly TBR based on these end-of-year posts—even though I am a mood reader and a slow one, so I sometimes only get around to reading books I choose at the beginning of one year several years later! These posts have also encouraged me in my goal of reading widely to help me broaden not just my tastes, but my view of the world, my love of neighbor, and my empathy for people who are not like me.

Why do I offer this anecdote on the evolution of my perspective toward reading wrap-up posts? Because as an author and publisher running a small-press independent publishing house, people often ask me how and where to find really good books. Not the ones pushed by influencers (which may or may not be any good), but the books that deserve to be talked about—the books that have real merit, regardless of the marketing budget of the publisher, how much you are told you “should” like it by targeted social media efforts, or how New and Buzzy they are.

My answer these days tends to be that I trust certain people (real-world people and actual friends) to read good books, so I follow and read what they read.

So, in the spirit of these things, please allow me to humbly offer my 2025 reading wrap-up. Some of you might like to add books you find here to your 2026 (and beyond!) TBR. I will give a short review for all the books, but especially highlight my five favorite books of the year and explain why I loved them, marking them with a + and an extended review.

I will also mark and recommend Owl’s Nest Publishers books I read this year with a ++ because I always recommend all Owl’s Nest books (I wouldn’t participate in signing these authors if I didn’t!)—but I won’t include them in my top-five recommendations, as I don’t want to appear partial to my company’s publications over other books (or one author within my company over another).

My 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

Bilbo’s Last Song by J. R. R. Tolkien: A quick and beautiful illustrated poem. A must-have for any lover of Tolkien and a great addition to a Tolkien collection. (For the whole family)

++Fern of the Forest by J. L. Thaxton: A wonderful tale of an adolescent girl who feels out of step with the world around her and who discovers there’s a fantastical reason why that is. It’s a well-worn premise (to be sure), but debut author J. L. Thaxton makes this story feel fresh with mythological twists and turns, a bright young protagonist you will cheer for, and a group of friends you will wish you could join. What else is great about this book? It’s SHORT! If you have a reluctant reader who is intimidated by the length of so many books being published for adolescents today, this slim book is the perfect story to hand to them. I highly recommend! (For MG and Teen)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling: I’ve read this book many (many) times, but this was the first time I’ve completed it as a read-aloud with my kids. They loved it and I enjoyed experiencing it through their eyes. These are big books to read aloud containing big themes to wrestle through with young readers. But these things are also what make this series great. (For MG and Teen)

The Bad Guys: Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey: Cute. Fun. Clever. I like that this book limits the body humor. I can also see how these books have influenced my boys’ own creative development. What I didn’t love was that every page and all dialogue is SHOUTING AT THE READER. I also don’t love that the Bad Guys seem to do good just because it makes them feel better. But there isn’t a lot of room to explore morality in these pages. (For kids)

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: Difficult to know what to say about this one. I’ve been slowly working my way through the Throne of Glass series for a while. At this point, I’ve read so many, I’m invested, but I’m not super enthusiastic. As Sarah J. Maas books go, I enjoy the ACOTAR and Crescent City books more. (For New Adult/Adult. Side Note: SJM books are not YA. They sometimes get shelved as YA/Teen, but her books contain a lot of adult content. The Throne of Glass series has less than ACOTAR or Crescent City, but later books in the series do contain open-door sex scenes.)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins: Sadly this was a DNF for me. I love the original Hunger Games books (well, mostly, I have some issues with the third). But I just couldn’t get more than 50% of the way through Ballad. (For Teen/YA)

Austenland by Shannon Hale: Not a profound read, but a fun one! Romcom isn’t my favorite genre, as I tend to get frustrated with the genre-typical character foils—and this was no exception—but I thought the story wrapped up exceptionally well with a poignant and genuine final scene that made up for other scenes that were a little too silly for me. (For Adults)

+The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock: Oh, how I loved this book! It’s a bit of a strange coming-of-age mystery set in the High Middle Ages just following the worst years of the Plague. What I would really call this, though, is Catholic Magical Realism. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it before, and I love that! But it was also so familiar because it’s set in a historical period I taught (for ten years, when I was a teacher) and therefore covers subjects I know well.

I loved the pacing and timing of how the mysteries unfold, each reveal dropping at just the right times, the stakes of the story slowly rising and rising until emotional investment is reached, too. The authenticity of the Boy and Secundus on each of their parallel pilgrimages as they strive toward their goals—and ultimately how they grow in relationship with each other, as well—is rather astonishing and very satisfying. This is a phenomenally unique tale that I will be thinking about for a long time! (For older kids/MG and Teen)

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill: I am not much of a straight mystery reader (I prefer mystery folded into another genre), but I have known Sulari for over a decade—ever since we spoke on a panel together at the Sydney Writer’s Festival in 2013—and I’ve wanted to read one of her widely acclaimed mysteries for a long time! I was unsurprised to find this book well-plotted with a wide and colorful cast of characters and rising action that peaks in all the right places. For me, I found that it wasn’t difficult to figure out the Who Done It, but the Why was the real mystery. A totally satisfying read! (For Adults)

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg: This story has a complex magical system that makes sense—which I enjoy—morally complex characters, a dual-timeline plot that intersects at just the right climactic moment, some humor, and a sweet romance. Holmberg is a new-to-me author with a long backlist, which is always fun to discover! (For Adults)

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas: There were parts of this one I liked a great deal and other parts I felt dragged. As is often (but not always) the case with me and SJM books, I found myself more invested in side characters. (For New Adult/Adults)

++Twenty Timeless Poems: An Owl’s Nest Anthology for Teen and Middle Grade Readers by Devin Brown: This is one of the most unique anthologies I have ever read! Author and professor Devin Brown guides the reader through twenty poems—many that are well known but some that will be new to the poetry novice—and breaks each one down conversationally, by poetic devices, by poet biographies, and much more! I learned so much from reading this, and I’m not even the target audience (adolescents are). If you have a teenager interested in poetry, if you homeschool, if you are an educator looking for classroom resources, or if YOU just want to learn more about some classic, timeless poems, I highly recommend this text! (For the whole family)

+Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher: This book was entirely surprising and delightful. I loved that the main characters were ordinary, plain, and middle-aged—or even old (even though Marra is a princess, she is in her thirties for most of the story and no great beauty). Everyone in the main cast is someone to root for, while also having significant flaws. The book is paced well and just the right length. It deals with heavy issues while still delivering humor and heart. I especially love Fenris, who is a good man—self-sacrificial, humble, and strong—while carrying the burden of past sins. There is fantastic fairytale weirdness in this story, too, which I definitely appreciate.

I loved finding an adult fantasy with romance folded in that doesn’t rely on spice—with a soft(er) female main character who is also strong, and a male main character who is strong (but also soft), with old women who are single and sufficient (that’s a joke from New Girl, sorry), and funny animal sidekicks. This was just fantastic all around. I’m looking forward to reading more T. Kingfisher novels! (For Adults)

+Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan: This is a short little book that demands a close reading. It’s also possible to read it quickly (most likely you will—or have), and it’s possible to both read it closely and rather fast at the same time, as it’s so short. I’m not ordinarily one for picking up books like this one (I prefer speculative genres), but in my quest to read wider, I’m also looking to read more literary fiction and award winners. This book did not disappoint.

It’s the story of Bill Furlong, an Irish coal merchant (an ordinary family man) being forced to confront himself and his complicity, as well as the complicity of the entire town—through small, ordinary things—in great evils being perpetuated every day by the Catholic Church in Ireland. Keegan packs the text with reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, crystal, water, etc.), especially when Furlong is near the convent in town, or coming or going from it. The story is a contemplative journey as much as an education into a dark period of Irish history, for as Furlong begins to see himself, the story invites the reader to examine our own complicity in the open—and hidden—wickedness of our own dark days. (For Adults)

“Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian, and face yourself in the mirror?” (Small Things Like These, p. 113)

+Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross: I loved this book. I LOVED it. World building, characters, romantic tension, voice… I loved everything about it. This story is unique but familiar, fascinating, propulsive, and profound, and it deals squarely with love, grief, loss, and war.

In this book, Ross tells the story of two young rival writers who are interning at a newspaper during wartime—and competing for the same columnist position. The war is between the followers of the musical goddess Enva and the brutal god Dacre, and poor Iris Winnow’s older brother has heeded the call of Enva to go and fight. Her rival, wealthy Roman Kitt, is trying to please his demanding parents and hides guilt over a tragedy from his past. When letters Iris thinks she’s sending to her brother on the front lines fall into Roman’s hands, he starts to write back, kicking off a compelling relationship that leads them both to the horror of war, forces them to confront real monsters and inner demons, and ultimately shows them what true love is.

This is one of my favorite reads of the last several years. I got the sequel for Christmas and I can’t wait to read it! (For New Adult/Adults)

Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor by Caleb E. Campbell: This is a good entry-level approach to Christian Nationalism and how to treat that landscape as a mission field. I genuinely appreciated how Campbell always points the reader back to love of neighbor and Christ as victor. (For Adults)

The Light Princess by George MacDonald: I listened to the full-cast audio of this on Libby (which I hated as the voice actors made the story sound ridiculous), but I pressed through, and the fairytale itself is wonderful—a mix of whimsy and fairytale madness and gravity (pun intended). (For the whole family)

+The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron, Suzanne Stabile: I really appreciated this book. I’ve wanted to learn more about the Enneagram for years, and I finally picked up this text as a starting point. As the author emphasizes, knowing who you are is an important step in spiritual development, and knowing who the people in your life are is essential to loving them well, too. I’ve known for a long time that I’m an Enneagram 4, but I now feel pretty confident what all my children’s numbers are (as well as my husband’s), and I’m already feeling more empathetic toward them, and more gentle toward myself, as well. For anyone seeking to learn more about the way God made you, I would recommend this book! (For Adults)

Art + Faith by Makoto Fujimura: There were parts of this book that I didn’t fully connect with, but I probably need to read more of his writing to work out my quibbles with this text. If you are a Christian creative of any stripe, I would certainly recommend adding this book to your home library. (For Adults)

Before You Go…

• My next book, Daughter of Rage and Ruin (Book 4 in The Fairytale Collection) has an official release date of April 14, 2026. Listen to our latest podcast episode to find out why we made that shift.

• Thanks so much to everyone who has purchased copies so far of the redesigned Gateway Chronicles! A huge thanks, always, goes out to Lexie Foster for all her hard work on those covers!

• Please consider leaving reviews for my books, whether you’re reading them for the first time or you’re a longtime reader who has never reviewed them before. Some of my Owl’s Nest titles in particular could really use reviews! (Such as Son of Gold and Sorrow and Orion and the Door of Echoes). Goodreads, Amazon, the StoryGraph are all places reviews can be posted, and I would very much appreciate it! (The new Gateway covers have been added to Goodreads. If you don’t see them initially, search through the editions.)

• Don’t forget Lexie has a Gateway Chronicles official merch shop on Etsy! A great way to thank her for her design work is to grab some swag there—and if you got some for Christmas, please review it on Etsy!