Now that 2025 is coming to a close, I have been reflecting on the 21 books I read this year. It would be difficult to recap all of them in a single article, so I selected a few favorites to review.
One of my favorite reads this year was The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The novel is widely known and highly acclaimed, and it did not disappoint. While reading, I was deeply invested in the story of Offred. In the world she lives in, women have lost all of their rights and are instead viewed as a means to an end for men. Although the setting feels very different from our own, the themes remain relevant today. I enjoyed the book and found it to be powerful commentary on what the world could become if nothing changes.
Switching genres, another favorite was the mystery novel Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson. The book follows a teenage girl who begins working as a tour guide at a famous house once inhabited by a wealthy family. That family, once happy and healthy, faced tragedy when two of their children died there. In the present day, another mystery begins to unravel. I found the story engaging and suspenseful. I read it in one sitting late at night, with classical music playing in the background to build tension.
Rather than focusing on a single book, I also wanted to highlight an author whose work stood out to me this year: Ann Liang. I read six of her books in 2025. I was immediately drawn to her writing after reading I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, a young adult romance centered on two class presidents, and I could not stop reading her other novels.
On the surface, Liang’s books may seem like simple romances. I enjoy tropes like fake dating and enemies-to-lovers, and her writing delivers those elements well. However, beneath the romance, each story carries an important message revealed through the characters’ growth. In I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, the main character, Sadie, realizes she does not need to overwork herself or tolerate rude behavior to be successful. In Never Thought I’d End Up Here, Leah learns that her appearance and approval from others will not bring her happiness.
That deeper meaning is why Liang’s writing stood out to me. More than a quarter of the books I read this year were written by her. Her novels offer messages young girls need to hear while still delivering the engaging plots they enjoy.
Overall, I had a great year of reading. I surpassed my goals and found enjoyment in both simple, easy reads and more challenging, thought-provoking ones. There is no harm in reading both. Looking ahead to 2026, I plan to read 26 books and hope they are just as varied as my reading list was this year.