25 books to read in 2025
The 25 pieces of work I have committed to reading this year
At the beginning of the year I chose 25 titles that I would like to read before 2025 ends. The selection has no specific criteria and ranges from classics I have been meaning to get around to and keep putting off, to brand new novels that I have been anticipating the release of.
No we’re (terrifyingly) half way through the year, I felt it was an appropriate time to reflect on my progress and see what the chances are of me actually finishing all 25 on the list before the bells chime for 2026.
I originally posted a full run-down of my 25 to read in 2025 over on my TikTok and have popped that video below for reference (excuse the slightly poor camera quality, I have since upgraded to a shiner new phone!).
I think it makes the most sense for me to first run through those that I have read and share my brief thoughts on each, before outlining those that remain. When I referred back to my list while writing this post, I was pretty chuffed to see that I have made it through almost half the titles! At the time of writing, I have read a total of 10 out of the 25 and DNF’d one, not bad going in my opinion. The books appear below in the order in which I read them.
1. Fire by John Boyne
Fire is the third instalment in John Boyne’s Elements quartet, which I absolutely adored. I read both Earth and Water last year and instantly knew I would be devouring the remainder in 2025.
I will say now, Fire is one of the most shocking and troubling stories I've read in a long time. The book is short but my goodness it is a lot. I felt physically sick at points and my heart broke too many times to remember. But I just can’t help but love this series. I adore the subtle moments where the stories are interwoven and being able to find out tidbits about characters from the other books is such a great addition.
With Fire I was also particularly impressed by the clear depth of Boyne's research into the professions of his characters and the situations they find themselves in, as it just adds another level of believability to the stories (not that you would ever want these things to happen in real life).
4/5 ⭐️
2. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
I’m sad to say that this one was a real let down! I’d been meaning to read it since it was first released back when I was working at Waterstones (around 2019) because of the hype it received at the time, but in the end it wasn’t really worth it.
I found the first two thirds of the book incredibly annoying, Queenie isn't likeable to begin with, nor are any of her friends, and WHO ON EARTH are these horrible horrible men she becomes involved with?! I felt so uncomfortable reading about all of her awful sexual encounters, many of which felt like they were verging on assault or, at the very least, coercion.
The last third and the ending were somewhat redeeming and I found myself chuckling and feeling my heart warmed by parts but all in all, it was rather disappointing and just not really what I was expecting.
2.5/5 ⭐️
3. Ask Me Again by Clare Sestanovich
I was falling asleep while finishing this book and I think that pretty much sums up my feelings towards it... I just didn't get it! It could absolutely be a me-problem (it often is) but I really struggled to see the point in the novel.
Ultimately it was pretty boring and just not great. Sad times. I do love the cover though!
2/5⭐️
4. Misery by Stephen King
My first foray into the world of Stephen King (I felt it was about time!) and the experience was okay. I didn’t love Misery but I didn’t hate it. I can’t say I’ll be gagging to read more King, but also wouldn’t discount it.
I think the ending was bad but there were only really two possible endings and I don’t think either of them would have been satisfying so it was a lose lose.
Having spoken to a friend who has read a fair bit of King’s work, I’ve been advised this wasn’t necessarily the best place to start and I’m now equipped with some other recommendations from his oeuvre.
3/5 ⭐️
5. Crush by Ada Calhoun
This is where things start to get really good. Crush was absolutely not what I expected - I thought it would be a more gimmicky novel - but I loved it.
Calhoun is masterful in her exploration and depiction of female desire and really gets to the meaty bones of polygamy and the technicalities of an open marriage. I actually wanted to scream pretty much every time Paul spoke but that’s slightly beside the point, or rather, exactly the point.
One small and perhaps irrelevant niggle is that I just really don’t love the trend of unnamed female narrators… There, I said it! In this instance I feel as though it left a little gap that couldn’t be filled to fully connect with her, especially when I feel the names of the other characters were used a lot, more so than in your average novel perhaps? All in all, I thought it was stunning and the fact I devoured it in under 48 hours is testament to that.
4/5 ⭐️
6. James by Percival Everett
The streak of great novels continued with Percival Everett’s retelling of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim the slave.
When a book has received the level of praise that James has, it always feels like there’s quite a lot of a pressure for your feelings to align with the majority and I must say, when I first started the book I was really worried that wasn’t going to be the case.
It took me a good 100 pages to start seeing why James is being billed as a modern classic but my oh my, as soon as it clicked this book was breathtaking. The writing is beautiful, the story is such a journey, and Jim is just the perfect protagonist. Also, and I rarely think this, the ending was sublime.
It absolutely has five-star rating potential, but due to the slightly bumpy start it just missed the mark for me.
4.5/5 ⭐️
7. A History of Loneliness by John Boyne
John Boyne’s work features heavily on this list, but that is due to the simple fact that I am consistently left speechless by his writing. A History of Loneliness was no exception.
The writing and artistry was phenomenal but it was one of the more challenging novels I've read in recent times. The subject matter - the systemic abused endured by young boys at the hands of the Catholic Church - is nothing short of harrowing, but I think if you feel it's something you can cope with, it's such an important piece of work to engage with.
Perhaps my main takeaway from the novel was how the abuse was/is so far from black and white, guilty and innocent. It is a hugely grey and murky world and in addition to holding the vile abusers to account, we must also hold those to account who weren’t necessarily perpetrators but turned a blind eye or chose to not to see it in order to make their own lives easier.
It feels an impossible piece of literature to review properly in a few paragraphs, so after checking trigger warnings etc. please do read for yourself.
4/5 ⭐️
The Names by Florence Knapp
I have reviewed The Names on my Substack previously as part of my May reading wrap-up, but will pop a slightly edited version of it here again in case you missed that.
The Names was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, and boy oh boy it did not disappoint! Firstly, I just think the concept of this book is so brilliant - it looks at how your name has the potential to change the course of your life by the way it defines you and the way other people judge you because of it.
Secondly, I loved the three individual stories and the little elements interwoven throughout all of them, I could have had three whole books on each story. And finally, the novel just broke my heart - the depiction of domestic violence is harrowing, but I didn’t expect Knapp’s depictions of grief to also hit me quite as hard. I found myself sobbing while reading the exploration of grief in the latter part of the book because it felt so heartbreakingly accurate. I would highly recommend.
4/5 ⭐️
Air by John Boyne
I also reviewed Air in my May reading wrap-up but it’s so good I will happily review it again for the purpose of this post.
Air is the final story in the Elements quartet and it was a perfect end to a phenomenal series. After reading the first three, all of which deal with the darkest of themes and contain parts which are nothing short of harrowing, it was actually beautifully refreshing to see them all come together in Air and for the novel not to be focused solely on one disturbing story.
I just think the skill it takes to create a quartet like this is incredible and I am in awe of how Boyne fits so much in such short pieces of work, but it shows in such a way that the writing isn’t at all overworked but also not a word is wasted. Each of the books received four stars from me, but the series as a whole is undoubtedly five out of five.
4/5 ⭐️
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atmosphere is TJR’s ninth novel and is another of her wonderful stories based on true events but given the fictitious flair she is so well known for.
As with every other TJR book I've read, I sped through this one in a few of days and I always have to commend her on just how readable her books are. I really enjoyed the subject matter of this one, I know very little about space and NASA but it was fun to read about.
I have to say, I felt it was a little bland at first but it did really pick up in the second half and the ending actually give me full blown goosebumps - am I becoming soft?!
I would also note that it is perhaps a little too heavy on the technical jargon and at some points I found myself skim reading passages because I actually couldn't picture what the characters were on about, which was slightly distracting. But overall, definitely worth the read. TJR really does have the knack!
3.5/5 ⭐️
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
There are a couple of memoirs on my list of 25 and sadly the first one wasn’t a huge success. I thought From Here to the Great Unknown would be right up my street but I just couldn’t get into it - despite listening to Riley Keough and Julia Roberts narrate it on audio, which I had hoped would be dreamy.
So this became the first, and currently only, DNF (did not finish) on the list.
And then, in no particular order, those that I am yet to get round to…
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We Do Not Part by Hang Kang
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
Source Code by Bill Gates
Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler
Pew by Catherine Lacey
Stash by Laura Cathcart Robbins
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Republic of Shame by Caeliainn Hogan
Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read
Let me know which you think I should pick up next in the comments below!