It’s the most anticipated list of the year: The Top Ten Most Memorable Reads of 2025.
2025
Most Memorable Reads:
I’m linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Best Books I Read in 2025
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
It is been fabulous fun this week reading through top ten lists. The variation is striking, demonstrating that reading is a personal experience and that no two readers read the same book!
I mostly love the angst of creating top-ten lists! Although it can be a daunting task, it’s my most anticipated post of the year! First, let me remind you that this list is subjective. It’s comprised of books I’ve read this year (there are always so many more great ones that I didn’t get to), and each one has made it onto this list because the reading experience was enjoyable, memorable, engaging, and gave me a “book hangover.” These are truly unforgettable books that I’ll think about months and years later. If I can’t envision remembering a book on this list years from now, it doesn’t belong on the list.
You might also enjoy my Favorite Historical Fiction Reads of 2025 here.
Five-star reads remain elusive…or am I too picky? In years past, I’ve easily been able to make a list of TEN 5-Star reads, but the last two years have been lean. Last year (2024), I couldn’t make a list of ten (see my top five). I’ve heard other reviewers comment on their lack of five-star reads as well. Previous posts that might interest you: Those Elusive Five-Star Reads 10 Elements of a Five-Star Read
Titles are links to my reviews (which contain Amazon affiliate links).
All titles in this post were read this year.
Thanks for sharing great reads with me this year!
Top Ten Most Memorable Reads of 2025
Based on the qualities of enjoyment, engagement, compelling, unputdownable, memorable, unique, and book hangover.
(The first three are in order of my most memorable reads, but 4-10 are interchangeable.)
#1
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
(Contemporary Literary Fiction)
Superlative: “Most Memorable Character”
WHY: Endearing character + epistolary + touching and relevant themes. I have created a FREE Book Club Kit for your book club here. Enjoy!
The Correspondent and Theo of Golden are tied in my mind for #1 Read of the Year, but if I’m forced to choose, The Correspondent edges out Theo by a hair. I have read both books twice because I wanted to experience them in print and audio formats. Audio is fabulous for both!
#2
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
(Contemporary Literary Fiction)
Superlative: “Most Kind”
WHY: The world needs kind and lovely people who are compassionate and listen well. I created a FREE Book Club Kit here. 12/2/2025…the audio book was released, and I just finished reading it for the third time! (buddy read with husband)
Reading good books ruins you for the others!
#3
One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter
Superlative: “Most Brave, Determined, and Sacrificial”
(WWII Historical Fiction)
WHY: “Friends as close as sisters.”
#4
The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay
(Historical Fiction 1920s, USA)
Superlative: “Most Page-turning”
WHY: Informative histfic with a side of thriller.
#5
Good Dirt by Charmain Wilkerson
(Historical and Contemporary Fiction)
Superlative: “Most Compelling Family Drama”
WHY: Complicated but not dysfunctional; own voices; diverse read.
#6
The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz
(Historical Fiction, 1837, Canada)
Superlative: “Most Multi-layered”
WHY: The female main character is a devoted friend, a kind stepmother, a determined advocate, and a brave spouse.
#7
New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva
(Historical Fiction, 1938, London)
Superlative: “Most Inspiring New Beginnings”
WHY: A book of survival and new beginnings.
#8
She Came to Slay by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
(Narrative Nonfiction, Slavery)
Superlative: “Most Riveting”
WHY: Informative and inspiring.
#9
White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton
(Historical Fiction, 1930s, North Korea and Japan)
Superlative: “Most Character-driven”
WHY: Reading like a memoir, this is a compelling story of survival and following your dreams.
#10
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding
(Contemporary Women’s Fiction)
Superlative: “Most Lighthearted”
WHY: A delightful and humorous read from the MOB (mother of the bride) and MOG (mother of the groom} points of view.
Honorable Mentions:
Most Memorable Seasonal Reads of 2025
Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson
A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolley
Most Memorable Middle Grade/Young Adult
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
Most Memorable Book About Books/Book Club
The Book of Kindness (aka The Second Chance Book Club) by Stephanie Butland
Most Memorable Quirky Read
Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand
Links to Previous Best-of-Year Posts
Most Recommended Reads of 2017
QOTD:
Share your best read of the year in the comments! Please?! I’d love to hear!
Happy Reading Book Worms
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
Happy New Year!
Wishing you a year of good health, happiness, and a tall stack of 5 Star, unputdownable, and memorable reads!
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I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned here, but I totally relate to the lack of 5 star reads in most recent years. Last year I just had 7 of them, but 3 were rereads. I started drafting my post about my favourites in October actually, that was much more convenient for me.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/01/06/top-ten-tuesday-2025-favourites/
I had to include a few 4.5s! Hopping over to your post…. 🐇
What a fun post this week Carol and a lovely way to look back at the year. Happy reading in 2026.
Thanks Rosie! It’s my fav post of the year! 🥂📚
A great selection – we have two in common! Good Dirt and The Correspondent.
Memorable reads! 🥂📚
Fab list, Carol!
Thanks! 📚🥂
The Lawyer and the Laundress has me curious. I may have to add it to my TBR.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/my-12-favorite-books-i-read-in-2025/
It’s page turning! 👍
Theo of Gold sounds lovely.
Five star reads are rare for me, too.
When you’re in the mood for a quiet and lovely read, Theo is so memorable! 📚🥂 Happy new reading year!
The Corespondent has been on my TBR a little while. I’m glad you liked it.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
The audio format is wonderful if you decide to read it that way!
Happy New Year! I also had limited 5-star reads to pick from this year, but I’m okay with including lots of 4-star reads, since I know that I am quite picky and there are plenty of 4-star books I also recommend and rave about. It becomes an issue when I feel like I have to pick books that only barely scraped a 4 star, but luckily I didn’t have that issue this year! Still, it would be nice to have a few more 5 star reads next year!
That’s true about those 4.5 star reads! Usually I round them up to 5 on goodreads. And some 4 star reads can be just as memorable! Sometimes I wonder if I’m getting pickier or if there really are less 5 star reads?!
Hard to know! I also find that I reread 3.5-4 star books the most because a lot of fun books land there, whereas the 5 star books often have such an emotional impact on me that I don’t want to reread them (since rereads are usually a comfort read type thing for me).
I hadn’t thought of it that way!
I think the longer and more we read, maybe the harder it is to find books that really stand out in our minds? So we end up with fewer five-star reads? I don’t know if that makes sense. Either way it looks like it was an awesome reading year for you too!
I think you’re right! I’m definitely getting pickier as I hone my reading tastes! Happy new reading year!📚🥂
i have heard such good things about Theo of Golden! My TTT
It’s tbr worthy when you’re in the mood for a quieter reflective book! 📚🥂
I had more than my usual amount of 5 star reads in 2025 but I think that was related to the fact that I could just read, read and read! I did like White Mulberry from your list!
You can never have too many 5 star reads! 📚🥂
I love learning of all these new-to-me books! Enjoy your 2026 reading!
All tbr worthy! Happy new reading year! 📚🥂
The Lawyer and The Laundress is one I’d eventually like to read. I hope 2026 brings you more five star reads.
It’s page turning and tbr worthy! Happy new reading year! 📚🥂
The Harvey Girls sounds so interesting, as does The Lawyer and the Laundress! I hope this year is a great reading year too for you 😊
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/06/top-ten-tuesday-best-books-i-read-in-2025/
Such good reads! Happy new reading year! 🥂📚
Glad to be an inspiration for you! These lists are fun!
Wonderful list, with so many different genres and interesting elements. I have been hearing so much about Theo of Golden! Sounds like I really need to make it a priority (and encourage my husband to read it as well)
Theo is worth a try!
I’ve read 3, and have 4 on my TBR already. The biggest problem with these lists is that they always add to my TBR shelf. I will probably add at least 2 of the others. Nice list, Carol.
Thanks! Having too many books is always better than having too few!
I’ve not heard of any of these before but it always nice to discover new books! Glad you had a good reading year, here’s to hoping it continues in 2026 🙂
Here’s the link to my TTT – https://justreadjessie.blog/2026/01/06/top-ten-tuesday-best-books-i-read-in-2025/
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Jessie! Happy new reading year! 🥂📚 I’m hopping over to read your post…. 🐇
Someone just recommended The Correspondent to me. This must be a sign.
So good! 🙌
Thanks for sharing your #TTT, The Correspondent Is high on my WTR list
Enjoy! I wish I were reading it again for the first time! 📚🥂
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