It’s that time of year when my social media is inundated with “best of the year” reading lists. We all have a different definition of a “good” read and all categorize our “best” lists in different ways. I think it’s a fun glimpse into people’s reading lives and reading preferences, and, for me, it’s a good way to reflect on my year of reading as I look ahead to 2025.
Using my favorites from 2024, I want to find books that spark the same joy, explore similar themes, have similar character traits and tropes, or are written by the same author as my “best of the year” list. This will hopefully help me to find books that I’m eager to read and will want to stick with.
There’s nothing worse than picking up a buzzy book only to put it down part-way through because it doesn’t meet your expectations. For example, Long Island Compromise is a messy family drama, and I LOVE messy family drama stories. However, its explicit content made me uncomfortable and the self-destructive themes that were explored in too much detail made me return the audiobook at the 30% mark. Similarly, Real Americans received a lot of hype from reviewers I normally agree with, and the multi-generational drama that spanned decades and countries had a compelling hook. However, the ambitious book, I felt, bit off more than it could chew in terms of themes and characterization. I did finish it, but I missed the “wow” factor that I was hoping for.
Now, in terms of books that did meet and exceed my expectations, the winning 5 are:
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns
A messy multigenerational family drama about a family full of secrets, a dead body in the attic, and a woman that three brothers love
If you like the messiness of Legend of the Fall, you’ll enjoy this too
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Daphne is engaged to Peter until he leaves her for his best friend Petra. This leaves her boyfriend, Miles, heartbroken. Daphne moves in with Miles, and these unexpected roommates form a connection
To get revenge on their ex’s in the leadup to their wedding, they decide to post fake dating pictures, but we all know how fake dating stories end
Set in Waning Bay, Michigan, it’s got the cozy vibes of a lakeside romance in a small town
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Justin and Emma have each had no luck with dating because their partners find their soulmates after they break up. However, Justin and Emma form an instant connection online. To end their “dating curse,” they agree to date for the summer and break up so they can find their soulmates.
Set in Minnesota and filled with family drama at every turn, this seemingly light-hearted romance packs an emotional punch
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
If you work with kids, have kids, or are planning to have kids, this is an eye-opening argument about the dangers of a screen-filled childhood and a call to action to make positive change
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Set in the 1980s in Ireland, one working-class man’s act of selflessness and bravery sets an example we all should follow
Bite-sized, hopeful, and deeply human-focused
A Christmas story about the real meaning of Christmas: “Was there any point in being alive without helping one another?”
2025 proves to be an exciting reading year with book releases from many of my favorite authors.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April 22)--Preordered
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (April 1)--Preordered
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (May 6)
Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green (March 18)--Preordered
Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 3)
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (May 13)
In terms of goals for 2025, I want to focus on having a healthy, happy, and fulfilling year.
Read 50 books. That was the plan for this year, and I ended up at 44.5 (so close!). With my more consistent pattern of audiobooks and with life being more settled after my move, I think aiming for a book a week is possible. However, because I have my eye on some bigger books, the quality rather than the quantity is my bigger priority.
Exercise 3 times a week. If you know me, you know I hate running. Maybe hate is a strong word, but I really lack the motivation to get out there and get sweaty. However, I want to be healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally, and this is the best way to do that. There's a 2k and 5k race at my work in February, and it's a good motivation for me to get out there!
Schedule one fun activity every week. While I have had some great adventures on Guam, I can also get bogged down with work and really fall into a routine. I want to keep exploring and trying new things, and I think this challenge will be a good way to do that. I'm hoping to go to the beach more often now that we're out of the rainy season and to try new activities like pottery.
Be able to call myself a writer. I have dreamed of being a writer since I was in elementary school, and I am determined to start making a name for myself. I have already scheduled to teach a self-care writing workshop at rCubed Coffee Company (more details to come on their website and my social media soon), and I am having the details finalized to teach creative writing at a domestic violence shelter on a weekly basis. I’ve been teaching poetry workshops at the Guam Museum, and I had a guest essay published with FictionMatters. I’m hoping to do more guest essays and to start working on my own fiction and poetry again. I also want to continue posting these weekly articles about my reading, my travels, my teaching, and my life because they bring me a lot of joy!
Cook 3 new recipes a month. I have a lot of confidence in cooking things I know, but then I end up making the same handful of dishes over and over again. I want to challenge myself to make new meals to add more variety to our kitchen.
I’d love to hear from you! What books did you most enjoy in 2024? What are you looking forward to reading in 2025? What are your goals for the New Year?
As always, thank you so much for reading!
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