2025 Reading Wrap-Up

For as long as I can remember, people have asked me the same question:

“What’s your favorite book of all time?”

And for years, I never had an answer.

Not because I didn’t love reading. I always have, but because nothing ever quite landed in that this is it way. Until this year.

In 2025, I finally found the one.

The Secret History — Donna Tartt

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my favorite book of all time.

It’s dark academia, contemporary fiction, psychological thriller, and something else entirely. It's unsettling, obsessive, slow-burning, and quietly devastating. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just end; it lingers.

I loved it so much that I now own four different versions of it. And this year, I gave myself an early Christmas gift: a brown leather-bound copy with my favorite quote embossed on the back:

I could talk forever about this book.

The Housemaid — Freida McFadden

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love a thriller, and this one delivered.

It’s fast, addictive, and incredibly easy to get through. It's the kind of book you say you’ll read one chapter of and then suddenly it’s 2 a.m. The twists are sharp, the pacing is perfect, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride.

With the movie coming out, this felt like perfect timing. If you want a thriller that hooks you quickly and keeps you entertained the whole way through, this is a solid five-star read.

The Perfect Marriage — Jeneva Rose

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was interesting. Not perfect, but compelling.

The writing wasn’t incredible (at times it honestly felt a little Wattpad-adjacent), but the premise kept me curious. I wanted to know how it ended, and that matters. I stuck around for the twist, and I’m glad I did.

It’s a fun, easy thriller if you don’t take it too seriously.

Icebreaker — Hannah Grace

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did not expect to love this.

I’m not usually a romance reader unless it’s wrapped inside fantasy, but TikTok got to me, and I’m glad it did. This book surprised me. It was sweet, emotional, and somehow got under my skin.

I even teared up at the end, which honestly shocked me. Maybe I’m softer than I thought.

The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was… fine.

I needed something quick to read, and it did the job. Not my favorite, not bad, just okay. Sometimes that’s all you need. The twist was decent though!

The Perfect Divorce — Jeneva Rose

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The sequel to The Perfect Marriage. It didn’t blow me away, but I stayed interested. A decent follow-up if you liked the first one, just not quite as strong.

Frankenstein — Mary Shelley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I reread Frankenstein this year, for the fourth time...and it still holds its place as my favorite classic of all time.

There’s something haunting and timeless about it. I reread it before watching the Netflix adaptation starring Jacob Elordi, and I genuinely loved the film too. This book never loses its power for me.

Wuthering Heights — Emily Brontë

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark, dramatic, emotionally intense. Exactly my taste.

I love classical literature that leans into obsession and moral complexity, and this delivered. I’m excited to see the upcoming film adaptation, also starring Jacob Elordi (clearly there’s a pattern here).

Iron Flame — Rebecca Yarros

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one took me a while.

I flew through Fourth Wing, but Iron Flame felt heavier, longer, denser, and occasionally repetitive. Still, I’ll always show up for fantasy, and I’m invested in the world and I'm defeninetly attached to the characters so I won't be letting go anytime soon.

The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some people say this book just states the obvious.

And maybe it does, but sometimes you need to hear the obvious when your brain won’t stop spiraling.

As someone who struggles with overthinking, people-pleasing, and obsessive thought loops, this book helped. It reminded me to loosen my grip. For me, that mattered.

Everything I Know About Love — Dolly Alderton

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful exploration of girlhood, friendship, love, and growing up.

This book felt like sitting on the floor of a bathroom at 1 a.m. with your closest friends, talking about life. I loved it.

More Than a Body — Lexie & Lindsay Kite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book fed my soul.

It reframed how I think about my body. My thoughts about my body altered, as now my body is not as something to be looked at, but something to live in. It felt grounding and healing in a way I didn’t expect.

Mindf*ck Series — S.T. Abby

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heavily hyped, slightly underwhelming.

I enjoyed the concept and the thriller elements, but the writing felt cheesy at times. Still, I don’t regret reading it.

Looking Ahead ✨

In 2026, I’m finally planning to start the Throne of Glass series...it’s been sitting on my shelf for years. I also need to catch up on From Blood and Ash, the newest Fourth Wing release, and a the other million books I have on my shelf and kindle.

xoxo, B.💋✨