The Books of 2025

I can't believe it's been five years since we went into lockdown due to COVID. As I write this blog, I’m struck by the fact that March 13 was the last day I showed up at the office back in 2020. That time was chaotic, confusing, and painful—but if there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s that it rekindled my love for reading.

Since then, I’ve tried to chronicle the books I come across here on the blog. Some years were better than others, and the list reflects that. It mirrors the rhythms of my life—some seasons spent indoors dealing with chaos, others spent gallivanting and enjoying life so much that reading took a back seat. It’s all in the patterns. It’s all part of my story. These words, these books, have shaped me in one way or another. They’ve also helped me forge deeper connections with others who’ve shared their thoughts on the same pages.

2025 is shaping up to be the year of practical self-improvement. At 31, I’ve decided I want to be more grounded—less in my head, less in the clouds. So I’ve been leaning toward nonfiction, toward observing lives, habits, and practices, all lightly dusted with philosophy. However, true to myself, I am also enjoying romance and modern novels every once in a while!

Without further ado, here are the books I’ve read so far this year:

• A Winter in New York: Josie Silver

  
  

  Technically, this was a leftover from 2024—I started it in December and finished it in January. I love reading something cozy and Christmas-y around the holidays, and A Winter in New York was perfect for that. These kinds of books are usually light and predictable, and while the plot had some of that, the writing really drew me in.

  
  

  The story follows Iris, a young woman who moves from London to New York, trying to leave a painful past behind. When she stumbles upon a charming gelateria in Little Italy, the pieces of her life start to form a puzzle.

  
  

  I don’t want to give too much away, but while the book's resolution felt a little rushed and not particularly original, the character’s inner reflections were beautifully written—I found myself genuinely moved more than once. To me, that's where the value of this book lies: in the in between moments, in the flashbacks and conversations the main character had with herself, which revealed a layered main character that saved her from clichés.

• Everything is Figuroutable: Marie Forleo

  
  

  As I mentioned above, one of my intentions this year was to get out of my head and do more. I’ve often noticed that I shy away from certain things out of fear or self-doubt, and over time, that hesitation became my comfort zone.

  
  

  So, as I work on actively getting over myself, I’ve adopted a new mantra: "Everything is Figureoutable." And honestly, what could be better?

  
  

  Marie Forleo, the author behind the phrase, describes herself as a multi-passionate entrepreneur. Her book weaves together personal stories, motivational advice, and practical exercises designed to help cultivate a proactive, resilient mindset.

  
  

  Marie’s storytelling is engaging and down-to-earth. Since finishing the book, I’ve felt a renewed sense of purpose and a stronger will to face the unknown without letting fear or difficulty hold me back. This book isn’t just motivational—it’s helping me rewrite my story.

• The Jetsetters: Amanda Eyre Ward

  
  

  With summer around the corner, The Jetsetters was a nice read to ease into the season. The story follows Charlotte Perkins, an older woman and mother who, after enduring devastating losses, attempts to reignite her life by submitting a smutty personal essay to a TV contest. The prize? A Mediterranean cruise. When she unexpectedly wins, she invites her estranged adult children—each grappling with their own personal struggles—to join her on the trip.

  
  

  The author does a fantastic job capturing the atmosphere of cruise life and bringing each character to life, so much so that I’m now daydreaming of my own European holiday! That said, I was left wondering when the built-up conflicts would finally explode. There’s a lot of tension beneath the surface, but many of the storylines either fizzle out or wrap up with weak resolutions.

  
  

  For me, the book lacked a true a-ha moment for Charlotte and her children. She’s a sympathetic character, but her deep-rooted prejudices—including toward her own children—never get addressed in a meaningful way.

  
  

  As a reader, the takeaway seemed to be: talk. Don’t keep emotions bottled up. You never know what someone else is going through—or who might be there to offer support when you least expect it. Yet, by the end, it felt like this lesson hadn’t fully landed with the characters.

  
  
  
  

Audiobooks:

I have found that audiobooks are an entertaining way to absorb knowledge while multi-tasking. Although I love to be mesmerized by exceptional narratives, there are certain books like those with practical advice or celebrity memoirs that one can enjoy and learn from without stopping to smell the flowers (or book pages).

I'm currently reading 100 Things Productive People Do by Nigel Cumberland, and it's been a great reminder to stay organized while pursuing my goals. The book offers practical tips to eliminate distractions—both personal and professional—and helps refocus on what truly matters.