Finally -- an overview of the books I read in 2025. This was a far better reading year than I expected, with a grand total of 73 books read in 2025. Those books represented 20,573 pages. (The total books was a record since I started recording books in 2002, pages a bit short of 2022's 21,994.)
Last year's totals were 47 books and 4947 pages, so it was a great improvement!
I've listed my Top Ten (or so) below, all books by category/genre following. Please note that because something didn't get in the top ten, didn't mean it wasn't good. It might have just meant that it was part of a series and the series should be considered as a whole.
Links under the titles of each book are to my book review posts from last year with more detail about each one. I didn't include many of the mystery series I love so much here because it felt a bit redundant, but many of those would be in my favorites!Top Ten (plus two)
These weren't always my favorite books of the year, though most were. But these were the ones that stick with me the most for any variety of reasons.
Be Ready when the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. I'm a fan of Ina Garten and "The Barefoot Contessa" (her recipes always seem to work!) So it was fun to discover more of her back story, and it is quite an impressive one! She writes much as she would if you were sitting down for a chat, so the style is engaging (and one keeps wanting to turn the page!). And yes, she includes some recipes.
Taste by Stanley Tucci. Actor, commentator and Italian food fanatic, Stanley Tucci tells of his love for food, of flavor and of family, recounting delightful stories of the impact food and cooking has made in his life. If you've seen his television travel shows through Italy, you know he's a fan! Especially poignant is his battle with oral cancer that left his sense of taste lacking -- a great loss for a foodie. Again, a fun, delightful style with lots of good recipes!
Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg. The NPR Supreme Court correspondent writes of her friendship with former justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. A biography, in a sense, of both Ginsberg and Totenberg herself, we learn of their lives, how they have intersected, and the warm friendship developed between the two of them.
Through the Banks of the Red Cedar by Maya Washington. Washington, daughter of Eugene Washington, former Michigan State Football star, Minnesota Viking and Denver Broncos, writes of her father and how he and his contemporaries from Jim Crow south were recruited by MSU during the turbulent sixties, leading the team to championships. (This was very rare at that time in history.) She presents a picture of both her father (a fascinating guy who maintained his job at 3M throughout his pro career and after) and especially of the racial and political situation during his youth and how coming north after growing up in the segregated south was a revelation. (I would put this one in the top five.)
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to be with Jacqueline Kennedy during her tenure as First Lady. In what first seemed like an assignment he didn't want, they grew to be great friends and good comrades. This one follows his time with Mrs. Kennedy, the travels together, the challenging political times and the tragedy of JFK's death. (Hill was the agent who leapt into the car to protect Mrs. Kennedy during the assassination.)
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman The most recent in the "Thursday Murder Club" series is a delightful addition, following the gang of retirees through two cases -- one involving a missing friend of Joyce's new son-in-law who had previously asked for help. The other involved a threat to the lives of Ron's son Jason and his sister.
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Now a major film, this book, which can trigger emotions of grief, tells of Agnes (better known as Anne Hathaway), wife of William Shakespeare, their marriage, and particularly the death of their son, Hamnet. Hamnet's death affects the couple in different ways and is a powerful story of grief. But it's definitely not for everyone.
Lula Dean's Library of Little Banned Books by Kirsten Miller A great book? No. A fun book? Yes. Lula Dean wants to ban many books in her small Southern town. But not everyone agrees, and one mysterious person has come up with a way to change that -- and in doing so, changes the lives of many of the town's citizens.
Let's Just Say it Wasn't Pretty by Diane Keaton This would definitely be in my top five. The late actress' honest look at aging was written 12 years before her death at age 67. She offers powerful insights into the various elements of aging, how it affected her and her career, her family relationships, her passion for renovating houses and even some of the relationships with her male co-stars.
My Friend Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar The memoir of Anne Frank's childhood friend tells two stories -- that of her friendship with the young Anne before the Franks went into hiding and then her own story that followed, as the Goslars tried to stick out the war in Amsterdam -- until they, too, were sent to the concentration camps. It can be a tough one to read. And a good reminder of what could happen again.
SPECIAL MENTION:
I'm picking these two out for special mention. First, "When Wanderers Cease to Roam" was a re-read. I have always loved this book; always will. "The Secret of Ghosts" is the final book in the Maisie Dobbs series. It can be hard to wrap up a series of so many books in a satisfying way -- closing the loose ends, bringing in the characters past and present, and still presenting a good story. Jacqueline Winspear did this.
When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift This art journal is filled with wonderful photos and delightful commentary as Swift tracks one year in the life of the new village into which she has moved, with some fond looks back at some of her travelers before "staying put."
The Secret of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear This is the final book in the Maisie Dobbs series and it was incredibly satisfying. Set in post-World War II, it weaves two mystery plots together for the investigative psychologist. But what makes it satisfying for long-time fans of the series is how Winspear neatly brings in characters from the past and "settles" their lives, giving them all the ending they deserve.
Biography/Memoir
Be Ready when the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
Taste by Stanley Tucci
True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer
Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin
Famous Father Girl by Jamie Bernstein
Through the Banks of the Red Cedar by Maya Washington
A House in the Country by Ruth Adam
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Let's Just Say it Wasn't Pretty by Diane Keaton
A Pig In Provence by Georgeanne Brennan
My Friend Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar
When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift
Mystery
Death at the Dress Rehearsal by Stuart Douglas
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter
The Templar's Last Secret -- Martin Walker
Fell Murder by E.C.R. Lorac
The Gray Wolf by Louise Penny
A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie
The Glass Room by Anne Cleeves
The Golden Egg by Donna Leon
Tour de Force by Christianna Brand
The Riding Tide by Ann Cleeves
A Chateau Under Siege by Martin Walker
Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey
The Hollow Man by Caroline Graham
The Secret of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
Sidney Chambers and the Dangers of Temptation by James Runcie
My Friend, Mr. Campion by Margery Allingham
Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves
Murder in Vienna by E.C.R. Lorac
Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves
Beastly Things by Donna Leon
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
Murder at Claridges by Jim Eldridge
Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell
Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter
Murder at Aldwych Station by Jim Eldridge
An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett
London Particular by Christianna Brand
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
The Lake District Murder by John Bude
The Jewel That Was Ours by Colin Dexter
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen
The Mistletoe Murders by P.D. James
By It's Cover by Dona Leon
The Blood Card - Elly Griffiths
Falling In Love by Donna Leon
The Corpse of St. James by Jeanne M. Dams
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James
Murder on the Serpentine by Anne Perry
Big Ben Strikes Eleven by David Magarshak
Past Reason Hated by Peter Robinson
Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
A Necessary End by Peter Robinson
Fiction
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Before the Coffee gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
The Moral Treatment by Stephanie Carpenter
An Astronomer in Love by Antonie Lurain
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
French Braid by Anne Tyler
Lula Dean's Library of Little Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
Non-Fiction
The Husband Hunters by Anne DeCourcy
Hope: Pandora Revisited by Alderburgh Art Collective
The Upstairs Delicatessen by Dwight Garner
Bath by John Curtis
How Sondheim can Change Your Life by Richard Scoch
Essay/Humour
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
Sharing with: Share Your Style
54 comments:
OMG A TRIXIE BELDEN BOOK!
I lived on those for years and years of my childhood. I thought I was the only one. No one I've ever talked to has even heard of them.
And I absolutely adore David Sedaris--him, his writing, his voice, his everything. I was thrilled to be able to see him in person in Cleveland years ago. What a treat! Do yourself a great favour and read Calypso; I think it's his best by far.
I enjoy reading book roundups and you are a bit of an eclectic reader like me. I will check Diane Keaton's memoir, some memoirs are fascinating. I could not finish Hamnet, just didn't grab me. The last of the Maisie novels would be fun. I think I will do a book roundup one of these days.
...you must be a mighty fast reader!!!
When I use to read I always loved a good mystery. Janice
I bow down to you. This is amazing.
What a fantastic bit of reading you've done for the year, and so various, too! I am indebted to you for introducing me to so many mystery writers that are now favorites (Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, Tess Gerritson, and probably others as well). And thanks for all your reading here in one post for easy access -- I've got it bookmarked! Looking forward to your reading roundups in 2026!
Hey Jeanie, Is this from the Goodreads challenge?
Wow this post was a lot of work to put together. I read a lot of books as well but I have never kept track of them all. I was wondering about Good Reads as well for keeping track of your books Happy reading
I am always so impressed by all the books you read! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, these are a lot! Just yesterday I got a new kindle and prepare for maybe some reading time in Perth.
P.S. My new kindle just got "Let's Just Say it Wasn't Pretty by Diane Keaton" :-)
Hello Jeanie,
What a great post, I see some books I have read and some are new to me. MY reading list maybe growing longer now.
Thanks for sharing your list! Take care, have a great day!
You had a good year of reading, Jeanie. I know you are already carrying on the tradition in 2026.
You are a great reader. Books love you.
I got my copy of When Wanderers Cease to Roam just yesterday, and it will be savoured over the course of this year. Love it so far. I see a few that I recommended to you, and several I put on my list from you. I'll be looking at adding a few more to my list. Thanks for the book year review.
An avid reader you are!..Are you on Goodreads? I have only read Stanley in your books,,:)
OOOps..and Vivian's:)
I think it's fun we both did our book look backs on the same day. It's great to see the books we both read and all those book you read that are on my to read list. I went to check out the Pig in Provence and I was excited it was only $2.99 on KIndle so I splurged and picked it up. :) And I also love how you record the number of pages. I need to try that. And you read some GREAT books last year too. I recognized a few, and I saw some that I am still waiting to read like the Ina Garten books, more of the Donna Leon's (since I didn't even read 1 last year) an Hamnet. It's interesting you put it on your top list. I started it right before Christmas and I still need to finish it, but I think it might have been the holiday why I moved on-there were all those good holiday mysteries. I also love how you combine all the books in 1 photo. These would make a great puzzle-very individualized because I know they sell puzzles with lots of books on them. Now I need to go back to your list and add some more books to my wish list. Thanks for sharing, and even though writing these posts take so much time, it's always interesting to see where the year in books took us both. hugs-Erika
Very impressive, Jeanie. To another year of good reading.
You keep the most organized list of books read in a year. It's always fun to see. Mysteries are definitely where you love to read. Now I have Ina Garten's book on my shelf, but I am not sure I have finished it. I tend to get lost in historic fiction written by women, my favorite genre.
Here’s to another year of good reading. Enjoy. Have a beautiful day.
Wow, dear Jeanie,
your reading list is (apparently every year) absolutely impressive! I enjoy reading, but I've never bothered to count the books or page counts – and I can still guarantee you that there have never been nearly as many 😊. I usually read in the evenings before bed, and then it depends on how captivating I find a book, whether I'm too sleepy to continue after just one chapter or a few pages, or whether I stick with it for several chapters. The last two books that really captivated me were both quite long, in any case. (I can't really say how thick my books are, since I almost exclusively read ebooks these days. But in my experience, German-language books are considerably thicker than English-language ones – for example, we have the Harry Potter series in both languages: German sentences are more complex than English ones, so they need more space 😉) I haven't checked your lists to see if they're on there – the first one was Dan Brown's *The Secret of Secrets* from the Robert Langdon series, and the second was book 8 of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling): *The Hallmarked Man*. I devoured both – and I especially love the latter series because of the two main characters, Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.
I wish you many hours of enjoyable reading in 2026 as well!
Warm winter greetings from Austria ❄️☃️, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2026/01/reisebericht-2025-vogelbegegnungen.html
Great list! Thanks! I’ve written some down on my ‘want to read’ list! If you get two comments from me, it’s because I wasn’t sure if my first one was actually posted. Thanks for keeping track and for sharing. Happy reading in 2026!
It's always difficult (for me anyway) to pick favorites out of the many books read in a year. Well done!
What a great list of books, Jeanie. The Anne Frank one is a book I would like. ❤️
You had a great reading year!
I miss the Ruth Galloway series so much. I haven't tried the Brighton series yet, but I want to check it out. Have you tried her Harbinder Kaur series? It's not as good as Ruth Galloway, but it's still good.
PS: I also wanted to tell you how wonderful it was to meet David and Miriam in person. You would definitely enjoy it too. And how great that you were in St. Jacobs! Unfortunately, I didn't get to the museum—there simply wasn't enough time to do EVERYTHING, and in this case, the birdwatching tours took priority...
Love the eclectic reading roundup and noted several to add to my TBR stack (which thankfully these days is kindle and ipad) -- I miss real" books but ebooks travel so much better! I too loved the last Miaisie Dobbs for all the reasons you mention and I miss t hat series.! I have been away from blogland for a long time due partly to technical problems and am looking forward to catching up. I really do and want to thank you for a long ago comment you made about our london adventure (which was really really a long time ago). I hope my new blog location shows up on the link, but just in case it is https://fulltimelife.blog/
What an amazing selection of books. I can't imagine finishing that many books, but I love to read. I am adding audio books to my reading list this year as well and I might get close to that at the rate that I am going.
That's a wonderful review, Jeanie. Most of them I haven't read, but a few I did, like The Spy Coast which I enjoyed, and I love We'll Prescribe You a Cat. I also liked Lula Dean - it was fun, yes, but I also thought very telling for our current times.
There definitely is more great reading this year.
You did very well in your reading in 2025 and it was a huge improvement from 2024. Well done! always appreciate your book reviews. Out of all of these books I want to read the one by Diane Keaton. I'll look for it pronto!
Wow, that is such an impressive list! Thank you very much for sharing. I'm going to look up some of these books! Very inspiring.
WOW!!! you sure are a dedicated reader!! as you know, i am not. i too, love ina garten and if i could read, i know i would enjoy that book. i love her recipes, the way she cooks and most of all, her personality. i always pretend, we are friends...we could be friends. i did click through the link and read what you wrote, it was a wonderful review!!
ooooooh and this must have taken forever to put together. i am sure all of your readers appreciate this!!
Reading is such a wonderful escape, isn't it? And you just can't beat Agatha Christie when it comes to a good mystery. Have a creative day, friend.
Oh wow! That's a lot. Thank you for the list and the feedback. I'll try to read couple of them. My favourite genre be Mystery, Suspense.
Wow, you read so many books for the year! I will be adding some of these to my reading list. Happy reading for the new year.
Great post.
Great reads.
You did so well last year, thank you so much for this round up.
Enjoy your 2026 reads :)
All the best Jan
You had a great year of reading! And I read a lot of your top reads and also loved them. I did not love Hamnet when I read it but I am in the minority so maybe it was the right book at the wrong time? I love O’Farrells books set during modern times. Her deeper historical novels don’t tend to work as well for me for some reason!
Oh! I love Trixie Belden books. I think I still have one or two of them. Thanks for the great list. You got some good reads in~. xo Diana
I am impressed, Jeanie, 73 books, 20,573 pages! And they all look good. I've read one of yours, "Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona." 😂 I'll be haring mine at some point. Happy reading in 2026! ❤️
I am impressed, Jeanie, 73 books and 20,573 pages! I've read one of yours, "Trixie Belden and the Arizona Mystery." 😂 I know where to come if I need a good recommendation. Happy reading in 2026!
I thought Google ate my comment. 😂
What a fantastic reading year you, Jeanie! That's amazing. It's not just the numbers of books you read; you read so many good books.
That sounds like such a wonderful reading year! I have read &/or listened to several of your favorites as well.
I always look forward to your book list Jeanie. Thanks for such a great share :)
I loved Trixie Beldon! I still have my collection of Trixies
I loved Trixie Belden growing up and Little House books too. I am trying again to get back into blogging. I hope my link shows up but I am going to post my reads for 2026 https://www.goodreads.com/readingchallenges/gr/annual/2025
Wow, you are a voracious reader Jeanie, if I manage 2 books a month I'm happy. I've followed Stanley Tucci's TV series, but never read his book. Also the Thursday Murder Club, I've seen a few episodes on tv, but only read one of Richard Osman's books. I would love to read Diane Keaton's book, she was one of my favourite actresses, plus many of the books you recommend. Happy reading Jeanie.
Jeanie, I am so sorry I am late. I am now an acting nurse and chauffeur! I am amaxed at all of the books you read last year. There are many that you have listed that I would like to read! I love reading your reviews!
Nice recap & lists for 2025. I have also liked some of these. I've read Hamnet and My Friend Anne Frank -- both good. Kudos to your good year in reading. Many great reads.
You are a voracious reader, Jeanie! I also enjoy memoirs. Ina Garten's is on our book club list this year. I am reading Arundhati Roy's memoir right now, "Mother may Comes To Me"-- she led such an unusual life!
You read so many interesting books this year. Most of them I have not read but Hamnet and Small Things Like These are also some of my favourites. I keep going on Donna Leon as well.
Good luck for your 2026 reading with a lot of new, good books.
Well done for reading so much! I have Mrs. Kennedy and Me on my wish list, after I saw your review for it. My Friend Anne Frank sounds really good as well.
I left the link to my 2025 books review, if you fancy having a look.
Post a Comment