My 2025 Reading Hall of Fame: The Stories That Defined My Year

2025 has been a remarkable year for my bookshelf. Looking back at my reviews on FocusRead, I realized just how diverse my reading journey has been. This year, I traveled through time and emotion, guided by some of the most talented voices in contemporary and historical fiction.

I survived the intensity of 'A Woman in Berlin' and got lost in the intricate world-building of James Clavell’s 'Shogun'. I was kept on the edge of my seat by the brilliant twists of Alice Feeney and J.D. Barker, and had my heart touched by the signature warmth of Fredrik Backman and Jojo Moyes.

From the gothic atmosphere of 'Gothictown' to the complex layers of 'Mad Honey', each of these books offered a unique perspective on resilience, secrets, and the human spirit.

Below is a curated list of my absolute favorites; the 'crème de la crème' of my 2025 reading list. 

If you missed any of my full reviews, you can find them all right here on the blog!

• Alice Feeney – Beautiful Ugly: A masterclass in psychological twists that kept me guessing until the very end.
• Anonymous – A Woman in Berlin: A haunting, raw, and essential historical account of survival.
• James Clavell – Shogun: An epic, immersive masterpiece of power, honor, and feudal Japan.
• Andie Newton – The Ghost House: A gripping and atmospheric WWII story filled with courage and tension.
• Kristen Loesch – The Hong Kong Widow: A beautifully written, sweeping historical mystery across generations.
• Ellen Marie Wiseman – The Lies They Told: Emotional, dark, and utterly compelling historical fiction.
• Fredrik Backman – My Friends: Heartfelt and profoundly moving; nobody writes human connection like Backman.
• James Frey – Next to Heaven: Bold, provocative, and impossible to put down.
• Jojo Moyes – We All Live Here: A witty and relatable look at family chaos and modern life.
• Kate Foster – The Mourning Necklace: A rich and evocative historical tale that pulled at my heartstrings.
• Joanne Harris – Vianne: A magical return to beloved characters with Harris’s signature charm.
• J.D. Barker – Something I Keep Upstairs: Dark, twisted, and brilliantly paced; a standout thriller.
• Rachel Rueckert – The Determined: An inspiring and deeply personal journey of faith and self-discovery.
• Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan – Mad Honey: A powerful, thought-provoking story about secrets and identity.
• Kate Forsyth – Bitter Greens: A lush, fairytale-infused historical novel that is simply breathtaking.
• Emily Carpenter – Gothictown: Perfectly eerie and filled with Southern Gothic atmosphere.