Do you have a resolution to read more in 2025? Are you an avid reader who doesn’t know what to read next? I can help! Here are my recommendations to kickstart your reading in 2025.
I love to read. It has been my primary hobby since I learned to read at the ripe old age of 3. That is minus the 3 or so years I took off from reading after I had my first child. It took me a whole 3 years (and another kid) to get back into a groove after becoming a mom, but I’m back! And I have recommendations to share!
What you should know
Clearly, I’m only going to recommend books that I have read and enjoyed. I’ve split my recommendations into categories so you can zero in on where your interests lie. If I haven’t read any books recently from a particular category, you won’t find that category below. I also do my reading both via audio and visual media, so I’ll note whether I read or listened to each book I recommend. The narration matters with audiobooks, folks!
With the ground rules set, let’s get into the book recommendations.
Kickstart Your Reading in 2025
Contemporary Romance
According to my Storygraph account (I’m gainessm if you’d like to follow me), I read a fair bit of contemporary romance, so I had quite a few books to choose from in this category and it was very hard to narrow it down to my favorite. Want to kickstart your reading with a romance? I’ve got some great ones for you.
#1 Pick = Beach Read by Emily Henry (physical)
If you like a bit of substance with your romance, Beach Read is a great choice for you. Our romantic leads have chemistry, sure, but they also have complicated histories that add meat to this romance that you can really sink your teeth into. Because the main characters seemed so real, I fell in love with them instantly. Also, how can you say no to a romance novel with a cult sub-plot? If you’re intrigued at all, please give this one a try.
Other good ones
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory (physical) – A woman declines a proposal at a Dodgers game and is saved from the angry crowd by a man sitting nearby. I’m sure you can guess where this is headed.
One Day in December by Josie Silver (physical) – Do you believe in love at first sight? What about love at first sight that takes 10 years to find? Brace yourself for twists and turns, and ups and downs to get you to where you know this ends.
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez (physical) – A YouTuber with a complicated family takes center stage in this cute read. Good thing the next-door neighbor isn’t afraid of a little family drama.
Contemporary Fiction
If you thought contemporary romance was my most read category, you’d be wrong. That honor goes to contemporary fiction. I had double the number of books to choose from in this category, and many of them smashed it out of the park. If you like fiction and you’re not into spice, this is the category for you to kickstart your reading in 2025.
#1 Pick = Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (physical)
It seems that Taylor Jenkins Reid has taken the world by storm. I can’t go on Instagram and not see someone gushing about her books. After months of seeing Taylor Jenkins Reid books recommended here, there, and everywhere, I decided to give one a try. I started with Daisy Jones and the Six, and man am I glad I did! It is super fast, super engaging, and super realistic. It uses an interview format of members of a 1970s band called Daisy Jones and the Six to chronicle their rise and sudden breakup. It’s so well done that I had to catch myself several times from Googling the band to learn more. If you are a fan of classic rock at all, please read this!
Other good ones
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (physical) – This book has so much to offer. It is a book about motherhood, young love, art, and otherness all at the same time. There is something for everyone to latch onto in this one!
The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia (physical) – If you have a sister, you need to read this book. If you like fried chicken, you need to read this book. If you like reality TV shows, you need to read this book. Basically, you need to read this book.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (physical) – This is immensely consumable social commentary from both a race and class perspective. You’ll forget just how much it means until you get to the end and then you can’t stop thinking about it.
Contemporary Mystery
I don’t read a whole lot of mysteries. Sure, I liked Agatha Christie books when I stumbled across them in high school, but I’m not drawn to the genre as a whole. Lately, though, I’ve found an author who writes contemporary mysteries/thrillers that I cannot get enough of – Liane Moriarty. I’m now on a mission to read everything she has ever written. Join me on my quest and kickstart your reading in 2025 with Liane!
#1 Pick = The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty (physical)
The Husband’s Secret was not my first Liane Moriarty book, but it just might be my favorite (I’m not committing because I have loved so many). I love her books because she writes like a puzzle and I love a good puzzle. This book in particular feels like a bunch of unrelated stories until close to the end of the book, and it is so satisfying when it finally all clicks into place. There is a murder, a Tupperware Queen, and an affair that are somehow all related. And man is it good! If you’re worried about mysteries/thrillers being scary, don’t worry. It’s fast-paced and thrilling, but not at all scary.
Other good ones by Liane Moriarty
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (physical) – Big Little Lies was my first Liane Moriarty book, and it was a great introduction to a fabulous author. This is another one written from multiple points of view that centers around a murder, but the story is more about the women than the murder that ties them together.
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (physical) – What would you do if you fell at the gym and suddenly forgot 10 years of your life? This beautiful novel explores whether your memories, both good and bad, are a blessing or a curse. No murder in this one!
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (physical) – This is a weird little book, but it’s really good. Nine strangers with nothing in common come together for a health retreat in the middle of nowhere. What happens next will send you reeling.
Family Saga
OK, OK, so there isn’t a literary genre called family saga. But I’ve read so many family sagas that it just felt right to include it as its own category here in my 2025 book recommendations. If you want to immerse yourself in a family saga that isn’t your own to kickstart your reading, give these a try.
#1 Pick = Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (physical)
What do you expect to inherit from your parents? Siblings Byron and Benny sure get a lot more than they were expecting when their mother, Eleanor, dies. Black Cake is a complicated family saga that spans decades, countries, and identities. It’s a ride, for sure, but the payoff at the end is worth it.
Another good one
All Adults Here by Emma Straub (physical) – Sibling relationships don’t get any less complicated when children grow up, and either do their relationships with their mother. But complicated doesn’t have to be bad, as this book discovers.
Historical Fiction
I have always loved historical fiction. When I was younger, I thought that historical fiction had to be kings and queens (which are pretty cool), but as an adult, I realize that the world of historical fiction is so much more. Sink your teeth into some historical fiction (with or without kings and queens) to kickstart your reading in 2025!
#1 Pick = The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (physical)
The Alice Network is a fascinating story about a female spy ring in World War I. Interested yet? You should be. Not only does this novel explore the crazy things these women did as spies, but also their courage, resilience, and sacrifice. The subject matter is difficult, but if you can handle war and abuse, you’ll get a beautiful story of female strength as your reward.
Another good one
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton (physical) – Growing up in south Florida, I knew things were complicated between Cubans who left and Cubans who stayed. This beautiful story shines a light on those complications and the beauty that can be found in spite of them.
Celeb Memoir
When I discovered audiobooks, I got really into celebrity memoirs. It’s just fascinating to me to get a little behind the scenes view of celebrity life that I didn’t know. I exclusively listen to celebrity memoirs on audiobook, so if you’re nervous about whether you can kickstart your reading in 2025 with fiction, I highly suggest you start with a celeb memoir audiobook. It’ll hook you and then you’ll be ready for more.
#1 Pick = Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (audio)
I don’t feel anything about Matthew McConaughey. I don’t follow his life or insist I watch all his movies. I’m not exactly sure why I decided to borrow his memoir, Greenlights, from the library via the Libby app. But I’m sure glad I did! As Matthew tells his story of going from Mr. Little Texas to Hollywood star he highlights the greenlights that led him to where he is today and urges the reader to focus on the greenlights in your life rather than the redlights that grind you to a halt. Bottom line: I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would.
Other good ones
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (audio) – I’m not a superfan of Nirvana or the Foo Fighters, but Dave Grohl has lived one hell of an interesting life. If you do love his music, the audiobook includes a whole bunch of music at the end as a bonus.
Taste by Stanley Tucci (audio) – Stanley Tucci is always the highlight of any movie he is in for me, even if he just has a small part. Although I knew I loved him as an actor, I didn’t know how much I would love him as a person. Let’s just say I now follow him on Instagram for his cooking tips and glimpses of his life.
Finding Me by Viola Davis (audio) – Talk about a rags to riches story! Viola Davis is one strong lady and she deserves everything she has achieved in her life. If you can get through this book without crying, do you even have a soul?
Non-celeb Memoir
Also in my quest to make laundry bearable, I have discovered a love of non-celebrity memoirs. If stories about real people are more your speed than celebrities, try to kickstart your reading with a non-celebrity memoir.
#1 Pick = Educated by Tara Westover (audio)
Wow. Just wow. Educated is Tara’s story of growing up in a family of Mormon survivalists in rural Idaho and how she sheds her upbringing to become educated at the finest institutions in the world. Even though you probably didn’t grow up off the grid in Idaho, you can find something relatable in this memoir.
Other good ones
From Scratch by Tembe Locke (audio) – A black woman falls in love with a Sicilian man. They create a life they love despite the disapproval of his family. Can she forge a relationship with his family after his death for the sake of their daughter? This is truly a beautiful story of love, both romantic and familial.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist (audio) – This is a transformative book for me. Did I have a family scandal that rocked me to my core? No. But do I relate to her journey of finding peace with a life that doesn’t look like what she thought it would? Absolutely.
Self-Help
I’ve become a person who reads self-help books. I never thought I’d see the day, but here we are. If you’re looking for a little guidance in your life, a little self-help book might just be the thing you need to kickstart your reading in 2025.
#1 Pick = The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi (physical)
I was introduced to Kendra through her podcast, The Lazy Genius, in the wee hours of the morning when I was breastfeeding my daughter. When I learned she had written a book, I just had to read it. And now my life has been changed forever. I use her 13 lazy genius principles just about every minute of the day so I can be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t. You too, can change your life for the better by reading a book if you make it The Lazy Genius Way!
Another good one
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (audio) – You have approximately 4,000 weeks on this Earth, so how can you make the best use of the time you have? This book throws typical time management solutions out the window and urges you to focus on meaning over productivity. It’s a wake-up call we all need!
Parenting
I left the parenting category for last. Parenting books often make me feel like I’m a crap parent so I don’t love them. There are, however, exceptions to this general rule that I’d love to share with my readers who are parents.
#1 Pick = The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (audio)
Holy smokes, you must read The Anxious Generation if you have children. It’s crucial that you do. Our children are growing up in an entirely different society than we did. We need to recognize this fact and take steps to keep them anchored in reality as much as we can so we can hopefully keep them mentally well.
Another good one
Matrescence by Lucy Jones (audio) – If you are a woman who has had a baby, this book will make you feel seen. You’ll probably cry, but it’s a cry you need.
Other posts
I’ve sprinkled some book content here and there in several of my other posts. Feel free to check them out if you want more book-related content!
I hope you’re gained some inspiration to kickstart your reading in 2025 from this list. If you have book recommendations to share, please pop them in the comments below or share them over on Instagram @sarainseason.
[Note: None of this content is sponsored. The links above may be general affiliate links, which earn me a small commission so I can keep making great content for you!]