Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Best Books I Read in 2025
I am generally pretty stingy when it comes to giving a book a grade of 5/5. Looking back over the last 5 years I have given somewhere between 2 to 4 books the top grade each year. For 2025, I have 13! I am pretty sure that is the most ever for me. So what was different this year? The only thing that I can think of is that I wasn't working for the first 7 months of the year, so I was reading purely for enjoyment. I wasn't trying to read on the commute, or before going to bed or during lunch breaks. There's certainly been a drop in the grades since I went back to work. Other than, it might just have been an extraordinary first half of the year.
So here are my top 10 13 books for 2025
Midnight in Paris by Gillian Harvey - I started off with several books set in Paris. I have read quite a few of Gillian Harvey's books over the years and enjoyed them all, but this one just really worked for me! (my review)
The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin - Another author who I have read a lot of books from. I love the way that she writes about places, books and foods, and this one combined those very well. (my review)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach - I had heard such good things about this book and it completely lived up to expectations. (my review)
The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens - I went to hear Mary-Lou Stephens talk about this book and knew that I was going to enjoy it! (my review)
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - I don't reread much, but I have read this book about 4 times now. it is still a 5/5 read for me every time. This one isn't pictured in the collage in order to fit all the others in. (my review)
Pictures of You by Emma Grey - I met Emma Grey at a reader's retreat a couple of years go but it took me that long to actually read one of her books. This was the first of two 5/5 reads by this author this year! (my review)
The Women by Kristin Hannah - This book seems to be a love it or hate it kind of book. I loved it! (my review)
Beartown by Fredrik Backman - What can I say that hasn't already been said about Fredrik Backman. I really must find time to read the second book in this trilogy! (my review)
Eat Your Heart Out by Victoria Brownlee - This was a surprise 5/5 book for me! It was just so much fun. (my review)
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - I have enjoyed all of this author's books now, but this one is my favourite. (my review)
The Whisky Widow by Karen Brooks - This book had me wondering why on earth I had not read Karen Brooks before. So good! (my review)
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey - The second entry from Emma Grey on this list! Can't wait for her new book! (my review)
An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister - This author is an academic who specialises in romance and popular fiction, and you can tell! This book is now doing the rounds of my book club. Even our octogenarian member enjoyed it!
One of the pleasing aspects of this is that 7 of these books are by Aussie authors!
I love seeing everyone's best of lists each year! Do we have any in common?
The Wedding People is on my list too, although I am still writing it! And the most recent Helen Simonson would be on it as well, if I hadn't read it in 2024. Not sure about The Women: I was enthralled while I was reading it but afterwards I was annoyed by the coincidences.
ReplyDeleteThe coincidences annoyed me when I read it, but The Women made me feel so many emotions, mostly anger, and I was completely engrossed in it, so it still got a 5 star rating from me!
DeleteI've seen a lot of people either love or hate Wedding People.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/my-12-favorite-books-i-read-in-2025/
It seems to be one of those books!
DeleteOne of these days I really should read Bear Town.
ReplyDeleteit's an intense read but very good!
DeleteOne of Fredrick Backman's books made it to my top 10 list this year as well, although I haven't read Bear Town. Hope you have a great reading year :)
ReplyDeleteSame to you!
Deletewoohoo, 2 Eiffel Towers!!
ReplyDeleteHere are my favorites: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/01/06/year-of-reading-2025-part-1-my-top-23-books/
I read four books with Paris in the title in the first couple of months of the year...and then no more. I even made a graphic for it!
DeleteI haven't read any of these but I am very much interested in both The Whisky Widow and The Jam Maker. Happy New Year! ~Lexlingua
ReplyDeleteBoth really good books by Australian authors!
DeleteI have nothing but good things about The Women. It's on my tbr list.
ReplyDeleteI think it is another one of those divisive books where people either really love it or really hate it!
DeleteI really liked THE WEDDING PEOPLE too, which surprised me because it sounded it would be a Rom-Com but was much deeper than I expected.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a different book than I was expecting too.
DeleteSo many wonderful looking books, Marg. I still haven't read Backman's books, though at least one of them is in my TBR pile. I need to add The Summer Before the War to my wish list. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2026/01/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-best-books-i.html
I have enjoyed all of Helen Simonson's books!
DeleteI enjoyed Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted! Happy new reading year! 📚 ~Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Carol!
DeleteYour books look so good! I have a few on my wish list. I especially like the Paris ones. Great choices!
ReplyDeleteCan never go wrong with Paris books. Well, I am sure you can, but not with these Paris books!
DeleteI absolutely loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I've read one or two of that author's other books and really liked them as well. I haven't read the one you mention here so I need to add it to my list. And Fredrik Backman is always a good choice. I hope 2026 is an even better reading year for you!
ReplyDeleteNo, wait, I have read it! :-) Back in 2017. I did like it too. I don't know why it slipped my mind!
DeleteI have to continue that Backman trilogy too. I'm glad you found so many great books!
ReplyDeleteI had several months this year that had record breaking 5-star reads as well. I normally have 1-3 books a month that I give 5-stars to, but I also have a pretty good idea of the types of books I like, which help. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThe Wedding People sounds fun! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood reads! The Women and Beartown definitely were favorites for me!
ReplyDeleteI do think being able to read a book in large chunks instead of stealing a bit here and there increases my enjoyment of a book. I want to get to The Wedding People. I've heard nothing but good things!
ReplyDelete