2025 Reading Reflections Part V: The Rest of the Books and Why I Read at All

Over the past few posts, I’ve written about themes I noticed when I looked back at my 2025 reading list: historical fiction, bittersweet love stories, books about faith and courage, and even those that complicated me a little. But there were plenty of other books in my reading year that don’t fit neatly into those categories, and I enjoyed them all in different ways.

Some were simply good stories that pulled me in for a few evenings. Books like The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller and Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash both explore family, identity, and the long echoes of decisions we make when we’re young.

Others were quick reads that were simply fun to pick up and disappear into for a while, like Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Ghosted by Rosie Walsh, the kind of books that remind you that reading doesn’t always have to be heavy or philosophical to be worthwhile.

There were also a few that felt quieter and more reflective. The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg was gentle and a little whimsical, and similar to Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Stroud. Pont Neuf by Max Bird had its own atmosphere and rhythm. And Friends with Secrets by Christine Gunderson was simply an enjoyable story about friendship and the complicated lives people lead.

Looking at the list as a whole, what I notice most is its variety. Some books were profound. Some were heartbreaking. Some made me think about faith, or history, or the complicated ways people love one another. Others were simply good company for a few quiet evenings.

That, to me, is the real gift of reading. Books let us live a little outside our own lives for a while. They introduce us to people we might never meet, places we might never visit, and choices we might never face. They give us new ways to understand the past, and sometimes even new ways to understand ourselves. Sometimes a book changes your life. More often, it simply enriches it a little. Either way, I’m grateful for all of them. 

And now, on to the 2026 stack on the bedside table…

My favorite book :)

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