Reading List 2025
I’m not going to lie, 2025 was a very hard year for me. There have been a lot of life changes I wasn’t expecting, and those events have taken a toll on my reading capacity. That said, I still discovered some excellent reads, and I am incredibly thankful for the authors who pour so much of themselves into their work. Your words have gotten me through the lowest parts of my life and have expressed thoughts within myself I didn’t have the words to articulate.
Twenty-nine thousand five hundred forty-two pages that explored the shadows of the human psyche, traversed landscapes of the heart, and followed cryptic tales of secrets.
Check out my 10/10 reads for the year, including honorable mentions, StoryGraph statistics, and other reading resources.
Favorite Book of 2025
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
“I have never felt a book touch my soul as much as this beautiful, searching memoir has done in my life. Thank you, Maggie Smith. I found myself nodding my head along to so many parallel feelings in my own life. I feel seen. Not to mention, this is just such a creatively crafted way to tell one’s story in snippets like this. The repetition builds upon itself in a moving and substantial way that makes so much sense in the way it’s presented. I will definitely be buying a hard copy so I can highlight and revisit my favorite lines. ”
– Meghen Murphy
Fun fact: Maggie Smith is a fellow Ohio native! It was cool to hear about familiar places in her memoir.
Most Unique Writing Style
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
“John Green makes me want to be a writer. This collection of essays wove together history, journaling, science, storytelling, and memoir thoughtfully and beautifully. It was creative and unique, and I absolutely loved it. What a perfect way to end 2025. My favorite essays in particular were Sunsets, Harvey, Googling Strangers, The Hot Dogs of B’jarins Beztu Pylsur, and the Kaua-i o-o. Green strikes me as a deeply genuine person, and I am moved by the open and honest way he talks about his mental health struggles. I give John Green 5 stars. ” – Meghen Murphy
Recommended by Jacob Welly
Most Beautiful Writing Style
A Language of Limbs by Dylan Hardcastle
“Absolutely beautiful. This was pure poetry, beginning to end. The stories felt authentic and raw on so many levels. To give in to queer desire or suppress it? The way these two protagonists’ lives circle one another through pivotal moments in their lives is not only clever, but illustrates just how connected we are in this world. So much of what we experience is left to chance; thousands and millions of tiny instances going back a millennia that make up the opportunities we have today. Life is beautiful and complicated and gut wrenchingly sad, but at the end of it all, love is what makes it all worthwhile. Also, both narrators are incredibly well paired for this story.” – Meghen Murphy
Recommended by lady.and.the.book
Most Emotional
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
“It’s been a minute since a book has made me feel so much. Dolores is one of those characters you will never forget. I am utterly impressed with Lamb’s ability to portray a female character in such a raw and authentic way. I can’t help but reflect on my own life and current predicaments that make me feel less alone. Life is truly too short to spend it with someone who doesn’t value you.” – Meghen Murphy
Recommended by Claire Murphy
Biggest Transformation
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
“Internet speak can be fun when you’re “in the know,” but this book also illustrates just how quickly it can grow and morph into something completely unrecognizable. “The Portal,” as Lockwood dubs it, is all-consuming in the best and worst ways possible. Then, there’s an unexpected shift back into reality, and she lays out this precious and heartbreaking tale about her niece. This book is brilliant. I laughed, I cried, and I loved Lockwood’s way with words. Give this one a listen, especially if you’ve been feeling a toxic and dreary pull into the portal.” – Meghen Murphy
Recommended by lady.and.the.book
Best Laugh
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
“I absolutely loved this story. Beagin's writing style is hilariously unexpected. I was fully vested in every one of these characters; Greta, Sabine, Om, Big Swiss, they're all brilliant. I laughed out loud so many times and couldn't stop reading. People are complicated; we're all just trying to figure things out. You can't ignore your trauma, but don't let it consume you either.” – Meghen Murphy
Recommended by lady.and.the.book
Most Controversial
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
Oh my goodness, I haven’t read a book this controversial in a while. First of all, excellent storytelling throughout the entire novel. I was instantly hooked and read the entire book in two days. I found myself rooting for Wavy and Kellen in the end. They needed each other, and the circumstances of their lives brought them together in a genuinely affectionate way. Could I condone something like this in the real world? Most definitely not, though it’s a true lesson that nothing is as black and white as it may seem. People are so complicated, and every interaction they face, especially in their early years, shapes them into the people they become later on.” – Meghen Murphy
2025 Honorable Mentions
We Could be Rats by Emily Austin
The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Ester Perel
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Wedding People by Allison Espach
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake
Libby Library App
Every book I read or listened to was on Libby. Libby is an award-winning, much-loved app for libraries. All you need to do is connect your library card(s) to Libby to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines. The more library cards, the better! Libby automatically shows you which library has your book available or who will have one available as soon as possible.
The StoryGraph
This is your yearly reminder to track your reading with The StoryGraph. This app is an all-in-one platform for your bookish needs. Create reading challenges and goals, preview content warnings, get book recommendations based on your reading preferences, and so much more! I’m a data nerd and love seeing charts and graphs that highlight fun facts about my reading habits.
You can feel good supporting a woman-owned and developed app. It’s easy to transfer over your Goodreads book list! Make sure you add me as a friend @DesignsByMeghen.
Full Reading List
My favorite thing about The StoryGraph was the Reading Wrap-Up they put together. In addition to fun statistics and reading trends, they include a full gallery of covers for every book I read in 2025. I love how they look all together in one spot 🥹
If you have a question or want to know more about any of the books listed below, shoot me a message or leave a comment below. You can also follow me on The StoryGraph to read my full reviews!
Let’s talk books!
Give me all of the recommendations! What was your favorite read of 2025? Leave a comment below with your all-time favorite book or author. Do you have any questions about one of the books listed above? Shoot me a message! I could talk about books all day, and I’m always looking to add to my reading list.
Thanks for reading (pun intended).
