2025 reading wrap-up
also featuring my reading journal september-december
As 2025 came to a close, so did my reading for the year. It was a great year—I was able to accomplish my goal of reading 15 books! Last year, I made my 2025 tbr (to-be-read) list, and I think it went pretty well. Even though I didn’t get to every book on my list (and I definitely picked up a few that weren’t on it at all haha), I really enjoyed what I read and even found some new favorites.
Before I begin my 2025 wrap-up, here are the books I read toward the end of the year, along with my thoughts on each!
reading journal september-december
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Summary:
A pragmatic Ph.D. candidate with no time for love, Olive Smith finds herself in a fake relationship after a panicked kiss lands her with Adam Carlsen, Stanford’s brilliant—and notoriously grumpy—professor. What starts as a harmless ruse soon deepens as Adam proves unexpectedly supportive when Olive’s career is on the line. As their connection grows, Olive must confront the possibility that love, like science, may be messier and more real than she ever believed.
My thoughts:
I saw that this book was being adapted into a movie with Lili Reinhart portraying Olive, and I immediately added it to my Kindle. I had heard so many great things about it before but never found the time to read it—and I’m so glad I finally did!
To say I loved it would be an understatement. I read it in a single day and couldn’t stop thinking about it for a week; it completely consumed my mind. What I loved most were the characters’ personalities and how perfectly they complemented one another. It was captivating, romantic, and exciting.
The book was fast-paced without ever feeling rushed or disjointed. I also really enjoyed the writing—Ali Hazelwood delivers vivid storytelling and captivating dialogue that made the story impossible to put down.
Quotes:
“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."
“Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.”
“I'm starting to wonder if this is what being in love is. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole.”
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Summary:
Once one of Britain’s most powerful witches, Sera Swan now finds herself magic-depleted, Guild-exiled, and reluctantly running an inn in Lancashire alongside her resurrected great-aunt and a semi-villainous talking fox. When she learns of an ancient spellbook that could restore her power, she enlists the help of Luke Larsen, a handsome, guarded historian with secrets of his own. As Sera juggles eccentric guests, a watchful magical Guild, and her growing connection with Luke, she begins to realize that reclaiming her magic may matter less than the strange, loyal family she’s built—and the unexpected love that’s starting to thaw her carefully guarded heart.
My thoughts:
I read Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches back in 2024, and it quickly became one of my favorite books. Because of that, I had high hopes for this novel—and it did not disappoint. It carried the same cozy, magical atmosphere that Mandanna captures so effortlessly, making it a must-read for the autumn season.
Mandanna excels at writing memorable characters, and this book is no exception. I loved each character and what they brought to the story, but I was especially drawn to the main character’s backstory. Her trauma felt deeply real and thoughtfully portrayed, shaping her journey and her focus on self-growth throughout the book.
The story itself was captivating and left me wanting more. The magic woven throughout the novel is unlike anything else, and I still find myself craving the cozy warmth it holds long after finishing it.
Quotes:
“Spend a bit more time with todays and a bit less time with yesterdays and tomorrows.”
“There is always a little magic in the heart of a person who loves it.”
“And what she saw, for the first time, was not ugliness at all but pain so enormous and consuming that it had felt like dying. I’m sorry, she said silently to her past self. I’m sorry I hated you. I’m sorry I wasn’t kinder. All the shame that had been tangled up in the memory was annihilated, leaving only compassion and regret in its place.”
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Summary:
Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher, came to Tarry Town in the glen of Sleepy Hollow to ply his trade in educating young minds. He was a gullible and excitable fellow, often so terrified by locals’ stories of ghosts that he would hurry through the woods on his way home, singing to keep from hysterics. Until late one night, he finds that maybe they’re not just stories. What is that dark, menacing figure riding behind him on a horse? And what does it have in its hands? And why wasn’t schoolteacher Crane ever seen in Sleepy Hollow again?
My thoughts:
This was also one of my October reads, and I really enjoyed the story. I’m a huge fan of the Sleepy Hollow movie from the ’90s, so I was excited to finally read the original tale.
I will say, I was surprised by how little the story actually featured the Headless Horseman, but I still found it entertaining thanks to its memorable characters. The story was quite comical while still maintaining a spooky, atmospheric tone.
For a piece written in 1820, it was very easy to read and understand. At under 50 pages, it was also a quick read. Washington Irving’s writing was vivid and detailed, and I really enjoyed it—I can absolutely see why it’s considered a classic.
Quotes:
“I profess not to know how women’s hearts are wooed and won. To me they have always been matters of riddle and admiration.”
“Others may write from the head, but he writes from the heart, and the heart will always understand him.”
“ All these, however, were mere terrors of the night, phantoms of the mind that walk in darkness; and though he had seen many spectres in his time, and been more than once beset by Satan in divers shapes, in his lonely pre-ambulations, yet daylight put an end to all these evils; and he would have passed a pleasent life of it, in despite of the devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and that was—a woman.”
Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
Summary:
When Riley Everett arrives in Starfall Point, she inherits more than her late aunt’s journals—she inherits magic, a haunted Victorian house, and a grumpy ghost butler. Searching for guidance and a sense of belonging, Riley is unexpectedly drawn to Edison Held, the town’s infuriatingly charming head librarian who has long been curious about her off-limits home. As Edison helps Riley protect her family’s legacy and uncover the house’s secrets, their mutual attraction grows, weaving romance into a story of magic, mystery, and finding where you truly belong.
My thoughts:
Overall, I found the book entertaining and perfect for a cozy yet spooky October read. I loved the idea of multiple ghosts living in a house, with an object serving as their tie to the physical world. The main ghost, Plover, was by far my favorite—he was genuinely funny and added so much charm to the story.
Molly Harper did a great job creating a small, charming town that felt like somewhere you’d actually want to live. I also really enjoyed how she wrote the characters and how fully developed their backstories were. The theme of found family ran throughout the book, which I really liked.
That said, I wasn’t a huge fan of how quickly the romance unfolded. It felt like the characters met and were suddenly head over heels in the very next scene. I would have loved to see a friendship develop first before they jumped into a relationship. Given both of their backgrounds, a slower build would have felt more realistic.
Quotes:
“We don't ever really lose the people we love.”
“It broke her heart a little that it took a bunch of dead people to make her feel like she had a home.”
An Archive of Romance Ava Reid
Summary:
Torn apart by war, magic, and the power of words, Effy and Preston’s love story unfolds through the stories they leave behind. This immersive collection brings their romance to life through annotated texts, diary excerpts, illustrations, maps, sketches, and personal mementos, inviting readers to step into their world. With never-before-seen materials and a brand-new epilogue, it offers an intimate, poignant look at a love shaped—and preserved—by storytelling itself.
My thoughts:
A Study in Drowning was by far my favorite book of the year, and its accompanying novella was a wonderful addition. The pages were beautifully illustrated, and the writing was even more impressive. The artwork throughout the book was incredible and truly brought the characters and story to life.
I loved that Ava Reid included a few additional chapters in Effy and Preston’s story. They provided a perfect sense of closure, wrapping up both their journey and the series as a whole.
Quotes:
“The storyteller is a liar, but the story he tells is true.”
“Mermaids can breathe water as mortals breathe air, but all living creatures can drown.”
“A king can reign a thousand years from a castle built in clouds. If only girlhood were such a kingdom. Nothing would ever change.”
The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes for Everyday Luxury and Elevated Entertaining by Meredith Hayden
I debated adding this book to the list since it’s a cookbook, but non-fiction books are still books! I received Meredith’s cookbook for Christmas, and overall it’s beautifully done, with stunning photos, illustrations, and clear step-by-step instructions.
There’s a great variety of recipes, and everything is explained so clearly that it gave me the confidence to try dishes I probably wouldn’t have attempted before. I especially appreciated that Meredith includes a guide to the basic tools and ingredients every kitchen should have. She even explains how to cut a lobster and carve a chicken—which is amazing!
If you’re looking to try something new or want to add a little twist to dishes you already love, this cookbook is definitely for you.
2025 reading wrap-up
I read a total of 17 books last year and was really proud of myself for reaching that milestone. It was also my first year using the app StoryGraph to track my reading, and I really enjoyed its user-friendly interface.
Below are some of the statistics StoryGraph provided from my 2025 reading, along with a few of my own personal wrap-up categories :)
Top 3 favorite books of the year:
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Series I finished:
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas
Emily Wilde Series by Heather Fawcett
Least liked books:
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
Books that surprised me:
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
New authors I read:
Stephanie Meyer
T. Kingfisher
Ava Reid
Washington Irving
Molly Harper
Jessica Clare
Laurie Gilmore
I hope you enjoyed these mini reviews and my 2025 reading wrap-up! I’ll be sharing my 2026 reading list sometime in the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for that. If you want to follow my reading progress or see what I’m currently reading, here is my Goodreads and StoryGraph :)
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Leave a comment down below on what you read in 2025 and what your favorite books were!
I’ve read twilight and it was great. I recommend heated rivalry and the long game because those are the
only 2 books I willingly read in 2025