Usually I’d have reflected on my 2024 reading goal a month ago, but family commitments and sickness had other plans, so we’ll do it today instead. I made it to 44 of my 52 book reading goal during a hectic year and 85% makes me a B student, no terrible, but we’ll shoot for an A in 2025.
My top 10 books of the year are summarized here. Hopefully, you’ll discover something interesting for your own 2025 reading goals.
(Please note, if you purchase an item from these links, I may receive a modest commission).
The Four Agreements- Migel Garcia Ruiz
“This book by don Miguel Ruiz, simple yet so powerful, has made a tremendous difference in how I think and act in every encounter.”—Oprah Winfrey
Short and sweet, keeping life in perspective and something I like to read every January.
A fun novel that dives into the not so underworld of countefeit bags and those in their supply chain. If you like friendship, fashion, and fakes, this is for you.
The Five Star Weekend- Elin Hilderbrand
Female friendships can be HARD and if you’ve ever gone through something with a friend, this is a read for you. Know you’re not alone as you’ll have the trials and tribulations of the women in this book who navigate friendship, grief, the limelight, and breast cancer (warning). A surprisingly fun book, you’ll read it in one weekend, for sure!
Leave the World Behind- Rumaan Alam
Not usually one for anything potentially fantastical, this book really surprised me in the best way. Even if you’ve watched the Netflix film based on the same (and produced by the Obamas!), the book (per usual) is much better and absolutely worth a read.
The Rachel Incident- Caroline O’Donoghue
Collegiate friendship, a bookstore, and a hunk of a professor make for an easily relatable premise for this Irish novel. Feel the cringeworthiness that only a stint at university can bring and find out what secrets intertwine the fates of the lovable characters, even Rachel.
The second Alam book on my top for 2024 means that his books must really be incredible, eh? It’s scary how well he writes women in this novel of this coming of age that tackles friendship shifts over life changes- a bit like a modern-day, American Elena Ferrante novel. Delicious.
Peggy Guggenheim, The Shock of the Modern- Francine Prose
After a few trips to the local Guggenheim, I had to know more about this fascinating art collector and this book explains much, painting Peggy as carefree with as much of an appetite for men as she had for collecting art. A fun frolick through the mind of one of modern art’s great trailblazers.
My Life in France- Julia Child
All I’ll say is that I’d waited years, YEARS, too long to read this gorgeous book. A love story and travel adventures intertwined with an obsessive cooking hobby makes for a very fun story, all the better as it’s true. I cried when the book was over because it was just so beautiful. One can only hope the same for their own life.
Society of Lies- Lauren Ling Brown
Maybe I’m feeling extra nostalgic now that I’m in my forties, but this is another collegiate-based book, spanning generations of exclusivity and mystery. It’s rather unputdownable and it’s on sale right now for $3!
The Boyfriend- Freida McFadden
Is this a fine piece of literature? Absolutely not. Are you able to tear through it in an afternoon? Absolutely. This book kicked off a string of 6(!!) Freida McFadden reads in a row in an end of year effort to increase my books read goal. They are formulaic in their relatable female leads, jaw dropping screwed up situations, and a surprise twist not always seen at the end. If you need quick, dirty, and delicious, these are for you.
Have a great book reco? Please let me know in the comments!