25 in 25
Books at the top of my TBR and why I want to read them
As a mood reader, I don’t make a TBR to guide my reading each month. What I want to read can change quickly and easily. I’m distracted by beautiful covers, new releases, or something that catches my eye at the local library or bookstore. I want my reading to be spontaneous, but I also want it to be rewarding. I’m focused on being more thoughtful about my reading in 2025, and one of the ways I decided to act on that thoughtfulness is by creating a 25 in 25 list like several others I’ve seen around online.
I don’t want this book list to be full of titles I have to read before the end of the year. Instead, I want the list to be an inspiration for moments when I’m unsure what to pick up next. I want to have a place where I can come and be reminded about some of the authors and stories that excited me at the start of the year. This list is more of a guiding light than an obligation.
Some books I’m sharing today are newer releases, while others have been out for decades. There’s a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as different genres and original languages. My hope in sharing this list with you is that it sparks curiosity about some books you might like and that you’ll be encouraged to consider your own list. Here’s to spontaneity and thoughtfulness becoming good friends!
Summaries are from NoveList unless otherwise noted.
1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Product All Year Round by Jami Attenberg: Inspired by Jami Attenberg’s wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado. (via Goodreads)
Why I want to read this: I’ve been a longtime fan of Jami Attenberg and I’m always looking for good books on writing and creativity. I started 1000 Words last summer but got distracted by something else, as I tend to do on summer break. I’m excited to pick it back up and take to heart some of the wisdom I’m sure is inside.
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson: Running into a long-ago friend sets memory from the 1970s in motion for August, transporting her to a time and a place where friendship was everything--until it wasn't. (via Bookshop.org)
Why I want to read this: Woodson has written so many books, but I haven’t read any of them. She’s been on my TBR for years, so it’s time I finally read her work. I love stories about friendship and books set in NYC, so Another Brooklyn seems like the best starting point.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett: When terrorists seize hostages at an embassy party, an unlikely assortment of people is thrown together, including American opera star Roxanne Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa--a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan.
Why I want to read this: I love Ann Patchett, but I’ve yet to read perhaps her most popular novel. Another reason Bel Canto has shot up my TBR is the beautiful new annotated edition that just came out. I’d love to read Ann’s notes, but I need to read the original book first.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors: A young British painter with an expiring student visa marries a successful, self-made Manhattan businessman and the pair discover the irreversible changes their impulsive union causes to both themselves and their close family and friends.
Why I want to read this: Last year, I read and enjoyed Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, her most recent book. I appreciated her writing style, so I’m confident I’ll like Cleopatra and Frankenstein. Stories about messy marriages always intrigue me.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen: After almost fifty years as a wife and mother, Enid Lambert is ready to have some fun. Unfortunately, her husband, Alfred, is losing his sanity to Parkinson's disease, and their children have long since flown the family nest to the catastrophes of their own lives.
The oldest, Gary, a once-stable portfolio manager and family man, is trying to convince his wife and himself that, despite certain alarming indicators, he is not clinically depressed. The middle child, Chip, has lost his seemingly secure academic job and is failing spectacularly at his new line of work. And Denise, the youngest, has escaped a disastrous marriage only to pour her youth and beauty down the drain of an affair with a married man--or so her mother fears.
Desperate for some pleasure to look forward to, Enid has set her heart on an elusive goal: bringing her family together for one last Christmas at home. (via Bookshop.org)
Why I want to read this: Franzen’s Crossroads is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ve enjoyed several of his others, too, but The Corrections has escaped me. I found a free copy on the sidewalk in my local indie’s free books box, so it seems like fate that we should be together.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck: Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. (via Goodreads)
Why I want to read this: I’ve read and loved several of Steinbeck’s other books, but the size of East of Eden has intimidated me, even though the plot is right up my alley. I meant to read it last summer, but it got lost in a pile of books that I was going to finish before returning to work in August. (Dear reader, I did not finish the pile before returning to work in August.)
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff: Marrying in a glamorous whirlwind amid predictions of future greatness, Lotto and Mathilde are shaped throughout a subsequent shared decade by complications, secrets, and powerful creative drives.
Why I want to read this: I started reading Fates and Furies shortly after its release, but something about it wasn’t working for me at the time. My copy has survived several book collection declutters because I knew I wanted to try reading it again someday. I hope that someday will be this year.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo: Girl, Woman, Other is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain's colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. (via Bookshop.org)
Why I want to read this: This book won the Booker Prize a few years back, and I’ve discovered some fantastic titles from their longlists. Aside from winning the Booker, this novel speaks to me thanks to its focus on female friendship. I’ll never tire of that subject.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado: Contains short stories about the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies.
Why I want to read this: I want to read more short stories because each time I do, I’m reminded how much I like the form. Her Body and Other Parties seems to include some horror and magical realism, two genres that don’t always work for me, but I’m still eager to stretch myself and see if this collection could be one I enjoy.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney: In the wake of their father's death, two brothers--successful Dublin lawyer Peter and his younger brother Ivan, a competitive chess player--find different ways to deal with their grief, which affects not only their lives, but the lives of those they hold dear.
Why I want to read this: I started reading Intermezzo in mid-December, but put it down when life got busy because of the holidays. Now that things are calming down, I want to get past the first 30 pages and get lost in the story. It’s very good so far, as I suspected it would be.
Kids Run the Show by Delphine de Vigan; translated by Alison Anderson: Traversing the Big Brother generation, this cautionary tale follows Mélanie, a social media superstar who broadcasts her children's daily lives on a family YouTube channel, and Clara, the young police officer assigned to the case after Mélanie's daughter is kidnapped.
Why I want to read this: I’m fascinated by stories that offer commentary on social media, so this translated mystery is calling my name.
A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib: A poet, essayist, and cultural critic presents a profound and lasting reflection on how Black performance is inextricably woven into the fabric of American culture.
Why I want to read this: I’ve been hearing praise for Abdurraqib’s writing from many readers I trust, so I figure it’s time to pick up one of his books. While most of them appeal to me, A Little Devil in America sounds especially interesting.
A Little Luck by Claudia Piñeiro; translated by Frances Riddle: 20 years after a shocking accident, Mary Lohan returns to the Buenos Aires suburb she escaped in a fugue of guilt and isolation. She is not the same—not her name or voice, not even the color of her eyes. The neighborhood looks different too, but she’s still the same woman and it’s still the same place, and as the past erupts into view, they slowly collide. A Little Luck is the story about the debilitating weight of lies, the messy line between bravery and cowardice, and the tragedies, big and small, that can ripple out from a single decisive event.
Why I want to read this: I want to read more translated work in 2025, and I’ve never read anything set in Argentina before. Piñeiro is one of those authors who I keep hearing good things about, so I want to explore her work this year.
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward: The author recounts the loss of five young men in her life to drugs, accidents, suicide, and the bad luck that can follow people who live in poverty, particularly Black men, sharing her experiences of living through the dying as she searches through answers in her community.
Why I want to read this: I’ve loved several of Ward’s novels, but I realized a few weeks ago that I’ve never read her memoir. I just picked up a copy during a holiday sale and despite the bleak subject matter, I’m eager to red her nonfiction. She’s one of my favorites.
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout: After an appendix operation puts her in the hospital, New York writer Lucy Barton reconnects with her estranged mother as the pair reminisce about the past.
Why I want to read this: Elizabeth Strout is another author who I’ve heard raves about. As someone who appreciates quiet stories that focus on character development, I think I’ll love her books.
My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women: This first anthology of short fiction by 18 Afghan women, living in, speaking about, and writing from the country itself, contains powerful and revealing, unique and universal stories of family, work, childhood, friendship, war, gender identity, and cultural traditions.
Why I want to read this: This collection checks several boxes for me: short stories, translated, and set in a country I’ve not read much about before.
Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin B. Curtice: Curtice draws on her personal journey, poetry, imagery, and stories of the Potawatomi people to address themes at the forefront of today's discussions of faith and culture in a positive and constructive way. (via Bookshop.org)
Why I want to read this: My faith is important to me, and because of that, I want to ensure the faith books I read are written by a diverse range of voices. Native has been sitting on my shelf unread for far too long, so I hope to pick it up sooner rather than later.
The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories edited by Bruce Fulton: This eclectic, moving and wonderfully enjoyable collection is the essential introduction to Korean literature. Journeying through Korea's dramatic twentieth century, from the Japanese occupation and colonial era, to the devastating war between north and south and the rapid, disorienting urbanization of later decades, The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories captures a hundred years of Korea's vibrant short-story tradition.
Why I want to read this: I was shopping at my favorite local bookstore this week, saw this collection, and grabbed it right away. I think I’ve only read one Korean book, so I can’t wait to explore more authors from that part of the world.
Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World by Pádraig Ó Tuama: This inspiring collection presents fifty poems each with their own commentary and personal anecdotes alongside insights into the content of the poem. The poems gathered in this selection are from many walks of life, many experiences, many points of view. Engaging, accessible, diverse and inviting, Poetry Unbound is the perfect companion for everyone who wants to go deeper into poetry.
Why I want to read this: One of my 2025 reading goals is to read 12 poetry books from my home library. Poetry Unbound seems like a strong contender, thanks to the thoughtful commentary delivered with each piece.
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: After staying with their aunt in Nsukka, Nigeria, Kambili and her brother return home changed by their newfound freedom. At home, they deal with their father, a religious fanatic, who has high expectations of them and his wife. And eventually Kambili tries to keep their family together after their mother commits a desperate act.
Why I want to read this: Adichie has a new book coming out soon that I’m excited to read. I can’t wait to get my hands on her latest, but until then, I have this backlist title to keep me company.
Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri: Translated from Italian into English by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, this masterful collection of nine short stories has Rome, suspended between past and future, multifaceted and metaphysical, as the protagonist, not the setting.
Why I want to read this: I’m fascinated by Lahiri’s choice to write in and translate herself from Italian. I’ve loved some of her previous stories, so I have high hops that this collection will be excellent.
Two-Step Devil by Jamie Quatro: In 2014, in Lookout Mountain, Alabama, the Prophet--a seventy-year-old man who paints his visions--lives off the grid in a cabin near the Georgia border. While scrounging for materials at the local scrapyard, the Prophet sees a car pull up to an abandoned gas station. In the back seat is a teenage girl with zip ties on her wrists, a girl he realizes he must rescue from her current life. Her name is Michael, and the Prophet feels certain that she is a messenger sent by God to take his end-time warnings to the White House. Michael finds herself in the Prophet's remote, art-filled cabin, and as their uncertain dynamic evolves into tender friendship, she is offered a surprising opportunity to escape her past--and perhaps change her future.
Moving through the worlds of the Prophet, the girl, and a beguiling devil figure who dances in the corner of their lives, Two-Step Devil is a propulsive, philosophical examination of fate and faith that dares to ask what salvation, if any, can be found in our modern world. (via Bookshop.org)
Why I want to read this: I was thrilled to have a new Jamie Quatro book come out in 2024. I really wanted to finish it before the end of the year because I had a hunch it would have been a contender for my top 10, but it just didn’t happen. This one is at the very top of my priority list.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: After Cora, a pre-Civil War Georgia slave, escapes with another slave, Caesar, they seek the help of the Underground Railroad as they flee from state to state and try to evade a slave catcher, Ridgeway, who is determined to return them to the South.
Why I want to read this: This is one of those books that I keep seeing around, which prompts me to think, “I want to read that someday.” Someday has arrived! I thought Whitehead’s other Pulitzer winner, The Nickel Boys, was wonderful, so I have high hopes for The Underground Railroad.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: Twin sisters, inseparable as children, ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one Black and one white.
Why I want to read this: I loved Brit Bennett’s debut, The Mothers, so I was determined to get my hands on The Vanishing Half as soon as it came out in 2020. I did just that, but I had a hard time reading much during the pandemic, so it got set aside. I’ve heard enough people rave about this book to know it’s going to be great, which is reason enough to put it on this list.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson: In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of Black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America.
Why I want to read this: As a lover of American history, I’ve had this book on my radar for a long time. Seeing it get the #2 spot on the entertaining and controversial Best Books of the 21st Century list reminded me to prioritze Wilkerson’s writing.
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What books on this list have you read and liked? What titles are you priotizing in 2025? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading!
Vanishing Half was fantastic! I read Fates and Furies years ago and it frustrated me. I have wondered if my opinion would change if I were to reread it.
The Corrections by Franzen stood out to me. Let me know what you think of that one!😊