I’m not sure who put a coin in me this year, but I’ve been crushing my reading goal (it’s definitely one of the reasons I’m so neglectful to posting here). Based on the number of books I read last year (25) and how I was down the wire on completing that goal, I decided to keep my goal at 25 again for 2025. Well, it’s mid-July and I’ve already finished 27 books. If you’re in a slump, or just need some recommendations from a mom who loves fiction, read on for my favorite books I’ve read so far this year.
Beach Reads & Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
This was a 4-star read, but as more time passes, the more I continue to think about it and wonder if it should have been rated higher. As a mom this story ripped my heart apart but also made me think a lot about parenting in the teen years. Elin makes a couple of other appearances on this list, and for good reason — I love the development of the characters and how I can often relate to them.
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Oh how I loved this book. It’s definitely one I still think about, which says a lot considering I often forgot what books are about within days of finishing them. I think I loved it so much because of Hollis’ career as a blogger (easy connection there), her setting out to rekindle old friendships but also her life as a mom and the challenges it brings as a working parent. This was a FIVE STAR read for me!
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah
I’d had this book sitting on my shelf for a couple of years and finally decided to read it in the spring. And let me tell you, I couldn’t put it down — I read it in just 2 days! This touched on topics that are top of mind for me, that I won’t dive into as to not spoil some of the book. But this one was another favorite book for me that received a 5 star rating.
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
This is a much lighter read than some of the other books you’ll see on this list. I read this back in March but with its summer lake house vibes, think it’s a great read for summer. I thought the story was well written and the characters kept me engaged enough to finish it in under a week. This is another book I still think about randomly, which is why it was another five star rating. I just purchased a few other books by Annabel Monaghan during Amazon Prime Days (Summer Romance and Nora Goes Off Script) that I’m looking forward to reading this year too!
Island Escapes to Paradise
The Paradise Series by Elin Hilderbrand | Book 1: Winter in Paradise | Book 2: What Happens in Paradise | Book 3: Troubles in Paradise
Winter in Paradise was the first book I finished reading in 2025 (according to my Goodreads account, I started just before the new year and finished just after) and then finished the other two books in the series before January was over. This is such a great trilogy to read in the cold winter months but be prepared to want to plan your next vacation to the Virgin Islands! I loved all of the characters and there were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming the really kept me engaged.
I’d like to note that the series does follow a timeline so you will definitely want to start with the first book vs. skipping around. I rated each book 4 stars.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
I picked this one up in June because I was looking for a lighter romcom and nobody does that better than Christina Lauren. I added this to my TBR earlier this year because I’ve loved every book I’ve read by this pair (if you didn’t know, Christina Lauren is actually two authors!) and it didn’t disappoint. Another quick read (I finished in just 2 days!) that got a 4 star rating and had me smiling and giggling through several pages.
Quick plug for some other Christina Lauren books that I’ve loved (but didn’t necessarily read this year): Love & Other Words, The Unhoneymooners (also on Kindle Unlimited), In a Holidaze and the Beautiful Bastard series (the whole series also on Kindle Unlimited).
Emotional Romance & Historical Fiction
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros — or read free through a Kindle Unlimited subscription!
Oh man, what do I say about this one other than have tissues near you — and lots of them! This book has a little piece of my heart after reading and definitely left me in a book hangover that required me to step away from reading for a few days. The characters of this book were developed so well — I loved Beckett, I (mostly) loved Ella and I definitely loved her children. This was an easy five star rating for me.
The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros — or read free through a Kindle Unlimited subscription!
I’d had this book sitting on my Kindle for a long time — I actually think I had started it a year or two ago and abandoned it for another book. I “picked it up” again in May, about two months after reading The Last Letter and am so glad I did. I’d consider this one more historical fiction but also an emotional romance. Once again, Rebecca Yarros had me ugly crying so have your tissues handy if you plan to read this one yourself. The ending of this was so good — Yarros definitely wrapped it in a bow that left me feeling fulfilled.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Admittedly, this was a book that I’ve had on my TBR list for more than 5 years before I finally read it this winter. It’s long — the paperback is more than 600 pages — and historical fiction hasn’t really been a genre I’ve gotten into. My cousin, who actually turned me into a fan of Kristin Hannah’s through other books, kept telling me it was one of her favorite books and that I needed to give it a chance. In February, my good friend and I decided to tackle it together and we both couldn’t put it down. Kristin Hannah’s writing is so beautiful and so descriptive, you feel like you’re right in the story with the characters. This is a book that I would recommend everyone read, even if you’re not a lover of historical fiction like me! This was an easy five start rating.
Thrillers & Suspense
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – or read free through a Kindle Unlimited subscription!
This was my book club pick and let me tell you, I flew through it — like finished it in 2 days flew through it. Thrillers aren’t a genre I gravitate toward to but I’d heard so many great things about this book and saw it all over TikTok so decided to mix it up. I’m so glad I did! There was a couple twists throughout that really kept me up at night (reading, but also messing with me a bit psychologically) but were so good. I also gave this one 5 stars! This is also part of a series but I haven’t yet talked myself into jumping into the other books just yet.
I’m planning to write a full recap of my favorites once 2025 wraps up so make sure to check back in early 2026 for that full list. Until then, let me know which of these you’ve read or want to read and how you’re rating them! Also, leave you favorite book recommendations in the comments — a girl always needs more books on her TBR list!
