One of my goals for 2025 was to read 12 books.

Well, I crushed that goal.

I ended up reading 45 books this year, and honestly, I’m still a little shocked when I see that number.

Between the chaos of everyday life, the endless to-do lists, and trying to keep up with everything family throws at me, I somehow found moments to get lost in stories, learn from others, and grow through the pages of these books.

Note: All of these were “read” via Audible. And yes, that still counts as reading.

My 2025 Reading List: 45 Books That Shaped My Year

Click HERE to save this reading list for later.

The Year I Branched Out

For years, I stuck to what felt safe: personal development and growth books.

They were my comfort zone—practical, motivational, focused on becoming better.

And while I still love those books (you’ll see plenty on this list), this year I decided to stretch myself.

I dove into fiction for the first time in years. Thrillers that kept me up past midnight. Romance that made me smile. Historical fiction that transported me to different times and places.

I explored memoirs that broke my heart open. And read true crime that both fascinated and terrified me. I even tackled some health and science books that changed the way I think about health.

And you know what? Branching out was one of the best decisions I made this year.

It reminded me that growth doesn’t just come from self-help books—it comes from stepping into different perspectives, experiencing new stories, and letting yourself be surprised by what resonates.

---

I put all of my 5 + 4-star books in one place so you can easily grab if you might want to add them to your reading list as well.

---

….But I’m also including my 3-star and 2-star reads because sometimes knowing what didn’t quite land is just as helpful.

Let me walk you through what made my year in books.

5-Star Books (The Ones That Changed Me)

1. The Bible
This was my first time making it through the entire Bible.

And now, it will always be my foundation. No matter how many books I read, this is the one I come back to again and again. It’s where I find truth, hope, and the reminder that everything really is beautiful in its time.

2. What if You Are the Answer
This book hit me right in the heart. It challenged me to stop looking outside myself for all the answers and start recognizing the strength and wisdom I already carry. A must-read for anyone feeling stuck or powerless.

3. Just for the Summer
Pure escape. Sometimes you need a book that just makes you smile, and this one delivered exactly that kind of light, hopeful romance I needed.

4. Twisted Love
I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did, but the tension, the emotion, the way it kept me up obsessively turning the audio pages—it was everything a good romance should be.

5. I Escaped from Auschwitz
Heavy. Important. Heartbreaking. This firsthand account of survival and courage and reminded me of the resilience of the human spirit even in the darkest circumstances.

6. Say You’ll Remember Me
A beautiful story about second chances, redemption, and the way love can heal even the deepest wounds. I loved every page.

7. The Girl Who Was Taken
This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. The twists kept coming, and I genuinely didn’t see the ending coming. So good.

8. The Perfect Marriage
Another thriller that absolutely delivered. The suspense, the secrets, the way nothing was quite what it seemed—I devoured this one.

9. The Waitress
Gripping and emotional. This story stuck with me long after I finished it, and I found myself thinking about the characters for days.

10. The Women
This was a book I really wanted to read prior to Vietnam. And I’m so glad I did! Powerful and moving. This book about women’s experiences and strength throughout the Vietnam was was fascinating.

11. Self Healing Isn’t Pretty
Raw and real. This book gave me permission to be messy in my healing journey and reminded me that growth doesn’t always look Instagram-worthy. It’s short, sweet, but totally one where I would buy the physical book to highlight.

12. The Hiking Trip
Another page-turner that kept me guessing. The setting, the tension, the mystery—all of it worked perfectly together.

13. Elon Musk
Fascinating look at innovation, ambition, and the complexity of genius. Whether you love him or not, his story is undeniably compelling.

14. The Power of Now
This book challenged me to be more present, to stop living in the worry of tomorrow or the regret of yesterday. It’s one I’ll be returning to often [also another one that I need the physical book for.]

15. Secret Sister
A mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The family dynamics, the secrets, the revelations—all perfectly executed.

4-Star Books (Loved These Too)

1. 30 Lessons for Living
Wisdom from older generations that we all need to hear. Practical, moving, and full of insights.

2. Christian Atheist
This one made me uncomfortable in the best way. It challenged me to examine whether I’m truly living out my faith or just going through the motions.

3. The Things We Leave Unfinished
A beautiful story about legacy, love, and the stories we leave behind. Emotional and wonderfully written. [Note: the ONLY reason I gave this a 4-star vs 5 is that there was a period of time that felt really slow to me in it. That being said, when I look back at the book as a whole, it’s truly incredible.]

4. The House of My Mother
A pretty messed up story, one you might have heard about. A great reminder that not everything we see on social media is always as it seems.

5. The 40-Day Sugar Fast
More than just a book about sugar—it’s about fasting from the things that don’t serve us and feasting on what matters. This is a faith-based book.

6. The Perfect Son
A thriller that kept me engaged with plenty of twists and strong characters.

7. The Honeymoon
Suspenseful and atmospheric. Not perfect, but definitely worth the read if you love psychological thrillers.

8. You Become What You Think About
Simple but powerful message about the impact of our thoughts on our lives. Quick read with lasting impact.

9. The I-5 Killer
True crime that’s both terrifying and fascinating. Well-researched and gripping. [Note: Some of these “books” I read were Audible exclusives. And some are not full books, but they are long stories where I could learn and gain new perspective. This one was just for the background. Because it’s wild.]

10. The Nightingale
Historical fiction at its finest. The story of two sisters during WWII broke my heart and put it back together again.

11. The Light Work
Encouraging and practical guidance for doing meaningful work in the world. This is definitely more for the hippie-at-heart, but there are a lot of great thoughts and wisdom nuggets you can pull from it.

12. The 10x’s Mentor
Great insights on growth, mindset, and pushing beyond what you think is possible. I personally loved it, but also realize that the author, Grant Cardone, is far too intense for many.

13. The Magic of Believing
An older book that still holds up. It’s about the power of faith and belief in achieving what seems impossible.

14. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
A mortician’s perspective on death that’s surprisingly funny, touching, and thought-provoking.

15. The Case Against Sugar
Eye-opening and a little terrifying. If you know me as A Gutsy Girl, it will probably feel surprising to you that I just marked this off my book reads. Super compelling. [Fun fact: I’ve always wanted to be the Gary Taubes of the gut sector.]

16. The Perfect Nanny
Unsettling and atmospheric. Not for everyone, but if you like dark psychological fiction, this delivers.

17. The Best Wrong Move
A sweet romance with enough depth to keep it interesting.

18. Breath
Fascinating look at how something as simple as the way we breathe affects everything about our health. As a bonus, there is actually a lot of information about the gut in it, too.

19. The Polygamist’s Daughter
A powerful memoir of escape, healing, and finding yourself after leaving everything you’ve known.

3-Star Books (Good, But Not Great)

1. This is Me Letting You Go
Helpful for processing and moving forward, but didn’t resonate with me as deeply as I hoped.

2. You Will Not Recognize Your Life
Some good insights, but felt a bit repetitive at times.

3. Episodes
Interesting concept, but the execution didn’t quite land for me.

4. Not a Very Good Murder
The title kind of says it all. It was fine, but forgettable.

5. One Little Mistake
Decent thriller, but predictable.

6. Always a Bridesmaid
Cute and light, but nothing that stood out.

7. 50 Ways to Change Your Life in 50 Minutes
Some useful tips, but felt surface-level.

8. The Secret Daughter
Good premise, but didn’t fully deliver on its potential.

2-Star Books (Just Didn’t Work for Me)

1. The Madman’s Hotel
I wanted to like this, but it just didn’t hold my attention.

2. Slow Down: How Doing Nothing Makes Us Better Humans
Ironically, I couldn’t slow down enough to connect with this one. The message felt preachy rather than helpful. [Sorry, Ryan!]

3. The Year of Magical Thinking
I know this is beloved by many, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me at this time. I couldn’t fully follow the message.

---

So, What’s Next?

Looking back at 45 books, I’m amazed at the variety, the lessons learned, and the worlds I got to explore.

From faith to fiction, from true crime to personal growth, each book gave me something—even the ones that didn’t quite land.

And here’s the thing….this doesn’t even tell the whole story of my year in learning and growth.

On top of these 45 books, I also listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts.

Whether I was folding laundry, driving to pick up the kids, or going for a walk, I was constantly feeding my mind with conversations, stories, and ideas.

Books and podcasts together created this beautiful rhythm of continuous learning that I never want to lose.

I set a goal to read 60 books in 2026!

I’ll track them in the exact same way as I did in 2025.

Just like this…..

Here are the first 3 books I’m reading [can I finish all three before coming back from Vietnam?!]:

1. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
2. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
3. 12 Months to $1 Million

Anyways, What were your favorite reads this year?

Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for my next great book!

Join the magic and chaos.

Xox,

SKH