Books I read in 2025

~ MaryG

In 2011, I started keeping a list of books I’ve read in my phone’s notepad, so I could remember them.

Here is my list for 2025 in the order I read them:

“Night Watch” by Jayne Anne Phillips (c2023)

“The Last Train to Key West” by Chanel Cleeton (c2020)

“Florida” by Lauren Groff (c2018)

“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon (c2023)

“Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney (c2024)

“Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan (c2021)

“Foster” by Claire Keegan (c2010)

“James” by Percival Everett (c2024)

“How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter’s Memoir” by Molly Jong-Fast (c2025)

“Savannah Blues” by Mary Kay Andrews (c2002)

“The Director” by Daniel Kehlmann (c2025) 

“Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett (c2023)

“The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese (c2023)

“A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan (c2010)

“The Candy House” by Jennifer Egan  (c2022)

“The Summer Before the War” by Helen Simonson (c2016)

“Ordinary Human Failings” by Megan Nolan (c2024)

“Heart the Lover” (c2025) by Lily King 

Many of these selections I read for my book group, which I absolutely love. We have such good discussions! Three of the four other women in my book club read way more than I do, so it’s sometimes hard to find something that none of them has read before. So this is how we choose our books:

We rotate the job of picking the book. When it’s your turn, you circulate three titles that interest you and the others rank them 1-3. Usually a clear winner emerges without much math needed.

Looking back on the list, I think Florida by Lauren Groff was my favorite. I’m not usually a short stories person, but this collection really blew me away. I read it before heading to Key West for the first time in February. If you’ve spent any amount of time in the Sunshine State, at least one of the characters will resonate with you. There’s a grain of truth in all the “Florida Man” jokes and memes (that’s why they’re funny) and this book goes deep into the truly fascinating and unique characters that seem to be made possible only in that flat, sticky, hot, beautiful, bizarre one-of-a-kind American state.

I read several books by contemporary Irish women authors this year (both before and after my big 60th birthday trip to Ireland in June). Sally Rooney, Claire Keegan, and Megan Nolan are all great. Several of their novels have been adapted for film and TV. I especially recommend “Ordinary Human Failings” by Megan Nolan. I’ve never read a more aptly titled book. Here’s the quote where she uses the exact words. It’s early on in the book.

On one of his first mornings a memo had been sent around from Edward to the desks of the entire editorial staff, which read:

A REMINDER! Reasonable excuses for lateness/missing meetings/not doing something I told you to do etc, include: Bereavement (parent only). Serious illness (life-threatening, your own). Reasonable excuses do NOT INCLUDE ordinary human failings such as hangovers, broken hearts, etc etc etc.

I think it’s the “etc etc etc” that makes this line so good. The story is all about the etceteras.

12 thoughts on “Books I read in 2025”

  1. I’ve read/listened to several of them. JAMES is now an all-time favorite.

    You and your book club may be interested in the Irish author Niall Williams, whose book THIS IS HAPPINESS is a wonderful read, as is THE YEAR OF THE CHILD. He does imbue his stories with magical realism, though, which some people don’t like—and the pace is sometimes slow. But the language, rhythm, and insights are terrific, I believe.

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    1. I agree, Annie. James was wild. I had read Huck Finn in recent years because it was assigned to my son in high school and I was curious if it stood the test of time. (In my opinion, it didn’t!) I think teachers should only assign Huck Finn now, if they’re going to assign James too.

      And thanks for the Niall Williams recommendation. I’ll check out the titles you mentioned. Man, the Irish sure can write, can’t they? Maybe it’s all that rain.

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      1. Interesting thoughts about Huck Finn. I saw an interview with Everett in which he cited the influences on his humor. His father was first; Mark Twain was second.

        Williams writes about the rain a lot! In fact, I just finished his “History of the Rain,” which I felt was at once a literary tour de force and quite tedious!

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  2. Just reserved “Ordinary Human Failings” from the Library for a Xmas read. Many years ago I went on an Irish reading binge – which ultimately sent me to Ireland- and two retain their spot on my book shelves. ” The Captains and The Kings” which was turned into a tv series and “So Many Partings”, both covering the Irish and their successful resettlement in America.

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  3. Enjoyed reading your book list, and there is some overlap. James was a favorite for last year, and I am a huge fan of Clare Keegan. I have never read anything by Lauren Geoff, and I might give her a try next year.

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