My Favourite Books of 2025
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Set in 1970s India, four people from vastly different backgrounds find their lives intersecting in a city dominated by political violence and poverty. I loved how the book slowly reveals an interconnected social web, turning an unfamiliar history into a story that was intimate, fragile, and deeply human. If you enjoy historical fiction—or are interested in India—you should absolutely read this. (For what it’s worth, I liked it even better than The Covenant of Water by Abraham Varghese.)
The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson
Spanning WWII Germany and Cold War Berlin, this novel follows a mother and daughter whose lives are divided by war, music, and eventually the Berlin Wall. I’m a sucker for dual-timeline historical fiction - but this book takes the genre to a whole new level. Gorgeous writing - and the musical elements are to die for. If you read a lot of WW2 fiction and/or love novels about resilient women - this book is for you. I’m jealous you get to read it for the first time.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Set between an unnamed New England university and Paris, the story follows an American woman whose intense love affair fractures her sense of self, ambition, and emotional stability. I love reading about the lives of writers—the pretension! The anxiety! The crushing disappointment! Throw in a steamy love affair and Paris, and I’m in. Read this if you liked Writers & Lovers by the same author. (I liked this one better.)
James by Percival Everett
This is a brilliant retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of enslaved Jim. This novel is outstanding. The first 10% of the book is fine - it establishes us in place/time. But then at about 12% into the book we learn something that reframes everything else that follows. It’s so good. Maybe you’re worried you don’t remember enough of Huckleberry Finn to truly appreciate this book? No need to re-read the whole thing. Ask ChatGPT for a summary and dive into James.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Told entirely through letters, the novel follows an elderly woman in New England whose long life is revealed through decades of correspondence with friends, lovers, and strangers. This was utterly delightful to read! When I finished, I immediately began looking for other epistolary novels. Looking for a fast, sweet book? This is it.
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
Spanning hundreds of years in Venice, the novel centers on a glassmaking family struggling to preserve their art as the world around them changes. I loved the strong female characters (of course) and the way the author plays with time. It’s quite a long novel, so I got the kindle and audible version so I could go back and forth. This helped so much, because the Italian accent on the audio version is beautiful and it makes the story that much more immersive. Read it if you love sweeping historical novels. Did you read The Girl with The Pearl Earring? It’s the same author.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Set in the sweaty, lawless kitchens of New York restaurants, the memoir traces Bourdain’s life as a young cook fueled by ambition, addiction, and adrenaline. I’m late to Anthony Bourdain, and how sad for me! Because WOW what a voice. He narrates the audible version and it feels like he’s talking directly to you while drinking a beer. A must-read if you’re a foodie—or if you just love a great, unapologetic voice.
Some books for daily inspiration.
And a Few Daily Readers…
I really got into daily readers this year - books you can read in short, satisfying chunks, without needing deep immersion or long stretches of focus. Here are the three that still live on my desk:
A Book of Days by Patti Smith
A brilliantly idiosyncratic visual book of days. If you loved Just Kids - this feels like a companion piece.
How to Live an Artful Life by Katy Hessel
Artistic inspiration for everyday of the year. If you loved The Story of Art Without Men — or if you’re an artist of any stripe - you’ll love this.
Life is Meals by James Salter and Kay Salter
I keep coming back to this book, even though the title rubs me the wrong way. It’s beautifully illustrated and tidy - a little nugget of food knowledge for every day of the year.
xo, L
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