Here’s a look back at the reading year of 2025. So many stats, so much fun!

What a fun year of reading! In 2025, I read 348 books, with 141 of those being on audio. My most read genre was mystery, followed by romance. It’s clear working in an elementary school has reinvigorated my reading of middle grade titles as I read 44 this year. 

Some reading highlights…

Reading Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter with my teen daughter, as well as Sunrise on the Reaping. It is so fun to connect through books. 

I loved catching up on the Cleopatra Fox historical mystery series. Looks like book 12 comes out in June 2026! And speaking of series, I was sad to finish reading the Vanderbeekers series, but loved that I got to finish while visiting their beloved NYC. It was also hard to say goodbye to the historical mystery series, Electra McDonnell, but I’m so happy all of those series are a part of my reading life and reading history. 

Thankfully, there are always new series to discover and that I did in 2025 – Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series are so funny and steamy and were the perfect reads to find in the spring and summer. I also discovered the fantasy series The Lunar Chronicles and have read the first two. And the paranormal romance series Immortals After Dark (woooweee talk about page turning and steamy!). 

Thanks to being around elementary kids at work, I have been introduced to amazing middle grade titles and series including: Jacky Ha-Ha, The Great Peach Experiment, and The Land of Stories. 

Three memorable reading experiences of the year include: reading Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez within days of its publication, listening to The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard this summer while sitting in front of a fan in our basement when our AC went out, and listening to all 528 pages of Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray while prepping the thanksgiving meal. 

Let’s check in on those reading challenges…

I had thought I’d read 25 nonfiction titles, but it took a bit to find my groove. I read 12 in 2025. 

I read 44 books from my shelves (goal was 26). 

I read 40 books from publication year 2024 (goal was 24). 

I read 126 cozy mysteries with my goal being 51. 

I read 81 titles from Netgalley, with my goal being 27. 

I read 7 books about creativity (goal was open ended). 

I read 130 backlist titles (goal was open ended). (I also completed the Book Girls Guide In Case You Missed it Backlist Challenge). 

I read 36 books over 400 pages (goal was open ended). 

I caught up on one series (Cleopatra Fox).