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Hey Reader,
I have a few things that are overdue:
1. My favorite books of 2025, in no particular order.
I tried to simmer it down to 10, but I couldn’t stand to leave any of these off the list:
- Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Such a fun read, and the series comes out in April!
- Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
It was as good as everyone told me it was. (Note: things really picked up with book 2.)
- Liars by Sarah Manguso
I've never read a book like this, in both style and frankness. If you want to get inside the dissolution of a marriage and under a woman's rage, this is for you.
- Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff
A love story involving a progressive political strategist and a former pop star. SO MUCH YES HERE.
- Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
This was marked as a story about female friendship (and yes, it was that) BUT it was also about SO MUCH MORE, including a dark time in Korean history that I've never heard about.
- Working on a Song by Anaïs Mitchell
An inside look at the writing of Hadestown, told through the lyric development. As a Broadway baby, I ate this up.
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book took me back to the days of watching shuttle launches in the library at elementary school.
- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
I'd sworn off books written by men for a while, but this one brought me back. I went in cols, and was pleasantly surprised at how well the spontaneously-combusting-kids storyline worked.
- The Wedding People by Alison Aspach
I love a book that takes me inside the mind of someone in the middle of their existential crisis. I had so many how is this going to end?? moments!
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I read this after Kevin Wilson convinced me male authors were okay again. Loved it. (It's my second Backman book and he's 2/2!)
- A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
I LOVED Mandanna's debut book, so I saved this one for a few weeks. It did not disappoint and was so charming and special.
- All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is a controversial one, and for good reason. But/and: I loved the way she talked about addiction and co-dependence and I don't know that I've ever read such an honest and harrowing telling from within the experience.
- Writers & Lovers and Heart the Lover by Lily King
I love King's writing so much. I love these characters. I love these stories.
(Note: I read Writers & Lovers first, and that's the order I recommend.)
- Better than Fiction by Alexa Martin
I binged a bunch of Martin's books last year and this was my fave! Give me all the Colorado book-themed romanctic fiction!!
2. My girls turned 12 this past weekend. Twelve. TWELVE. What even is time?! These middle school tween years are A RIDE. AND: one of the biggest surprises is just how much I like the people they're becoming.
3. January felt like the slowest month ever, and February has passed in a blink. Keeping up with the news (and my subsequent rage and heartbreak) feels like a full-time job and something I need to avoid at all costs for self-protection.
My happy medium looks like controlled doses, lots of community, and prioritizing my basic needs first. And calling my senators and congresspeople.
4. I started a new self-imposed 90-day visibility sprint for myself yesterday and I can't wait to tell you more about it. I'm giving myself points, prizes, and penalties and... 36 hours in, I'm loving it.
Now it's your turn:
How's your heart?
Anything I should add to my TBR list for 2026? Did you love something on my best of 2025 list? Did you hate something on the list?
Tell me!
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