Some books just entertain you. Others capture you and don’t let go even after it’s grown dusty on your bookshelf. Below you will find some stories that shaped my 2025 and quietly left a powerful mark on me in ways I didn’t expect.

Throughout all the chaos, endless school assignments, and long work days, I somehow found a way to sneak in several great reads last year. My gauge for knowing if a book is good or not is if I can still manage to devour it and stay engaged during life’s hectic moments. These books took me out of the monotony and hardships of reality, allowing me an escape and simultaneously reminding me of the world we live in. That’s why I think these are some powerful reads that you should consider adding to your cart if you’re in need of a good book.

James

Percival Everett

For fans of Black authors…

James is a powerful and unique reimagining of Twain’s classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In Everett’s version, James is the wise, humorous, and adventurous protagonist of this story that is enslaved by Huck’s family. When James has to run away due to unforeseen circumstances, he and Huck end up on a dangerous and wild adventure. They encounter many different characters along the way that paint a picture of the brutal reality of enslaved and freed black people during that era.

This has to be hands down my favorite novel that I read in 2025. This was so unexpected because I picked it up in Barnes and Noble after seeing all of the accolades it had on the display. I had no idea what it was about, who the author was, or why it was so widely praised. I can tell you now that I experienced a variety of emotions while reading it. Sadness, anger, empathy, confusion, and lots of laughter. I thought to myself, Percival Everett is such a gifted writer to be able to evoke so many different emotions and feelings in one novel. So this is my top pick, and I think it’s a must-read.

The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

For the historical fiction reader or fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Book Thief…

I don’t consider myself an overly emotional person. I’ve never cried during a movie, not even when Rose let go of Jack’s hand as he sank to the bottom of the Atlantic. So I was genuinely shocked when I found myself uncontrollably sobbing at the end of this book.

The Nightingale is another novel that affected me and left me in deep thought long after closing the book. It follows the journey of two sisters trying to survive in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. While one tries her hardest to be obedient and keep her head down, the other remains rebellious and free-spirited while finding ways to resist the takeover and fight back. As their values and personalities conflict throughout the story, they both discover their love for each other as they make difficult sacrifices in a harrowing period.

I knew I would love this novel from the start because I love reading stories, real or fictional, that highlight the roles of women during the second world war. Their stories often go untold, and that’s why I love when someone brings those hidden stories of brave women into the light.

This novel is a must-read for everyone because I could not help but see the similarities between their world and the one we live in now. I love historical novels because they remind us why it is important not to forget the past.

The Nightingale is also going to be a major motion picture soon, so for those that don’t read, definitely catch it on the big screen.

Address Unknown Katherine Kressmann Taylor

For the reader of WWII history/ short stories/ psychologically intense stories…

Sticking to the World War II theme, Address Unknown is another powerful historical fiction novel that is a must read for EVERYONE. This novel gives readers an idea of the influence and rise of facism from a unique perspective. Much like The Nightingale, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons from that era to the one we are living in today. These comparisons might have frightened me at first, but by the end they invigorated me with hope and strength to be as intolerant as the characters I read in these stories.

Address Unknown is unique because the story is written entirely as a series of letters between two friends in the 1930s. Max is a Jew living in California, and Martin is his friend that moves his family back to Germany right at the rise of Hitler and German fascism. As they write letters to each other, we get to see in real time how Martin becomes influenced by the Nazi party and their ideology to the point that he abandons all of his previous principles, values, and even his friend Max. The ending was so shocking and unexpected that it will leave you completely taken aback. The climax up to that point gives you the feeling of what the rise of fascism might be like as you live a normal, safe life that begins to slowly turn upside down, and then suddenly slaps you in the face with its brutality.

The Housemaid

Freida McFadden

For readers of suspenseful thrillers/ enjoyable page-turners/ popular screen adapted novels…

If you’re chronically on TikTok, you’ve probably heard the controversial talk of Sydney Sweeney being cast as the main protagonist in the film version of this novel. But we’re not here to add more fuel to the fire on Sydney Sweeney, we’re here to talk about the book itself.

I picked this book up absentmindedly, not expecting it to consume me like it did. This is a story about Millie, who takes a job working as a maid for a wealthy couple. What starts out as an already strange situation between Millie, the seemingly crazy wife, and the hot husband takes a completely unexpected turn halfway through. Seriously, I could never have guessed how this book would take such a turn and where it would end up. I love a story that leaves my jaw on the floor and unable to guess what’s going to happen next.

It wasn’t as deep and thought provoking as the others on this list, but it’s still a very good psychological thriller that will have you biting your nails.

Isola

Allegra Goodman

For fans of stories with a strong female protagonist on a quest…

Isola is definitely a story of survival, endurance, and growth. This was such a unique coming-of-age adventure story, and to my surprise, based on a possibly true story.

The novel follows a 16th-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de la Rocque, whose elegant, aristocratic name practically announces that she comes from a world of privilege. Marguerite is a wealthy orphan whose life is upended by her nefarious guardian who squanders all of her wealth and forces her on an expedition to the barely inhabited New World.

When her secret love is found out, she is abandoned on a remote island with the few people left in the world who care for her. Her transformation from a sheltered, privileged, and incapable noblewoman to a brave, bear-fighting, resilient survivor makes this an unforgettable story. It shows the strength we all may possess when needed.

The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins

For fans of classic gothic novels from the Victorian era…

This classic Victorian mystery novel explores important themes of gender inequality, the difficulties of seeking justice, and the dark consequences of a society obsessed with social class and status. Written from the view of different witnesses, each person involved gives their own testimony of the story surrounding the mysterious woman in white. This woman in white has a chance encounter with a drawing instructor that then leads to a series of events involving mistaken identity, deceptive marriages, international secret societies, and the common occurrence of women in that era being thrown into mad houses against their wills.

This novel turned into something I never expected, and I couldn’t believe I waited so long to read it. It’s now one of my favorite Victorian gothic novels that I will reread again in the future.

As usual, my reading list last year was quite varied. We’ve got a gothic mystery, a moral cautionary tale, a coming-of-age adventure novel, and a retelling of an American classic. What I want to challenge myself to read more of in 2026 is biographies. I love fiction, but there have been some great autobiographies and stories of current affairs that I would like to add to my reading list this year. So look out for the next update of good reads I have to recommend!

Also, let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these six books and what you thought of them. If you haven’t, did any of these novels spark your curiosity to want to read them?

The Books That Stayed With Me in 2025