Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Reads of 2025

 This week is ALL about our favorite reads of 2025. I have so many favorites.

I already shared my 5 star middle grade reads - here.

I have a LOT of five-star reads last year. In trying to keep this list shorter, I left off a bunch that I really did love. 

Here are my top Teen and Adult Reads:

Teen:

Adult:

Did you read any of these too? Did you enjoy them?

Middle Grade Review: Outside

Razzi knows she's never supposed to go outside, but it doesn't make her curious about things. It's not safe. Ollie tried going outside and he died.

But sometimes you have to break the rules...

My Thoughts: This book was interesting - it burrowed deep under my skin. It's given me a LOT to think about. There are a lot of pieces here and the whole picture slowly begins to take shape. There were a couple pieces that I didn't understand, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. I couldn't put this book down; I had to figure out what happened. 

Cover Thoughts: Enticing, but not part of the book

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school or public library collection.

Picture Book Review: I've Got You

Anthony is always there for his little brother. They play together, Anthony teaches him, and Anthony comfort him. As time goes on, Rasheed becomes a big brother. And he does exactly what Anthony did for him.

This is a very sweet story about siblings and family. It made me tear up. 

Goals for 2026

 Here are some goals for 2026 (not bookish as those will be later this month)

Travel:

Not sure where I will be heading this year, but some probably visiting some favorite places and favorite people and maybe somewhere new.

 I want to take more day trips around New England

Hobbies:

Cook more

Get back into paper quilling (I failed this last year)

Create a monthly journal sheet

Paint (start doing something with my backlog of paintings)

Writing:

The well has been dry for a while, but maybe start a new project. Something just for me. Maybe I need to write just for me and not for the idea of showing anyone else.

What are some of your goals for the year?

Wrap of 2025

 

Another year over and a new one begun.

Some highlights from last year:

Adventures:

1. Visited a steam Cider Mill
2. Hiked Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon
3. Hiked in Acadia National Park
4. Took a horseback ride through the battlefields of Gettysburg 
5. Finished a 5K run/walk (first race since high school)
6. Picked flowers at a tulip farm
7. Visited friends in Seattle area
8. Went to a Fancy Tea
9. Visits with friends

Writing: 

1. Wrote a Summer Romance Article for SLJ 
2. Wrote a romance post for Teen Librarian Toolbox
3. Created a YA Romance Book Trope Database

Work: Hosted LOTS of programs

1. We had a fantastic evening with Sarah Beth Durst
2. Had baby goats comes visit us
3. Wally the Green Monster stopped by
4. Helped create a life-sized Candy Land game 

Books and Blogs:

1. Read a lot of great books
2. Attended James Ponti Author Event
3. So many blog hits this year 
4. Achieved my Goodreads book challenge
5. Wrote more than 350 blog posts this year

It wasn't all good, but I'm trying to focus more on the good than the negative. These moments made me happy. 

Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!

I hope 2026 brings you happiness, health, laughter, and so many great books to read.

Favorite Line: Austen Affair

Recently, I finished The Austen Affair and it was charming, funny, and sweet. I loved the nods to Jane Austen's work.

Here's my favorite line of the book: