The best books of 2025

This list is part of the best books of 2025.

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My favorite read in 2025

The Penguin Lessons

By Tom Michell ,

Book cover of The Penguin Lessons: What I Learned from a Remarkable Bird

👍 liked this book because...

“the pain of parting is the toll demanded by fate for all the joy brought to us by loved ones, and I felt inconsolable.”
― Tom Michell, The Penguin Lessons

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Immersion 🥈 Character(s)

  • Writing style

    👍 Liked it

  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace
The Penguin Lessons

By Tom Michell ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Penguin Lessons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The unique, moving and heartwarming true story of an unlikely friendship which captured imaginations around the world . . .

'I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me smile so continuously' 5***** Reader Review
'How could a penguin transform so many lives? Read it and see. You'll not regret it' 5***** Reader Review
'Delightful, uplifting, enjoyable, fun and beautifully written' 5***** Reader Review
_______

Tom Michell is in his roaring twenties: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless…

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My 2nd favorite read in 2025

Anxious People

By Fredrik Backman ,

Book cover of Anxious People

❤️ loved this book because...

“They say that a person’s personality is the sum of their experiences. But that isn’t true, at least not entirely, because if our past was all that defined us, we’d never be able to put up with ourselves. We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we’re more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows.”
― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

“We give those we love nicknames, because love requires a word that belongs to us alone.”
― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is.”
― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

“Expensive restaurants have bigger gaps between the tables. First class on airplanes has no middle seats. Exclusive hotels have separate entrances for guests staying in suites. The most expensive thing you can buy in the most densely populated places on the planet is distance.”
― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

“When you're a child you long to be an adult and decide everything for yourself, but when you're an adult you realize that's the worst part of it.”
― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Character(s) 🥈 Story/Plot

  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it

  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down
Anxious People

By Fredrik Backman ,

Why should I read it?

22 authors picked Anxious People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The funny, touching and unpredictable No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a major Netflix TV series

'A brilliant and comforting read' MATT HAIG
'Funny, compassionate and wise. An absolute joy' A.J. PEARCE
'A surefooted insight into the absurdity, beauty and ache of life' GUARDIAN
'I laughed, I sobbed, I recommended it to literally everyone I know' BUZZFEED
'Captures the messy essence of being human' WASHINGTON POST

From the 18 million copy internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
_______

It's New Year's Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when…

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My 3rd favorite read in 2025

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

By Anna Johnston ,

Book cover of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

❤️ loved this book because...

“Love is . . . about picking someone up and never, ever putting them down again, no matter how heavy things become.”
― Anna Johnston, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

“Grief was love with nowhere to go.”
― Anna Johnston, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

“Fred woke with a start. Or possibly a fart.”
― Anna Johnston, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

Humour

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Character(s) 🥈 Writing

  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it

  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

By Anna Johnston ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“A funny, heartfelt story about found family and seeing the silver lining in life. Fans of A Man Called Ove and Remarkably Bright Creatures will especially enjoy this new novel.”—Library Journal

A zany case of mistaken identity allows a lonely old man one last chance to be part of a family in this warm, life-affirming debut novel.

Frederick Fifewas born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he'd return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is, at age eighty-two, there's nobody left in Fred's life to borrow from, and…

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Book cover of The Penguin Lessons: What I Learned from a Remarkable Bird
Book cover of Anxious People
Book cover of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

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