My 2025 Reading List We Need To Talk About Books

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 2, 2025, 11:32 PM

my 2025 reading list we need to talk about books

2024 was a difficult year for me to maintain a blog. Growing children, moving house, health issues and increased work responsibilities made it difficult to find adequate time to read and review. Nevertheless, I am ploughing on! Perhaps not posting as frequently as I have in the past. And 2025 promises to be as challenging if not more so. In 2024 I made through all the books on my 2024 Reading List plus much more besides.

As well as the items on my list I also read a couple of prepublications novels that were sent my way – the charming Goyhood and the ponderous Sleeping in the Sun. My wife Rebecca tackled another – Conquist by Dirk Strasser. With my daughter having read her way through Harry Potter (after much elbowing) it was time I finally read it too. At the time of writing I have just started The Half-Blood Prince and have a long post of the entire series in the works. If I had to pick a favourite book this year it would be the 2022 Booker Prize Winner The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka. I will not be writing a review of it as Rebecca’s take on this blog is already popular.

Helloooo! We’re already a week into 2025 and I’m already buzzing with excitement about all of the good books ahead! Below is a list of 25 books (of the 36) I plan to read this year, broken down into four categories - new books, books I’m currently reading, books I’ve read before (and am... As a reminder (and helpful tip!), I try to utilize the library as much as possible. I think libraries are one of the greatest gifts and are far too underutilized. I mostly request and read books from the library first (either physical books, or via Libby or Hoopla), then, if they’re 5-star reads, I sometimes buy the book to have as part of my...

This helps cut down on costs, keeping reading as free + fun as possible. I encourage you all to become BFF’s with your local library, too! Also, it’s worth noting that if I start a new book and it’s vulgar, super raunchy, repetitive or straight up just doesn’t resonate or sit right with me, even mid-way through, I’ll stop reading... I think that’s what keeps reading special and enjoyable for me. I’m not the kind of reader who has to see a book through to the end to say I read it or to see if it gets better. There are far too many amazing books out there to waste time reading through ones that don’t keep us captivated or challenged, amiright?!

So, #dontsettleforbadbooks, okay? New Books on the Block (books I’ve never read): 4. The Maid’s Secret - Nita Prose (coming April 2025) It’s time for the 12th edition of my annual reading list. I like to put together the list as way to document my reading goals for the year and to collect any suggestions or recommendations you might have based on the types of books I...

Similar to recent years, I’m maintaining two lists. The first list is my fun reads, which are generally fictional works from the science fiction genre. I read these books for entertainment, although there are distinct reasons why the list leans towards science fiction that you can read about here. My morning reads is the list that I use for learning. The themes are primarily personal development, health and wellness, and business. The guidelines I use to comprise each of these lists are included at the end of this post.

My ‘Want to Read’ list on Goodreads had 205 books on it to start the year which, believe it or not, is an improvement from last year when there over 220 books on it. I generally read about 30 books in a year – 20 from my fun reads and 10 from my morning reads. I’ve trimmed the overall number of books in my queue by being more selective in what I add to it. While I create and use the lists to guide my reading, I’m don’t rigidly adhere to them. If a strong recommendation or new title comes up, it could jump the queue if I find it interesting. Each year, there are a couple of titles that I like to try and revisit.

It’s a good way to reinforce the key concepts I took away the first (or last) time I read it. I didn’t do a good job of this last year, but I’d like to revisit at least one or two off this list in 2025. It’s been a while since I’ve made a reading list for myself (the last one was in 2017!), so I thought I’d make one for 2025. For this reading list, I tried to pick a mix of books I haven’t read before, as well as some I’ve been interested in re-reading; fiction and nonfiction. There’s also a mix of all sorts of genres; prose and graphic novels; and new and old books. Energy levels permitting, I plan to post reviews throughout the year for each book I read from this list, too.

So, without further ado, here’s my (alphabetized) list of books I plan to read in 2025! Anyone who knows me knows that I read way more than 25 books in a year, so you may be wondering why this list is so short. The answer? I want to leave room for impulsivity and flexibility for when my brain needs a break from an assigned list, so I can pick up whatever books I want at the library or in... Also… I have a much longer list of books that I own but haven’t read yet, and I *also* plan to read many of them this year: I usually own somewhere between 25 and 40 books that I haven’t read at any given time.

I tend to go through approximately 30-50 books from this category in a calendar year. If you end up reading any of these books, too, please share what you think! This is Soaliha here, I’m a journalist, writer, podcaster and book enthusiast with a particular passion for reading (and sharing) books by authors from diverse backgrounds — which is why we’ve launched this column... Anyone who has spent even a modicum of time in online spaces like the infamous #BookTok will know that it is often the same types of books spotlighted again and again (The ___ of... This book club was made specifically so that we can all diversify our reading and support authors from different walks of life. From an unsettling South Korean horror about a haunted research facility, to a heart-wrenching exploration of how far desperate families in Kolkata will go to protect their loved ones, this month’s books are full...

Check out our most anticipated books for 2025 below! Flitting between London and Ghana, The Rest of You is a moving story about the emotional journey of Whitney Appiah, a Black British masseuse who, despite her job helping other people heal the trauma... Not a Medium Member? Read the full story here. 2024 was an exceptional year for me, reading-wise. Without a formal reading plan in place, I read over 60 books.

This year, I am changing things. Instead of wasting time thinking about what to pick up next, I have made a holistic list of books that piqued my interest in 2024 across IG and other mediums. I have short-listed these 25 books that I want to read in 2025. This is my fixed reading list for this year. I am confident of reading another 25 books, which I will pick basis my mood, any new releases, scheduled book club, and buddy reads. A new chapter begins, and as the pages of 2025 start to turn, I’m thrilled to share my reading list - carefully curated to inspire, educate, and entertain.

Books have always been more than just stories or lessons to me - they’re a source of inspiration, comfort, and personal growth. This year, I’ve curated a list that strikes a balance between self-discovery, professional development, and a few delightful escapes into magical worlds and meaningful narratives. Whether you’re looking to grow, learn, or simply lose yourself in a great story, this list has something for everyone and I can’t wait to hear which ones resonate with you. These are the kinds of books that make you pause, reflect, and maybe even take a deep breath when you need it most. They’re about those little mindset shifts that can lead to big breakthroughs and the moments that help us grow. I’m excited to dive into these titles this year, and I hope you discover a must-read too.

1. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph MurphyWhat It’s About: This timeless guide explains how your subconscious mind shapes your reality and teaches you how to harness its power to create positive changes in your life.Why I chose it: I’m... Unlocking my subconscious feels like tapping into a superpower I didn’t know I had. If you'd like to support Words Like Silver financially (which allows me to devote more time to its development), you can shop my picks directly on Bookshop, a platform that supports independent booksellers. Not all books I reference are available there—most are—so alternatively, you can shop at a local favorite, Barnes & Noble, or support your local library.

I just ask that you don't buy these from Amazon. (Thank you.) To start out strong, I'm immediately sharing my book list for the year, including books I'm partway through (noted accordingly.) Nowadays, I use The Storygraph as my preferred reading tracker, but I still love having the full list on the blog too for reference. Check the review archive and books category page to explore each read more in-depth; I'm still in the process of building out more reviews and transferring hundreds over from my old site. And, of course, book club with me about my 2024 reads.

You can find each of my 2025 mid-year favorites here for purchase in a Bookshop storefront. I've shared a lot here about my love of movies. While I'm also a lover of books, I've never quite become the avid reader I've aspired to be. I grew up surrounded by readers—people who would rather lie in bed all day with a book they've read six times than do anything or see anyone else. My oldest child is this kind of reader, and I cherish their insatiable reading habit. The inspiration came from a childhood friend who loves to read.

In high school, we bonded over reading Oprah's Book Club selections together. Her “25 books in 2025” goal rekindled something within me, and I've found such delight in crafting this reading list and sharing it with friends, family, and even complete strangers. Thanks for reading Notes from Corinne! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. My word of the year is FLOURISH, and I'm watching this manifest through reading. As I read, the stories and characters create new pathways within me.

My 2025 Reading List We Need To Talk About Books

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