I'm an avid reader, a book hoarder, a proofreader... and a linguistic magpie (I borrowed that term from the queen of words Susie Dent). Here are all the books I loved in 2025.
🌱 Earth by John Boyne is another masterfully crafted novella that captivated me from the first page. Boyne dives deep into the complex life of Evan Keogh – a talented footballer trapped in a life that isn’t truly his own. The writing is vivid and haunting, with Boyne’s signature attention to detail and emotional depth. Earth is the second in his Elemental series, following Water, and is a beautifully layered story that stays with you long after turning the last page.
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☕️ The Café With No Name by Robert Seethaler is a tender, moving story set in post-war Vienna. It follows Robert Simon, a quiet man who opens a small café as the city begins to rebuild. Seethaler shows how everyday life can be full of subtle beauty, struggles and unexpected connections. His writing is simple and heartfelt. A lovely, gentle read.
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🧸 In The Names, Florence Knapp begins with a single moment – a mother in a London registry office in 1987, forced to choose between three possible names for her newborn son – and spins it into three parallel lives. Clever, emotional and elegantly structured in a Sliding Doors-style narrative, it shows how seemingly small decisions can shape an entire life. You really feel the weight of every choice. An amazing debut. Knapp is an exceptional writer. I loved it so much, I read it twice.
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🤍 The Little Liar by Mitch Albom is a moving story about Nico, an 11-year-old boy whose one heartbreaking mistake in WWII Greece changes lives forever. The Little Liar follows Nico, his brother, and a childhood friend as they grow up in the shadow of that betrayal. A powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you.
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Emma by Jane Austen is a witty and engaging novel about Emma Woodhouse, a clever but sometimes misguided young woman who enjoys matchmaking for those around her. Emma is one of Austen’s more modern characters, in that she is independently wealthy and sees no need for marriage herself. Although she means well, her matchmaking attempts often lead to confusion and unexpected problems. As Emma learns from her mistakes, she becomes more self-aware. Jane Austen's sharp humour, memorable characters (Mrs Elton!) and insightful observations about human nature make Emma one of her most enduring works.
Prior to publication, Austen described her new novel in a letter to her family:
"I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will very much like."
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All the Broken Places by John Boyne picks up from where The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas ended. It's the story of Gretel Fernsby, the daughter of one of the most notorious Nazi commandments.
I think Boyne has an amazing skill in crafting his characters. You feel you know them intimately. Gretel is a hugely flawed character but also can be very kind and understands conflict in others.
"If every man is guilty of all the good he did not do, as Voltaire suggested then I have spent a lifetime convincing myself that I am innocent of all the bad."
I didn't want to put this book down. He's a master storyteller. Every detail felt very real to me, nothing too contrived.
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Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout is a beautifully written collection of interconnected short stories. She's such a clever writer. I love the attention to detail around what seems like very ordinary lives but sometimes the weight of her words is extraordinary: "They had grown up on shame; it was the nutrient of their soil."
The New York Times describes her writing perfectly: "You read Strout, really, for the same reason you listen to a requiem: to experience the beauty in sadness."
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Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is set over the course of a family wedding in Baltimore. It's a funny, perceptive story about ordinary lives, relationships and family dynamics. The main character and narrator, Gail Baines, is quirky, socially awkward, and someone who values her boundaries (she even cuts her own hair to avoid making small talk at the salon). She reminded me so much of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge – one of my all-time favourite characters.
Love this line: "Because one of life's frustrations is that sometimes, it's best to say nothing."
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Air by John Boyne
📚This is the final instalment of Boyne’s impressive quartet of novellas (Water, Earth, Fire and Air). It follows the story of Aaron, who we first met as a young man in Fire. Now 40, he’s flying from Sydney to Dublin with his 14-year-old son. At 30,000 feet, Aaron begins to unpack the trauma of his childhood and the way it has shaped his life. Water is still the standout for me but Air brings the series to a moving close. These novellas are the perfect size if you’re travelling. Although I’d be tempted to leave Fire at home. 🥺
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You Are Here by David Nicholls is a very modern British love story (giving off strong Richard Curtis vibes). Michael, a geography teacher, is recently separated and Marnie, a proofreader, is also divorced. They end up walking together on the Coast to Coast trail across Britain. It's such a great story about human connection through shared humour, music and broken relationships. It's a slow burn, but that only adds to its charm.
"She had become addicted to the buzz of the cancelled plan"
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Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Alison Leslie Gold
This moving memoir tells the story of Miep Gies, the courageous woman who helped hide Anne Frank and her family during the Second World War. It is a powerful account of the dangers Miep faced while protecting the Franks and other Jewish people from the Nazis.
Her kindness and humility are inspiring. The memoir also provides a different perspective on Anne Frank's story, highlighting the extraordinary risks taken by ordinary people who chose to do the right thing.
One passage that especially stood out to me: "People also ask if there is anything I would like to say as I approach my hundredth birthday. The answer is I have been very lucky. I came from far and I survived the war. I was given a great opportunity to find and shelter the diary, to be able to bring the message from Anne to the world. I will never know why."
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Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang is a clever literary heist. Athena Liu is a literary darling, while June Hayward is literally nobody. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and passes it off as her own. Huge success soon follows as the book tops the bestseller lists, but then the cracks start to appear as June spirals further and further out of control. It's a gripping (and funny) read that explores the dark side of social media, plagiarism and cultural appropriation in the publishing industry. A good reminder to back up your files... and choose your friends wisely!