I had grand plans at the beginning of the year. Every month, I’d make up a TBR list (these lists have been SUCH fun to write up, plus I’ve found them super motivating!) and do a separate post talking about all the books I read in the previous month.
Well…I managed to make a TBR list in January and February, but February’s reading never made it into a post, let alone anything for March or April!
As you may have seen in my May TBR post, 2025 has been an unusual reading year for me. Here are some random observations about my reading year so far:
- I’ve finished over 40 books
- This is the year of audiobooks (over the last 5 years, around 20% of my reading was generally audiobooks; so far this year, that number is closer to 60%!)
- This is the year of classics (I’ve read 9 already this year; I read 18 in 2024, and 8 in 2023)
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my reading life this year, except I keep complaining that I haven’t had enough sit-down-to-read time. Thankfully, we’re in autumn now, and I’m getting more time for that again. It’s delightful!
Anyway, without further ado, here are the books that stand out from the first four months of the year. Some of these will have shown up in my January wrap-up post, but they deserve a place of their own here, too!
I’m not going to go into much detail on why I loved these books; just give the things that stood out the most to me. You can discover the stories for yourself! They were all 4 ½ or 5 ★ books for me.
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The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox: Deep, character-driven adoption story…this book reminded me why I love reading all over again.
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson: Foster child, sacrificial love, the true meaning of family. Despite Gilly’s misuse of language sometimes, I fell in love with her and her story.
If the Ocean Has a Soul by Rachel G. Jordan: Devotional, refreshing, and an experience in itself. This book made me think and was also somehow restful and invigorating at the same time.
Even Irina by Lynnita Seibel: Faith, family, survival, persecution—this children’s book was an unforgettable peek into a country and time I’ve read very little about!
Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin: Courage, bravery, adventure, hope in dark places. This true story was unbelievable, gripping, and a tough but important peek into the lives of those sent to Nazi concentration camps.
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp: Family, hope, endurance, humor—we read this book aloud as a family, and it was the most gripping, entertaining, fascinating story! I especially loved how Maria kept poking fun at herself.
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley: Stories, romance, adventure. This book was way shorter and way sweeter than I anticipated, and it made me happy in all the best ways! (I can’t wait to find time for the sequel now!)
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham: Dark, well-researched, informative—I keep thinking about this book, even though I finished it well over a month ago now. Very well written!
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: A character study, entertaining, romance, family. This book surprised me by how easy and gripping it was to read, and I loved all the nuances that you don’t get in movies! One to re-read sometime.
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron: Mystery, family, cooking, spies, marriage of convenience. There was so much more to this book than I anticipated, and I ended up loving it!
Have you read any of these books? Do you have any top favorites from the first part of this year? If so, please share! I’m always looking for new favorite reads!
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