You deserve a literary lifestyle that’s cozy and comforting! Join my free email community of readers who rave about my exclusive weekly newsletter, printable library, and 5-day email series with my best tips to read as avidly as the Gilmore Girls, which comes with a printable PDF checklist of the books on the show. You’ll love it!
🏆5 Best Books of the Year... So Far!
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Hi Reader, The halfway point of the year is when "best books of the year, so far" lists are revealed, so here are mine! The numbers: I have read 55 books so far in 2025. This list includes only books published in 2025, but I've added my backlist picks from 2025 at the end as a bonus, so keep scrolling!
5 Best Books of the Year... So Far!Theme: I'm a Gilmore Girls fan through and through. ALL of these books weave threads of family drama. The Bright Years by Sarah DamoffAn excellent debut about a family navigating generational trauma, secrets, and addiction, told through three poignant and distinct perspectives with a full-circle ending that tugs at the heart. You can read it in a weekend! Broken Country by Clare Leslie HallA genre-bending Reese's Book Club pick that blends a love triangle, family drama, and a courtroom mystery into one epic saga. So far, this is my top pick for book of the year. Fun For the Whole Family by Jennifer E. SmithA big-hearted sibling “dramedy” that will make you laugh and cry. Narrated by Lauren Graham on audio, it works really well for fans of her work on Parenthood. Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby JimenezA sad and heavy, but very realistic love story about long-distance dating amidst the family drama of coping with a parent's dementia. Jimenez is always my favorite romance author because her stories blend escapism with real-life issues. What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey LangeA melancholy second-chance romance with complex family drama for fans of This Is Us. I was so deeply immersed in the tragic story of this family that I couldn't stop thinking about them. I'd place this one as a close second for book of the year so far. Bonus: Best Backlist Titles I Read in 2025... So FarMatthew McConaughey's memoir, Greenlights, was possibly the most entertaining audiobook I've ever listened to. It's funny and engaging, making it an excellent book for a road trip, whether you're traveling alone or with another adult. You will laugh out loud! My favorite book I read so far for our Rory Gilmore reading challenge was Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. This one felt more fun and youthful than her other books, making it a nice change of pace for a classic. If you're on the fence, go with Broken Country, my top pick of the year so far, which is bound to also be on many book of the year lists this year! Remember, it's a good day to read a book. -Jules Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The ads in this email also help contribute to my costs and keep this content free to the public. Thank you for your support. |
Friday Night Readers (f/k/a The Literary Lifestyle)
You deserve a literary lifestyle that’s cozy and comforting! Join my free email community of readers who rave about my exclusive weekly newsletter, printable library, and 5-day email series with my best tips to read as avidly as the Gilmore Girls, which comes with a printable PDF checklist of the books on the show. You’ll love it!
Formerly known as The Literary Lifestyle. We are rebranding! Hi Reader, I just unboxed my latest ThriftBooks order and was shocked at all I got for $16. (And the quality!) In case you aren't familiar, ThriftBooks is the world’s largest online independent used book seller. I worked with ThriftBooks on the blog today, where you'll unbox my book haul with me and learn my top hacks for scoring big deals on new and used books at ThriftBooks since 2018. If you're doing the Rory Gilmore Reading...
Formerly known as The Literary Lifestyle. We are in the middle of rebranding! Hi Reader, One of bestselling author Jo Piazza’s biggest interests is trad (traditional) wives, which is the subject of her newest release, Everyone Is Lying To You. (In case you aren’t familiar with trad wives, it’s a social media community of women who embrace traditional gender roles in marriage. They focus on sharing domestic duties, such as cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing, and a 1950s-style ideal of a more...
Formerly known as The Literary Lifestyle. We are rebranding! Hi Reader, June is Audiobook Month, and I haven't yet talked to you about audiobooks, so let's do it! Audiobooks are what got me back into reading about ten years ago. I was spending a lot of time in the car and just wasn't getting enough stimulation from the radio or podcasts. Since then, I have read around 50 audiobooks per year. They accompany me on ALL mind-numbing tasks, from folding laundry to putting away dishes. They also...