December is my favorite time to reflect on my reading life.
I love hearing what other people read, reviewing everything I read this year, and making my annual book list for the coming year.
We visited our local used bookstore over Thanksgiving weekend, and I was reminded of the vast number of books there are in the world—so many titles and authors I’ve never heard of, and new ones being released all the time. There’s a wealth of knowledge and stories and ideas and inspiration to be found, and adding new books to my reading list makes me feel hopeful.
This year, I read 26 books on a variety of topics: novels to business and leadership, psychology to memoirs to the arts. Some were on my reading list, some I discovered in Libby (the library app), and some came recommended by friends.
I also read four books with the Musician & Co. Book Club this year:
The Gap and the Gain (Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy)
The Long Game (Dorie Clark)
Deep Work (Cal Newport)—a re-read for me
Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian)
Want to join us next year? It’s free to sign up.
Looking for inspiration for your 2026 reading list? In this post, I’m sharing the five best books I read in 2025 (poetry, fiction, business, and nonfiction/memoir) + a full list of everything else I read this year.
Happy reading!
The 5 Best Books I Read in 2025
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Dog Songs (Mary Oliver)
This was the first book I read this year and I really enjoyed it. I loved starting my reading year with a poetry collection—perhaps I’ll make this an annual tradition.
As indicated by the title, this collection celebrates the unique bond between humans and dogs, as seen through Oliver’s own relationship with dogs. I especially loved “Percy, Waiting for Ricky.”
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk: A Novel (Kathleen Rooney)
I saved this one for the end of the year—it’s perfect for December.
It’s New Year’s Eve in NYC, 1984. Lillian Boxfish is on her way to a party. Once a copywriter for R.H. Macy’s in the 1930s, she became the highest paid advertising woman in the country. Now, at 85, she’s reflecting on life, love, and the city that never sleeps as she sets out on a 10-mile walk, meeting bartenders, chauffeurs, children, criminals along the way.
The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir (Kelly Bishop)
As a longtime Gilmore Girls fan, I loved Kelly Bishop’s stories and recollections of her time on the show.
I also enjoyed reading about the rest of her six-decade career: her early work as a dancer, being part of the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line (and her role in writing it), and Dirty Dancing. She also writes about her failed marriages (and the one that stuck), her relationship with her parents, marching for women’s rights, and more.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (John Berendt)
This came recommended by a friend. Set in the 1980s, it’s a non-fiction novel about an antiques dealer in Savannah, GA, on trial for murder (four times!). I found it a compelling, captivating read with vivid storytelling and eccentric characters. I also loved the references to the Sonny Seiler and the University of Georgia mascot, UGA V.
Learn Faster, Perform BetteR: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of PRacticing (Molly Gebrian)
I read this in the fall for the Musician & Co. Book Club—another favorite!
Violist and scholar Dr. Molly Gebrian examines the neuroscience of how we learn and memorize information and applies this to music. She shares a myriad of research studies and practical insights to help you choose practicing methods that align with how the brain learns best.
Truly a must-read, whether you’re a student, amateur, or professional. I highly recommend it.
If you’re curious, here are the
other books I read this year:
*Click Book Covers for Direct links*
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Looking for more book recommendations?
Here are a few other end-of-year reading reflections:
What was the best book you read this year?
What challenged you, inspired you, or broadened your perspective? What helped you develop a new skill or made you a better person?
