Best Reads of 2025

I love to read and talk about books! Let’s begin with my favorite reads of 2025:

Wild, Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy - A mysterious woman washes ashore a remote island near Antarctica, inhabited only by a caretaker and his three children. With gorgeous prose, a setting both wild and beautiful, and an intense and propulsive plot, McConaghy reveals her character’s deeply held secrets, as well as the immensity of love of which humans are capable.

The Remembered Soldier, by Anjet Daanje - A soldier suffers amnesia in World War I and lands in a psychiatric hospital. One day a woman recognizes him as her husband and takes him home to rebuild their life. Daanje takes us through their daily rituals - every touch, every glance, every moment of intimacy - each glimmer of returning memory. But as time goes on, our soldier is less and less sure this woman is who she says she is. A brilliant story about love, truth and the bonds of marriage.

The South, by Tash Aw - A young man travels south with his family to an inherited farm that has fallen into disrepair. He is drawn to the farm manager’s son and soon they embark on an intimate relationship. Aw beautifully describes the sexuality and caste systems that divide, and the family generational ties that bond.

Small Rain, by Garth Greenwell - A poet faces a medical crisis for days in a hospital, where he contemplate the artistic work and relationships that have defined his life. In his immobile state, he is left to ponder his mind, body, and spirit. Greenwell takes us on a very personal journey, but it isn’t until the final powerful pages of this masterpiece he connects with us and the universal experiences of life, beauty, and love.