2025 in Review
2025 in Review: 81 Book Breakdown
By: Brittany Shields
2025 is in the books! (I say this every year…)
Thanks to StoryGraph I have some fun graphics to showcase my year of books. What’s crazy is that the fiction/nonfiction and page number graphs look almost identical to last year! I guess I’m a consistent reader…
This year I read 81 books and 24,200+ pages from 73 authors.
23 books were part of a series, 11 of which were first books of the series.
I read books that took place in 28+ states and 17+ different countries.
I’ve listed every book I read below, conveniently divided by genre. Plus I added some ‘superlatives’ to some of them to make things more interesting. Each book is linked to my full review if you want more information.
Also Check Out:
Shelf Reflection’s 2026 Reading Challenge
Most Anticipated Books of 2026
Candy-Themed Reading Challenge
Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge
If you don’t already, make sure you follow my Facebook page to stay up-to-date with all my latest reads, reviews, recommendations, and any giveaways I do in 2026!
You can also find me on Storygraph, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Feel free to check out my SHOP where you’ll find unique bookish shirts, hats, blankets, etc that I was inspired to make at some point— perfect for book lovers. Many designs are even hand drawn!
Shelf Reflection Update
Thanks to all your support, my website traffic continues to grow! The number of unique visitors to my page went up to over 330,000! I don’t have any goals set in how many people my website reaches— that’s up to God— but a larger audience provides me eligibility for advanced reader copies and entrance into reviewer programs with publishing companies.
My continued goal and plan for Shelf Reflection is just to be faithful in what I’m already doing: providing honest, (often humorous), faith-based feedback on popular books and introduce people to new books they may not have considered before.
However he chooses, I pray that God would somehow use this page for his glory.
Thanks for being part of Shelf Reflection and I wish you all the best in the year 2026!
AND NOW….
2025: Books by Genre
[To see all of these books in chronological order and see images of their book covers, browse this link: 2025 Books]
Cultural
Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers
No Time to Be Dumb: Letters to Teenage Girls by Rachel Jankovic
Most Likely to Ruffle Feathers:
Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City by Stacy Manning and Katy Faust
Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism by Krista Bontrager & Monique Duson
Historical Fiction
Most Appalling (DNF):
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
One Woman’s War by Christine Wells
Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee
The Artist of Blackberry Grange by Paulette Kennedy
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
Best Newly Discovered Author:
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (YA)
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
A Killing on the Hill by Robert Dugoni (legal thriller)
James by Percival Everett
Suspense/Thriller
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
A Killer’s Code (Daniela Vega #3) by Isabella Maldonado
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
Most Viewed Book Review:
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Out for Blood (Matthew Redd #3) by Ryan Steck (Christian Fiction)
Nobody’s Fool (Detective Sami Kierce #2) by Harlan Coben
Best Twist:
The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch
Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay
A Dead Draw (Tracy Crosswhite #11) by Robert Dugoni
Falls to Pieces by Douglas Corleone
Longest Book:
The Kill Artist (Gabriel Allon #1) by Daniel Silva
Photograph by Brian Freeman
Most Likely to Make a Good Movie:
Gone Dark (Matthew Redd #4) by Ryan Steck (Christian fiction)
Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Keera Duggan #2) by Robert Dugoni (legal thriller)
Creepiest:
The Laughing Dead (Steinbeck & Reed #3) by Jess Lourey
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
Non-Fiction
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell
Beside Every Successful Man: A Woman’s Guide to Having It All by Megan Basham
Honest Prayers for Mama Bears by Hillary Morgan Ferrer & Julie Loos
Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James & David Thomas
Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura
Most Awe-Inspiring:
The Language of Rivers and Stars: How Nature Speaks of the Glories of God by Seth Lewis
Most Likely to Have Taken Me Longer to Read Than It Should Have:
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley
The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families by Marissa Franks Burt & Kelsey Kramer McGinnis
Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us about the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive by Russ Ramsey
Memoir
Funniest Book:
Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn by Melanie Shankle
Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
YA
Second Most Likely to Make a Good Movie:
Heist Royale (Thieves’ Gambit #2) by Kayvion Lewis
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood (DNF)
The Wilde Trials by Mackenzie Reed
Rift (Rift Trilogy #1) by Steven James
The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1) by Brittany Cavallaro
Psychological Thriller
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
Fiction
Most Likely to Be a Book Club Book:
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
My Dear Hemlock by Tilly Dillehay
This Promised Land by Cathy Gohlke
Romantic Comedy
Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham
First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer
Mystery
A Chain of Pearls (Martha’s Vineyard Murders #1) by Raemi A. Ray
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect (Ernest Cunningham #2) by Benjamin Stevenson
How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files #1) by Kristen Perrin
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (Hercule Poirot #20) by Agatha Christie
Humor
Most Disappointing:
Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works & Why It Matters by Joel Morris
Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze
Fantasy
Fairest of All (Villains #1) by Serena Valentino
Most Popular/Shelved:
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins
Most Imaginative:
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
Odriel’s Heirs (Odriel’s Heirs #1) by Hayley Reese Chow
Den of Liars (The Devious #1) by Jessica S. Olson
Science Fiction
Future’s Dark Past (Time Forward Trilogy #1) by J.L. Yarrow
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (mystery)
Christian Living
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman
Most Likely to Talk About Food:
Broken Bread: How to Stop Using Food and Fear to Fill Spiritual Hunger by Tilly Dillehay
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin
Theology
Keep in Step with the Spirit by J.I. Packer
Most Encouraging:
The Steadfast Love of the Lord: Experiencing the Life-Changing Power of God’s Unchanging Affection by Sam Storms (Christian Living?)
Shortest Book:
The Nicene Creed: What You Need to Know about the Most Important Creed Ever Written by Kevin DeYoung
Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him by Jackie Hill Perry
Devotional
The Risen King: 40 Devotions for Easter by C.H. Spurgeon, Jeff Medders (editor)
The Story of Redemption (Vol. 4) by The Daily Grace Co.
Grateful: 30 Days of Growing in Thankfulness by Allison Brost
Best Devotional/Bible Study (that I did this year):
Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture by Jackie Hill Perry
Poetry
Most Likely to Confuse You About Poetry:
Save Me an Orange by Hayley Grace
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