2025 in Reading

— Y E A R I N R E V I E W —

Idk what to say. I guess I’ll go with: I survived 2025. On to the books:

Classic and Lovely: N/A
Subtle, Scary, Satisfying: N/A
The Main Character did WHAT: Victorian Psycho
Plot Twist Party: Dark Hollow
Stranger Than Fiction: N/A
Fuck Yeah Feminism: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
Biggest Disappointment: Pilgrim: A Medieval Horror
Best Discovery: A Congregation of Jackals
Biggest Mindfuck: The Gone World
Most Satisfying Reread: N/A
Tried Too Hard: Penance
Quintessentially Kelly: Race the Sands
No Regrets: Hell House
Most Memorable: The Outsiders

I didn’t read enough books this year to do a Top 5 :( I didn’t even have enough to fill the Kelly Choice Awards :( As a new parent, it is what it is. But I have to mention The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones, as an incredible read.

5 READING GOALS FOR 2026:

1. Read more classics. On the list: The Count of Monte Cristo, Wuthering Heights (for absolutely no reason whatsoever), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, East of Eden, Slaughterhouse-Five. 

2. Continue with the Charlie Parker series. I have several Really Big Book Series on my radar: Charlie Parker, Repairman Jack, Pendergast (plus spin-offs), Rivers of London, The Last Kingdom, Matthew Corbett, Dark Tower, and Cadfael come to mind, plus all the various trilogies and series I've started but haven't finished. Obviously these will take years, decades maybe, so the goal is to simply continue with CP. The sweet spot for me involves alternating so I don't get bored. We'll see how it goes.

3. Lean into nostalgia. I would like to read or re-read: all the Kate Klise books, all the Dear America and Royal Diaries books, the Amelia notebooks, the diaries of Melanie Martin, all the stories from Wayside School, and maybe some Meg Cabot? Do those hold up these days?

4. Read more physical books. I need to chip away at my IRL TBR.

5. Intentional book purchasing. Thanks to late night breastfeeding, I got carried away taking advantage of ebook deals this year. I think I've found a way to set some boundaries/limitations. Wish me luck.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!