My Favorite Reads in 2025

Hey friends! This is always one of my favorite posts to write, and I can’t believe the time has rolled around again. If you’re looking for some new reads for the coming year, you’re in the right place. I love reading, and I also love getting to share the jewels of books I discover with you all! The books below are not everything I’ve read this year, but they are my favorites—I hope you can find one to enjoy.

Of Love and Treason (fiction) by Jamie Ogle. Church history, a slow romance, and secret weddings…fiction doesn’t get any better. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and though there are definitely some heavy scenes dealing with the persecution of believers in early Rome, I appreciated the perfect balance of excitement, humor, and vivid realism. This one also made me cry, and fiction rarely has that effect on me. Jamie Ogle brings the historic “St. Valentine” to life—not as a long-bearded old man, but as an unlikely, very human hero—through the eyes of Iris, a young Roman woman. Rich history and a sweet (but very sad) love story make this a gem.

As Sure As the Sea (fiction) by Jamie Ogle. So I really loved Jamie’s first book—but if possible, this one is even better. Demi is a young pearl diver with a tragic past and a heavy secret. Nicholas is a newly ordained church leader, trying to overcome a burden of guilt so he can bring life to a secret church that’s just trying to survive.

Set in 3rd century Myra, this book throbs with the constant tension of trying to live a normal life, when at any moment your world could shatter into violence. With writing so vivid that you can see the sunshine on the sea and feel the breeze in your hair, it will pull you in from the first page.

Some parts of the book were difficult to read, due to the horrific suffering that these believers endured. But I felt that the author did such a good job of carrying both the heartache and the hope of the characters. Another beautiful love story set in the larger context of church history awaits in this treasure.

Fun fact: Both of the above books won a Christy Award! (And oh, the gorgeous covers!) I am already so excited to read Jamie’s next book, available for preorder with a publishing date of May 12, 2026.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (creative nonfiction), by Gayle Tzemach Lennon. What would you do if suddenly you couldn’t safely leave your own house? You can’t show your face in public. Men patrol the streets to see if even a finger peeks out of your robe. Everything you’ve worked for so hard is gone. Your father and brothers flee the city. You can’t go to school or work. This is the position that many women found themselves in when the Taliban took Kabul in 1996.

Kamila Sadiqi refused to fold her hands in despair. Instead, she and her sisters came up with a plan to provide for themselves and make life a little easier for the women of Khair Khana, their neighborhood. Gayle Lennon traveled to Afghanistan as a young, aspiring journalist to bring their story to print.

Reading this book truly made me so thankful for the freedoms I enjoy. It was also a good reminder to never give up—there is always a way! While sadly it was not written from a Christian perspective, I do highly recommend this inspirational read.

Let Me Be a Woman, by Elisabeth Elliot. If I could only recommend one book on godly womanhood, it would be this one. In her typical style, Elisabeth pulls no punches, but speaks the truth in love. Though some may call it old-fashioned or oppressive, God’s design for women is beautiful and perfect. She wrote this book as a wedding gift for her only daughter, but the truths in it are for every woman seeking godly femininity, whether single or married.

A couple of my favorite quotes: “And as the bird easily comes to terms with the necessity of bearing wings when it finds that it is, in fact, the wings that bear the bird—up, away from the world, into the sky, into freedom—so the women who accepts the limitations of womanhood finds in those very limitations her gifts, her special calling—wings, in fact, which bear her up into perfect freedom, into the will of God.”

“Hear the call of God to be a woman. Obey that call. Turn your energies to service. Whether your service is to be to a husband and through him and the family and home God gives you to serve the world, or whether you should remain, in the providence of God, single in order to serve the world without the solace of husband, home, and family, you will know fulness of life, fulness of liberty, and (I know whereof I speak) fulness of joy.”

Though it is a shorter book, I used it as a devotional for the first part of the year, slowly going through and savoring each chapter.

Due to the fact that the book does address mature topics, I would not recommend it for young teens.

Teatime Discipleship, by Sally Clarkson. Ah, Sally Clarkson’s books—always a treat to read, a lovely blend of the practical and the ideal. In this beautifully aesthetic book, Sally reminds us that our lives are meant to be a source of blessing for others, flowing out of our own relationship with God. She does not hide from the fact that so many times our ideals are not realized, but encourages us to live well in each season we find ourselves.

Along with lovely photographs, Sally includes standby recipes and hosting ideas with each section. This would also make a beautiful gift for any lady.

One of my favorite quotes from this one: “That’s what discipleship is—captivating hearts with a passion for Christ and teaching others to commune with Him through the seasons of their lives.”

The Gift of Gathering, by Bre Doucette. I really enjoyed Bre’s book, The Gift of Home, so I was excited when I got this one for my birthday! This book showcases three beautiful tablescapes for each season, walking you through the process of building each one. Recipes are included, as well as checklists, tips for color palettes, thoughts on each season, and more.

Garden Roses, by Gracielinda Poulson. You know I love English roses, and this book is a feast for the eyes. So many beautiful varieties of roses—along with the ideal growing zone, growing tips, and what to expect from your flowers. The author even includes arranging ideas and tips. I really enjoyed reading this one and dreaming of all the beautiful roses I want to grow someday! It would also make a lovely coffee table book.

Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers, by Erin Benzakein. Another very fun (and pretty) coffee table book. I really enjoyed the journey as Erin, a flower farmer, takes you through a year of floral gardening. Filled with gorgeous photography, and tips on growing, care, and even floral arranging/design, this book will be enjoyed by any gardeners or flower-lovers. Definitely a book I will be checking out of the library again.

Happy New Year, and happy reading!