Book Recommendations: 2025 Book Highlights
As we near the end of 2025, it is usual to reflect on what we have achieved so far. On this opportunity, I can’t help but contemplate everything I have read. Up to this moment, I’ve read 55 books—and I still have six more titles to finish—, so I curated a short list of books that really stood out, the books that made me stop and think, or simply be in awe of the craft behind them. Throughout the year, I explored a mix of memoirs, contemporary fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and translated books; I read in English, Spanish, Danish, and Italian, though in this modest list there are no titles in the latter. Along the way, I discovered some of my favourite new writers.
*I have listed the titles in the language I read them, and I added the English versions when available.*
1. Over the Rainbow: Tales from an Unexpected Year by Alex James (2024)
Audiobook narrated by the author
In the first place, I would like to start with a memoir that reads like a love letter to a specific time and place. Over the Rainbow: Tales from an Unexpected Year by Alex James, bassist of Blur, recounts key events in the year leading to the band’s iconic 2023 concert at Wembley Stadium. James narrates his story with a unique blend of humour, nostalgia, and candidness. (It is probably the most lightweight read of this list.)
For Blur fans, this book is a nice behind-the-scenes capsule, but even if you’re not familiar with the band, James’s wit and storytelling will draw anyone in. Furthermore, the way he details his domestic life is charming, to say the least; his extravagant outlook leads to amusing tales and anecdotes. Likewise, it’s fascinating to hear him reflect on the personal and professional milestones that shaped his life, all set against the backdrop of this band’s reunion and first studio recording since The Magic Whip in 2015. As always, an author narrating their memoir adds an authentic layer to the experience, and James certainly delivers that here.
2. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (2018)
Audiobook narrated by the author
Switching gears entirely, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, is one of those books that kept me captivated from the first page and simply didn’t let go. Undoubtedly, the undertones of dark humour, the suspense, and the sharp social commentary make an irresistible combo. The story is set in Lagos, Nigeria. It follows Korede, a nurse who is constantly cleaning up after her younger sister, Ayoola, who is more beautiful and charming but has serious boyfriend-problems —she keeps killing them. As the plot unfolds, the sibling rivalry and sisterly bond quickly turn into something much more sinister. With candid storytelling, Braithwaite explores toxic relationships, love, familial loyalty, and the complexities of women’s roles in Nigerian society, making for a thought-provoking and gripping read, with an ending that even months later still haunts my thoughts.
3. Los divagantes by Guadalupe Nettel (2023)
In English, The Accidentals, translated by Rosalind Harvey (2025)
A pleasant discovery this year has been Guadalupe Nettel’s work. Her collection of short stories, Los divagantes, was my first introduction to her, and I was not disappointed. Nettel’s prose is delicate yet impactful, and her exploration of human relationships resonated deeply. At the core, the unifying theme of these stories is the unexpected event that altered the different protagonists’ lives, forcing them to wander and change the trajectory of their existence. Moreover, the narrative weaves between characters, somehow unifying all the stories in a whole, showing how we often find ourselves in limbo, trying to balance our desires with the weight of the reality that we live in. In fact, this book is a perfect example of how contemporary fiction can explore complex themes of identity, family, and freedom in a way that feels both intimate and universal.
4. La hija única by Guadalupe Nettel (2020)
In English, Still Born, translated by Rosalind Harvey (2022)
Naturally, after loving Los divagantes, I couldn’t resist picking up La hija única. This novel dives into one of the most fundamental and human decisions of adulthood: whether to have children or not, and the implications of that choice. The story revolves around three women and their personal relationship with motherhood, whose paths diverge as they confront the complexities of motherhood and personal choice. In many ways, it’s a caring and haunting exploration of friendship, identity, and family, all set against the relentless biological clock. Ultimately, the nuanced writing and emotional depth in La hija única invite the reader to question, or at least contemplate, life choices and relationships. Having read two of her books now, I can definitely say that Guadalupe Nettel has a gift for capturing the complex emotions that shape life.
5. The Jellyfish by Boum (2024)
Originally in French, La méduse (2022), translated by Robin Lang and Helge Dascher
On the graphic novel front, The Jellyfish by Boum (Samantha Leriche-Gionet) was one of my absolute favourites this year. Boum’s artwork is just beautiful; it captures the whimsy and the melancholy of the protagonist’s journey. The story follows a young woman, Odette, who is haunted by mysterious jellyfish which shift her worldview permanently in ways she couldn’t have imagined. As a coming-of-age tale of early adulthood, it’s both tender and surreal, exploring themes of memory, trauma, acceptance, and growth. Additionally, the art style enhances the narrative’s dreamlike quality, making it an incredibly enjoyable and immersive experience.
6. La señora March by Virginia Feito (2022)
Originally in English, Mrs March (2021), translated by Gemma Rovira Ortega
Another standout this year was La señora March. Interestingly, from a translator’s perspective, this book is unique among this selection, as it was originally written in English by a Spanish writer. Virginia Feito’s novel is a psychological thriller that lingers in the mind long after the last page. In short, the protagonist, Mrs March, is a well-to-do woman in New York who, after an unsettling incident, begins to question everything about her life —her marriage, her perceptions of reality, and the people she thought she knew. It’s a slow-burning book, gradually unpeeling layers of paranoia, identity, and class. Feito’s keen eye for social dynamics and her portrayal of mental unravelling are simply brilliant.
7. Tenderloin by Joy Sorman (2024)
Originally in French, Comme une bête (2012), translated by Lara Vergnaud
One of the most unusual —and unexpectedly moving— books I read this year was Tenderloin by Joy Sorman. This novel follows Pim, a young apprentice butcher who approaches his craft with an almost spiritual intensity. What begins as a straightforward story about a butcher apprentice becomes something far stranger, more philosophical, and darkly poetic. In truth, the writing is visceral —full of intense sensory details, vivid imagery of blood, flesh, and anatomy— but also eerily beautiful in how Pim relates to his work and his desires, making it reflective and surprisingly tender. Ultimately, it’s an evocative, unsettling novel that stayed with me long after I closed it —a perfect example of how fiction can push you into unexpected emotional and ethical territory.
8. Grus by Anna Degnbol (2017)
Only available in Danish
One of the more obscure reads this year was the graphic novel Grus by Anna Degnbol. The first words that come to mind when thinking about this book are hauntingly deep. Essentially, it is an exploration of grief, loss, and the passage of time. The novel’s language—the combination of art and words—draws the reader into a world where emotions run deep. If you read Danish, Grus is a thought-provoking read that mixes literary fiction with magical realism. In short, it’s a slow, poetic read that invites the reader to sit with it and experience the quiet, unrevealing and subsequent devastation and healing of its characters’ emotions.
Reflections
As I look back on these books, it stands out how different these reads are, how varied they are in genre and style, but all of them share what I deem great storytelling. Additionally, as a side note, I am deeply grateful for my local library, which has given me access to all of these outstanding books. In their own way, each of these books left me with something to think about, a new perspective and another way to see the world. In the end, this is just a limited list among the ocean of book recommendations, and maybe, just maybe, someone will stumble into it and find something new and different that sparks their desire to read.
This post may contain affiliate links
