The Books That Carried Me Through 2025

A Year of Romance, Comfort, and Turning Pages ( And Pages and Pages...) 

2025 was a year when reading felt like both an escape and a return to myself.

Between teaching kindergarten, enjoying time with my family and friends, writing, and navigating the everyday fullness of life, I found myself reaching for books that offered comfort, emotion, and just enough tension to keep me reading past my bedtime. Romance—especially cozy, small-town romance—was my constant companion, with a few emotionally devastating (but unforgettable) reads mixed in for balance.

Here’s a look at the books that defined my reading year.

Cozy Small-Town Escapes (My Comfort Reads of the Year)

If there was one fictional place I lived in during the final months of 2025, it was Dream Harbor.

The Dream Harbor Series – Laurie Gilmore

• The Pumpkin Spice Café (Book 1)
• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Book 2)
• The Christmas Tree Farm (Book 3)
• The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Book 4)
• The Gingerbread Bakery (Book 5)

These books were pure comfort: charming towns, slow-burn romance, found family, and seasonal vibes that made me want to light a candle and stay up “just one more chapter.” Each installment felt like returning to familiar friends, and The Gingerbread Bakery was the perfect continuation of a series that understands cozy romance at its core.

 Why I loved them:
They reminded me that joy can be gentle—and that sometimes the best stories don’t rush the ending.

Rome, Kentucky: Romance With Heart

The Rome, Kentucky Series – Sarah Adams

• When in Rome
• Practice Makes Perfect
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• In Your Dreams

This series balanced humor, emotional growth, and deeply lovable characters. Sarah Adams has a way of writing relationships that feel both aspirational and relatable—awkward moments, self-doubt, and all.

 Why I loved them:
These books felt hopeful without being unrealistic—romance rooted in kindness, communication, and personal growth.

Emotional Reads That Stayed With Me

Some books didn’t just entertain me—they wrecked me (in the best way).

Archer’s Voice – Mia Sheridan

A quiet, achingly beautiful love story about trauma, healing, and connection. This one lingered long after I closed the book. I'm looking forward to reading Travis' story soon!

Ugly Love – Colleen Hoover

Messy, emotional, and intense. It made me uncomfortable at times and was triggering because of my own personal trauma but is one of my favorites of the year and from the author.  

Verity – Colleen Hoover

Dark, unsettling, and impossible to stop reading. This was the book I immediately needed to discuss with someone else-specifically Cecelia, who gifted me this one!

The Things We Leave Unfinished – Rebecca Yarros

Dual timelines, unfinished love stories, and emotional depth that caught me completely off guard.

 Why they mattered:
These books reminded me that reading doesn’t always have to feel safe to be meaningful and comforting.

Beach Reads (A Necessity When You Live in The Ocean State!)

Emily Henry

• Beach Read
• Book Lovers
• Great Big Beautiful Life

Emily Henry continues to be a must-read author for me. Her books are smart, self-aware, and deeply romantic without being predictable. I'm looking forward to reading Happy Place soon, thanks to Alex!

Other Favorites

• Beach House Rules – Kristy Woodson Harvey
• Beach Vibes – Susan Mallery

 Why I loved them:
They captured that “summer feeling” but both also contained stories of strong women ultimately becoming their own heroes.   

Love Stories That Felt Like a Warm Hug

Yours Truly – Abby Jimenez

Tender, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent—this was romance done right.

It’s a Love Story – Annabel Monaghan

Lighthearted but sincere, perfect for when I needed something sweet.

Story of My Life – Lucy Score

Big feelings, small towns, and characters you want to root for.

The Secret Ingredient – Nancy Naigle

Comfort food in book form—gentle, romantic, and heartwarming. I actually discovered it as a Hallmark Movie first!

Nostalgia & Complete Escapes

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy – Jenny Han

My daughter read this trilogy years ago when it first came out, and once I got involved in watching the Amazon Prime series, I had to read too! Reading this boxed set felt like stepping back into another version of myself—nostalgic, emotional, and quietly reflective.  If you follow me on Instagram @mommyteacherfashionista, you know I am 100% Team Conrad and a huge fan of Junior Mint. I'm looking forward to the movie, of course!  

The Paris Novel – Ruth Reichl

A beautiful reminder of how food, place, and memory intertwine.

What My 2025 Reading Says About Me

Looking back, my bookshelf tells a clear story:

• I craved comfort
• I valued connection
• I wanted stories about growth, love, and belonging

As a mom, wife, teacher, author and former administrator, my days are full of responsibility. These books gave me permission to rest, feel, and imagine.

And that might be the greatest gift reading gave me in 2025.

What should I read next?
If you’ve loved any of these titles—or have a cozy romance recommendation—I’m always adding to my list.

Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it worthwhile and it inspires you to read, reflect and dream!

Best,

Jennifer