I read a record-breaking 206 books in 2025. Two hundred and six. Even I had to sit down when I counted them up.
Relatively few books earn top marks from me. I’m selective; in fact, my average rating is 3.77. If a book made this list, it did more than entertain—it lingered, stirred something, or flat-out impressed me.
This year delivered—historical fiction, thrillers, literary standouts, faith-centered reads, and stories that stayed with me. I even ventured into a couple of memoirs, which isn’t typical for me. Growth!
Below are my five-star reads of 2025, listed alphabetically.
Across the Ages — Gabrielle Meyer
Genre: Historical Fiction | Time-Slip | Christian Romance
Caroline lives in two eras at once—1727 as a pirate and Prohibition-era America hunting mobsters—until both timelines collide. Meyer delivers intricate plotting, emotional stakes, and a strong thread of faith that elevates the adventure into something deeply meaningful.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/sailing-through-time-secrets-across-the-ages-is-a-heart-racing-treasure/
All the Glimmering Stars — Mark Sullivan
Genre: Historical Fiction | Literary | War
Two Ugandan teens are kidnapped into the Lord’s Resistance Army and forced to survive brutal conditions. Sullivan writes this harrowing story with urgency and restraint. Devastating but deeply necessary—a powerful reminder of resilience in the darkest places.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/love-and-survival-under-africas-darkest-sky/
And So I Roar — Abi Daré
Genre: Literary Fiction | International | Social Justice
After uncovering a dangerous secret, Tia must choose between safety and justice. Fierce and emotionally charged, this novel gives voice to women who refuse to remain silent.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/and-so-i-roar-is-a-masterpiece/
Anxious for Nothing — Max Lucado
Genre: Christian Living | Nonfiction
Drawing from Philippians 4, Lucado offers practical guidance toward calmer living. Warm and Scripture-rooted, this book feels like a steady hand on the shoulder.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/finding-peace-in-the-storm-max-lucados-guide-to-overcoming-anxiety/
Apostle’s Cove — William Kent Krueger
Genre: Mystery | Crime | Literary
Cork O’Connor revisits a painful case from his past while a new mystery unfolds. Reflective, layered, and morally complex—Krueger at his best.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/krueger-at-his-best-in-apostles-cove/
Broken Country — Clare Leslie Hall
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Literary
When Beth’s first love returns, grief and buried secrets collide. Atmospheric and emotionally resonant, this story lingers long after the final page.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/aching-thrilling-unforgettable-broken-country-is-a-masterpiece-of-love-and-loss/
Capture or Kill — Don Bentley
Genre: Political Thriller | Espionage
Mitch Rapp faces Iranian plots and CIA infighting as global tensions rise. Fast, sharp, and relentless with real emotional stakes.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/mitch-rapp-unleashed-capture-or-kill-is-the-adrenaline-shot-the-series-needed/
City in Ruins — Don Winslow
Genre: Crime | Thriller
A Las Vegas power broker must defend his empire when old enemies resurface. Gritty, propulsive, and masterfully constructed.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/don-winslow-bows-out-with-a-bang/
Confronting Evil — Bill O’Reilly
Genre: History | Nonfiction
An examination of history’s most destructive tyrants and the ideologies that empowered them. Sobering and eye-opening.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/facing-humanitys-darkest-chapters/
Crossing to Safety — Wallace Stegner
Genre: Literary Fiction | Classic
Two couples form a lifelong friendship beginning in 1937. Elegant, emotionally layered, and beautifully written.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-masterpiece-of-prose-and-friendship-wallace-stegners-crossing-to-safety/
Defense Protocol — Andrews & Wilson
Genre: Military Thriller
Rising tensions between China and Taiwan threaten global stability. Technically sharp and gripping.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/timely-tension-and-tactical-thrills/
Dovetails in Tall Grass — Samantha Specks
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set during the 1862 Dakota conflict, two young women are bound by tragedy. Lyrical and deeply affecting.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-haunting-historical-novel-of-the-us-dakota-war-of-1862/
End Game — Jeffrey Archer
Genre: Political Thriller
A terrorist plot threatens the 2012 London Olympics. High-stakes suspense that sticks the landing.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-brilliant-and-explosive-finale-to-the-william-warwick-series/
Every Hour Until Then — Gabrielle Meyer
Genre: Historical Fiction | Time-Slip | Christian Romance
Kathryn lives in 1888 and 1930s Washington, until she discovers her sister may be destined to become Jack the Ripper’s final victim. Suspenseful and emotionally layered.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-stellar-fifth-entry-in-meyers-timeless-world/
Hold Strong — Dugoni, Langholz & Crabtree
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
A Minnesota POW and his sweetheart working in wartime intelligence endure the cost of war. Inspiring and deeply moving.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/from-pow-camps-to-code-rooms-hold-strong-reveals-the-brutal-truth-of-war/
Hostage — Eli Sharabi
Genre: Memoir | Current Events
A firsthand account of 491 days in Hamas captivity. Raw, devastating, and courageous.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-descent-into-darkness-eli-sharabis-hostage-is-a-testament-to-human-endurance/
Isola — Allegra Goodman
Genre: Historical Fiction
Inspired by a real 16th-century woman marooned on a remote island. Immersive survival fiction with emotional depth.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/isola-is-historical-fiction-at-its-finest/
Life, and Death, and Giants — Ron Rindo
Genre: Literary Fiction | Christian Themes
A boy born astonishingly large is hidden away after tragedy. Philosophical and quietly powerful.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-big-hearted-story-about-faith-belonging-and-everyday-miracles/
Long Way Home — Lynn Austin
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
A traumatized WWII veteran remains silent while his wife searches for healing. Tender and redemptive.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-stirring-journey-of-faith-friendship-and-finding-peace-after-war/
Mob Queen — Mary Kay McBrayer
Genre: Historical Fiction | Crime
A woman rises within the 1930s Mafia while searching for a missing friend. Fascinating and richly detailed.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/mob-queen-is-fierce-gritty-and-gloriously-unapologetic/
My Friends — Fredrik Backman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Literary
A mysterious painting leads back to a seaside town and a friendship that shaped lives. Deeply human and tender.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/fredrik-backmans-my-friends-shines-bright-in-small-town-sweden/
Nash Falls — David Baldacci
Genre: Thriller | Suspense
Walter Nash’s corporate world implodes when the FBI pressures him to expose a global scheme. A compelling series launch.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/an-ordinary-man-an-extraordinary-reckoning-a-powerful-new-series-begins/
One Good Thing — Georgia Hunter
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
Two Jewish best friends flee Mussolini’s Italy and join the Underground. Emotional and beautifully researched.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-story-of-courage-kinship-and-one-small-spark-of-hope/
Secrets of a Charmed Life — Susan Meissner
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
An elderly woman reveals a decades-old secret from the London Blitz. Heartbreaking yet redemptive.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/when-one-choice-changes-everything/
Strangers in Time — David Baldacci
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
In war-torn London, a bookseller and two teens form an unlikely family. Emotional and quietly powerful.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-bold-beautiful-shift-for-baldacci-2/
The Beijing Betrayal — Joel C. Rosenberg
Genre: Political Thriller
A bioterror plot tied to rising tensions with China threatens global stability. Timely and intense.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/edge-of-your-seat-espionage-the-beijing-betrayal-ends-the-ryker-series-with-a-bang/
The Correspondent — Virginia Evans
Genre: Literary Fiction
A retired attorney’s letter-writing habit forces her to confront long-buried truths. Insightful and perceptive.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/ink-regret-and-redemption-a-life-told-in-letters/
The Edge of Belonging — Amanda Cox
Genre: Christian Fiction | Contemporary
Clues in a grandmother’s estate reveal hidden family history. Tender and reflective.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-tender-story-about-finding-the-truth-and-where-you-truly-belong/
The Girls of the Glimmer Factory — Jennifer Coburn
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
Two friends navigate life inside a Nazi propaganda ghetto. Heartbreaking and necessary.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/when-truth-glitters-friendship-betrayal-and-survival-in-hitlers-model-settlement/
The Last Secret Agent — Pippa Latour
Genre: Memoir | WWII
The final surviving female British spy recounts missions behind Nazi lines. Extraordinary and unforgettable.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/pippa-latours-astonishing-wwii-memoir/
The Lies We Leave Behind — Noelle Salazar
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
An injured nurse in WWII England faces love and danger. Atmospheric and layered.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-love-story-etched-in-war-the-courage-of-a-nurse-the-secrets-of-a-lifetime/
The Lotus Shoes — Jane Yang
Genre: Historical Fiction
In 19th-century China, a young woman with bound feet fights for survival. Rich historical depth.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-tale-of-resilience-and-betrayal-in-19th-century-china/
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club — Martha Hall Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction | Dual Timeline
A modern-day discovery connects to a WWII-era book club. Warm and layered.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/secrets-sisterhood-and-spies-on-marthas-vineyard/
The Next Ship Home — Heather Webb
Genre: Historical Fiction
An Italian immigrant and an Ellis Island worker form an unlikely bond. Moving and meticulously researched.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-journey-of-hope-and-friendship-the-next-ship-home-by-heather-webb/
The Oceans and the Stars — Mark Helprin
Genre: Literary Fiction | Military
A Navy captain assigned to a doomed warship faces moral and romantic tests. Lyrical and expansive.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-brilliant-sea-story-of-honor-love-and-moral-courage/
The Sunflower House — Adriana Allegri
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWII
A nurse hides her identity while working in a Nazi breeding facility. Tense and emotionally weighty.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/the-sunflower-house-a-haunting-tale-of-the-nazi-lebensborn-program-in-wwii-germany/
The Winners — Fredrik Backman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rival towns spiral toward violence as grief fuels revenge. A powerful and emotional conclusion.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/small-town-big-hearts-impossible-to-forget/
The Writer — James Patterson & J.D. Barker
Genre: Thriller | Psychological Suspense
When a bestselling author’s husband is murdered, suspicion turns toward her. Sharp and twisty.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/she-writes-about-killers-now-she-might-be-one/
Under the Golden Sun — Jenny Ashcroft
Genre: Historical Fiction | WWI
A woman escorts an orphaned boy to Australia and uncovers troubling truths. Atmospheric and moving.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/under-the-golden-sun-shines-with-love-resilience-and-a-stunning-australian-setting/
Vanished — Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal
Genre: Christian Thriller | Prophecy
Escalating global disasters hint at biblical prophecy unfolding. Fast-paced and faith-driven.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/apocalyptic-chaos-meets-personal-redemption-in-this-gripping-faith-fueled-thriller/
When Crickets Cry — Charles Martin
Genre: Christian Fiction | Contemporary
A grieving man befriends a brave girl with a failing heart. Tender and redemptive.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/a-literary-home-run-heartfelt-hopeful-and-unforgettable/
Where Secrets Lie — Colleen Coble & Rick Acker
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
A crumbling university and buried secrets collide in Tupelo Grove. Suspenseful and layered with faith.
→ Read my full review https://amyhagberg.com/twists-truths-and-tupelo-grove-where-secrets-lie-is-a-must-read-mystery/
A Final Word from the Northwoods
Reading 206 books this year felt a bit like stacking firewood for a long winter—steady, satisfying work that pays off in warmth later. The right story can crack something open in you. It can steady you, surprise you, even change you. That’s why I guard those five yellow stars. If a book earns them, it truly stayed with me.
Thank you for pulling up a chair in this little Northwoods corner of the literary world. For reading along. For sending me your thoughtful notes. For trusting my recommendations.
I’ve been quietly building a few new spaces where we can gather more intentionally. Think cozy. Think conversation. Think shared pages—and maybe even welcoming the authors themselves to pull up a chair.
If you have friends or family who love great books as much as we do, invite them to join us. They can sign up at amyhagberg.com and pull up a chair, too.
Thanks for reading and subscribing. Stay close. We’re just getting started.
Amy Hagberg