Last December, I shared my five-star reads of 2024, and I enjoyed doing that so much (along with getting your recommendations), I decided to do it again.
In my personal rating system, 5🌟 mean: “Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.” I don’t give out many of them. Which means there are a lot of books I have loved (4 stars) that I won’t be sharing with you. If you are interested, check out my reviews on Goodreads. (Under my profile photo, click the Reviews link.)
Since my post last year had to end in November in order for me to write my post, these books are actually from December 2024 thru November 2025. I’ve read 75 books in those 12 months, and nine of them earned 5 stars from me.
Please note: I am an eclectic reader. I read a lot of both Christian fiction and non-fiction, but I also read general market fiction.
FICTION:
The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
NON-FICTION:
Luke in the Land by Kristi McLelland
Feasting on God’s Word by Kristi McLelland
The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble
Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeust
ESV Audio Bible, read by Kristyn Getty
It’s almost time to set my reading goal for 2026. So help me out. What were the absolute best books you’ve read this year?
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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One of my favorite nonfiction reads this year was Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art Through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey. I don’t know much about art, but Ramsey drew lots of good observations from art and artists. Another was Raising the Perfectly Imperfect Child: Facing Challenges with Strength, Courage, and Hope by Boris Vujicic, father of Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms and legs but is now an evangelist and motivational speaker.
As for fiction, all of Gabrielle Meyer’s Time Crossers series is good, but I especially liked Every Hour Until Then, which partially ties in to the Jack the Ripper murders. It had one of the best plot twists I’ve ever read. Then I enjoyed several of Amanda Cox: Between the Sound and the Sea, He Should Have Told the Bees, and The Bitter End Birding Society. Another favorite was All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes.
Thanks for those recommendations, Barbara. Greatly appreciated.
I loved the Kristi McLelland books as well.
Aren’t they wonderful?!