The Top 10 Books I Loved Best This Year (out of 40!)

I love to get my Spotify Wrapped each year (although I have notes, if anyone from Spotify is reading) as well all of the replica versions that keep popping up everywhere (all fun, keep ‘em coming!) It’s so satisfying to review the year in full and see the cream that rose to the top. I derive great pleasure from reviewing my reading history for the year and selecting the Top 10 books I loved best. This year I read 40 new books (plus five re-reads and two I didn’t finish) and there were so many good ones, it was hard to narrow down to just ten!

A few notes about my reading preferences:

• I am a woman in midlife and I read a lot of books authored by women about women.
• I like variety and try to mix it up with fiction and non-fiction 
• I love strong characters
• My non-fiction choices are usually dominated by health and aging as well as understanding the brain and behavior
• I read on my device, listen to audio books and while at the beach I like to read a physical book

I believe time to read is one of the greatest joys of midlife. If I rewind fifteen years back the thought of reading 40 new books would have been laughable to 40-year-old me! Of course it was hard to narrow down to just 10 (I guess it always is, and sometimes I can’t do it!) but here they are in countdown form. I’m only reviewing my top picks but am including the others in each category visually for your reference.

#10: How To Read a Book by Monica Wood

The first book I loved best is a layered literary novel about second chances, forgiveness, and chosen family as three unlikely people — including a woman newly released from prison — connect through literature and healing after loss.This is one of many books I read where the setting was Maine. I loved the unlikely relationships and the themes of redemption and forgiveness. Mostly I loved all 3 main characters.

#9: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

Historical fiction that brings 15th‑century China to life through Tan Yunxian, one of the rare female physicians of her era, exploring the bonds of women, medical wisdom, and resilience in a patriarchal world. I have never read anything about 15th century China and this book brought it to life for me. I love historical fiction for that. Often, I think about how much more history I would have absorbed in school if I learned it through the lens of historical fiction!

#8: Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz

Of the books I loved best, this science‑backed toolkit from a clinical psychologist is packed with practical advice you can use on the spot. It contains 75 practical techniques to soothe your body and mind in minutes, offering quick resets for emotional overwhelm and building long‑term resilience. I think everyone should own this book! It’s a perfect pocket guide to help you regulate when difficult emotions threaten to derail you. Practical advice and perfect for anyone who struggles with emotions when decluttering!

#7: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

A character‑driven novel about friendship, the strange and beautiful ways people bond, and how those relationships shape our sense of home, belonging, and ourselves.I am a hugeBackman fan – he is one of two male authors that made my top ten this year. I always love the insight into neuro-divergent minds that is always present in his novels. Also – love books about lifelong friendships.

#6: The Names by Florence Knapp

A thought‑provoking literary novel that weaves together domestic abuse, memory, identity, and the legacy of names, exploring how the stories we carry — and the names we give — shape our lives. It’s got a sliding doors feel (which I love) and I felt like Knapp took a unique approach to the device. It was so intriguing to follow three different story lines over decades – and of course I loved the characters.

#5: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

A hilarious satirical novel about a Southern town upended when banned books secretly infiltrate a homemade “library,” revealing the transformative power of literature and sparking unexpected change in its residents. Clearly lovingly written by a Southerner – I was smiling the entire time!

#4: Super Agers by Eric Topol, MD

A compelling evidence‑based exploration of longevity, blending cutting‑edge science with practical lifestyle and preventive strategies that show how many of us can extend our health span far into later decades. I’m a fan of Outlive, by Peter Attia, but find him to be a little intense in his style of recommendation. Topol aligns with a lot of what Attia espouses but not all of it, and I like his evidence-based approach. Since I am focused on not having the strokes I saw my mother and grandmother die from – I read a lot about longevity and health span, this one was fantastic!

#3: This American Woman by Zarna Garg

First – if you don’t follow Zarna on the socials you should – that’s how I discovered her. This is a witty, hilarious and heartfelt memoir from Zarna about motherhood, identity, cultural expectations, and finding humor in the messy, beautiful parts of life. She has a compelling story and I was laughing through tears at many parts of the book (including on a run one day where my crying caused me to hyperventilate – thank goodness no one was around when that happened!) The other thing I loved about this memoir was the reinvention story. That resonated for me because I’m on a similar journey myself! Lots of cues to take from Zarna – she’s a go-getter!

#2: Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstein

A heartfelt coming‑of‑age story about a young girl navigating family, identity, and belonging in the American South during slavery, marked by vivid characters and emotional honesty. I was riveted all the way through. It’s another example of historical fiction that puts you in the center of the experience. I’ve recommended this book to everyone I know and received rave reviews from those who’ve read it. So, so good!

#1: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

My favorite book of the year. Of all the books I loved best, this one holds the top spot because of how riveted I was. It’s a gripping historical narrative inspired by true events, following the relentless mid‑18th‑century frontier mystery of a missing woman along Maine’s frozen river and the characters drawn into her fate. In case you couldn’t tell, historical fiction is my jam. Holy Moly I was up waaaay late under the covers with this book! I will be reading everything Lawhon has written and will try not to unfairly compare them to this masterpiece but I must say, my expectations will reflexively be high!

I hoped you liked reviewing this list of the books I loved best as much as I liked writing it! For your convenience I’ve assembled a curation of all 40 titles I read in my Amazon Storefront, with my 10 favorites at the top of the list. I’m so excited for a new year of reading in midlife!