Best Books of 2025
It’s another year built around books. I reached my goal again this year—one book per week. I reread many books because I was curious how I would feel about them now, and some I had forgotten almost completely. I put together a list, not in any order, just a quick summary of my favorites this year.
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
This story follows a young man looking back on his youth, love, and loss. It is quiet and full of emotion.
I first read it in high school but never finished it. I didn’t understand the writing or the meaning behind it back then. Reading it again this year, it became one of my favorite books. I want to return to it when I’m older, when life feels different. It was sad to see how a whole generation in Japan struggled, and it reminded me of people in my own family. One thing I carried with me is how easy it is to quit, but staying until the end shows real strength. The book stayed in my thoughts for days.
Canh Dong Bat Tan by Nguyen Ngoc Tu
The book follows a wandering family in the Mekong Delta and the quiet pain they carry. It shows the hard life of women in rural Vietnam.
I used to love this author, but many of her stories are heavy. They remind me how little respect women had in the past, and how much they had to endure. While reading, I kept wishing someone could help the women in the book. This was a second read for me. The first time was only for school. This time, I slowed down and felt the story more deeply.
Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
This novel follows two men from very different worlds whose lives keep crossing through ambition and pride. It spans decades and shows how their choices shape everything.
I reread it this year. The first time was in 2015 in Nha Trang, and I still remember the cafe shop and the smell of the old book. Reading it again in English felt different. The two characters have so much in common, yet they let ego keep them apart. I enjoyed the writing more this time. I tried the next book in the trilogy but didn’t like it. For me, this book stands on its own.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The book tells the life of a young girl taken into a Kyoto geisha house. It shows a beautiful world that is also full of pain and control.
I reread it in English this time, but I still feel closer to the Vietnamese version. The sadness in the women’s lives stayed with me again.
The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-yeon
This is a gentle story about a man who finds new purpose in a small convenience store. It is about kindness, healing, and simple human connection.
Life is always busy, and we forget that joy often comes from small things and from the people around us. The book reminded me how we should treat each other, and how different real life is from what we show online. It also reminded me not to judge people by how they look. Everyone has a past they don’t talk about. And sometimes a stranger can still believe in us.
Dream of Ding Village by Yan Lian Ke
The story takes place in a village destroyed by the blood-selling industry in China. It is based on true events and is heartbreaking.
It was my first book of the year and stayed with me for a long time. It shows how HIV spread through the village and how people suffered because others only cared about money. Some scenes were hard to forget.
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A funny mystery about a woman who finds a dead man in her tea shop and decides she can solve the case herself. It is warm, chaotic, and full of humor.
This was my quick escape during busy days at work. I loved coming back to the story, and once I finished, I wanted more books by the same author. It wasn’t deep, but it made me smile when I needed it most. This one is still my favorite.
Welcome to the Hyun-nam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
The story is about a small bookshop that becomes a quiet place for people who feel lost. Each person is looking for meaning and a bit of peace.
It is a healing book—slow and gentle. Perfect with a cup of coffee. It made me think about life and gave me a soft, calm feeling.
Abundance by Ezra Klein
This book explores what abundance means today—how we grow, innovate, and try to make life better, and what problems we create along the way.
I want to read it again because there was so much to take in. I took notes but still felt how little I know about the world. It made me think about what “enough” means for a person and for a society.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
A World War II story about two sisters in France who fight to survive and protect the people they love. It shows the strength and courage of women in war.
This was my first book by Kristin Hannah. I read many books about women this year, and the women in this story stayed with me. I felt nervous reading it, hoping they would survive each page.
25 Do Am by Thao Trang
This book follows Vietnamese people taking dangerous journeys to find a better life in another country. It is fiction, but based on real events.
It was a powerful and painful read. It made me think about family, sacrifice, and what people risk for hope. By the end, I felt heartbroken. I loved the book, but I’m not sure I can read it again. It was heavy because it felt so real.
Each of these books stayed with me in a different way. Some made me think, some made me feel, and some simply helped me breathe. That’s why I love reading. A good book stays with me long after the story ends.