I’m convinced that reading is not only a good habit, but a vital one for our continued growth and well-being.

When I talk about my reading habits, most people respond with “I wish I had time to read!” or something similar. I get it; life is busy, and sometimes, reading isn’t a priority. I felt that way throughout most of 2024, when a lot was going on in my personal life. But just like any other task, hobby, or pastime, we can make time to read if we prioritize it. We might not have as much free time as we did when we were younger, but all it takes is a little intentional rearranging of our schedule to make it happen. Even 10 minutes of reading a day is better than none at all!

This was my mindset going into 2025, determined to reach much more than the year before. There are somewhere around 400 books on my shelves, and I’m always acquiring more (thank God for used bookstores!). It would truly be a shame if they didn’t all get read.

Wonderfully for me, 2025 turned out to be the year of amazing books. I found some true gems I want to share with you, because these stories deserve to be read.

1. Bleak House by Charles Dickens

As I always say, you either love Dickens, or you hate him.

I fall firmly into the former category. As soon as I tore through Great Expectations for 9th-grade English, I was done for. I grabbed every Dickens novel I could get my hands on until I had (and read) them all—except Bleak House.

Large books never daunted me, but the 800-page brick that is Bleak House caused even my little heart to quake. The title, as well, inspired fear. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read something “bleak.” So, to the other novels I went, from the awe-inspiring storytelling in A Tale of Two Cities to a tragic but thoughtful theme in Hard Times.

In May of last year, I ventured to McKay’s while visiting a friend. It’s my favorite chain of used bookstores—massive and beautiful, a book lover’s dream! I could spend all day in one. I came across a volume of Bleak House that matched my other Dickens novels and was like new for a buck or two, and I knew there was no excuse.

It was time to conquer Bleak House.

Summary: Absolute masterpiece. Dickens is at his very best in this novel, weaving together the tales of multiple individuals into a heartbreaking and beautiful story about society, justice, friendship, love, compassion, and so much more. It was the first time in many years I’ve truly been floored by a book. Needless to say, before I even read the last page, it was fixed as one of my all-time favorite books.

Favorite quote: “Constancy in love is a good thing; but it means nothing, and is nothing, without constancy in every kind of effort.” (Tough to pick just one; I wrote down tons of amazing quotes!)

Rating: 5/5

2. Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

I’ve been increasingly interested in Dietrich Bonhoeffer over the past few years and thought this book would be a good place to start before I delve into Bonhoeffer’s writings. I found this biography’s audiobook for free, but as non-fiction is more difficult for me to stay interested in, I soon realized there was no way I’d be able to pay attention to the whole thing.

Once again: thank you, McKay’s! After wandering around the bookstore for a while, I suddenly thought to check for this book in print and once again found a super cheap like-new copy! Immediately, I knew this would be a much better experience. While the book still took me months to finish, I found it so gripping that I was turning pages like it was a fiction novel racing to the climax.

Summary: A thrilling and detailed biography. It’s so comprehensive that I felt like I got to know Bonhoeffer personally throughout the course of the book. I was thoroughly engaged from first page to last—and more importantly, I was encouraged to stand my ground in my faith and be unafraid of opposition.

Favorite quote: (From Dietrich Bonhoeffer himself): “The world upon whom grace is thrust as a bargain will grow tired of it, and it will not only trample upon the Holy, but will also tear apart those who force it on them. For its own sake, for the sake of the sinner, and for the sake of the community, the Holy is to be protected from cheap surrender. The Gospel is protected by the preaching of repentance which calls sin sin and declares the sinner guilty. The key to loose is protected by the key to bind. The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.”

Rating: 4/5

3. The City Between Series by W. R. Gingell

As with most things I end up thoroughly obsessed with, a friend talked about this series nonstop, and I got so annoyed that I eventually had to pick it up just to see what the big deal was. Just like that, my life was changed.

I zoomed through this 10-book series and its sequel series in a matter of a few months. The audiobooks are masterfully narrated (and on Hoopla!), so I alternated listening to those and reading the physical books I could get ahold of. I convinced my husband to read the series immediately after I was done and reread it alongside him. Never have I reread a series so fast!

We now quote from the City Between books daily—in fact, one character’s frequent exclamation of “Dear me!” is part of my vocabulary now. While there are three series total (one still ongoing) in this story world, I find the first by far the most compelling.

Summary: Entertaining, thrilling, imaginative, and chock full of memorable characters. The best first-person POV I’ve ever read. While the series is quite light on worldbuilding and even lighter on plot, the characters more than make up for it. You fall in love with them one by one, beginning with Pet, a narrator you won’t soon forget. The series, while completely clean in terms of sexual content and language, does not shy away from darkness, betrayal, gritty action, or the difficulty of forming and keeping healthy relationships. City Between firmly has its place as one of my favorite series ever. I’m considering doing another reread soon (less than 6 months after first reading the series…).

Favorite quote: “I might not have the skills, but I’ve got some of the knowledge now—and if I see something and don’t do something about it, how am I better off alive than dead? What’s the good of me if I don’t do what I can do?” (Pet in Between Frames)

Rating: 4/5

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It’s wonderful to think that there are so many other incredible books out there waiting to be discovered. Got any recommendations? I’m always looking for new books to read!

I’m keeping the ball rolling in 2026, currently on my twelfth book of the year. Be on the lookout for some more detailed posts on why the stories we love work so well, and how they’ve inspired me!

Happy reading!
—EJ.

P. S. Don’t forget to let me know if you want to be one of the first to read my book this summer with a free copy!

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