What Should I Read Next? Ep 508: Anne's Best Books of 2025
Jan 6, 2026
Celebrate a year of literary gems as Anne shares her favorite books from 2025! Discover how she defines 'best' reads with surprising emotional depth. Enjoy highlights like the unconventional structure of 'Ling' and the soulful reflections in 'A Physical Education.' From heartwarming family sagas to laugh-out-loud titles, there's something for every reader. Get a sneak peek of exciting 2026 releases and join the discussion about what made this past year unforgettable in the world of books.
47:25
Personal Definition Of “Best” Books
- Anne defines “best” as deeply personal — books that moved her, not literary awards.
- She emphasizes emotional resonance and memorable reading experiences over technical judgment.
Keep Favorite Lists Short
- Limit yourself to a small number of favorites to make recommendations useful and memorable.
- Pick a few books you can passionately talk about rather than listing everything you've liked.
Charismatic Narrator Hooked Her
- Anne loved Love These Heathens for its smart, sassy 17-year-old narrator, Doris, and a weekend setting.
- She repeatedly recommended it because the voice and storytelling gripped her throughout.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Defining 'Best' and personal taste
04:55 • 1min
How Anne chose her favorites
06:12 • 8min
Surprising books that stretched her
14:23 • 4min
Ben Shattuck's structural brilliance
18:47 • 1min
Unexpected depth: weightlifting and form
19:56 • 2min
Formal experimentation in Ling
21:34 • 35sec
Joyride and The Only Plane in the Sky
22:09 • 2min
Tragic comedy and Crooks
23:57 • 1min
Books that made her laugh and ache
25:01 • 30sec
Immersive reading experiences
25:31 • 3min
Comparisons: The Everlasting and The Frozen River
28:12 • 41sec
Cover Story and comfort reads
28:54 • 50sec
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
29:43 • 1min
The Academy's boarding school pleasures
31:09 • 1min
Lily King's Heart the Lover
32:12 • 53sec
Wistful, reflective themes across 2025
33:05 • 52sec
Naughty family dramas and sagas
33:57 • 3min
Longlisted near-misses
36:54 • 2min
Announcing the very best books
39:08 • 1min
Top pick: Run Toward the Danger
40:11 • 2min
The Power Broker audiobook note
41:54 • 58sec
Excitement about upcoming 2026 titles
42:52 • 2min
How the summer reading guide is made
44:35 • 57sec
Closing thanks and team credits
45:31 • 3min
Outro
48:02 • 2min
#
Ling
Maria Riva
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Grown Women
Sarah Johnson
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The unforeseen wilderness
Wendell Berry
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Slanting Towards the Sea
Lidija Hilje
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The Other Side of Now
Paige Harbison
#15547
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Broken Country
Claire Leslie Hall
#25726
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in 1983 Malibu, 'Malibu Rising' follows the Riva siblings—Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit—as they host their annual summer party.
The novel delves into themes of family, love, and heartbreak, culminating in a chaotic night that will forever alter their lives.
The siblings, children of legendary singer Mick Riva, navigate their complex relationships and personal secrets amidst the party's escalating chaos.
#76210
Forest Euphoria
The Abounding Queerness of Nature
Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
#5320
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
A Marriage at Sea
Sophie Elmhirst
#15543
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Run Towards the Danger
Confrontations with a Body of Memory
Sarah Polley
In 'Run Towards the Danger', Sarah Polley shares six deeply personal essays that delve into her experiences with trauma, including stage fright, high-risk childbirth, and sexual assault.
The book explores the transformative power of confronting past traumas and how this process can lead to healing and growth.
Polley's writing offers a candid and introspective look at her life, examining the complexities of memory and personal resilience.
#
These Heathens
William McKenzie
#11853
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Ghost Writer
Philip Roth
The novel follows Nathan Zuckerman, a promising young writer, as he spends a night at the home of E.I.
Lonoff, a renowned author.
During his visit, Zuckerman becomes fascinated with Lonoff's assistant, Amy Bellette, and imagines her to be Anne Frank, leading to a series of imaginative and introspective episodes.
The book explores themes of identity, literary responsibility, and the Jewish experience.
#11071
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Flashlights
Susan Choi
#7087
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy
#832
• Mentioned in 36 episodes
The Academy
Patrick Bet David
When high school dropout Ashur Yonan receives an unexpected invitation to join the Academy, he is plunged into an ancient conspiracy that threatens the entire world.
As Ashur navigates this new world of incredible technology and cutthroat competition, he uncovers secrets about his own past, including a family history tracing back to the fall of the Shah during the Iranian Revolution and mysterious circumstances surrounding his father’s death.
The book follows Ashur’s journey as he tries to learn the truth in time to save himself and the world.
#4853
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The Wilderness
Undelivered Lectures
Ayşegül Savaş
#
What kind of paradise
Janelle Brown
#10717
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The History of Sound
Ben Shattuck
#3233
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
You Didn't Hear This from Me
Joshua Valdez
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Next Time Will Be Our Turn
Jesse Q. Sutanto
#146
• Mentioned in 121 episodes
The Power Broker
Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
Robert Caro
This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time.
It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks.
The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected.
It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power.
The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.
#29788
Run for the Hill
Kevin Wilson
#21257
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Only Plane in the Sky
An Oral History of 9/11
Garrett M. Graff
Garrett M. Graff
The Only Plane in the Sky is a meticulous and panoramic narrative of the events of September 11, 2001.
The book is compiled from over 5,000 oral histories, including accounts from survivors, first responders, and those who lost loved ones.
It chronicles the day from the predawn hours to the aftermath, covering experiences aboard the hijacked planes, at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Air Force One. The narrative highlights the bravery, grief, and resilience of ordinary people faced with extraordinary events, making it a powerful tribute to the courage of everyday Americans and an essential addition to the literature of 9/11.
#4155
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Everlasting Man
G.K. Chesterton
G. K.
Chesterton's "The Everlasting Man" is a sweeping historical and philosophical work that traces the history of humanity from its origins to the present day.
Chesterton argues for the unique position of humanity within creation and the enduring significance of Christianity.
The book is a powerful defense of the Christian faith, blending historical analysis with philosophical insights and Chesterton's characteristic wit and eloquence.
It is a challenging but rewarding read for those interested in history, philosophy, and theology.
The book's exploration of the relationship between faith and reason, and its defense of the Christian worldview, continue to resonate with readers today.
#5313
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Heart the Lover
Lily King
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Cover Story
Susan Fowler Rigetti
#5778
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Barbarian Days
A Surfing Life
William Finnegan
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a memoir by William Finnegan that chronicles his lifelong obsession with surfing.
The book is an intellectual autobiography, social history, and literary exploration of surfing as a way of life.
It follows Finnegan's journey from California and Hawaii to various parts of the world, detailing his experiences and reflections on surfing, identity, and morality.
#3159
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
A Physical Education
How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting
Casey Johnston
Casey Johnston's memoir traces her journey from calorie restriction and obsessive cardio to discovering strength through weightlifting.
The book critiques diet culture's damaging doctrines while detailing how physical empowerment led to self-acceptance and a redefined relationship with her body.
Johnston combines personal narrative with insights into how societal expectations shape women's health behaviors.
#
Crooks 2
More Stories Behind the Headlines
Paul Williams
Crooks 2 continues the exploration of major scandals and criminal investigations first introduced in Crooks, with a stronger focus on the personal cost to victims and families.
The book opens with a church sex scandal and covers stories including the unmasking of an international drug trafficker, Ireland's longest gang war, and the greed exposed through the Anglo-Irish tapes.
It offers new details on undercover operations, stings, and the intense environment behind the headlines, highlighting the emotional depth and human impact of crime reporting.
#57912
Heft
Liz Moore
#8326
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Joyride
Lindsay Faith Rech
#10485
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Road to Tender Hearts
Annie Hartnett
We're kicking off 2026 and a year of exciting milestones today! On January 12th, we are celebrating 10 years of our podcast: we'll be sharing a few special podcast episodes to mark this moment. And as you'll hear today, as we move into the rest of 2026, there is plenty more to celebrate.
While today's episode isn't technically part of our anniversary celebrations, it's become an annual tradition over the past few years. Today, Anne is joined by her husband and our executive producer Will Bogel to talk about her favorite reads of the past year.
Find the list of titles mentioned today and chime in with your 2025 favorites at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/508.
Thank you so much to everyone who has listened, supported our show in all the ways, and been a crucial part of our community of readers. We look forward to celebrating the joy of a good book with you all year long.
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